Table of Contents
The following was submitted by the Office of Sen. Jason Lewis:
Reps. Michael Day and Michelle Ciccolo and Sen. Jason Lewis joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass a supplemental budget which prioritizes affordability for Massachusetts residents and protections for those being negatively impacted by decisions at the federal level.
As part of allocating the final expenses of fiscal year 2025 (FY25), this legislation appropriates $2.3 billion for MassHealth, hospitals, and reproductive care; ensures students at public colleges and universities receive financial aid; adds funding for universal free school meals in public schools; and funds operational enhancements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Massachusetts.
The supplemental budget also decouples childhood vaccine schedules from now unreliable federal standards, invests in affordable housing, ensures accountability in sheriffs’ operations, criminalizes the impersonation of federal agents, and supports transportation and public safety ahead of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup to be hosted at Gillette Stadium.
“At a time when intentional chaos in Washington is creating instability for families, students and vulnerable residents, the Massachusetts House and Senate will continue to protect the people of Massachusetts,” said Day. “This supplemental budget invests in vital services and puts guardrails in place to shield residents from harmful federal decisions. I am grateful to my colleagues for their partnership in delivering a budget that upholds our values and strengthens our state.”
“While uncertainty remains at the federal level regarding critical funding, the Massachusetts Legislature continues its commitment to supporting programs and services that residents rely on each day,” said Lewis. “This bill provides significant additional support for affordable housing, healthcare, education, food assistance, and other vital programs.”
“During this unprecedented time of fiscal uncertainty, I continue to be proud of the work we are doing in the legislature to ensure our budget is thoughtful and responsible while also preserving and continuing to invest in critical programs important to our citizens,” said Ciccolo. “This bill also incorporates a number of necessary policy measures in a variety of key areas related to our public health system, housing, and public safety.”
Funding highlights of this legislation include:
- $1.67 billion for MassHealth, with a $303 million net cost to the state.
- $374 million for Steward hospital payments, with a $236 million net cost to the state.
- $60.7 million for snow and ice removal expenses this winter.
- $50 million to support affordable housing through the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund.
- $18.3 million to strengthen student financial aid assistance and ensure existing student stipend amounts are maintained.
- $12 million to support the universal free school meals program for K-12 students.
- $10 million for operational and technical enhancements to improve recipients’ access to SNAP benefits with the aim of mitigating harmful federal cuts.
- $10 million for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to support and bolster scientific research and development.
- $10 million to conduct a public awareness campaign to inform vulnerable populations about new Medicaid requirements put in place by the recent federal spending bill.
- Matches up to $10 million in private funds to support transportation, public safety, and wayfinding related to Massachusetts’ seven 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.
- $5 million in direct support for reproductive healthcare.
- $2.5 million to the Committee for Public Counsel Services for indigent persons fees and court costs.
Policy highlights of this legislation include:
- Decouples the state definition of “routine childhood immunizations” from federal standards to gain greater flexibility in determining childhood vaccine schedules.
- Criminalizes the impersonation of a federal agent as a state crime and increases penalties for impersonating a public official at a time when federal agents’ actions are sowing controversy and disruption in local communities.
- Establishes a Public Higher Education Student Support Fund to maintain financial aid benefits for students attending public colleges and universities.
- Protects federal workers from losing their housing due to an eviction or foreclosure during or immediately after any federal government shutdown.
- Investigates the spending and performance metrics of county sheriffs’ offices to strengthen public trust and hold them accountable for spending deficits.
- Grants access to archived patient records from state-run institutions for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions to families and scholars to promote transparency where abuse or neglect took place.
- Adjusts the assessment of managed care organization assessments to align with federal changes that require a broad-based and uniform assessment.
- Protects the privacy of people seeking name changes by removing the requirement of a public notice for name-change petitions filed in court.
- Transfers $100 million in excess surtax collections to the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) Investment Fund.
Both branches of the Legislature voted to enact the closeout supplemental budget, and it was signed into law by Gov. Maura Healey on Nov. 25, 2025.
