The House and the Senate both released their committee budget targets last week. Below, please find the spending targets that the Human Services Committees will need to meet:
- Senate:
- FY 26/27: Cut $272 million
- FY 28/29: Cut $430 million
- House:
- FY 26/27: Cut $300 million
- FY 28/29: Cut $ 1 billion
ARRM staff continue to meet with staff and legislators to emphasize the impact any cut to disability waiver services will have and are working collaboratively to find solutions that will mitigate the impact for both people with disabilities and providers. Now is the time to make sure that you are communicating the same message with your legislators. Please follow this link to act today.
Last week also saw the Senate Human Services Committee hear ARRM’s Family Residential Services legislation. Due to the cost of delaying the upcoming rate tiers, ARRM amended our bill language, creating a one-time emergency fund for providers that are at risk of closure due to the rate tiers. ARRM is committed to continuing to work on behalf of Family Residential Service providers and to ensure that they have the resources needed to remain an important part of the spectrum of services supporting people with disabilities.
Finally, the House Human Services Committee heard HF 1477 last Thursday. The bill as introduced would repeal the exemption ARRM passed last session for CRS and small Assisted Living homes from city rental license regulations. During the hearing, language was amended into the bill that would create quarter-mile proximity limits for all CRS and small Assisted Living homes. ARRM provided testimony in opposition to the bill and the amendment, and Rep. Curran and Rep. Hicks both spoke passionately in opposition to the proposal. The bill was laid over and ARRM will continue to meet with legislators and advocate against any proposal that would have the impact of limiting choice or restricting where people with disabilities can live.
Only two weeks remain until the 3rd committee deadline when all omnibus bills must be out of committee. This week, we anticipate the Human Services Committee to finalize their omnibus policy bill, with the omnibus finance bill being finalized the week after.
Please reach out with any questions and don’t forget to take action today.
--Sara Grafstrom, Senior Director of State and Federal Policy