Author: john_velis

$1.57 Billion Plan Pairs Fair Share Investments with Innovative Policy Solutions 

(BOSTON—4/9/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today approved a budget plan that pairs statewide education and transportation investments with innovative policies to spur new multifamily housing construction, boost the family medicine workforce, protect immigrants, and ease strained municipal budgets with regionally equitable Fair Share investments. 

The legislation, S.3041, exempts building materials from the sales tax for qualifying housing projects and boosts the primary care workforce by delivering scholarships to UMass Medical graduates who agree to practice in underserved populations in Massachusetts after graduation. 

The bill sends significant funding to city and town budgets to help with the costs of heavy winter storms, increases reimbursements for special education services, and strengthens scientific research operations at public universities. 

“By including innovative policy solutions with strong investments, we are going beyond just allocating funding in this budget,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “We are lowering taxes to spur housing, building our health care workforce, and protecting our immigrant neighbors, on top of making generational investments in statewide transit and education. I’m grateful to Chair Rodrigues for his leadership in delivering this bill, and grateful to each Senator for their contributions.” 

“Today, the Senate passed a consolidated Fair Share supplemental budget that makes significant strides in educational initiatives and transportation infrastructure, while maintaining our focus on municipal relief and regional equity,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The Senate continues to support special education, literacy growth, and also establishes a primary care higher education scholarship pilot program at UMass Medical that will help fill the shortage of primary care physicians in the Commonwealth. We also go big on transportation, investing Fair Share dollars to support the ongoing renovation and infrastructure improvements at the MBTA. This spending plan also addresses the harsh winter and historic blizzard of 2026, dedicating $100 million for municipal relief to beleaguered municipalities all across Massachusetts. I would like to thank President Spilka and my Senate colleagues for their input to craft this supplemental budget.” 

Legal Defense for Massachusetts Immigrants 

In response to federal legal actions targeting immigrants living in Massachusetts, the legislation invests an additional $1 million in legal defense services for immigrants, allocated from the state’s general fund. 

The funding comes following the success of an initial $5 million investment by the Legislature that created the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative, which has already provided legal aid to hundreds of Massachusetts residents.  

Incentivizing New Housing Construction 

The legislation includes a new targeted sales tax exemption for building materials to incentivize the construction of new affordable, moderate-income, and middle-income housing units for certain housing projects.  

To target production in areas with the greatest need, the program focuses on projects that include at least 15 per cent affordable units and projects in communities where the median household income is below 120 per cent of the average household income. 

Education Investments 

As part of the Senate’s $618 million Fair Share investment in education, the legislation addresses Massachusetts’ shrinking primary care workforce with a pilot scholarship program.  

The new approach uses $10 million in Fair Share funds to offer full-tuition scholarships for UMass Chan Medical School students pursuing family medicine if they commit to remaining in Massachusetts and serving populations in need for five years after graduation. 

The legislation invests $100 million to ensure that Massachusetts’ public universities are able to withstand reductions in federal research funding and continue to strengthen their life-saving research and development operations, grow their renowned talent pipelines, and build strategic partnerships for the future. The funds would buoy the education and scientific research sectors through a new Public Higher Education Bridge Funding Reserve. 

The bill features a new $32 million investment to provide immediate relief for strained municipal budgets by increasing special education reimbursement rates in the current fiscal year. That investment is part of a larger $232 million appropriation for special education costs and circuit breaker reimbursements.  

The bill also includes $150 million toward supporting high-quality and accessible early education and care; $40 million for early literacy initiatives; and $18.3 million to expand financial assistance offered to Massachusetts students enrolled at state universities and UMass campuses. Additional investments of $2.5 million would boost school-based mental health support, and $1 million would help public schools implement bell-to-bell cell-phone free school policies. 

Transportation & Municipal Relief Investments 

As part of the Senate’s $763 million Fair Share investment in transportation, the bill sends $100 million to help towns and cities with extraordinary winter costs, including funds specifically marked for communities that were impacted by significant winter storms such as the historic Blizzard of 2026. 

The bill also includes generational funding in statewide Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs), funding for unpaved roads, and $535 million in direct support for the MBTA for operational funding, commuter rail support, and the low-income fare relief program.  

The legislation’s transportation and education investments are possible because of the Fair Share surtax on households that earn more than $1 million per year. Fair Share revenues have continued to exceed expectations year after year, leading to mid-year supplemental packages such as this one. 

The Senate and the House proactively split off critical funding for the Group Insurance Commission (GIC), which was originally contained in this bill, and fast-tracked that $300 million supplemental appropriation to the Governor earlier this week. 

