On January 23, 2025, Governor Healey transmitted H.1, her proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget, to the Massachusetts Legislature. This budget covers state spending from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. In accordance with the Constitution, the House of Representatives began budget deliberations on April 28, and the Senate passed its version of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget on May 26. The House and Senate versions will now be reconciled before being sent to Governor Healey for her final approval.
Senate FY26 Budget Links
Press Release — Massachusetts Senate Passes Fiscal Year 2026 Budget to Safeguard Financial Health and Protect the State’s Most Vulnerable (5.22.26)
Senate Ways and Means Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Recommendations (S.3)
Press Release — Senate Ways and Means Releases Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Recommendations (5.6.25)
Livestream and Recordings of Senate Budget Debate
Proposed Senate Budget Amendments
Amendments Sponsored by Senator Friedman
| Amendment Number | Amendment Title | Summary | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 156 | Emergency Assistance Shelter Notice | Redrafted: Expands upon a law passed earlier this year that creates new eligibility criteria when the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) finds that the emergency assistance shelter system is no longer able to meet current and projected demand for shelter from eligible families. This amendment requires the Secretary of the EOHLC to submit a report demonstrating whether the system currently can or cannot meet the demand, and provide adequate notice to the legislature prior to any change in this status moving forward. | Adopted as Redrafted |
| 158 | Civic Action Project, Inc | Earmarks $250,000 for the Civic Action Project, Inc. Civic Action, Inc. provides programming and training to develop civic leaders. Increases the line item’s funding by the same amount. | Adopted |
| 306 | Supporting the Office of Health Resource Planning and the Office for Pharmaceutical Policy and Analysis | Increases the Health Policy Commission’s operating budget by $1 million. | Adopted |
| 533 | Supporting School-Based Bridge Programs for Youth | Earmarks $500,000 for the expansion of Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition (bryt) programs, which integrate mental health and other services to support middle and high school students returning to school after extended physical or mental health-related absences. | Adopted |
| 536 | DMH Case Management Report | Requires the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to produce a monthly report on case manager workload and staffing levels, and case management services waitlists. | Adopted |
| 541 | Lowering Prescription Drug Costs | Allows the Health Policy Commission to set an upper payment limit for certain high-cost drugs, limiting how much any purchaser in the state can pay for those drugs. | Adopted |
| 157 | Community Health Center Reimbursement Rate Floor | Requires commercial health insurers to pay Community Health Centers no less than what MassHealth would pay those centers for the same services. | Withdrawn |
| 534 | Health Care For All HelpLine | Earmarks $500,000 for the Health Care For All HelpLine, which helps people enroll in and utilize health insurance. | Withdrawn |
| 702 | Emphasizing Education for Workforce Development | Directs $10 million of adult basic education funds for services for English speakers of other languages (ESOL) and requires these ESOL services to be focused on teaching language skills necessary to fill in-demand jobs. | Rejected |
In addition to the amendments filed above, Senator Friedman also secured local project funding in the Senate Ways and Means proposal and through the amendment process, which are included below.
Helpful General Budget Links
Massachusetts Budget Tracker (View the budget proposals of the Governor and House of Representatives)
Governor Healey’s FY26 Budget Proposal Web Portal
Senator Friedman FY25 Budget Webpage