§2–302.

    (a)    The funding required in the State budget for local health services, exclusive of special fund and federal appropriations, shall be at least the amount set forth in subsection (b) of this section.

    (b)    The funding shall be:

        (1)    For fiscal years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, the amount of funding provided through the formula for the preceding fiscal year adjusted for:

            (i)    Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers), on June 30 of the second preceding fiscal year, calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor; and

            (ii)    Population growth, as measured by the growth in the total population of the State on June 30 of the second preceding fiscal year, according to the most recent statistics available through the U.S. Department of Commerce;

        (2)    For fiscal year 2025, $70,000,000, to be distributed to each municipality or subdivision in the same proportion as the fiscal year 2024 funding distributed to each municipality or subdivision;

        (3)    For fiscal year 2026, $80,000,000, to be distributed to each municipality or subdivision in the same proportion as the fiscal year 2025 funding distributed to each municipality or subdivision; and

        (4)    For fiscal year 2027 and each subsequent fiscal year, the greater of:

            (i)    The funding provided by the formula for the immediately preceding fiscal year; or

            (ii)    The actual funds appropriated for the immediately preceding fiscal year, adjusted for:

                1.    Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (All Urban Consumers), on June 30 of the second immediately preceding fiscal year, calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor; and

                2.    Population growth, as measured by the growth in the total population of the State on June 30 of the second immediately preceding fiscal year, according to the most recent statistics available through the U.S. Department of Commerce.

    (c)    For fiscal year 2027 and each subsequent fiscal year, no subdivision may receive less State funding for local health services under this section than that subdivision received in fiscal year 2026.

    (d)    The Secretary shall, in consultation with local health department directors, adopt regulations to guide the distribution of the funding required under this section. The regulations shall give consideration to appropriate measures of community health need, local funding effort, and other relevant factors.