House Bill 26-036

House Bill 26-036, commonly known as the General Appropriations Act or “Long Bill,” establishes the State of San Andreas operating budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year.

The bill provides spending authority for state departments, agencies, programs, institutions, and other functions of state government. Appropriations are divided among the General Fund, cash funds, reappropriated funds, and federal funds.

For Fiscal Year 2026–27, the bill contains approximately $49.56 billion in total operating appropriations.

Of that amount:

Funding Source

Appropriation

General Fund

$17.35 billion

Cash Funds

$13.97 billion

Reappropriated Funds

$2.89 billion

Federal Funds

$15.36 billion

Total Operating Budget

$49.56 billion

The General Fund consists primarily of state revenues available for general governmental purposes. Cash funds generally consist of fees, dedicated taxes, assessments, and other revenues legally designated for particular programs. Reappropriated funds are amounts transferred between state agencies or programs. Federal funds are revenues received from the federal government for state-administered programs.

Where the Money Goes

The General Appropriations Act funds 23 major areas of state government, ranging from public schools and health care to corrections, courts, transportation, public safety, environmental programs, and the operation of the legislative and executive branches.

Health Care Policy and Financing — $20.54 Billion

The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing receives the largest appropriation in the bill, totaling approximately $20.54 billion.

This funding supports the state's Medicaid and other publicly funded health care programs, including payments to health care providers, long-term care services, behavioral health services, and health coverage for eligible residents.

Approximately $5.97 billion comes from the General Fund, while approximately $11.93 billion comes from federal funds. Because many health programs are jointly financed by the state and federal governments, federal funding represents a substantial portion of this department's budget.

K–12 Education — $7.86 Billion

Approximately $7.86 billion is appropriated to the Department of Education.

This funding supports public schools, school finance distributions, categorical programs, educational services, administration, and other statewide education programs.

Approximately $4.59 billion comes from the General Fund, making K–12 education one of the largest uses of state-controlled General Fund revenue.

Higher Education — $6.56 Billion

The bill provides approximately $6.56 billion for Higher Education.

These appropriations support state colleges and universities, student financial aid, institutional operations, and other higher-education programs.

The total includes approximately $1.67 billion from the General Fund and $3.59 billion in cash funds, along with reappropriated and federal funding.

Human Services — $2.71 Billion

Approximately $2.71 billion is provided to the Department of Human Services.

The department administers a broad range of programs involving behavioral health, child welfare, youth services, assistance programs, disability services, and other services for vulnerable residents.

Approximately $1.35 billion of the department's appropriation comes from the General Fund.

Transportation — $2.30 Billion

Approximately $2.30 billion is appropriated for the Department of Transportation.

Transportation funding supports the state's highway and transportation system, including construction, maintenance, engineering, safety programs, transit-related activities, and transportation administration.

Unlike many other departments, Transportation does not rely primarily on the General Fund. Its appropriations are largely supported by dedicated cash revenues and federal transportation funding.

Corrections — $1.27 Billion

The Department of Corrections receives approximately $1.27 billion, including approximately $1.19 billion from the General Fund.

Funding supports state correctional facilities, correctional officers and other employees, inmate medical care, food and utilities, education and treatment programs, parole supervision, reentry programs, prison maintenance, and contracted prison capacity.

For example, the bill provides funding for prison security staffing, pharmaceuticals and outside medical services, mental health services, substance-use treatment, inmate education, and community-based parole services. The bill also directs more than $10.2 million toward increasing correctional officer staffing in the Canon City area with the intent of reducing cross-posting and avoidable overtime.

Judicial Department — $1.21 Billion

Approximately $1.21 billion is appropriated to the Judicial Department.

This funding supports the state court system and related judicial functions, including trial courts, appellate courts, probation services, court administration, courthouse operations, and other programs administered through the Judicial Branch.

Approximately $922.7 million comes from the General Fund.

