H.B. 599 Social Services Funding Amendments

What this bill does

The bill would move interest earned by the Medicaid expansion fund into the state's general fund each year. It would also add immunosuppressive drugs to the Medicaid preferred drug list, fold the children's CHIP program into Medicaid, move pediatric dental services to the University of Utah, and change how money from the nicotine restricted account is spent.

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Every vote

• 6 yes, 0 no, 2 absentHouse Rules Committee: vote to change the bill · Mar 2, 2026Who voted how
• 6 yes, 0 no, 2 absentHouse Rules Committee: vote to approve it · Mar 2, 2026Who voted how
• 69 yes, 1 no, 5 absentFinal House vote · Mar 3, 2026
• 5 yes, 0 no, 2 absentSenate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee: vote to approve it · Mar 4, 2026Who voted how
• 26 yes, 0 no, 3 absentFinal Senate vote · Mar 4, 2026

Hearings and debates

• Mar 2, 2026 House Rules Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (13 turns)

  1. Committee chair22:17

     so why don't we move to item number two. He, uh, house Bill 5 99. Uh, social services funding amendments. Representative Ward, go ahead.

  2. Rep. Raymond P. Ward22:32

     Thank you, uh, Mr. Chair. And thank you, uh, committee, um, for hearing this bill. Um, in the Social Services Appropriations Committee, as we were looking for different budget savings and went through a bunch of different, um, options, some good options were found, but some of those required statute change. Uh, the committee turned its list into EAC, um, and then waited to see what, what EAC would ultimately determine. And these basically are those items that EAC said, yes, those are budget savings that we want to enact, but because they require a statute change, uh, this bill is what brings you those statute changes that EAC, um, uh, took as budget cuts. And the language is a little bit tricky to follow down in the language of the bill itself. I think the easiest way to follow Representative is this the first Substitute. It, it is the first substitute has one small change to it. Uh, yep. And just looking at what the bill does, if you just look up there, you can then track it down into the language, but that really is where it lays out what's, what's easiest to understand the largest item in there. Um, we have the, uh, Medicaid, a CA fund, um, that is a, has a very large amount of money and earns interest, uh, every year. And this just allows for that interest to be moved into the general fund as a savings. Um, the second item on there, over the course of really the last 12 or 14 years, we have created a Medicaid preferred drug list, which over time, at first we only included part of our drugs and we've moved closer and closer to including all of our drugs. And the program has worked well. There was this one little tiny bit about immunosuppressive drugs that was really just left over and it includes them the same as the way that we do all the other drugs in Medicaid. It was found that there was some savings. If we, uh, we, we have chip, which covers some children and then regular Medicaid, which also covers, can cover those children. And it's just a different set of rules. So you could have a family, the parents of whom were covered with Medicaid, and then the children were covered by chip. It just makes it hard on parents to have different sets of rules. And, um, and so this basically turns that chip into Medicaid and that actually results in some savings to the state. Uh, it moves up the pediatric dental over through the University of Utah, which is a thing that we have done with other dental services, which found, uh, some savings and makes some changes to how money is spent out of the, uh, nicotine restricted account. And, and those are the policies in the bill that add up to the savings that you see listed in the fiscal note.

  3. Committee chair24:53

     Thank you for that presentation. We'll go to the committee for any clarifying questions. Seeing none, we will open it up for public comment. Is there anyone in the public that wishes to speak to this bill? Anyone in the room? Anyone online? No. Alright. We'll go ahead and close public comment and go to the Committee for Action.

  4. Rep. Karen M. Peterson25:13

     Representative Peterson, uh, I'd like to move first substitute of House Bill 5 99.

  5. Committee chair25:18

     Okay. And motion's in order. Would you like to speak to it? Um, that's the, the version the sponsor spoke to, so, Okay. We'll go to the sponsor.

  6. Rep. Raymond P. Ward25:24

     I'll Waive, Uh, any discussion of the motion of moving.

