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(Boston- 6/30/2025) Today the Massachusetts State Legislature sent the final version of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget to Governor Healey’s desk for her consideration. Within the final $61 billion budget, language sponsored by Senator John C. Velis was included that will repeal an archaic state law that currently still restricts gold star spouses from receiving the Commonwealth’s annuity benefit if they remarry later in life. Having passed the Senate during the past two legislative sessions, Velis celebrates the language finally reaching the Governor’s desk.

“It is truly so heartbreaking that the husbands and wives of our nation’s fallen heroes, who have endured such an unimaginable loss, have been told for years that if they end up remarrying that the Commonwealth would no longer recognize their sacrifice,” shared Senator Velis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. “One of the essential ways we can all honor our fallen heroes is supporting and caring for their loved ones that they left behind, and the annuity is a critical benefit our Commonwealth offers. I am beyond proud that this language has finally made its way to the Governor’s desk following the Senate’s years of steadfast dedication to supporting our Gold-Star families.

A compromise budget having passed the Legislature, the bill now goes to the Governor’s desk for consideration.   

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Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a great week and were able to stay cool despite the high temperatures. If you or a loved one need any assistance locating a nearby cooling shelter this summer, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office for assistance.

This week was quite a busy one out in Boston. To start off the week I had the privilege of Chairing the first public meeting of the Special Legislative Commission on Xylazine. The Commission, which is tasked with studying and making recommendations on ways to address the public health and safety concerns posed by the proliferation of xylazine as an additive to illicit drugs, was established in the omnibus substance use disorder bill that was signed into law last session. This Commission has an important task in front of us, as we continue to see the presence of xylazine grow in our Commonwealth’s drug supply. Last year, xylazine was found in a record-high 34% of lab-tested samples tested statewide. And in 2023, xylazine was found in 9% of opioid-related overdose deaths. I look forward to the work ahead to help prevent overdose deaths and the lifelong health consequences posed by xylazine.

On Tuesday I made my way back out to Boston to participate in the first hearing of the session for the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. I am incredibly proud to have been reappointed as Chair of this committee again this session. Over the past two sessions this committee has worked tirelessly to pass an astounding amount of legislation to improve the lives of our veterans, service-members, and their families.

This week the Legislature held its annual celebration alongside the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women to recognize the unsung heroes across out state that are making a tremendous impact in our communities. This year I nominated Nora Schmidt of Southampton. Each and every single day Nora Schmidt is making our Commonwealth a better place to live through the kindness and compassion she spreads through her nonprofit organization, Magic for Maddie, in memory of her daughter. Nora has turned this unimaginable loss into a mission that focuses on making an immense and lasting impact on our Western Massachusetts community.  Whether it be through her unwavering support of other families facing a pediatric cancer diagnoses or the example that she sets for each of us through her bravery and compassion in even the most difficult situations. Nora Schimdt is an inspiration for all young girls and women throughout the Commonwealth.  

This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Westfield, Russell, and Southampton. Unfortunately, with the way the calendar fell for next week there will not be any formal office hours however, if you are in need of assistance please do not hesitate to reach out by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, or to drop into my district office.

Best,

John Velis 

Hello everyone,  

I hope everyone had a great week! As summer officially begins this week, I want to welcome our summer interns to Team Velis, Ali and Brandon, who will helping out my District office for the next few months. Ali is studying at Westfield State University and Brandon at George Washington University. I am very excited to have both joining us and contributing to the team.  

On Monday, Team Velis joined Senators Gomez and Oliveira in Chicopee to celebrate budget funding secured for safety improvements at the intersection of Chicopee Street and McKinstry Avenue. This intersection has long been a safety hazard with multiple obstructed views and reported accidents already occurring this year alone. I am grateful to Senator Gomez for his leadership on this funding, and was glad to collaborate with my legislative partners to help reduce the danger for both drivers and pedestrians in the neighborhood.  

On Tuesday, I testified before the Joint Committee on Education in support of my bill S461, An Act to Protect Children’s Learning, Focus, and Emotional Health During School Hours, which would limit students’ access to their cell phones during school hours so they can focus on what is most important—their education! Giving children a break from the constant use of cell phones will not only help them focus in the classroom, it will also improve their mental health by reducing the anxiety and stress that comes from persistent social media use throughout the day. I am so grateful for those who testified in support of the bill, and I hope to see impactful improvements toward student education and their mental health from the State House this session.  

