MASS. HOUSE PASSES SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET TO CLOSE FISCAL YEAR 2025

Bill addresses budget deficiencies and makes new, limited investments in health care, life sciences, and sports and entertainment

BOSTON – Wednesday, October 15, 2025 – Today, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a supplemental budget to address deficiencies, to make new necessary investments, and to close the books on Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). The legislation appropriates $2.25 billion in gross spending, at a net cost to the state of $750 million, representing a reduction of almost $200 million from the Governor’s original proposal.

“This supplemental budget closes the books on FY25, and aims to fortify the Commonwealth’s finances, bolster economic development, and ensure continued access to critical health care services,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “In the face of unrelenting attacks from the Trump Administration that will strip health insurance coverage from millions of Americans and deny access to lifesaving vaccinations, this supplemental budget will help vulnerable residents prepare for, and avoid, a lapse in coverage, and ensure continued access to vaccines for every child in Massachusetts. I want to thank Chairman Michlewitz for his hard work, and all my colleagues in the House for recognizing the importance of the investments that are included in this legislation.”

“This supplemental budget will close the books on FY25 in a balanced and fiscally responsible manner. By making critical investments into much needed programs in healthcare, education, and housing to name a few, the Commonwealth will be in a strong fiscal position for FY 26 and beyond,” said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “I want to thank Speaker Mariano for his dedication to these issues, as well as all my House colleagues for supporting this initiative.”

“I’m proud that the House has passed H.4601, which incorporates my legislation to include State Police officers in the Commonwealth’s violent injury disability benefits and updates key statutory language to strengthen and clarify the law. These changes represent a significant legislative win, ensuring our statutes reflect both the seriousness of catastrophic injuries sustained in the line of duty and the need for fairness and clarity in their application,” said Representative Jessica Ann Giannino (D-Revere). “I’m deeply grateful to Speaker Mariano and Chairman Michlewitz for their leadership and partnership, and to my colleagues in the House for advancing this important measure to better support those who put themselves in harm’s way to keep our communities safe.”

“I am pleased to have voted for the House closeout budget. This budget takes important steps to support our critical health care system in very challenging times while also investing resources to housing, public safety and so many other important areas that affect the lives of residents of Winthrop and Revere,” said State Representative Jeffrey Rosario Turco (D. Winthrop).

The bill passed today appropriates $10 million for Health Care for All to conduct a public awareness campaign, and to conduct health coverage enrollment assistance for communities at risk of losing health care coverage as a result of the new Medicaid reporting requirements that were put in place by President Trump and Congress through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It invests $10 million for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, and includes $5 million in grants to reproductive health care providers. It also invests $15 million for a new Sports and Entertainment Fund grant program, for which $10 million will be set aside for the events related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The bill passed today also includes a policy section which authorizes the Department of Public Health Commissioner to determine routine childhood immunizations and vaccination schedules, rather than relying on the recommendations of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

In addition to the appropriations, the bill also invests in the state’s future by depositing the remainder of the funds to an escrow account ($337. 7 million), to support pensions ($18.8 million), and to the Other Postemployment Benefits Trust Fund ($18.8 million).

Additionally, the House accepted an amendment from Chair John Lawn that updates and restructures existing assessments on Massachusetts hospitals used to fund the Health Safety Net and related hospital support trust funds. The changes modernize financial data used in the assessment, increase the amount hospitals contribute, and adjust how the resulting funds are distributed among hospitals.

The bill also addresses budget deficiencies, including:

• $1.67 billion in gross spending ($303 million net cost) for MassHealth
• $60.7 million for snow and ice removal
• $35 million for HomeBASE
• $14 million for the Section 35 program
• $12.5 million for no-cost calls
• $12 million for Universal School Meals
• $7.2 million for Department of Correction (DOC) Facilities operations
• $6.8 million for the Clean Water Trust Fund
• $3.5 million for State Police operations
• $700,000 for the Suffolk County District Attorney

The bill passed in the House of Representatives by a vote 141-14 and now goes to the Senate for its consideration.