  7. Committee chair25:27

     First substitute, uh, back to the maker of the motion. I'll waive. All right. We will place the motion. The motion is to move first substitute of House Bill 5 99. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Say nay. I'll rule that passes unanimously. Back to the committee for Other action. Representative Peterson,

  8. Rep. Karen M. Peterson25:46

     Uh, I'd like to make a motion to favorably recommend for a substitute of House Bill 5 99.

  9. Committee chair25:50

     Okay. That motions in order.

  10. Rep. Karen M. Peterson25:51

      Would you like to speak to it? Yeah, I would. Uh, I really appreciate the work of our Social Services committee and thinking about how we could, uh, shift things and, and then recognizing which ones need statutory changes. So, um, I, I, um, I hope that your committee, um, can fill our appreciation for figuring these things out as they work through their process. And I appreciate you bringing the bill.

  11. Committee chair26:10

      Thank you. Further discussion on the motion to favorably recommend. See now we'll go to the bill sponsor. Uh,

  12. Rep. Raymond P. Ward26:18

      Thank you for your consideration.

  13. Committee chair26:20

      All right. Back to the maker of the motion. I'll waive. All right. I'll place the motion. The motion again is that we favorably recommend first substitute House Bill 5 99 Social Services funding amendments. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Say nay. I'll rule that passes unanimously. Thank you.

• Mar 3, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (9 turns)

  1. Unknown speaker1:38:41speaker not certain

     First substitute House Bill 5 99 Social Services funding amendments by Representative Ward. This bill was heard in the rules committee with a vote of 6 0 2.

  2. Speaker Pro Tem (presiding)1:38:52

     Representative Ward,

  3. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:38:53

     I thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem, I would like to move substitute three, which is on the system in my name.

  4. Speaker Pro Tem (presiding)1:38:59

     That's an order. Would you like to speak to it?

  5. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:39:01

     Yes. After the first version of the bill came out there, there was just one portion of the budget savings that had not been included in that first version. There, there was a second substitute, which had a coordinating clause, but then the other bill went away. So we're skipping over Substitute two and coming to substitute three.

  6. Speaker Pro Tem (presiding)1:39:15

     Thank you. The motion is to adopt third substitute Senate House Bill 5 99. Discussion to the motion. Seen none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed say no. Motion carries a bill. Substituted Representative Ward.

  7. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:39:29

     Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Pro tem, uh, colleagues in the lead up to this year's session, uh, each of our appropriations committees was tasked by EAC with looking for savings, um, in the budget and in the Social Services appropriations committee. We took that task, uh, seriously and went through a lot of different options and came up with some very significant changes that were savings to our general fund. Um, our staff laid those all out for us, but some of those changes did require a statute change to carry out the budget cuts. So we submitted our list to EAC and waited until EAC made its decisions about which of those budget cuts they wanted to take. And then those cuts that did require a statute change are what you have before you in this bill. Um, and I, I will just go, go through what some of those are. So, um, we have the Medicaid expansion account, which has money that goes into it and has quite a large amount of money in it, and also accrues interest and has been growing each year. This bill allows that the interest generated by that fund get returned back to the general fund. The fund would still, um, increase based on that. The, just the tax money that goes into it has been larger than what comes out. But the interest would now return as a savings to the general fund. We run, uh, two different programs by which children, uh, of low income families can have coverage. One is Medicaid and one is chip. Uh, that at times is confusing for, uh, parents who might have to have one kind of Medicaid for themselves and chip for their kids. This would just combine those two programs and that also results in some savings to the state. Um, a a thing that we have enacted in recent years that has worked out well is to transfer some of the dental services in Medicaid to the University of Utah. And this bill would transfer also pediatric dentistry to the University of Utah. That has resulted both in some savings to the state, but also a broader network of providers willing to participate to provide these needed dental services, um, to our constituents. And in this case to kids. It changes the way that the money from the nicotine proceeds restricted account is used, still keeping, uh, in strict accordance with the, the stated ways that that fund can be used, but with some savings to the general fund. And finally adds immunosuppressive medications to the preferred drug list. That, uh, program of the preferred drug list has worked well for all of our other medications. And this was the final class of medicines that wasn't, um, included. And that is my presentation. Mr. Speaker Peram.

