Latest news with #SenateBill1201
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Idaho House passes state's Medicaid budget, sending bill to governor
Members of the Idaho House of Representatives hold a floor session on March 10, 2025, at the Idaho Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) The Idaho Legislature this week approved an additional portion of Idaho Medicaid's budget, sending the bill to Gov. Brad Little for final consideration. Senate Bill 1201 would allocate nearly $674.2 million for Idaho Medicaid. Most of the funds — about $515.1 million — will come from the federal government, with the state's general fund contributing $70.1 million. The budget bill would fund a mix of largely administrative programs, including some that are required by the federal government or court order, along with a complex hospital tax structure. The Idaho House passed the bill on a 40-30 vote Wednesday, two days after the Senate passed the bill on a 22-13 vote. Idaho Medicaid is the state's largest government program that offers health insurance assistance to roughly 262,000 Idahoans. All told, Idaho's total Medicaid budget for next fiscal year could be almost $5.25 billion, an 11.5% growth from this fiscal year. Most of next year's budget — $3.4 billion — is set to come from the federal government, which funds most regular Medicaid costs for Idaho and 90% of Medicaid expansion's costs. The state's general fund would contribute a little less than $1 billion to Idaho Medicaid's total budget next year. The 2026 fiscal year starts in July. The bill also cuts $15.9 million in Medicaid expenses, anticipating that amount in savings from House Bill 345, a sweeping Medicaid policy reform bill Little signed that calls for work requirements, privatized Medicaid benefit management and more. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX For the past two years, Idaho's powerful budget-setting committee has used a new practice of splitting state agencies budget bills in two categories. So-called maintenance budgets just include enough funds for essential services. New spending is included in so-called enhancement budgets, like Senate Bill 1201. Idaho's budget committee, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, crafted the budget bill March 21. But 'these are not new programs' they are 'ongoing enhancements,' bill cosponsor Rep. Rod Furniss, R-Rigby, told House lawmakers in debate Wednesday. 'Many items on this budget … are expenses we've incurred. And we have an invoice for, that we need to pay,' Furniss told House lawmakers. 'These are hospital stays. These are people in homes. These are infants with brain tumors. The list goes on and on — of people that we're helping in the state of Idaho that can't help themselves.' The House's debate, which lasted over half an hour, rehashed Republican Idaho lawmakers yearslong concerns over Idaho Medicaid's growing budget. It also was another example of a newer trend this year — of state lawmakers trying to (with some success) reject state agency enhancement budgets. Calling next year's Medicaid total budget the largest Idaho has ever had, Rep. Faye Thompson, R-McCall, said she couldn't vote for a budget of this size. 'This comes at a very great cost to the working man. And it comes at a very great cost to generations that follow us, and that also includes everybody in this room,' she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon lawmakers push for new Columbia River bridge to curb Portland area traffic
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Two Oregon state lawmakers introduced a bill on Thursday to explore the possibility of building a new bridge across the Columbia River. State Sen. Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) and Sen. Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook) introduced Senate Bill 1201, which would direct the Oregon Department of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study to potentially build a new Columbia River bridge west of the Interstate 5 and 205 bridges. The senators said the bill marks a first step to assess whether this investment could ease congestion in the Portland metro area. 'An additional bridge over the Columbia River connecting Washington and Columbia counties to Clark County and I-5 west of Vancouver is exactly the investment that needs a full review,' stated Sen. Starr, vice-chair of the Joint Transportation Committee. 'As leaders charged with developing transportation policy for the state, Senator Weber and I understand big challenges require forward thinking and addressing the future needs of our state. This bill is the first step in what will likely be a lengthy process.' UnitedHealthcare, OHSU reach agreement that ensures patient access to care 'This bridge would not only ease traffic for millions of Oregonians, but it would provide a lasting, multi-generational solution that will benefit our families and economy for years to come,' said Sen. Weber, who also serves on the Joint Transportation Committee. The bill requires ODOT to complete the feasibility study and submit a report to the Joint Committee on Transportation by September 15, 2026. The new bridge would be an extension of State Route 127 (Cornelius Pass Road) across State Highway 30 and connect to I-5 in Washington, the senators said. Following the bill's introduction on Thursday, SB 1201 has been referred to the Transportation Committee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
