HF4546

Purpose

• Align and update forecasted appropriations for certain Department of Human Services programs and, indirectly, the Department of Children Youth and Families. The bill adjusts previously authorized budget amounts for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027, using funds from the Health Care Access Fund and the General Fund as specified in existing law.

Main Provisions

• Adds to or subtracts from specific appropriations that were set in Laws from the 2025 First Special Session (chapter 3 article 20 and chapter 9 article 12) for the Department of Human Services, based on updated forecasted needs.
• Establishes the total appropriation by fund for the two upcoming fiscal years (2026 and 2027) and designates how those funds are allocated across programs.
• Specifies the forecasted program budgets that are affected, including:
  • General Assistance
  • Minnesota Supplemental Aid
  • Housing Support
  • MinnesotaCare
  • Medical Assistance
  • Behavioral Health Fund
• All forecasted program appropriations are drawn from the Health Care Access Fund, with corresponding totals listed for 2026 and 2027.
• Provides the net effect as the available amounts for each program in the two fiscal years, reflecting increases or decreases from prior appropriations.

Funding Details by Program and Year (from Health Care Access Fund)

• General Fund (overall totals for the department)
  • 2026: 652,953,000
  • 2027: 615,407,000
• Health Care Access Fund (overall totals)
  • 2026: 86,681,000
  • 2027: 159,628,000
• Forecasted Programs (and amounts by year)
  • General Assistance
  • 2026: 7,909,000
  • 2027: 9,653,000
  • Minnesota Supplemental Aid
  • 2026: 2,976,000
  • 2027: 3,233,000
  • Housing Support
  • 2026: 29,593,000
  • 2027: 44,727,000
  • MinnesotaCare
  • 2026: 86,681,000
  • 2027: 159,628,000
  • Medical Assistance
  • 2026: 589,777,000
  • 2027: 525,140,000
  • Behavioral Health Fund
  • 2026: 22,698,000
  • 2027: 32,654,000

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Recasts forecasted funding levels for specified DHS programs by adjusting the amounts available for the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years, as previously authorized in Laws from the 2025 First Special Session.
• Changes are framed as forecast adjustments to the Department of Human Services (and related to the Department of Children Youth and Families) rather than creating new programs; they shift or reallocate existing appropriations within the Health Care Access Fund and related funds.
• The bill centralizes the adjustments in a single forecast-adjustment mechanism, tying the new program totals to the forecasted needs for the two upcoming fiscal years.

Context and Scope

• Purpose is to reflect updated financial forecasts and ensure funds are available for the listed programs through the specified years.
• The adjustments affect how much money is available to the listed programs from the Health Care Access Fund and, in total, how much is allocated from the General Fund for the DHS portfolio.

Relevant Terms - General Fund - Health Care Access Fund - Appropriations - Forecasted Programs - General Assistance - Minnesota Supplemental Aid - Housing Support - MinnesotaCare - Medical Assistance - Behavioral Health Fund - Department of Human Services - Department of Children Youth and Families - fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 - fiscal year ending June 30, 2027 - Laws 2025 First Special Session chapter 3 article 20 - Laws 2025 First Special Session chapter 9 article 12