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means advanced the FY26 consolidated Fair Share supplemental budget to the full Senate with a 16-0 vote on April 2, 2026. All committee votes are posted on the Legislature’s website and full details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate Press Room. 

The Senate passed the bill with a 35-4 roll call vote today and sent it back to the House of Representatives for further review. 

Statements of Support 

Marty Meehan, President of the University of Massachusetts 

“We are deeply grateful to Senate President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, Chair Comerford, and the entire Senate for their significant show of support for the university in this proposed supplemental budget bill. We look forward to working with the entire Legislature in the weeks ahead to continue advancing these priorities as the university continues to navigate this difficult and uncertain federal funding and policy environment.” 

Michael F. Collins, MD, Chancellor, UMass Chan Medical School 

“As Massachusetts and the nation grapple with primary care physician shortages we are grateful that Senate President Spilka, Senator Rodrigues and his Senate Ways and Means Committee have stepped forward with this bold and creative proposal to incentivize medical students to enter into primary care fields and serve our most vulnerable populations in the Commonwealth. As the only public medical school in the Commonwealth founded with a focus on primary care education, we are excited to be part of this initiative and doing our part to address the growing demand for primary care physicians practicing in the state.” 

Adam Chapdelaine, Executive Director, Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) 

“The MMA applauds the Senate’s commitment to our communities through this surplus supplemental budget. The proposed winter recovery efforts would provide essential support after a demanding season, helping to repair roads and mitigate costly snow maintenance budgets. We are also grateful for several additional investments focused on special education costs, regionalization efforts, rural schools, and more. Thank you to Senate President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, and the Senate for today’s important action.” 

Tamara Small, CEO, NAIOP Massachusetts 

“As a member of the Unlocking Housing Production Commission, I am pleased to see this critical recommendation move forward. Exempting material costs from the state’s sales tax will help manage the construction cost volatility facing multifamily housing development in Massachusetts. From addressing our housing crisis to catalyzing new property tax revenue for municipalities, this is a practical and progressive strategy for the Commonwealth. NAIOP looks forward to working with both chambers to advance these and other housing production strategies.” 

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Makes farm-to-table programs permanent, combats federal cuts and climate change threats

(BOSTON—4/1/2026) Today, the Massachusetts Senate passed the FARM Bill, agricultural legislation aimed at supporting Massachusetts’ 7,000 farms, making it easier for families to buy fresh and nutritious food, and protecting the state’s food supply for the future. 

The legislation—formally known as S.3029, An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts—is a major step forward in supporting Massachusetts farmers and growing the state’s agricultural economy. It builds on a recent special commission report focused on making Massachusetts agricultural operations sustainable for the 21st century. 

The FARM Bill helps owners of small farms to grow their businesses by removing hurdles and making agritourism ventures possible, such as corn mazes and ‘pick your own’ berry and fruit operations. The legislation also supports expanding farm operations with a local option property tax exemption for new agricultural buildings.  

“Massachusetts relies on the farms and fisheries that put fresh, local food on our tables, and it’s on us to make sure they can keep going and thrive,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “This bill does exactly that. It helps farms stay open, makes it easier for families to buy fresh, local food, and strengthens our food system for the long run. When we support our farmers, we’re supporting everyone in Massachusetts. I’m grateful to Chairs Rodrigues and Fernandes for their leadership, and to Senator Comerford for her steadfast advocacy on behalf of farmers across the Commonwealth.” 

“Today, the Senate took decisive action to bolster the Commonwealth’s agricultural industry and also address persistent food insecurity in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Farmland is one of the most tangible assets we have in the state, and this bill protects and ensures the future of farms for generations to come. By codifying essential food nutrition programs, we strengthen our food assistance safety net that is threatened by both the uncertainty at the federal level and the continuing effects of the pandemic. I’m especially proud that we also strengthen our vital cranberry industry, Massachusetts’ most valuable agricultural product. I would like to thank Senate President Spilka for her leadership, and also Vice Chair Comerford and Senator Fernandes for their work and leadership on this bill and their steadfast support of the agricultural community.” 

The bill makes it easier for residents to access healthy food, making permanent the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) to help families afford fresh produce and the Farm to School program to bring local ingredients into schools. By codifying these programs, the Senate is continuing its response to federal actions that threaten food access as a part of the Senate’s Response 2025 initiative. A further Response 2025 priority requires that state emergency planning efforts prioritize the security of the local food supply chain given federal cuts to emergency planning. 

The FARM Bill additionally requires regular reporting on the distribution of local produce through food banks, universal school meals, Meals on Wheels, the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP), and other food assistance programs. This data will help assesses the damage from detrimental federal actions such as the elimination of the USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which purchased food from historically underserved Massachusetts farmers and provided it to underserved communities. 

