Notable Amendments Added to the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
May 22, 2025(BOSTON—5/22/2025) During three days of debate on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, the Senate added amendments that included policy to unlock housing production, lower the cost of prescription drugs, empower municipalities to control liquor licenses, and expand benefits for Gold Star spouses, among other policies.
Funding added for local and statewide priorities included boosts for mental and reproductive healthcare supports, first responders, and local libraries, among other line items.
Notable amendments added to the budget include:
Amendment 249, Unlocking Housing Production
To address the housing crisis across Massachusetts, the amendment kickstarts studies: for a sales tax exemption for multifamily housing projects stalled by federal tariffs; enabling third-party inspectors to expedite new housing inspections; and to incentivize new affordable housing developments when considering local tax levy requirements. The amendment was adopted by a roll call vote of 40-0.
Amendment 19, Affordable Homeownership Program for First Generation, First Time Homebuyers
To support new homebuyers, the amendment allocates $500,000 to sustain a matched savings program for first-generation, first-time homebuyers in Massachusetts.
Amendment 543, Funding for Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children
The amendment explicitly designates $4.8 million for the Pocasset Mental Health Center for mental health services and operations and $31 million for the continued operation of Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. The amendment was adopted by a roll call vote of 39-0.
Amendment 473, Abortion Access Task Force
The amendment requires the Department of Public Health to form a strategic task force to prepare recommendations for the continuity of abortion and abortion-related care in the Commonwealth in the event of loss of federal funding.
Amendment 475, Abortion Legal Hotline
The amendment adds $150,000 for Reproductive Equity Now Foundation, Inc. to operate a free and confidential abortion legal hotline for Massachusetts-based health care providers and helpers, as well as patients obtaining care in state.
Amendment 533, Return to School Bridge Programs
The amendment adds $500,000 for expansion of Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition 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.
Amendment 564, Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program
The amendment adds $500,000 for the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program for Schools, providing funding to support a statewide program to improve access and strengthen child and adolescent mental health services in schools.
Amendment 726, Massachusetts School Building Authority Commission
The amendment creates a commission to review the Massachusetts School Building Authority and the needs of school facilities.
Amendment 625, Food Literacy
The amendment adds $1 million to support farm-to-school and food system literacy programming in public elementary and secondary schools and early education programs.
Amendment 413, Community-Based Perinatal Support Program Grants
The amendment adds $220,000 to fund new perinatal mental health support programs for new parents established in the 2024 maternal health act.
Amendment 541, Lowering Prescription Drug Costs
Creates a process for the Health Policy Commission to monitor pharmaceuticals and apply an upper payment limit if they believe it substantially exceeds specific parameters. Adopted on a roll call vote, 34-5.
Amendment 803, Annuity Eligibility for Gold Star Spouses
Following the Senate's leadership on supporting military families in Massachusetts, this provision would allow Gold Star Family spouses to remarry without the penalty of losing their annuity benefit. Adopted on a roll call vote, 40-0.
Amendment 524, Pediatric Palliative Care
Increases funding by $400,000 to help address workforce needs and help 200 children with life-limiting illnesses who are eligible for services and currently on the state’s waitlist. The successful amendment brings total funding to $10.8 million. Adopted on a roll call vote, 39-0.
Amendment 559, ROCA Young Mothers Experiencing Acute Trauma Pilot Program
$1.25 million to support the Young Mothers Experiencing Acute Trauma Pilot Program, a behavioral intervention program that works to stabilize and support young women, most of whom are mothers, who are traumatized survivors of abuse and neglect.
Amendment 833, Income Eligible Fare Program
$100,000 for a public awareness campaign to be administered by the MBTA, in consultation with municipalities and community-based organizations, to promote awareness of and increase participation in the income-eligible reduced fare program.
Amendment 863, CPCS Admin and Private Attorney Fees
$7 million to effectuate increases for attorney fees for cases involving murder, mental health, and Superior Court cases.
Amendment 864, Trial Court Maintenance
An additional $7.23 million to support workforce and lease expenses for the Commonwealth’s Trial Court.
Amendment 908, Shannon Community Safety Grants
A $542,000 increase in funding for the Shannon Grant Program, which provides funding to local communities around the Commonwealth to reduce gang and youth violence. This successful amendment boosts the program to $13.4 million.
Amendment 428, Housing First Responders
A $500,000 increase for Housing Consumer Education Centers in order to ensure that Housing First Responders can continue to provide support to those in need of housing assistance.
Amendment 646, Civics Education
A $500,000 increase to support civics education initiatives and programming in public schools. With adoption of the amendment, the Senate budget provides $3 million bolstering civics education for Massachusetts students during a critical period for American democracy.
Amendment 508, Boys & Girls Clubs
A $800,000 increase brings support for Boys & Girls Clubs across Massachusetts up to $3 million. Boys & Girls Clubs provide assistance to working families with after school programs and educational and recreational programming in many communities. Adopted on a roll call vote, 39-0.
Amendment 615, State Aid to Regional Public Libraries
A $500,000 increase that brings total state aid to regional public libraries up to $19.5 million.
Amendment 324, Department of Conservation and Recreation
A $500,000 boost for the operation of the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s state parks. Adopted on a roll call vote, 39-0.
Amendment 766, Crumbling Concrete
Tasks a working group with recommending new legislation and regulatory changes needed to address the remediation of concrete foundations that have crumbled because of the presence of pyrrhotite. Adopted on a voice vote.
Amendment 770, Municipal Liquor License Control
Authorizes municipalities to determine the number of alcoholic beverage or wine and malt beverage licenses that can be issued in the municipality. Adopted on a voice vote.
Amendment 873, Firefighter Health and Wellness
$250,000 for a municipal grant program for firefighter cancer screenings, including advance blood testing and imaging, to be administered by the state fire marshal. Adopted on a voice vote.
Amendment 261, Promoting Public Payroll Transparency
Building on existing payroll transparency within state government, this successful amendment would require quasi-public independent government agencies to also share payroll data for public posting on the state comptroller’s website. Adopted on a voice vote.
Amendment 665, To Ensure Adequate and Equitable Funding for Public Education
Directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to study components of the state’s K-12 school funding formula related to local contribution requirements. DESE would be required to hold four public hearings in different regions of Massachusetts before reporting back to the Legislature by June 30, 2026. Adopted on a voice vote.
Amendment 718, Early Education Background Checks
Directs the Department of Early Education and Care to report back to the Legislature by March 1, 2026 on the feasibility of expanding the background checks it conducts on prospective early education employees and licensees. The report would explore expansion to international criminal history databases and best practices currently utilized in other states. Adopted on a voice vote.
A full list of amendments and their status is available online.
###