Treasury — $1.07 Billion

Approximately $1.07 billion is appropriated through the Department of the Treasury.

Treasury appropriations include state financial obligations and distributions administered through the department. A substantial portion consists of funds that are distributed to other governmental entities or used for specifically designated purposes rather than ordinary departmental administration.

Public Health and Environment — $855.5 Million

Approximately $855.5 million is appropriated to the Department of Public Health and Environment.

Funding supports public health programs, disease prevention, environmental protection, water and air quality programs, laboratories, health regulation, and other statewide health and environmental responsibilities.

Public Safety — $800.9 Million

Approximately $800.9 million is provided to the Department of Public Safety.

The appropriation supports state law enforcement, criminal investigations, emergency and homeland security functions, fire and disaster-related programs, criminal justice programs, and other statewide public-safety responsibilities.

Early Childhood — $798.1 Million

Approximately $798.1 million is appropriated for the Department of Early Childhood.

Funding supports early childhood education, child care programs, family services, early intervention programs, and administration of the state's early childhood system.

Other State Departments

The bill also provides approximately:

• $560.2 million for Local Affairs;

• $556.5 million for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and State Planning and Budgeting;

• $552.7 million for Revenue;

• $507.7 million for Labor and Employment;

• $495.3 million for Natural Resources;

• $310.4 million for Personnel;

• $163.8 million for the Department of Law;

• $160.6 million for Military and Veterans Affairs;

• $138.1 million for Regulatory Agencies;

• $78.3 million for Agriculture;

• $46.9 million for the Department of State; and

• approximately $9.0 million for the Legislative Department.

The Department of Agriculture appropriation, for example, totals approximately $78.3 million, including funding for animal health, agricultural markets, brand inspection, the State Fair, conservation programs, animal welfare, plant industries, and agricultural inspections.

Understanding the Funding Sources

General Fund

The General Fund is the state's principal source of flexible operating revenue. It finances major state responsibilities including education, corrections, health care, human services, courts, and public safety.

The bill appropriates approximately $17.35 billion in General Fund money.

Cash Funds

Cash funds are revenues collected for specific purposes. These may include fees, assessments, dedicated taxes, program revenues, and other sources that state law directs to particular programs.

The bill includes approximately $13.97 billion in cash-fund appropriations.

Reappropriated Funds

Reappropriated funds generally represent money that is appropriated to one state agency and subsequently transferred to another state agency to provide a service or carry out a program.

The bill includes approximately $2.89 billion in reappropriated funds.

Federal Funds

Federal funds are amounts received from the federal government and administered through state programs. Major examples include Medicaid, transportation, human services, public health, and other federally supported programs.

The bill anticipates approximately $15.36 billion in federal funds.

The General Appropriations Act primarily provides spending authority. It tells state agencies how much money they may spend, identifies the source of that money, and in many cases specifies the programs or purposes for which it may be used.

The bill contains hundreds of individual appropriations for personnel, operating expenses, grants, contracts, benefits, information technology, facilities, payments to local governments, and specific state programs.

Many appropriations also contain footnotes expressing legislative intent or establishing conditions concerning how particular appropriations are expected to be administered. For example, the Agriculture section directs funding toward international markets, workforce development, and renewable-energy, energy-efficiency, and climate-resilience grants.

The bill does not mean that every dollar appropriated comes from state taxes or the General Fund. Of the approximately $49.56 billion operating budget, roughly $32.21 billion comes from cash funds, reappropriated funds, or federal funds rather than the General Fund.

The final operating budget totals approximately $49.56 billion, with the largest appropriations directed toward health care, K–12 education, higher education, human services, transportation, corrections, and the judicial system.

The budget reflects not only state tax revenue but also billions of dollars in dedicated cash funds, transfers between state agencies, and federal funding. Individual appropriations within the bill establish how those resources may be spent and provide the financial framework under which state government will operate throughout the fiscal year.