“As Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries, I’m proud to support the Senate’s effort to build a more resilient and sustainable food system in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Dylan A. Fernandes (D-Falmouth), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries. “The FARM Bill will expand access to fresh, locally grown food while putting more money into the hands of our farmers and fishermen. By reducing costs, strengthening supply chains, and expanding reliable markets, this legislation makes strategic investments into an industry that is essential for our economy, environment, and the health of our communities. I’m deeply grateful to Senator Comerford for championing this bill and to the work of the Senate President and Ways and Means Chair for bringing it to the floor.” 

“Today, the Senate advanced urgently-needed legislation to support the farms, producers, and fisheries that are the foundation of our local and regional food systems,” said Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), co-Chair of the Special Commission on Agriculture in the 21st Century and Senate Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries. “In western and north central Massachusetts, where agriculture is core to our economy and identity, we know that when we lose farmland, we lose far more than fields—we lose livelihoods, food security, and community. This legislation reflects the recommendations of the Special Commission on Agriculture in the 21st Century—a body that I was proud to co-chair. I’m grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka and Ways and Means Chair Mike Rodrigues for their steadfast leadership. With the FARM Bill, Massachusetts is stepping up—investing in the next generation of farms and fisheries while ensuring more local, nutritious food reaches Massachusetts families.” 

Supporting Farmers and Growing the Agricultural Economy

The legislation includes key provisions to help farmers remain viable and expand their operations. New farm buildings and structures would receive a five-year property tax exemption under a local option program added to the bill today. Senators voted 38-0 to adopt the property tax exemption (Amendment 5). 

The bill also expands opportunities for farmers to participate in agritourism, makes the Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) Program permanent, and eases the water permitting process for cranberry growers. 

Planning for the Future of Agriculture and Climate Change

The FARM Bill includes forward-looking initiatives to protect farmland and improve long-term planning by creating a statewide agricultural land database and improving the evaluation of the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program to ensure long-term sustainability. 

It directs emergency planning efforts to prioritize local food production and avoid supply chain disruptions, and explores renewable energy opportunities on farmland, balancing clean energy goals with agricultural land preservation. 

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means advanced the legislation to the full Senate with a 16-0 vote on March 23, 2026. All committee votes are posted on the Legislature’s website and full details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate Press Room. 

The Senate passed the bill on a 39-0 roll call vote and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review. 

Statements of Support

Warren Shaw, President, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation

“The Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation supports S3029, An Act Fostering Agricultural Resilience in Massachusetts. This legislation takes practical steps to strengthen farm viability by investing in food system infrastructure, expanding market access through programs like HIP and Farm to School, and supporting the next generation of farmers. Massachusetts farms operate in a high-cost environment and face increasing pressure on land, labor, and infrastructure, and this bill helps address those challenges in a meaningful way. We appreciate the Senate’s continued engagement with the agricultural community.” 

Becca Miller, Policy Director, Massachusetts Food System Collaborative

“The Senate’s passage of An Act Fostering Agricultural Resilience in Massachusetts will support the local food system, including the next generation of farmers—a critical step when 30 per cent of farms are expected to change hands in the coming decades, and agricultural land is out of reach for many young and beginning farmers. The Collaborative has heard from our farmer and SNAP client partners that they need consistency with the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) and are pleased with the inclusion of the HIP enabling legislation in this package. We are deeply grateful to Senate President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, and Senator Comerford for championing the local food system, and we urge the House to take up this bill.” 

Simca Horwitz, Co-Director, Massachusetts Farm to School

“The Senate’s passage of the FARM Bill is a really important step forward in developing a more sustainable, just food system here in Massachusetts. The codification of the Farm to School FRESH Grant program means more students will have access to healthy, local food in their school meals, more schools and early education programs will be able to provide experiential food and agriculture education, and more farmers and fishers will have reliable markets for their harvests. We are very grateful for President Spilka and Senator Comerford’s leadership in advancing legislation that will ensure our students are nourished and our farms are more resilient.” 

Brian Wick, Executive Director of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association

“An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts includes a vital change to the law that allows a cranberry grower retiring a bog that has a water withdrawal permit for use in cranberry production to transfer that permit to municipalities, which can then use those permits to draw additional water to meet local needs. On behalf of our Massachusetts cranberry growers, we are very grateful to the Senate leadership for including this long-sought opportunity. This idea arises out of the 2016 Cranberry Revitalization Task Force Report and creates a revenue source for growers looking to retire some or all of their bog acreage, while assisting municipalities with their water resource needs. We thank Senators Spilka, Rodrigues, Fernandes, and Comerford for their advocacy.” 

