Massachusetts House Passes Fy26 Budget, Invests in Programs that Support Families Across Massachusetts

Highlights include a record investment in the MBTA, local aid increases in education, and continued funding for universal school meals

 

Special to The Advocate

 

BOSTON – Wednesday, April 30, 2025 – Today, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed its Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget. Funded at $61.47 billion, nearly $500 million below Governor Maura Healey’s budget proposal, the House’s FY26 budget responds to the needs of residents, provides strong support for the Commonwealth’s cities and towns, and among many critical investments, includes significant funding for education, transportation, health care, housing, and workforce development.

 

“The House’s FY26 budget makes key investments that better support Massachusetts students and families, that increase access to affordable health care, and that provide for a safer and more reliable public transportation system – all without raising taxes. In a moment of incredible uncertainty at the federal level, our budget is proof that government can be both fiscally responsible and an agent of good, the kind of government that our residents deserve,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Chairman Michlewitz and the House Committee on Ways and Means for working diligently to craft a budget that delivers results for our constituents, as well as all my colleagues in the House for their valued input.”

 

“This budget builds off the successes of the last few years by prioritizing our residents. Whether it is greater investments into programs like housing stability, public transportation, or early education these initiatives are a reflection of our shared values,” said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “By reinvesting in the people of the Commonwealth we will continue make our economy more competitive and equitable for years to come. I want to thank Speaker Mariano for his leadership during this budget process, as well as my Vice-Chairs Ann-Margaret Ferrante and Kipp Diggs, and the entire membership of the House for their thoughts and guidance over the last few months to make this a more successful and well-rounded budget.”

 

“I’m proud that the House’s FY26 budget delivers real wins for Revere, Saugus, and communities across the Commonwealth. Locally, the 16th Suffolk is looking at investments in public safety and emergency services, as well as upgrades to social infrastructure. At large, this budget contains record investments in the MBTA, workforce development, and universal school meals. I want to thank Speaker Mariano and Chairman Michlewitz for their leadership in advancing a fiscally responsible, forward-looking budget that delivers for our residents,” said Representative Jessica Giannino (D-Revere).

 

“As the Commonwealth addresses uncertain economic conditions, I was proud to vote for a House budget that continues unprecedented investments in both our schools and our transportation system while at the same time being fiscally responsible. The House budget also delivers on important public safety priorities by funding $75,000 for the Revere Police child safety grants and $25,000 for body cameras,” said Representative Jeffrey Rosario Turco (D-Winthrop).

 

Due to responsible fiscal management, the House’s FY26 budget is balanced, and makes significant investments across several issue areas, without needing to include new taxes or tax increases nor drawing from the Stabilization Fund, which is set to reach $8.36 billion.

 

“At a time when our partnership with the federal government is uncertain, the House recommitted to the values that make Massachusetts a leader in the nation, producing a fiscally responsible and balanced budget that meets the moment,” said Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester), Vice Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “With investments to strengthen public education, promote economic and workforce development, and support public education, this budget reinforces our long-term competitiveness and works to make sure that Massachusetts remains a place where families and businesses can grow and thrive. I want to thank Speaker Mariano and Chair Michlewitz for their steady leadership throughout this process.”

 

“It was an honor to travel all over the Commonwealth with the Committee on Ways and Means these past weeks and hear the budgetary concerns and priorities of Bay Staters everywhere,” said Representative Kip A. Diggs (D-Barnstable), Assistant Vice Chair, House Committee on Ways and Means. “I am grateful to Speaker Mariano for appointing me Assistant Vice Chair of the committee and am very proud of the FY26 budget that we have produced, especially given all the uncertainty generated by Washington.”

 

The budget that passed today includes $1.95 billion in investments for transportation and education initiatives made possible because funding generated by the Fair Share ballot initiative that voters approved in November of 2022, which established a surtax of 4 percent on annual income above $1 million.

