Spending plan completes Student Opportunity Act commitment, expands housing growth, and shields residents from federal cuts—without increasing a single tax or fee
(BOSTON—5/21/2026) Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate today to unanimously pass a $63.37 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) that invests responsibly in public education and municipalities, unlocks new opportunities for housing growth, and upholds the Commonwealth’s core commitments to its residents.
Every investment made by the Senate comes without raising a single tax or fee on Massachusetts residents, who are already feeling the weight of inflation, tariffs, and the impact of the federal government’s costly foreign entanglements.
“In the midst of another challenging and uncertain fiscal year, the FY27 Senate budget prioritizes responsible spending and investments in the programs and departments that help the Commonwealth thrive,” said Senator Friedman, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. “This budget provides a substantial increase in local aid, by providing municipalities with flexible funding to keep up with the rising costs of goods and services and continues to meet our implementation timeline of the Student Opportunity Act, with a record level of per-pupil Chapter 70 funding. In addition to securing funding for local initiatives, I was also pleased to see several healthcare-related amendments that I put forward adopted during the Senate’s debate, including a report on the impact of discontinuing health insurance coverage for GLP-1 medications for weight loss and another protecting public employees’ access to health care. This is a budget that I believe meets so many needs of residents statewide, all in a fiscally responsible manner.”
The budget makes historic investments in cities and towns through record levels of Chapter 70 school aid—which helps support the full range of school expenses from teachers to school supplies—and Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), which local leaders can use as flexible spending for everything from paving sidewalks to hiring police officers.
The budget completes the Legislature’s promise to fully fund and implement the Student Opportunity Act with $7.66 billion in funding for local school districts—an increase of $297 million over last fiscal year—along with a record $160-per-pupil minimum for local school aid. It also boosts UGGA by $53 million, distributed through a new method based on population, while formally starting the process of reforming the UGGA distribution formula to be more equitable and move forward from an outdated system that has left some municipalities behind.
4th Middlesex Chapter 70 education funding — $101,383,859 (4.54% increase over FY26)
- Arlington — $21,226,373
- Billerica — $22,129,264
- Burlington — $11,059,876
- Lexington — $20,399,075
- Woburn — $16,125,949
- Minuteman High School — $3,241,069
- Shawsheen Valley Technical — $7,202,253
4th Middlesex UGGA breakdown — $30,854,823 (5.26% increase over FY26)
- Arlington — $9,815,242
- Billerica — $7,587,313
- Burlington — $3,472,493
- Lexington — $2,181,373
- Woburn — $7,798,402
4th Middlesex Local Project Funding Secured by Senator Friedman — $2 million
- $1.5 million in funding to continue to operationalize the pilot program at the newly-opened Restoration Center of Greater Lowell (formerly known as the Middlesex County Restoration Center);
- $100,000 for English at Large, Inc. in the city of Woburn for English language tutoring and small group instruction;
- $90,000 for Social Capital Inc. for youth leadership and civic engagement programming in the city of Woburn;
- $85,000 for Arlington Youth Counseling Center, Inc. for youth mental health support in Arlington;
- $85,000 for Saheli, Inc. in the city of Woburn to provide legal and housing assistance to immigrant survivors of domestic abuse;
- $70,000 for Food Link, Inc. to address food insecurity in the city of Woburn and the towns of Arlington, Billerica, Burlington and Lexington; and
- $70,000 for Burlington Police Department to offset unanticipated overtime costs incurred by the department.
The budget reconvenes the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) to examine the current K-12 funding formula and assess new ways to address rising costs in special education, student transportation, personnel, and educator health care. It also establishes a commission to study public school construction financing through the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to ensure grant funding is allocated responsibly and equitably.
Through an amendment to the budget, Senator Friedman also secured $500,000 for Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition (“bryt”) to help schools work with students to successfully transition back to school after prolonged absence due to hospitalization for physical or mental health care.
On housing, the budget builds on last session’s Affordable Homes Act (AHA) with provisions to streamline local permitting, support development on nonconforming properties, provide reasonable timelines for projects to move forward under existing zoning rules, and modernize the variance standard — all aimed at meeting housing demand and driving down costs.
The budget directs over $265 million toward anti-hunger, food security, and economic security—including $148 million for Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) caseworkers to maintain SNAP program integrity and comply with new federal requirements, $55 million for Emergency Food Assistance, and $29.7 million for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) supporting local farmers and healthy food access.
It fully annualizes recent benefit increases through Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) to fight deep poverty and includes a $500 clothing allowance per child for families receiving TAFDC benefits.
Additional investments include improved safety standards at assisted living residences following the tragic Gabriel House fire in Fall River; expanded affordability in higher education through Senate-led programs like MassEducate; and full funding for jail diversion programs connecting individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders to appropriate treatment—improving lives and strengthening public safety.
The budget also includes a consumer protection provision requiring companies to make canceling a subscription as easy as signing up, shielding residents from junk fees and hard-to-cancel recurring charges.
During debate, Senators adopted amendments sending resources to programs and institutions that serve residents across Massachusetts, including funding for the Museum of African American History.
Notably, the Senate adopted an amendment shielding children from sexual exploitation and abusive power dynamics by protecting children aged 16 and 17 from sexual interactions with people who are responsible for their care and oversight—mandated reporters such as teachers and coaches, police officers, and social workers and Department of Children and Families (DCF) custodians.
For more information on the Senate’s FY27 budget, visit Senator Friedman’s website at cindyfriedman.org/fy27.
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