On Wednesday the Senate passed a supplemental budget that, among other things, provides critical funding to hospitals throughout Western Massachusetts, including Baystate and Holyoke Medical Center. Keeping our hospitals funded is important to ensure that healthcare is accessible here in Western Mass. 

Team Velis was also proud to join two community celebrations this week. The first was the Westfield Women’s Club for their annual tea party, where we presented official Senate citations to this year’s honorees (Rebecca Hart, Melissa Cahalan, and Jillian Battles). The second was celebrating Brandon Cekovsky and presenting him with a Senate citation to mark the achievement of becoming an Eagle Scout. It is always special to meet with the next generation of leaders and see how they have learned the importance of service through scouting.   

This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Easthampton and Holyoke. Next week Team Velis will be hosting office hours on Monday at the Westfield Council on Aging from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, on Tuesday at the Russell Council on Aging from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, and on Wednesday at the Southampton Council on Aging from 9:30am to 10:30am. If you are unable to make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.   

Best, 

John Velis  

(Boston- 6/17/25) Today, Senator John C. Velis testified before the Joint Committee on Education on his bill to limit students’ access to personal electronic devices, including cell phones, during school hours. The hearing for the Senator’s legislation follows a roundtable held just last week in Agawam focused on youth mental health where Senate President Karen Spilka stated that this topic would be major priority of the Senate ahead of next school year.

The legislation, S.461 An Act to protect children’s learning, focus, and emotional health during school hours, would require local school boards to develop district policies that prohibits access to personal electronic devices and social media during school hours. The legislation provides exceptions, including for students with IEPs (Individualized Education Programs),and also requires that school policies ensure that parents and students are able to contact one another if requested during the school day.

During the hearing, Velis’s legislation received substantial support from leading experts on youth behavioral health, including from Jonathan Haidt, the author of the New York Time’s best seller The Anxious Generation. Haidt and his co-researcher, Zachary Rausch, are considered the foremost experts on how the spread of smartphones and social media have led to a “rewiring” of childhood and a rise in mental illness. Specifically, the two researchers offered written testimony to the Joint Committee on Education noting that Velis’s legislation “meets all the requirements of the model bill we have endorsed.”

“Through many interactions with students and faculty in my district, I’ve had firsthand conversations with students on the many different issues phones cause in our schools,” shared Senator John C. Velis, Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery. “Put simply, our kids need a break during the limited number of hours they are learning in classrooms, not only to help them focus on their education but for their emotional well-being as well. As a leader in education in this country, Massachusetts cannot fall behind by ignoring the problem that cell phones and social media present in our schools.”

Currently 21 other states have passed phone free school mandates, and many others are currently considering similar proposals. Velis shared that he hopes the legislation receives a favorable report from the Committee and is brought before the Senate before the beginning of the new school year in September.

Hello everyone,

I hope you had a great week! With high school graduation season coming to a close, I want to take a moment to congratulate all of the students across our district on this momentous occasion that they undoubtedly worked so hard to achieve. I wish you all the best of luck on wherever life may take you next!

Speaking of celebrations, there’s been quite a few across our district lately. Last Tuesday I had the opportunity to join community members in Agawam as they broke ground on their new high school. I am beyond proud to have helped local officials in securing over $96.8 million in state funding from the Massachusetts School Build Authority last summer to make this project possible.

Later last week I was beyond honored to receive Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award from the Western Massachusetts Council of Scouting America at their annual DCAD Dinner in Holyoke! It is so special to engage with our next generation of leaders and watch as they learn the meaning of service through scouting. I couldn’t be prouder to support this mission and to receive this award in recognition of Sheriff Ashe’s legacy. Thank you to all those who worked diligently to put together such an incredible evening!

This week I had the opportunity to host a roundtable at the Agawam Junior High School with Senate President Karen Spilka. I am incredibly grateful that she took the time to hear directly from those on the ground about the truly game changing work happening right in Agawam to make sure our kids get access to support services when they need them through the MCPAP for Schools Pilot Program. In 2023, I was proud to secure funding in the state budget to create this school-based behavioral health program, which has been piloted in the school districts of Somerville and Agawam over the last year. Through a collaboration between the Boston Children’s Hospital Neighborhood Partnership, the Massachusetts Psychiatry Access Program, and the school districts themselves; the program connects available resources with individual needs through a systemic approach to improve behavioral health support. It is my sincere hope that the MCPAP for Schools program will continue to grow and give more youth across our district and state the same opportunities that our students in Agawam now have.