Andrea Solazzo, Senior Manager of External Affairs, New England, American Farmland Trust

“Massachusetts has lost 27,000 acres of farmland in just five years—a rate of loss twice the national average. The FARM Billtakes meaningful steps to reverse that trend by strengthening the Agricultural Preservation Restriction program, creating a statewide registry and map of agricultural land, and ensuring that renewable energy development and farmland protection can go hand in hand. American Farmland Trust is proud to support this legislation and the Commonwealth’s commitment to keeping farmers on the land.” 

Jennifer Core, Executive Director, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture

“I’m writing in strong support of An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts—the FARM Bill. At CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture), we work with hundreds of farms in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties each year, providing expert technical assistance and marketing support, and building consumer interest in local food and farm products. The FARM Bill is an opportunity for the Commonwealth to create new financial opportunities for local farms and invest in research and evaluation, especially related to tracking the preservation and use of Massachusetts farmland, which will allow for smart planning and future resources. Crucially, the FARM Bill codifies state programs that have been tested and shown to be effective. The Food Security Infrastructure Program (FSIG) and HIP (Healthy Incentives Program) are two examples of wise investments the state has made in the interest of farm viability, state resilience, and food access. Permanently codifying these programs will allow farm businesses to more confidently plan for infrastructure improvements on their farms and to grow food for all the consumers who rely on them, regardless of income. We thank each of you for your support of this bill.” 

Phoebe Walker, Chair, MA Food Policy Council Advocacy Committee

“The Massachusetts Food Policy Council works to increase farming and sales of Massachusetts grown foods. It also works to develop and support programs to bring healthy foods to everyone in the state. The Council’s priorities include protecting land and water and building the capacity of farmers and workers in the food system. The Advocacy Committee of the Food Policy Council is made up of non-Administration appointees to the Council, representing multiple sectors of the food system in the Commonwealth. The FARM Bill is one of our four 2025-26 legislative session priorities. Local agriculture plays a key role in the Commonwealth’s food system and economy, but despite their essential contributions, many farmers struggle to make a profit and keep their farms and businesses afloat, on average earning just 95 cents for every dollar they spend producing food. The FARM Bill would be transformative for the Massachusetts food and agriculture system: it includes a number of critical reforms to support farms and farmers and preserve valuable farmland. We applaud the speedy passage of the bill in the Senate.” 

Laura Sylvester, Public Policy Manager, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

“In this era of federal cuts, rising prices, and political instability, it’s more important than ever to build scaffolding that supports the Commonwealth’s food supply. The FARM Bill supports the emergency food system and farmers by creating more safety nets, more resources for advocates, and better opportunities for food to grow. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts strongly supports this bill and is grateful to Senator Comerford for her leadership on this issue.” 

Catherine D’Amato, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank

“The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) strongly supports the passage of S.2801 as hunger rises across Massachusetts and federal nutrition supports decline. As stewards of the MEFAP program, we work every day to purchase local, healthy food for our agency partners. This bill will strengthen Massachusetts farmers and fishermen and, as a result, enable GBFB and our Food Bank Coalition of Massachusetts partners to purchase more local food while meeting growing demand. At a critical moment, S.2801 ensures we can better serve our neighbors in need while supporting the local economy.” 

Derek Costa, Superintendent and Director, Bristol County Agricultural High School (Bristol Aggie)

“Bristol Aggie strongly supports S.3029 An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts, which advances food system resiliency, workforce development, and equitable access to locally produced food across Massachusetts. The Bristol Aggie campus, serving over 650 students from more than 40 communities, is a real-world agricultural hub where students gain hands-on experience and contribute to local food systems. This legislation aligns with our work connecting education, agriculture, and community impact, including our Co-Op and internship programs, Farm to School initiatives, and the development of our Agricultural Institute. By investing in infrastructure, workforce training, and local food access, this bill helps ensure that students are prepared to meet the growing demand for skilled workers while strengthening the Commonwealth’s agricultural economy.” 

Linda Dunlavy, Executive Director, Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG)

“As the Commonwealth’s most rural county, Franklin County’s economy is deeply tied to the health of its farming and food sectors. The FRCOG works across sectors to build a resilient and healthy region, and the FARM Bill would help us do that better. During a time of federal disinvestment in local agriculture, the bill’s combination of policies and investments will go a long way to stabilizing the future of agriculture in Massachusetts. We are grateful to Senate leadership for this important step and hope to see the bill move to the House next.”  