 

House’s FY26 Fair Share Investments
Education		Transportation
Child Care Grants to Providers	$360 million	CTF Transfer to MBTA	$450 million
Minimum Per Pupil Aid	$240 million	MBTA Academy	$40 million
Universal School Meals	$190 million	MBTA Water Transportation Grants	$10 million
Free Community College	$94 million	CTF Transfer to RTA	$110 million
Financial Aid Expansion	$80 million	CTF for Debt Service and Additional Bonding Capacity	$100 million
Childcare Supports	$53 million	CTF Transfer to the Mass Transportation Trust Fund	$55 million
School Transportation Reimbursements	$50 million
MassReconnect	$24 million
Green SchoolWorks	$20 million
Income Eligible Waitlist	$15 million
Early Literacy	$15 million
State University SUCCESS	$14 million
State University Funding Formula	$10.5 million
Targeted Scholarships	$10 million
Community Colleges Funding Formula	$9.5 million
TOTAL	$1.185 billion	TOTAL	$765 million

 

Local Aid and Education

The FY26 House budget funds Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) at $1.308 billion, and Chapter 70 education funding at $7.121 billion, representing a $257.2 million increase over the FY25 budget. The budget also funds the fifth year of a six-year implementation plan for the Student Opportunity Act (SOA), which was enacted in 2019 to ensure that public schools have the necessary resources to provide high-quality education to students, regardless of zip code or income level. The budget provides an additional $120 per pupil in minimum aid supplements, increasing the minimum aid total to $150 per pupil. Additionally, the budget includes the following education initiatives:

• $483.2 million for Circuit Breaker Special Education reimbursement
• $199 million for 100 percent charter school reimbursement
• $122.1 million for regional school transportation
• $28.7 million for homeless student transportation

The House’s FY26 budget continues to fully fund universal free school meals for every public-school student in the Commonwealth. Massachusetts is one of only six states in the country that mandate district participation for free school meals for all students, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Additionally, the House’s FY26 budget establishes a 15-member vocational school admissions task force to review admissions policies and standards of review. This budget also prohibits the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) from promulgating new regulations, and from amending regulations, until the completion of a report by the task force.

 

Public Transportation

The House budget includes a record investment of $687 million for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), as well as $204 million for the Regional Transit Authorities that serve commuters across Massachusetts. These investments include:

 

• $637 million operating transfer to the MBTA, including funds for reduced MBTA fares for riders with low incomes
• $204 million to support operations and transit improvements at the state’s 15 Regional Transit Authorities
• $40 million to create an MBTA Academy to support recruiting and training efforts, and to establish a pipeline for a skilled workforce across departments
• $10 million for grants for ferry services

Early Education and Care

Continuing the House’s longstanding commitment towards investing in the early education and care (EEC) workforce, the House budget includes $1.67 billion, $126.3 million more than FY25, to sustain recent rate increases and other historic investments in child care access and affordability across the Commonwealth in FY26. Other early education and care investments include:

• $475 million for Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants
• $448.2 million for child care for children involved with the Department of Children & Families and the Department of Transitional Assistance
• $517.6 million for child care for low-income families
• $15 million to reduce the income-eligible waitlist
• $20 million for child care resource and referral agencies
• $18.5 million for Head Start grants
• $7.5 million for an EEC educator scholarship program
• $7.5 million for an EEC educator loan forgiveness program

Higher Education

The House budget allocates $838 million for the University of Massachusetts system, $416 million for community colleges, and $409 million for state universities. Other higher education investments include:

• $255.2 million for scholarships
• $14 million for the Community College SUCCESS program
• $14 million for the State University SUCCESSS program
• $10 million for a new UMass system SUCCESS program
• $14.2 million for the Early College Initiative
• $13.1 million for the Dual Enrollment Partnership

Affordable and Accessible Housing

The FY26 budget maintains the House’s commitment to protect renters and homeowners across the Commonwealth from eviction and homelessness by investing in the following programs:

• $275 million for the Emergency Assistance (EA) program, which provides shelter to families with children and pregnant women
• $258.1 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
• $207.5 million for Rental Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program
• $57.3 million for HomeBase
• $10 million for shelter workforce assistance
• $8.4 million for the Home and Healthy for Good program, including $500,000 for the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance

The House budget makes rent more affordable for tenants or prospective tenants by prohibiting a real estate broker from charging a broker’s fee (commission or other fee) to a tenant or prospective tenant for finding an apartment to lease or rent if the tenant did not initiate contact with the broker. The budget only allows fees to be paid by a tenant or prospective tenant if all the following requirements are met: the tenant or prospective tenant initiated the contact with the broker; the tenant or prospective tenant received a rental brokerage fee disclosure from the broker; and the tenant or prospective tenant agreed to all terms and conditions of the brokerage fee disclosure in writing.

