House Health Care committee backs health provisions but objects to DVHA lease in FY26 budget adjustment; supports $167,700 for Bridges to Health

Montpelier — The House Committee on Health Care agreed by straw poll on Friday to send a brief letter to the House Appropriations Committee supporting the governor's health-care proposals in the fiscal year 2026 Budget Adjustment Act while formally registering concern about one specific appropriation.

Jen Kirby, of the Office of Legislative Council, read the draft memo to the committee, saying the panel "supports the health care related provisions in the governor's recommended fiscal year 20 26 budget adjustment act" but "would like to register our concern ... about a new appropriation for the Department of Vermont Health Access to lease space" that was included in the Budget Adjustment Act rather than in the fiscal year 2027 budget. The draft asks that the policy and related funding be considered in the FY27 process so the General Assembly can evaluate the proposal and its costs.

Why it matters: Committee members said the placement of the DVHA lease appropriation in the BAA effectively commits policy and spending outside the ordinary budget process. "The governor ... has made decisions by signing contracts with landlords," one committee member said, adding that signing leases can produce what they described as a policy decision by committing to staff return-to-office arrangements before the legislature has reviewed them.

The draft also recommends a $167,700 appropriation to support Bridges to Health as it transitions from its current home at the University of Vermont Extension to a new partnership with Vermont's free and referral clinics. Kirby read a description of Bridges to Health included in committee materials: the program "provides health programming to migrant and immigrant workers and families who live in Vermont, are not otherwise supported by state or federal programs, and face barriers to health care."

Debate over tone and scope: Committee members pressed on how the letter should be framed and whether other committees that recommended the Bridges appropriation should be listed as signatories or copied. "I think the first part of the letter, talking about the government and so on, I don't think we need to do that in the budget adjustment letter," Taber said, urging a tighter focus. Other members said the draft language as written was respectful and showed appropriate oversight.

Action taken: Chair Unidentified Speaker 1 conducted a straw poll on whether to send the letter. The committee counted seven members in favor; members noted the poll is informal and not a formal committee vote. Kirby said she would send the edited letter to Tasha with a copy to Representative Durfee and that Representative Shai would also receive it.

What the committee did not do: No formal appropriation or binding vote was taken on the DVHA lease or the Bridges to Health funding during the meeting; the committee's action was to authorize sending the draft letter expressing the committee's position to House Appropriations.

Next steps: The committee will transmit the edited letter to Appropriations and coordinate signatory language and distribution; any formal appropriations decisions remain with the Appropriations Committee and the FY27 budget process.