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

Best,    

John Velis  

Legislature Adopts Resolution Designating 2025 Sales Tax Holiday

(BOSTON—6/12/2025) Saturday, August 9, 2025, and Sunday, August 10, 2025, are the official dates of Massachusetts’ annual sales tax holiday thanks to actions taken by the Massachusetts Legislature today. During the holiday, the state’s 6.25 per cent sales tax is suspended for most retail items priced under $2,500.

A 2018 state law, which made the sales tax holiday permanent, requires the Legislature to vote to set the dates of the holiday each year. Both branches adopted resolutions setting this year’s dates (S.2530 / H.4220), sponsored by Senator Adam Gómez (D-Springfield) and Representative Carole A. Fiola (D-Fall River).

“Lowering costs for Massachusetts residents and supporting local businesses is extremely important for our communities in this time of economic uncertainty,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “I’d like to thank Senator Gómez, my colleagues in the Senate and our partners in the House for their work to set this year’s sales tax holiday.”

“This year’s temporary suspension of the sales tax will bring consumers needed economic relief while boosting revenue for small businesses and retailers,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Chair Fiola and my colleagues in the House, along with our partners in the Senate, for their annual support for this economic development initiative.”

“The sales tax holiday is a wonderful opportunity for our residents to get out into their communities, support local businesses, get their kids ready for school in fall or make a purchase that they’ve been putting off,” said Senator Gómez, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses. “I am glad that our leaders here in the Legislature have been able to work and get this done again for our residents this year, and I look forward to hearing how residents are able to make the most of the tax reprieve.”

“I was proud to sponsor the legislation establishing this year’s sales tax holiday that helps boost our economy and provides support and relief for our residents and small businesses,” said Representative Fiola, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “This is an important weekend that helps bolster our economy and I applaud my colleagues in passing this legislation to provide individuals, families and businesses across the Commonwealth with some relief.”

A spike in consumer activity routinely boosts indirect tax revenues. According to the Department of Revenue, the 2024 sales tax holiday generated $3.54 million in indirect tax revenues due to increased economic activity.

At a time when consumers are seeing prices on store shelves spike, driven in part by federally imposed tariffs, this year’s Massachusetts sales tax holiday will give shoppers a much-needed break. The holiday also encourages families looking to shop for back-to-school season to support local small businesses and retailers.

Information about eligible purchases is available on the Department of Revenue website.

(6/10/2025- Agawam) Today, Senator John C. Velis hosted a roundtable with Senate President Karen E. Spilka focused on youth mental health in Western Massachusetts. During the roundtable the elected officials had the opportunity to hear personal accounts from students, parents, and faculty about a new innovative school-based behavioral health program launched in Agawam Public Schools, known as MCPAP for Schools, that has improved wait times and access to services. This roundtable comes on the heels of the Senate adopting a $500,000 amendment sponsored by Senator Velis in its’ Fiscal Year 2026 budget to continue and expand the program across the state.

The pilot program, first made possible by an amendment sponsored by Senator Velis back in 2023, is based off of the broader Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program and aims to improve access to behavioral health support services for youth by connecting available resources with individual needs through a systemic approach. Since first launching in Agawam last year, over 65 students have received services from community and telehealth providers thanks to the program, a 14% increase above the previous year.

“I was inspired by the students we met in Agawam and touched by the stories they shared. Their experiences clearly demonstrate how important programs like the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program we discussed today can be life changing, and should be available for all families, regardless of their insurance,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. “MCPAP is providing on-site, empowering mental health support, and will help us solve the mental health crisis in young people we so desperately need to address. I am deeply grateful to Senator Velis for gathering us together, the parents and students who shared stories, and the educators and leaders in Agawam for hosting us.

“No one has been a bigger champion for access to behavioral health programs than Senate President Spilka. I am incredibly grateful that she took the time today to hear directly from those on the ground about the truly game changing work happening right here in Agawam to make sure our kids get access to support services when they need them,” shared Senator John C. Velis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery. “We know with absolute certainty that gaining access to behavioral treatment early on has lifelong benefits that allow our children to grow into thriving adults. It is my sincere hope that the MCPAP for Schools program will continue to grow and give more youth all across our state the same opportunities that our students in Agawam now have.”

