Bill
HB 5193
HB 5193 allocates $600M GF/GP for DHHS to fund food assistance benefits through FY 2026, using unallocated work project lapses and seeking federal match.
Status and purpose
- Introduced: filed March 14, 2025; bill text electronically reproduced October 30, 2025; introduced/read October 30, 2025 and referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
- Purpose: a line‑item appropriations bill that provides $600,000,000 from state sources to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for food assistance program benefits for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. The bill is an appropriation act that supplements and consolidates funding authority for FY 2025–2026.
Key provisions
- Appropriates $600,000,000 gross (and $600,000,000 from the State General Fund/General Purpose) to DHHS for “food assistance program benefits.” (Part 1; Sec. 102(2).)
- Requires DHHS to “continue to provide, without pause, food assistance program benefits.” (Sec. 301(1).)
- Specifies the funding source: the appropriation must come from not less than $600,000,000 in work project lapses from GF/GP or GF/GP equivalent. These lapses must be from “work project appropriations without statutory authority designating those work projects,” as directed by the State Budget Director under section 451a of the Management and Budget Act (1984 PA 431, MCL 18.1451a). (Sec. 301(2)–(3).)
- Directs DHHS to seek all available federal reimbursements to offset the GF/GP revenue used for these benefits. (Sec. 302.)
- Subject to the Management and Budget Act (MCL 18.1101–18.1594). (Sec. 202.)
Who and what would be affected
- Primary recipient: Department of Health and Human Services — authority to spend $600M for food assistance benefits for FY 2025–2026.
- Beneficiaries: recipients of the state’s food assistance program (continuation of benefits is mandated).
- State budgetary impact: redirects at least $600M in GF/GP-equivalent resources by using lapses from unlabeled work project appropriations; this could reduce future availability of those unspent work project funds or change budget balances elsewhere.
- Local units: the bill reports $0.00 to be paid to local units from the appropriations in Part 1.
Procedural/timeline notes
- The appropriation applies to the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.
- The State Budget Director’s determination of which work project lapses are used is central to implementing the appropriation.
- DHHS must pursue federal match/reimbursements but the appropriation is structured as GF/GP (with intended offset if federal funds are obtained).
Potential implications
- Ensures continuity of food assistance benefits through FY 2025–2026 by providing a sizable GF/GP appropriation.
- Relies on using lapses from unspecified work projects, which could reallocate funds originally appropriated for other state projects or delay their use.
- The requirement to seek federal reimbursement may reduce net GF/GP cost if federal matching is allowable and obtained.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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