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Appropriations Committee presents FY2027 budget with $282 million surplus and $2 billion rainy-day fund
Summary
The House Appropriations Committee presented its FY2027 budget on the floor, saying the plan leaves a $282 million cash surplus, preserves a $2 billion rainy-day fund and adds targeted investments in childcare, behavioral health in schools, Medicaid, and energy assistance. Committee leaders moved the budget bills to special order for March 25.
The House Appropriations Committee presented its version of the fiscal 2027 budget on March 9, telling members the plan meets affordability targets and adds several priority investments.
"The Appropriations Committee has completed its work on the state budget for fiscal 27," the floor leader, who also served as the committee chair, told the chamber. He said the committee’s package leaves "a cash surplus in this budget of $282,000,000" and preserves about "$2,000,000,000 in cash reserves in the rainy day fund." He added that the committee did this "without increasing any fees or taxes."
The committee’s presentation listed a range of restorations and new funding. Among the items the chair cited were $20 million and roughly 3,700 additional slots for the childcare scholarship program, $6 million for childcare credentialing, a $100 million targeted assistance pool to lower energy bills and $280 million budgeted for home energy programs, and restored general funds for developmental disabilities services. Committee materials also cited funding for IT staffing and outreach related to federal changes affecting Medicaid and SNAP. The committee said the package fully funds Medicaid at "over $1,600,000,000," and described expanded support for behavioral health services in schools.
The chair directed members to the committee reprint and supplemental materials available on the floor system and public website, noting that the committee narrative documents are explanatory and are not themselves floor amendments. He then moved that Senate Bill 282 (the budget bill) and the committee amendments be special ordered until Wednesday, March 25; the House adopted that motion by voice. The committee made a similar motion for Senate Bill 284, the budget reconciliation and financing act (BRFAA), which the House also special ordered for March 25.
Why this matters: the committee’s presentation sets the House’s working numbers ahead of final floor debate. The motion to special order the bills schedules their next formal consideration and gives members time to review the committee reprint and proposed amendments.
What’s next: SB282 and SB284 were special ordered to the appropriate time on Wednesday, March 25. Members and staff said committee analyses, exhibits and the committee reprint are available through the floor system for review prior to that date.