With the amendment to continue funding for the MCPAP for School Program having been adopted by the Senate, it now goes before a conference committee that is working to reconcile differences between the Senate and House budgets.

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Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a great week! With the Senate having passed its budget the week before Memorial Day I was overjoyed to have been able to spend this week connecting with constituents and attending events across our district.

On Monday I had the opportunity to join a number of our district’s thoughtful Memorial Day ceremonies. I kicked off the day bright and early to join community members from Agawam and West Springfield for the annual wreath laying at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge. Later that morning I joined Easthampton for their parade and ceremony followed by a visit to the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery’s annual ceremony before ending my day in Russell. I am so grateful for all those who helped organize these events and the countless other observations of Memorial Day this week to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation.

With high school graduations right around the corner I had the opportunity to join Westfield’s Dollar for Scholars annual award night on Tuesday. Congratulations to all the recipients, I have no doubt you all have bright futures ahead of you!

Speaking of graduations, this past Thursday the Westfield Technical Academy Aviation Maintenance program had a special send off for their graduating seniors over at Barnes Municipal Airport. Over the past few years these students have had an incredible high school experience learning how to repair and maintain aircrafts to help prepare them to become FAA certified mechanics following graduation. We are beyond lucky to be one of the very few schools in the country to provide our students with this opportunity and help prepare them for a thriving workforce. Congratulations to all the graduates!

On Thursday evening my good friends from the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery held a public policy forum right here in Western Massachusetts. As the Senate Chair for the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery I was proud to update all those in our region dedicated to helping those with substance use disorders about legislation before the committee and our monumental substance use disorder bill that was signed into law a few months ago.

This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Russell, and I was thrilled to connect with constituents at our Southampton office hours on Wednesday morning. Next week Team Velis will be hosting office hours on Monday at the Agawam Council on Aging from 11:00am to 12:00pm. If you are unable to make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.   

Best,    

John Velis  

Senate upholds ongoing fiscal responsibility, protects core services, and reinforces the state’s economic foundation in the face of federal uncertainty

(BOSTON—5/22/2025) The Massachusetts Senate today approved a $61.4 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). Over three full days of debate, the Chamber adopted 493 amendments, adding a total of $81.1 million in spending for statewide initiatives and local priorities for communities throughout the Commonwealth to the Senate Ways and Means Committee’s originally proposed budget.

The final budget—which safeguards the state’s financial health, protects the state’s most vulnerable residents, and makes investments that reinforce the Commonwealth’s economic vitality in the face of mounting federal threats—was passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 38-2. It neither raises taxes nor spends dollars from the state’s stabilization fund—also known as the ‘Rainy Day Fund’—which currently stands at a historic $8.1 billion.

“This budget reflects the Senate’s commitment to a Commonwealth that carefully balances investing in our people with responsible money management so we can protect our residents, communities and economy for years to come,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “The Senate’s statewide approach to investment delivers resources to every part of the state and protects our most vulnerable residents, while our continued focus on education and mental health ensures that residents have they keys to unlock the doors of opportunity. I am profoundly grateful to each member for their contributions to this budget, to Chair Rodrigues and his staff for their tireless and inclusive work, as well as Vice Chair Comerford, Assistant Vice Chair Feeney, and each of the committee members for their commitment to shaping the state’s investments in our collective future.”

“The Fiscal Year 2026 $61.4 billion budget overwhelmingly passed by the Senate makes highly impactful and transformative investments in education, transportation, local aid, health and human services, housing, public safety, and other vital areas. This budget is centered on the principle of fiscal responsibility, never more important with the continuing economic uncertainty at the federal level,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The budget reflects the Senate’s deep and steadfast commitment towards achieving long-term sustainability while protecting core services for our most vulnerable populations. Thank you to all my Senate colleagues, especially members of the committee, whose thoughtful input, advocacy, and collaboration helped to develop and shape this comprehensive budget plan. Thank you to the committee staff, whose tireless work was largely responsible for producing this budget. Lastly, I would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to Senate President Spilka for placing her trust in me, and for her compassionate and resolute leadership as we work together to rebuild our economy and grow our state’s long-term economic health.”

