 The human services budget is taking the biggest hit this session.
With the second largest budget in state government and a looming deficit on the horizon, human services was in the crosshairs for deep cuts this session.
Tasked by House leaders with cutting $300 million in 2026-27 biennial spending, the choices made in HF2434 don’t make everyone happy.
Despite those reservations, the $18.54 billion omnibus human services finance bill, as amended, was passed 109-25 by the House and sent to the Senate.
“We were tasked with a target of $1.3 billion in reductions over the next four years,” said Rep. Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne), the bill sponsor and co-chair of the House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee. “We were able to accomplish that in the bill that we have today. A balanced, workable budget for the future.”
Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL-Mpls), the other committee co-chair, said this is “one of the most difficult bills” he’s helped create. “I know we've talked about the challenges and why some people are feeling the pain that we see here. This bill has got impact on vulnerable individuals, our seniors, people with disability, folks with mental health, substance use disorder and more.”
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