  8. Speaker Pro Tem (presiding)1:41:42

     Thank you Representative Ward. Discussion to the bill. Seeing none, Representative Ward for summation, I'll Waive. Thank You. Summation is waived.

  9. Speaker Pro Tem (presiding)1:41:51

     Voting is open on third substitute house Bill 5 99. Social services funding amendments, seeing all present, having voted voting will be closed. Third, substitute house bill 5 99, having received 69 yay votes and one nay votes passes. The house will be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration.

• Mar 3, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (8 turns)

  1. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:38:53

     I thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tem, I would like to move substitute three, which is on the system in my name.

  2. Speaker Pro Tem (presiding)1:38:59

     That's an order. Would you like to speak to it?

  3. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:39:01

     Yes. After the first version of the bill came out there, there was just one portion of the budget savings that had not been included in that first version. There, there was a second substitute, which had a coordinating clause, but then the other bill went away. So we're skipping over Substitute two and coming to substitute three.

  4. Speaker Pro Tem (presiding)1:39:15

     Thank you. The motion is to adopt third substitute Senate House Bill 5 99. Discussion to the motion. Seen none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed say no. Motion carries a bill. Substituted Representative Ward.

  5. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:39:29

     Uh, thank you Mr. Speaker. Pro tem, uh, colleagues in the lead up to this year's session, uh, each of our appropriations committees was tasked by EAC with looking for savings, um, in the budget and in the Social Services appropriations committee. We took that task, uh, seriously and went through a lot of different options and came up with some very significant changes that were savings to our general fund. Um, our staff laid those all out for us, but some of those changes did require a statute change to carry out the budget cuts. So we submitted our list to EAC and waited until EAC made its decisions about which of those budget cuts they wanted to take. And then those cuts that did require a statute change are what you have before you in this bill. Um, and I, I will just go, go through what some of those are. So, um, we have the Medicaid expansion account, which has money that goes into it and has quite a large amount of money in it, and also accrues interest and has been growing each year. This bill allows that the interest generated by that fund get returned back to the general fund. The fund would still, um, increase based on that. The, just the tax money that goes into it has been larger than what comes out. But the interest would now return as a savings to the general fund. We run, uh, two different programs by which children, uh, of low income families can have coverage. One is Medicaid and one is chip. Uh, that at times is confusing for, uh, parents who might have to have one kind of Medicaid for themselves and chip for their kids. This would just combine those two programs and that also results in some savings to the state. Um, a a thing that we have enacted in recent years that has worked out well is to transfer some of the dental services in Medicaid to the University of Utah. And this bill would transfer also pediatric dentistry to the University of Utah. That has resulted both in some savings to the state, but also a broader network of providers willing to participate to provide these needed dental services, um, to our constituents. And in this case to kids. It changes the way that the money from the nicotine proceeds restricted account is used, still keeping, uh, in strict accordance with the, the stated ways that that fund can be used, but with some savings to the general fund. And finally adds immunosuppressive medications to the preferred drug list. That, uh, program of the preferred drug list has worked well for all of our other medications. And this was the final class of medicines that wasn't, um, included. And that is my presentation. Mr. Speaker Peram.

  6. Speaker Pro Tem (presiding)1:41:42

     Thank you Representative Ward. Discussion to the bill. Seeing none, Representative Ward for summation, I'll

  7. Rep. Raymond P. Ward1:41:49

     Waive. Thank

  8. Speaker Pro Tem (presiding)1:41:50

     You. Summation is waived. Voting is open on third substitute house Bill 5 99. Social services funding amendments, seeing all present, having voted voting will be closed. Third, substitute house bill 5 99, having received 69 yay votes and one nay votes passes. The house will be transmitted to the Senate for its consideration.