“This budget is a testament to the Senate’s collective values and our shared responsibility to invest in every community and every person in the Commonwealth—from the Connecticut River Valley to Cape Cod. By prioritizing education, transportation, health care, and support for municipalities, we are not only addressing immediate needs but also laying the foundation for a more equitable and resilient Commonwealth amid a time of great national turbulence and strife,” said Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Thank you to Senate President Karen Spilka and Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues and their teams for leading this responsive, steadfast, and compassionate budget. Our work is far from over, but today, we move forward with the goal of ensuring that all Massachusetts residents have the opportunity to thrive.”

“The Fiscal Year 2026 Senate budget represents a common sense, pragmatic spending approach ahead of imminent economic headwinds and federal uncertainty,” said Senator Paul R. Feeney (D-Foxborough), Assistant Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “It is a balanced, spend-within-our-means budget that uses the revenue we have available today, without increasing taxes, to invest in the most pressing needs of the Commonwealth. With smart investments in childcare, career and technical education, housing, education, economic development, public safety, and more, the Senate’s budget represents a values driven approach that lifts up the priorities of taxpayers across the Commonwealth, meets the needs of the most vulnerable, and maintains our state’s competitiveness.”

The Senate’s final budget increases spending by $3.7 billion over Fiscal Year 2025, with the majority of the increase attributed to MassHealth. Aligned with estimated tax revenue growth, the spending plan is based on a consensus tax revenue estimate of $41.214 billion for the coming fiscal year, a 2.25 per cent increase over the current fiscal year’s benchmark. Based on Fair Share surtax revenue estimates, the Senate’s budget proposal included $1.95 billion in education and transportation investments, an increase of $650 million over the last fiscal year.

Fair Share Investments

The Senate’s budget includes $1.95 billion in Fair Share surtax revenues, consistent with the consensus revenue agreement reached with the Administration and House of Representatives.

The Senate budget uses these revenues to support quality public education investments and the state’s transportation infrastructure, two cornerstones of the state’s economic foundation. Together with the Senate’s $1.28 billion Fair Share supplemental budget proposal passed earlier this month, total support this year for Fair Share supported statewide transportation and education projects amount to over $3 billion.

To brace for potential federal actions, the Senate’s FY26 budget deposits $165 million of surtax revenues into the Education and Transportation Reserve Fund, maintaining the Senate’s steadfast commitment to prioritizing fiscal responsibility in the face of rising uncertainty. By doing so, the budget sets aside a downpayment that will help maintain commitments to public education programming and transportation infrastructure in the event of economic disruption due to potential federal actions.

Notable Fair Share Education investments include:

· $325 million for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grant program, which is matched with $150 million in funds from the General Fund and the Early Education and Care Operational Grant Fund, for a total investment of $475 million.

· $265 million for Student Opportunity Act (SOA) expansion, as part of a $460 million increase from FY25 to support the fifth year of the implementation of the Student Opportunity Act and provide $150 in minimum per-pupil aid.

· $170 million for universal free school meals.

· $120 million for universal free community college, including non-credit tuition funding for those seeking to become emergency medical technicians and paramedics.

· $100 million to maintain financial aid programs for in-state students attending state universities through MASSGrant Plus, which is in addition to the $175.8 million for scholarships funded through general revenue.

· $98 million for childcare supports, coupled with a $192.8 million increase in the General Fund to maintain the current capacity and rates of the childcare financial assistance program.

· $50 million for school transportation reimbursement costs.

· $14 million for the State University Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services (SUCCESS) Program.

· $10 million for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI), matching $17.6 million in general revenue for a total of $27.6 million, to support a pathway to universal pre-kindergarten expansion, including in Gateway Cities and the Summer Step Up program.

· $20 million for early literacy initiatives and programs.

· $8 million for the Reimagining High School Initiative.

· $5 million for school-based mental health and wraparound services.

Notable Fair Share Transportation investments include:

· $350 million, in addition to $150 million from the General Fund, for a total of $500 million to support Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) operations, including key initiatives like low-income fare relief, year-round ferry service and the MBTA Academy. Together with the Senate’s recently passed Fair Share supplemental budget, the Committee has proposed dedicating $820 million in operating resources to fully fund MBTA’s operations for FY26.

· $120 million to support Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) across the state. Together with resources from the General Fund, the bill provides a record $214 million for RTAs. The Fair Share portion of the funding includes:

o $66 million in direct operating support for RTAs.

o $40 million to support complete fare free fixed-route access across all RTAs.

o $10 million to incentivize connections between regional transit routes and local economic hubs.

o $4 million to support expanded mobility options for the elderly and people with disabilities.

