Fair Share Funding Delivers Broad Relief for Families, Communities, and Local Government
(BOSTON—6/4/2026) Massachusetts lawmakers today passed a $1.35 billion spending package that seeks to ease pressures caused by strained school budgets and delivers a massive infusion of cash into the state’s public transportation system. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) voted in favor of the legislation, which includes $1 million in local project funding she secured through amendments during the Senate’s debate of the supplemental budget.
The investments in H.5740 are expansive and include cutting taxes to jumpstart housing construction, training the next generation of doctors and teachers, helping cities and towns dig out from an extreme winter, taking steps to shield the state’s finances from the ripple effects of federal tax and tariff policy, and protecting immigrants from federal deportation actions.
“Since the Fair Share Act went into effect, we have responsibly used this funding to bolster much-needed support for public education and public transportation statewide,” said Senator Friedman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “These investments will make a meaningful difference for residents across the Commonwealth, covering special education costs, childcare, early literacy, and upgrades to the MBTA. Importantly, at a time when our primary care system is in crisis and many go without or receive delayed care, this supplemental budget provides $10 million in scholarships for UMass Chan Medical School students who agree to pursue family medicine and practice in underserved communities in Massachusetts after they graduate. I am also pleased to have been able to bring significant funding back to the district to allow our communities to prioritize the maintenance of essential municipal government operations. It is vital to get this bill to the Governor’s desk without delay — our local communities need the help.”
Local Project Funding
Through amendments to the Senate version of the supplemental budget, Senator Friedman secured $1 million in direct funding to support local education and public transportation, road, and bridge projects. This funding includes:
- $250,000 for the City of Woburn to fund road, traffic, and pedestrian safety improvements in the area of the New Boston Street Bridge;
- $150,000 for Billerica Public Schools to purchase and replace interactive whiteboards in the district’s elementary schools;
- $150,000 for the Town of Arlington to fund pedestrian improvements near the Robbins Library on Massachusetts Avenue;
- $150,000 for Burlington Public Schools to fund capital improvements at Burlington High School;
- $150,000 for Arlington Public Schools to purchase student transportation vehicles, such as a bus or vans;
- $100,000 for the Town of Billerica to support road, traffic, and pedestrian safety improvements in the Town Center; and
- $50,000 for Shawsheen Valley Technical High School to fund the installation and upgrade of exhaust and dust collection systems for the school’s Masonry and Plumbing programs.
Senator Friedman’s legislative colleagues were also able to secure funding for local projects in the 4th Middlesex district, including:
- $180,000 for the Town of Lexington for the design of a bicycle and pedestrian accessway between the Minuteman Bikeway and Lexington High School;
- $100,000 for Arlington Public Schools for a feasibility study for electrification and HVAC improvements at the Hardy Elementary School;
- $100,000 for the Town of Lexington for the design of a multi-use path on Worthen Road;
- $100,000 for Burlington Public Schools to address an elementary school generator that failed prematurely;
- $100,000 for the City of Woburn for roadway and sidewalk improvements in the New Boston Street Bridge area;
- $75,000 for the Town of Lexington to fund safety improvements at high-priority bicycle and pedestrian road crossings;
- $50,000 for technology upgrades in the Arlington Public Schools;
- $50,000 for the Town of Arlington to fund pedestrian safety improvements; and
- $25,000 for Woburn Public Schools for updated computer lab equipment at Woburn Memorial High School.
Investing in Schools and Students
The legislation puts $558 million in Fair Share funds toward education, delivering relief to families, students, and school districts across the state. School districts struggling to cover the costs of serving students with disabilities will see immediate help, with $152 million directed toward special education reimbursements, while $150 million goes toward making childcare more affordable and accessible across the Commonwealth.
On literacy, the bill invests $40 million to help the youngest learners read, including $20 million for high-dosage tutoring and $20 million for classroom programs specifically designed to accelerate reading skills for kids in kindergarten through third grade. Research consistently shows that children who are not reading proficiently by third grade face steeper challenges throughout their education, making this one of the most consequential investments in the package.
Fixing Roads, Rails, and Transit
The legislation directs $794 million in Fair Share funds toward transportation. A $595 million investment in the MBTA includes $450 million to keep the T running, $60 million for maintenance and upgrades physical infrastructure with an emphasis on commuter rail improvements, $50.4 million to improve workforce and safety, $20 million to make fares more affordable for low-income riders, and $15 million for water transportation infrastructure across the state.
For communities across the state, the bill delivers $100 million to help cities and towns recover from an exceptionally costly winter—$80 million distributed based on how many roads a community maintains, and $20 million specifically for communities hit hardest by this year’s historic storms.
Regional public bus systems across the state also receive $25 million to recruit and retain workers, plus $10 million for equipment and facility upgrades. An additional $3.75 million goes toward maintaining unpaved roads in rural areas.
Making It Cheaper to Build Housing
To address one of the biggest barriers to building new homes in Massachusetts, the bill creates a new tax exemption on building materials used in the construction of affordable, moderate-income, and middle-income housing projects, saving developers money and making it more financially viable to build the homes that families across the state desperately need.
The exemption is capped at $35 million per year and is specifically designed to help offset rising costs driven by tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration.
Responding to Federal Policy Changes
The bill also takes steps to protect Massachusetts taxpayers and businesses from the financial fallout caused by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republican policies. The Legislature is carefully phasing in changes to state tax law to align with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, doing so gradually to avoid a sudden hit to state revenues. The bill includes provisions that would pause these tax changes if the proposed ballot question to lower the state’s income tax from 5 percent to 4 percent were to pass in November, which would help mitigate the expected loss in revenue that the ballot question would inflict.
The bill also creates a new tax credit for airlines that use sustainable aviation fuel, helping Massachusetts work toward its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and offers a tax credit of up to $5,000 for farmers who donate surplus food to local food banks.
Training the Next Generation of Doctors and Teachers
To address a growing shortage of primary care physicians, the bill sets aside $10 million in scholarships for UMass Chan Medical School students who agree to pursue family medicine and practice in underserved communities in Massachusetts after they graduate.
To encourage young educators to start their career in Massachusetts, the bill creates the Tomorrow’s Teachers program, investing $10 million in scholarships and loan forgiveness to college students and high school graduates who commit to teaching in Massachusetts public schools.
Helping Immigrants Stay Safe
With the Trump Administration ramping up immigration enforcement, the legislation directs $1 million toward free legal services for immigrants and refugees who need help navigating the courts. This builds on a $5 million investment the Legislature already made to launch the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative, which has helped hundreds of residents access legal representation.
Keeping Phones Out of Classrooms
The bill sets aside $1 million to help public school districts implement bell-to-bell cell phone-free policies that so that students can learn without distractions.
The full text of the legislation is available online, along with a fact sheet summarizing highlights of the legislation.
The Legislature enacted the bill and sent it to the Governor for her signature.
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