Rebecca Busansky, Executive Director, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures

“I am writing on behalf of Berkshire Agricultural Ventures to express my strong support for the FARM Bill. Its passage is an important step toward securing the future of our local food systems across the Commonwealth. This comprehensive bill would create a strong foundation for farmers at all stages to thrive and protect our agricultural land and practices. I am thankful for your continued support for this bill to ensure a stable, local food future for all residents.” 

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Hello everyone,

Happy Parade weekend! Team Velis is so excited to see you all around Holyoke this weekend for the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Road Race and of course at tomorrow’s 73^rd Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to every parade committee member who has worked tirelessly these past few months to organize this exciting weekend of events.

This week in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday and in anticipation of this weekend’s events, Team Velis had the opportunity to join in on a few celebrations including the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce’s St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast and Holyoke Medical Center’s annual celebration of the Chicopee and Holyoke Colleen Courts.

In addition to all the fun celebrations, Team Velis was hard at work throughout the week meeting with constituents, community organizations, and local leaders to discuss a wide variety of matters. From advocacy at the State House regarding youth health and addictive social media algorithms, to here in the district where discussions centered around accessibility for our neighbors with disabilities and local resources, our team remains committed to fostering positive change and supporting the well-being of our entire community.

This week, the Senate advanced efforts to enhance animal safety and welfare by passing the PETS Act. This legislation encourages ethical pet sales by prohibiting pet stores from selling cats and dogs from inhumane commercial breeding facilities, often known as “puppy mills”. If passed into law, Massachusetts would join a growing number of states in banning such sales, while allowing pet shops to continue operating profitably through the sale of pet supplies, services, and collaborations with rescues to feature adoptable animals.  Additionally, the bill restricts homeowner insurance companies from considering a dog’s breed when making decisions regarding policy underwriting, rating, or renewal. As someone who has proudly supported animal welfare legislation throughout his career and having adopted his own family cat from the Westfield Homeless Cat Project, we know Senator Velis will be happy to hear that this legislation passed the Senate.

This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in Easthampton and Holyoke. Next week we have an exciting line-up of office hours beginning on Monday at the Westfield Council on Aging from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, on Tuesday at the Russell Council on Aging from 11:30am to 12:30pm, and again on Wednesday at the Southampton Council on Aging from 9:30am to 10:30am. If you are unable to make office hours, please remember that you can reach us by email,  john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.   

Sincerely,

Team Velis

Hello everyone,

It has been six weeks since Groundhogs Day and it is finally starting to feel like spring! Hopefully this warm weather will help to clear the last of the snow from throughout our district. After enjoying the sunshine last weekend, Team Velis was ready to jump into a busy week full of events both in the district and at the State House.

Team Velis kicked off this week by celebrating Civic Learning Week’s Liberty and Learning: Civic Education at 250. Senator Velis is a strong believer that civic learning strengthens our communities, and that civics educators give students the tools and knowledge necessary to participate thoughtfully and confidently in our community and democracy. In Holyoke, Bridget joined local delegates and staff from Holyoke Community College and Holyoke High School in presenting two educators with citations to commemorate their work in supporting civic learning.

This week, Team Velis also had the pleasure of welcoming students from two of our high schools to the State House. In addition to visiting with Gabe, students from West Springfield High School and Hampshire Regional were able to tour the State House, participate in State House events, connect with state legislators, and attend a Public Service hearing.

After meeting with local students on Wednesday, Gabe and Mark had the opportunity to meet with the West Springfield and Westfield’s Boys & Girls Clubs ahead of the 23rd Annual Massachusetts Boys & Girls Club Alliance Luncheon in Boston. During these meetings, Team Velis discussed policies and programs that will help support the health, safety, and welfare of our youth. Senator Velis is immensely proud of his relationship with Boys & Girls Clubs located throughout his district and never turns down the opportunity to shoot some hoops with the children at the Club. Our team is always glad to host constituents at the State House and discuss how our office can further ensure Western Massachusetts has a seat at the table up on Beacon Hill.

Prior to the weekend, Team Velis attended a proclamation presentation in Westfield in honor of Renal Medullary Carcinoma (RMC) Awareness Day. Community members gathered to raise visibility of this rare disease and watch as Westfield City Hall was illuminated in orange, in partnership with the Tactical Tone Memorial Foundation. Later that day, we attended the raising of the Irish flag in Chicopee to kick off St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Our office is looking forward to the rest of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations throughout next week!

This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in Chicopee and West Springfield. Next week, we will be hosting office hours at the Easthampton Council on Aging on Tuesday from 10:30am to 11:30am and again on Wednesday at the Holyoke Council on Aging from 10:00am to 11:00am. If you are unable to make office hours, please remember that you can reach us by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.

Sincerely,

Team Velis