· $78 million for debt service for expanded new bond capacity for the Commonwealth Transportation Fund (CTF) for essential transportation projects across the Commonwealth.

· By committing $600 million annually to the CTF, the Senate will unlock additional bond capacity for critical transportation projects over the next ten years.

· $52 million in operating support for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).

Education

The Senate FY26 budget supports students of all ages by maintaining investments in public education at every level. The budget fully funds the fifth year of the Student Opportunity Act, provides a historic funding commitment to the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), and stands with public and private institutions of higher education at a volatile time.

With a $1.71 billion total investment in early education and care, the Senate’s budget builds on last year’s passage of the EARLY ED Act, supporting the sector’s workforce, protecting programming, and maintaining access to affordable care for families facing economic pressures.

Notable education funding includes:

· $517.6 million for income-eligible childcare.

· $448.2 million for Department of Children & Families (DCF) and Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) related childcare, providing critical services for families eligible for subsidized care.

· $475 million for the C3 operational grant program, supporting critical operational and workforce initiatives across the early education sector for the third year in a row.

· $98 million for childcare supports, coupled with a $192.8 million increase from the General Fund to maintain the current capacity and rates of the childcare financial assistance program.

· $44.9 million for EEC Quality Improvement Initiatives.

· $27.6 million for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative to maintain access to universal pre-kindergarten and preschool opportunities in underserved areas.

· $20 million for Childcare Resource and Referral Centers to support parents, childcare providers, employers, and community groups in navigating the state’s early education and care landscape.

· $20 million for grants to Head Start programs to promote school readiness for young children in low-income households.

· $5 million for grants to early education and care providers for childhood mental health consultation services.

· $2.5 million to continue the successful public–private pilot program with employers to create new childcare seats.

The Senate budget’s public K-12 investments provide crucial support to school districts confronting increased costs and fiscal pressures while delivering high quality public education to Massachusetts’ students.

To support schools across the state, the Senate follows through on the commitment to fully fund and implement the Student Opportunity Act by Fiscal Year 2027 and invests $7.3 billion in Chapter 70 state aid to public schools, an increase of $460 million over FY25. Further, the budget increases minimum Chapter 70 aid to $150 per pupil, delivering an additional $39.6 million in resources to school districts across the state.

For the second year, the Senate’s budget dedicates $120 million to fully fund MassEducate, the Commonwealth’s universal free community college program that became law in last year’s budget. By again delivering free tuition and fees for residents, the FY26 proposal continues its support for this vital initiative that expands economic opportunity in a regionally equitable manner across the Commonwealth.

Other education investments include:

· $492 million for the Special Education (SPED) Circuit Breaker, in addition to the $190 million included in the Fair Share supplemental budget recently passed. Together with Fair Share supplemental funding, the Senate’s FY26 budget fulfills the promise of 75 per cent reimbursement for eligible tuition and transportation costs, recommending $682 million in total to reimburse school districts for the cost of educating students with disabilities.

· $183 million for charter school reimbursements.

· $275.8 million for scholarships to students, including $100 million in Fair Share resources to expand MASSGrant Plus financial aid support for students attending public institutions.

· $103.7 million to reimburse school districts for regional school transportation costs, including $53.7 million in General Fund resources.

· $30 million for higher education wraparound services, including $16 million in General Fund resources, to support services for students attending community colleges through MassEducate, and $14 million in Fair Share resources to support wraparound services for students attending state universities.

· $16 million for rural school aid support.

· $14.2 million for early college programs and $13.1 million for dual enrollment, along with $8 million for Reimagining High School to empower high school students to take college courses prior to graduation.

· $5 million to support continued implementation of the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Higher Education law, including $3 million for grants offered through the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment initiative to help high school students with intellectual disabilities aged 18–22 access higher education opportunities; and $2 million for the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Trust Fund.

· $3 million for the Genocide Education Trust Fund to continue the state’s commitment to educate middle and high school students on the history of genocide.

· $3 million for the Civics Education Trust Fund to maintain and support a statewide civic infrastructure, provide professional development to teachers, and ensure that every student can access high quality civics education.

· $1 million for Hate Crimes Prevention Grants to support education and prevention of hate crimes and incidences of bias in public schools.

Community Support

Highlighting the Senate’s longstanding commitment to a sustainable state–local partnership, this budget provides significant resources to support all Massachusetts cities and towns, ensuring that the state can meet the needs of every region, city, and town—and leave no corner of the Commonwealth behind.