• Mar 4, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (8 turns)

  1. Sen. Keven J. Stratton3:20:50

     legislative action in the code. And this is, this is that, you could call it, I guess, a cleanup bill from the cuts and the adjustments made in the Social Service Appropriations committee. That includes, uh, providing the interest earned on the money in the Medicaid. A CA fund be deposited into the general fund requires, uh, uh, several drugs. The Medicaid on the preferred drug list requires the Department of Health and Human Services, uh, to transition the state's children's health insurance program from a separate program to providing benefits under the state's Medicaid program. And after the transition to the extent possible, provide dental services to individuals covered by the Children's Health Insurance Program through the University of Utah School of Dentistry requires certain funds to be distributed from the electric, electronic cigarette, substance and nicotine product proceeds restricted account for substance use, treatment prevention services, and further technical and conforming changes. With that, I'll be glad to yelled.

  2. Senate President (presiding)3:22:02

     Looking for discussion, seeing no discussion. Going back to you for a motion.

  3. Sen. Keven J. Stratton3:22:10

     Thank you. Uh, I move at house Bill 5 99. Third substitute social service funding amendments be passed.

  4. Senate President (presiding)3:22:17

     Thank you. The question is, under suspension of the role shall third substitute house bill 5 99 pass quel vote.

  5. Senate clerk (roll call)3:22:24

     Senator Vickers Baldy Aye. Lewin Aye. Brammer Bus Gilmore. Escamia Fillmore Aye. Grover Aye. Harper Kins Aye. Ipson Aye. Johnson k Juab Quan McKay Aye. Mikel Aye. Ner Musman Owens Cher alum Rebe Aye. Sandal Aye. Stevenson Stratton Bickers weer Aye. Wilson Winterton Aye. President Adams Aye. Third substitute house Bill 5 99.

  6. Senate President (presiding)3:23:21

     Having received 26 sha votes, his zero na votes three being absent passes this body and will be signed by the present. Return to the house with the signature of the speaker.

  7. Senate President (presiding)3:23:40

     Senator Fillmore. Senator Fillmore,

  8. Sen. Lincoln Fillmore3:23:45

     Mr. President, um, we passed earlier in the session a bill that created an open education resource curriculum across grades K through eight. This bill has started in the house

• Mar 4, 2026 Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (15 turns)

  1. Committee chair2:13:32

     We got third substitute house Bill, 5 99 Social services funding amendments. Representative Ward Time's yours.

  2. Rep. Raymond P. Ward2:13:39

     Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Committee. Um, coming into the session, all the appropriations committees were asked to look for budget cuts and in social services appropriation. We also had that same request. Our committee worked hard and found some significant cuts. Some of those required statute change, and so the committee turned it's listed into EAC. And when EAC made its decisions about which ones to accept, then those, some of those necessitated statute change. And that is what is before you in these bill? This bill, um, the main points in here are taking interest from the Medicaid expansion account, BA back to the general fund. And that's a, a savings, making some changes to the chip program with Medicaid. So children all still have coverage, but it'll all go through Medicaid instead of maintaining two separate programs, running the dental, uh, Medicaid program through the University of Utah, which generates some savings and changing the ways that we use the, um, the electronic cigarette substance, nicotine product restrict, restricted account. But the, just each of the policies in the bill is one of those budget cuts that EAC accepted it. But I'm happy to ask, answer any questions about them.

  3. Committee chair2:14:42

     Okay. Questions? Senator Vickers?

