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Committee recommends one-time $167,000 appropriation to help Bridges to Health transition
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Summary
The committee recommended a one-time appropriation of $167,000 to help Bridges to Health move from UVM Extension to Vermont's free and referral clinics and agreed to finalize a letter to Appropriations and vote when full membership is present.
The House committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, & Forestry recommended a one-time appropriation of $167,000 to support Bridges to Health as it transitions from the University of Vermont (UVM) Extension to a partnership with Vermont's free and referral clinics. Committee members signaled informal support and agreed to post a final version of the committee's letter and take a formal vote at the next meeting when all members are present.
Mike Fisher, the state Health Care Advocate, who spoke on behalf of Bridges to Health, described the request as transition funding to establish a new fiscal home and cover early operational costs. "This money ... is to support the transition to the new home, and a little bit of bridge funding," Fisher said, adding that the funds would be used for set-up costs such as a new IT system, office space and supplies.
Fisher reminded the committee of the program's recent funding history: the legislature included Bridges in last year's bill (referred to in the discussion as H.91), but the line was vetoed and the University of Vermont provided interim funding to carry the program through July 1. He said the committee will return in the FY27 budget cycle seeking ongoing funding rather than transition monies.
The draft letter read to the committee states that the health and agriculture committees "recommend providing an appropriation of $167,000 to support Bridges to Health in transitioning from its current home at UVM Extension to a new partnership with Vermont's free and referral clinics," noting the program's role serving migrant and immigrant workers and families who face barriers to health care and are not otherwise eligible for state or federal coverage.
Committee members asked for additional detail about past budgets and how the requested dollars break down; Fisher said he would share the letter submitted to Appropriations and follow up with a more detailed budget breakdown. Committee staff also said the final, updated letter will be posted on the committee's page and the Appropriations Committee will receive the recommendation.
Next steps: the committee deferred a formal vote until the next meeting when all members can participate. The committee said it intends to include a more detailed budget breakdown in follow-up materials and to consider an FY27 request for ongoing support.