The proposal includes $1.337 billion in funding for Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), the primary source of direct state aid to Massachusetts towns and cities, an increase of $38.7 million over FY25. UGGA funding supports resources for municipalities as they collectively confront increased fiscal constraints at the local level.

The budget establishes a special commission to study how local aid is distributed, evaluate its effectiveness and equity, and make recommendations to maximize the equity of the distribution. In addition to traditional sources of local aid, this budget

also increases payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for state-owned land to $54.5 million. PILOT funding is a source of supplemental local aid for cities and towns working to protect and improve access to essential services and programs.

To further help communities thrive, the Senate Budget proposal gives communities, not the Legislature, the final say when issuing liquor licenses for restaurants and bars.

Other local investments include:

· $214 million for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to support regional public transportation systems, including $120 million from Fair Share funds to maintain and continue expansions to regional bus service, sustain systemwide fare free transit service, and support RTA commuter operations.

· $116 million for local housing authorities.

· $54.5 million for payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to cities and towns for state-owned land.

· $52.9 million for libraries, including $19.5 million for regional library local aid, $20 million for municipal libraries and $6.2 million for technology and automated resource networks.

· $29.9 million in grants to Councils on Aging, increasing assistance per elder to $16 from $15 in FY25.

· $26.2 million for the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support local arts, culture, and creative economic initiatives.

The FY26 budget codifies fare-free RTA service, which will require all RTAs to eliminate passenger fares for fixed routes and ADA-required paratransit service. With this measure, the Senate continues to prioritize regional equity, support RTAs as an essential public service that connects communities, and provide a crucial connection for commuters, students, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Health, Mental Health, and Family Care

The Senate’s FY26 budget funds MassHealth at $22.41 billion, an increase of $2.34 billion over the last fiscal year. As the largest cost driver in the state’s budget, MassHealth alone accounts for 65 per cent of the total spending increase over the FY25 budget.

Amid uncertainty in Washington, this budget maintains access to comprehensive health care coverage for over 2 million Massachusetts residents. MassHealth covers affordable, accessible, and comprehensive health care services for more than 1 in 4 residents, nearly half of all children, and 7 out of every 10 nursing facility residents.

To help keep healthcare costs down, the Senate Budget proposal includes a provision which will target high cost prescription drugs and ensure that the price for the drugs do not far exceed the value.

Other health investments include:

· $3.2 billion for a range of services and focused support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including $2 billion for community residential services and $288 million for the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Community Day and Work program.

· $1.73 billion to support the Personal Care Attendant program and its historic collective bargaining agreement which raised the wage scale to $25 per hour.

· $694 million for adult support services, including $19 million to support jail diversion initiatives to better serve individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders and connect them with appropriate treatment.

· $582.1 million for nursing facility Medicaid rates, including $112 million in additional base rate payments to maintain competitive wages in the Commonwealth’s nursing facility workforce.

· $386.4 million for Department of Mental Health (DMH) hospital and community-based services, including $4.8 million to fully fund the operation of the Pocasset Mental Health Center.

· $237.7 million for Department of Public Health (DPH) hospital operations, including $31 million to fully fund and maintain operations of the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children through the duration of FY26.

· $179.9 million for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS), including $1.5 million in new funding to develop the state’s recovery coach workforce, which will support key initiatives from last session’s Substance Use Disorder and Recovery Coach Licensure Act.

· $132 million for children’s mental health services. · $102 million for nursing facility enhanced Medicaid rates to begin implementation of the 2024 Long-Term Care Act.

· $79.9 million for domestic violence prevention services.

· $39.3 million for Early Intervention (EI) services, maintaining necessary support and services for infants and young toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities.

· $35 million for Family Resource Centers(FRCs) to maintain mental health resources available to families.

· $26.5 million for family and adolescent health, including $11.2 million for comprehensive family planning services and $6.7 million to enhance federal Title X family planning funding.

· $22.6 million for school-based health programming and services.

$20 million to recapitalize the Behavioral Health, Access, Outreach and Support Trust Fund to support targeted behavioral health initiatives.

· $14.3 million for suicide prevention and intervention, with an additional $1.8 million for Samaritans Inc. and $1.1 million for the Call2Talk suicide prevention hotline. This investment protects and fully funds 9-8-8, the 24/7 suicide and crisis lifeline.

