House Bill 14‑85, which would raise the monthly personal allowance nursing‑home and long‑term‑care residents may retain from $100 to $110, received a do‑pass recommendation from the House Appropriations Committee.
Representative Matt Ruby, the bill sponsor, told the committee the proposal would increase allowances for certain long‑term care and ICF residents and includes an inflation inflator going forward. “It would bump bring those up from 100 to a hundred and $10,” Ruby said.
Representative Murphy asked whether the change would affect Social Security benefits. Ruby responded that the bill would not change what residents receive from Social Security; the allowance change changes the portion of income retained rather than the federal benefit level.
Representative Mitscog moved a do‑pass recommendation; Representative Murphy seconded. The committee roll call showed unanimous support among members present, recorded as 20 yes, 0 no and 3 absent. The committee chair said the measure would “go back to the original carrier” for the next steps.
Committee discussion characterized the bill as a straightforward adjustment to an existing allowance rather than a change to federal benefits or an expansion of services. No amendments were made in the hearing.