House Human Services reviews H.66 D opioid‑settlement appropriations, accepts Health Department reversions
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Summary
The House Human Services committee reviewed draft H.66 D on Feb. 11, accepted several Department of Health reversion recommendations to prior appropriations, and agreed to adopt VDH funding levels for key recovery residence and corrections peer‑recovery line items while requesting additional detail on outstanding discrepancies.
The House Human Services committee met Feb. 11 to review draft H.66 D, a bill allocating opioid abatement settlement funds. Committee staff outlined proposed appropriations and highlighted Department of Health (VDH) edits that revert or amend prior awards.
A staff member summarized Section 1 as including a $455,000 appropriation to the Department of Health for 26 outreach and case‑management positions and intent language that those positions be funded annually from the opioid abatement special fund. The staffer also identified competing recommendations for several items: VDH proposed $1.4 million for recovery residences while the advisory council recommended $1.75 million, and VDH and the advisory council likewise differed on peer‑recovery funding for corrections.
VDH staff said three draft sections amend prior appropriations: reducing a prior $1.5 million allocation for opioid treatment program satellite expansion to $1,056,000 (and removing language dividing funds equally among four programs), adjusting a wound‑care telehealth pilot to $91,712.66, and reverting a $1,000,000 FY‑25 appropriation for community stabilization beds because those beds received base funding in FY26. "In FY26 the department received base funding for stabilization beds, so we don't need the additional funding from the special fund," VDH staff Jessica said.
Committee members asked whether reversions reflected bookkeeping corrections or program changes; VDH and staff said the bill language does not explain the reason and recommended the committee ask VDH for the record-level rationale. Staff also pointed out that some previously appropriated funds remain unobligated and that the committee can choose between the advisory council's and VDH's recommendations.
On several contested line items, members agreed to follow the Department of Health's recommended amounts for recovery residences and peer‑recovery services in corrections, though one member said the reduction to recovery residence funding warranted further outreach to recovery partners before a final vote. The chair summarized that members were "okay with the reversions" but directed staff to continue reconciling discrepancies and gather additional documentation and budgets where requested.
The committee did not take a formal floor vote during the session and deferred unresolved questions — including some disagreements over monetary amounts and the rationale for particular reversions — to a subsequent meeting. Staff will circulate the memo and updated spreadsheet and request follow‑up material from VDH and other recipients.
The committee will reconvene to finalize funding decisions after receiving the requested budget breakdowns and program details.