· $14.7 million for maternal and child health, including $10.8 million for pediatric palliative care services for terminally ill children and a policy adjustment to ensure that children up to age 22 can continue to be served through the program.

· $12.7 million for Meals on Wheels and other nutrition programs for seniors.

· $6 million for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) grants to bolster social emotional learning support for K-12 students.

· $5.5 million for children advocacy centers to maintain critical support available to children that have been neglected or sexually abused.

· $5 million for workforce support for community health centers, including loan forgiveness.

· $5.2 million for the Office of the Child Advocate.

· $3.8 million for the Massachusetts Center on Child Wellbeing and Trauma.

· $2.5 million for veterans’ mental and behavioral health services through the Home Base program.

· $2 million for grants for improvements in reproductive health access, infrastructure, and safety.

Expanding and Protecting Opportunities

The Senate is committed to expanding opportunity and supporting the state’s most vulnerable residents. This budget therefore maintains the annual child’s clothing allowance, providing $500 per child for eligible families to buy clothes for the upcoming school year. The budget also fully annualizes the FY25 10 per cent increase to Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) benefit levels to help families move out of deep poverty. Additionally, an amendment adopted during debate ensures that pregnant women can access TAFDC, regardless of where they are in their pregnancy.

In addition, the Senate’s budget dedicates $82 million to support food security and child nutrition initiatives, including $42 million for Emergency Food Assistance to assist residents in navigating the historical levels of food insecurity, and $25.4 million for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) to ensure access to healthy food options.

Economic opportunity investments include:

· $467 million for Transitional Assistance to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and $209 million for Emergency Aid to Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) to provide the necessary support as caseloads increase, which annualizes the deep poverty increases implemented in the FY25 budget.

· $142.9 million for DTA caseworkers to protect access to crucial financial assistance, food support, and employment and training programs for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.

· $59.4 million for adult basic education services to improve access to skills necessary to join the workforce.

· $42 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program.

· $25.4 million for the Healthy Incentives Program to support healthy food access for households in need.

· $20.6 million for employment services programs to help people with lower incomes move toward economic independence through pathways of self-sufficiency.

· $15.5 million for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program.

· $9.2 million for career technical institutes to increase the state’s skilled worker population and provide residents with access to career technical training opportunities, which will combine with $12.3 million in remaining American Rescue Plan funding for the program.

· $5 million for the Secure Jobs Connect Program, providing job placement resources and assistance for homeless individuals.

· $4.8 million for the Innovation Pathways program to continue to connect students to training and post-secondary opportunities with a focus on STEM fields.

· $1 million for employment programs for young adults with disabilities.

Housing

As the state envisions a more fiscally sustainable path for its future, increasing affordable housing opportunities and addressing housing challenges remain at the forefront of the Senate’s agenda. This budget therefore invests more than $1.16 billion in housing initiatives, dedicating resources for housing stability, residential assistance, emergency shelter services, and homelessness assistance programs. The Senate’s FY26 budget deploys a humane, responsible, and sustainable approach to support families and individuals in need with affordable, safe, and secure housing options.

Housing investments include:

· $253 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP).

· $116 million for local housing authorities.

· $110.7 million for assistance for homeless individual shelters.

· $57.3 million for the HomeBASE program to support sustainable exits from shelter.

· $27.7 million for homeless program administration to move people from the Emergency Assistance shelter system.

· $19.5 million for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), providing rental assistance to people with disabilities.

· $15.8 million for the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

· $10.5 million for assistance for unaccompanied homeless youth.

· $10 million for sponsor-based supportive permanent housing to support 16 new housing units and case management services for vulnerable individuals.

· $8.9 million for the Home and Healthy for Good re-housing and supportive services program, including funding to support homeless LGBTQ youth.

· $6.5 million in continued support for resident service coordinators to help residents maintain stable tenancies at local housing authorities, which are required to provide households with the services they need.

In addition to these investments in housing, the Committee’s budget includes a provision—on which the Senate has consistently led—requiring that residential rental broker’s fees must be paid by the contracting agent, often the landlord of an apartment, ensuring that renters are not burdened with unexpected and extraordinary costs. The Senate first passed this proposal last session.

During debate, the Senate approved an amendment exploring opportunities to remove the sales tax for multifamily housing construction projects.

With both chambers of the Legislature having approved different versions of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, they will now reconcile their versions before sending a final FY26 budget to the Governor for her signature.

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