  4. Sen. Evan J. Vickers2:14:45

     Yeah, you did spur a question I hadn't thought of. Um, so on the Children's Dental program mm-hmm. I know that the, the University of Utah has been really a great partner in mm-hmm. You know, starting out with a kind of a small pilot and then moving to all adults now. So will it, and, and the children's program has kind of been in another, another contractual arrangement. Yep. So is this, and now, is that moving to underneath the auspices of what University of Utah has been doing at their, their dental school and their program or?

  5. Rep. Raymond P. Ward2:15:13

     Yeah, we, we have moved pieces of it over a little bit at a time. Um, and this one will move the pediatric over to the University of Utah as well.

  6. Committee chair2:15:21

     Okay. Thanks. Okay. Thank you. See no other questions. Uh, public comment on this bill. Uh, let's take one. Go ahead. We're kind of under a tying crunch here. We're supposed to be over to the capital.

  7. Stephanie Burdick2:15:35

     I'll be fast. Hi. Um, good afternoon, committee members. My name is Stephanie Burdick. I'm just here to speak on behalf of myself today. I've been doing Medicaid advocacy, um, since I was uninsured and I needed to get involved in Medicaid expansion. And I just wanted to, um, just speak for a moment in support of, I appreciate Representative Ward for, um, being a thoughtful and fiscally responsible policy maker. And just wanted to also just give a brief shout out to the work of Medicaid expansion and its impact in our state. I think a lot of people know of Medicaid as being a safety net program, but it's also a public safety program. It is the ability that people have to be able to get, um, access to recovery and sobriety. It's, um, an economic stabilizer for rural communities. It has been able to, um, help people get off the streets. It's been able to help people who are in bad situations and need to get into a better situation. And it was because of the work of people like Representative Ward and regular Utahans, um, getting out and knocking on doors and deciding to be involved, um, in civic engagement. That we have all of this money that we can now contribute to the general fund. So you're welcome. And, um, also just appreciate the work that's been done by the legislature to strengthen our Medicaid program. Um, there's a lot of things to be proud of. Senator Vickers, Representative Ward, Representative Eliason Dungan, Senator Plumb. There's been so many people, um, who have contributed to strengthening our Medicaid program. And I think it's something that we can be really proud of and I hope we continue to strengthen it and make sure that it takes care of the individuals that are in need for a second chance. And, um, you know, all of the ways that it, it benefits people's lives. So, appreciate that. And just wanted to, to give a shout out to the program.

  8. Committee chair2:17:21

     Thank you. We'll close the public comment, come back for further considerations. Senator Plumb, looks like you're going for the switch Yeah.

  9. Sen. Jen Plumb2:17:31

     With the tyrannosaurus arm. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Uh, chair. I would love to make a motion if we could, to favorably recommend out house bill. Is it 5 99 sub Three Three, uh, favorably to the full body of the Senate.

  10. Committee chair2:17:46

      All right. Discussion to that motion? See none. Let's go back to the sponsor for summation.

  11. Rep. Raymond P. Ward2:17:51

      I appreciate that motion. Senator Plumb, I'll waive. Okay.

  12. Committee chair2:17:54

      All those in favor of a third substitute house Bill. 5 99 out favorably say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? That is unanimous. Thank you. Alright, before we close, let me thank the committee members for your participation in this session for being here and doing your job. Uh, sometimes they're not happy with us, but we've done our job and I, I really appreciate your attendance.

  13. Committee chair2:18:19

      So, one final motion. Oh, Senator Vickers.

  14. Sen. Evan J. Vickers2:18:23

      Yeah, just comments along those lines. I, I really appreciate, I also appreciate my colleagues that have been diligent in this committee, but, uh, and our staff is always amazing and we appreciate you so much and appreciate that all that you do to help us do better job. But, uh, Mr. Cherry also wanna be hoish to you. You've been a, a great chair and you've been very diligent and, and do a great job conducting the meetings and appreciate you personally too. So, well, thank you for that one. I would make a motion. We adjourn.

  15. Committee chair2:18:51

      Okay. Motion to adjourn. All in favor say aye. Aye. We are adjourn. All right.