 

Workforce Development

The House budget funds the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development at $113.4 million. Additionally, it invests in the following initiatives:

• $58.9 million for Adult Basic Education Services
• $20.9 million for Labor and Workforce Development Shared Services
• $18.9 million for DTA Employment and Training Services
• $15.2 million for Summer Jobs for At Risk Youth
• $9 million for Career Technical Institutes
• $10 million for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund
• $8.3 million for One Stop Career Centers
• $6.5 million for School-to-Career Connecting Activities
• $3.3 million for Registered Apprenticeship Expansion
• $3.1 for Career and Technical Education Grants

Energy and Environmental Affairs

The House’s budget invests $505.4 million in Energy and Environmental Affairs, including:

• $163.4 million for the Department of Conservation and Recreation
• $85.3 million for the Department of Environmental Protection
• $67.2 million for the Department of Agricultural Resources
• $63.4 million for the Clean Water Trust

The House budget also includes a $25 million transfer to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and $20 million in continued support for Green SchoolWorks program to decarbonize and increase efficiency in our schools through green energy projects. It also includes a $14 million transfer to the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund, which was created last year for permanent emergency disaster relief from natural disasters or other catastrophic events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, landslides, extreme winds, and extreme temperatures.

 

Health and Human Services

The House budget includes $22.43 billion for MassHealth, including $13.8 million in primary care rates and $5.3 million in behavioral health investments in outpatient and substance use disorder services.

The House budget extends the Health Connector’s ConnectorCare Pilot program from two years to three years and expands its eligibility from 300% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to 500% FPL. There were 51,237 people enrolled in ConnectorCare Pilot as of June 2024. The House budget also establishes a nine-member task force to address barriers and impediments to telehealth across state lines which must issue a report to facilitate interstate medical practice and the practice of telemedicine.

 

The House’s FY25 budget invests in the human services workforce, which provides services to our most vulnerable residents, by including $207 million for Chapter 257 rates for health and human service workers, and $132 million for rate increases for nursing facilities. It also funds the following initiatives:

• $12.6 million for the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative
• $4.9 million in workforce development for funding for nurses through recruitment bonuses, educator funding, and testing
• $3.2 million for the Besty Lehman Center for Patient Safety
• $29.5 million for Councils on Aging

The House budget makes investments controlling the cost of living by lowering food costs and ensuring access to our most vulnerable populations. It includes $55 million for the Emergency Food Assistance program, $20 million for the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program, which provides a dollar-for-dollar match to SNAP recipients purchasing locally grown healthy food, and $8.4 million for the SNAP for low-income workers program.

 

Public Health and Mental Health

The House budget funds the Department of Public Health at $1.05 billion and the Department of Mental Health at $1.28 billion for FY26. Investments include:

• $194.5 million for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS)
• $35 for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention
• $14.3 million for statewide and community-based suicide prevention
• $10.4 million for community health centers, including $1 million for a new gender-affirming care program
• $661.9 million for adult mental health supports
• $128.6 million for child and adolescent services
• $5 million for DHM loan forgiveness program

Veterans’ Services

The Executive Office of Veterans’ Services provides educational opportunities, outreach centers and service benefits, as well as personal care services through the Veterans’ Homes in Chelsea and Holyoke. The House budget includes the following investments:

• $81.8 million for Veterans’ Benefit Payments
• $79.8 million for the Veterans’ Homes in Chelsea and Holyoke
• $9.5 million for Veterans’ Outreach Centers
• $4 million for Veterans’ Homelessness Services

Criminal Justice

The House budget continues to invest in programs and policies that uphold our commitment to criminal justice reform by reducing recidivism rates and increasing access to justice and inmate services. It includes the following investments:

• $33.7 million for the Office of Community Corrections
• $16.1 million for Community Based Reentry Services
• $7 million for Emerging Adults Pre-and-Post Release Reentry Grants
• $3 million for Housing Assistance for Reentry Transition
• $2.75 million for Reentry Workforce Development and Supportive Services
• $1.4 million for the School of Reentry
• $51 million for Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp. to provide legal services to the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable populations
• $10 million transfer to the Communications Access Trust Fund to provide free phone calls for inmates and their families
• $5 million for the Immigration Legal Assistance Fund for non-violent offenders
• $3.3 million for Prisoners’ Legal Services
• $3 million to implement an access-to-counsel pilot program to provide legal representation for low-income families in eviction proceedings

Speaker Mariano and the House Committee on Ways & Means introduced their FY26 budget proposal on April 16, 2025, following a review of the Governor’s proposal and a series of public hearings. The budget passed the House of Representatives 151-6 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.