Legislative Finance Committee votes to send letter to governor on provider rates

The Legislative Finance Committee voted to authorize sending a staff‑drafted letter to the governor regarding provider rates and possible mitigation options on May 6.

Vice Chair Tuss moved that the committee authorize sending the communication to the governor's office; the motion passed following a roll‑call vote of voting members present. The letter will be signed by the vice chair and the committee chair and sent on behalf of the committee.

Representative Gillette spoke in debate, saying she supported exploring options broadly but was not in favor of abandoning provider rate increases. Committee members discussed whether alternative fund sources — including the debt and liability free account — could be used; legislative staff noted the statute (17‑6‑214) allows the account to mitigate general fund supplemental needs, but that priorities and statutory allocations may limit its use.

Clerk roll‑call on the motion (as recorded in committee): Representative Tuss — Yes; Representative Barker — Yes; Representative Jones — Yes; Representative Muscovich — Yes; Representative Keogh — Yes; Representative Albus — Absent; Senator Carpenter — Yes; Senator Ellis — Yes; Senator Glenn — No; Senator Tziszak — No; Senator Morgeau — Yes; Senator Kasmier — Yes. The chair announced the motion passed and staff will transmit the letter to the governor's office.