Press Room

Top Line Spending
The Fiscal Year 2025 closeout supplemental budget conference report agreement totals $2.31 billion in gross spending, with a net cost to the Commonwealth of $806.9 million after accounting for federal reimbursements.

Highlights

Health Care. Addresses a number of known deficiencies across the public health and health care sectors, including:

• $1.67 billion gross for MassHealth, with a $303 million net cost to the state after federal reimbursements.
• $374 million gross for Steward hospital payments, with a $236 million net cost to the state.
• $10 million for Health Care For All to conduct a public awareness campaign to inform vulnerable populations about new Medicaid work requirements put in place by harmful federal government changes.
• $5 million in direct support for reproductive health care.

Sheriff Spending. Withholds funding for a majority of the county sheriffs’ $162 million deficiency until the Inspector General (IG) investigates and reports on the sheriffs’ spending, with a preliminary report due on February 27, 2026, and a final report due May 31, 2026. Funding is included at this time for the no-cost phone calls program and Section 35 treatment programs for people with alcohol and substance use.

Institutional Records Transparency. Grants access to residents’ patient records from more than 25 state-run institutions, many now closed, for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions.

World Cup 2026 and Sports and Entertainment Fund. Provides $10 million to support the hosting of the 2026 World Cup and creates a new Sports and Entertainment Fund.

• Provides $10 million to support transportation, public safety, wayfinding, and similar costs related to seven 2026 FIFA World Cup matches set to be hosted in the Commonwealth.
• State dollars spent on the initiative would have to be privately matched.
• Creates a competitive grant program administered by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) for major sports or entertainment events to provide event services, sports development, sports marketing, or construction, functioning and operation of an event.

Student Financial Assistance. Establishes a Public Higher Education Student Support Fund to maintain financial aid benefits for students attending public colleges and universities. Also appropriates $18.3 million to strengthen student financial aid assistance and ensure existing student stipend amounts are maintained.

Universal School Meals. Provides $12 million to support the universal meals program for schoolchildren.

DTA Enhancements. Provides $10 million for operational and technical enhancements at the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) to improve recipients’ access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits with the aim of forestalling harmful federal cuts.

Life Sciences. Provides a $10 million transfer to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.

Public Defense Services. Provides $2.5 million for Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) indigent persons fees and court costs.

Snow and Ice Removal. Provides $60.7 million for MassDOT snow and ice expenditures.

Affordable Rental Housing Support. Provides a $50 million transfer to the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund.

Immunization Standards. Grants authority to the Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner to determine routine childhood immunizations and vaccination schedules rather than relying on the recommendations of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Punishes Impersonation of Federal Agents. Criminalizes the impersonation of a federal officer and increases penalties for impersonating a public official, including a federal officer.

Housing Stability for Federal Employees. Protects federal employees from residential eviction or foreclosure during any federal shutdown.

Privacy for People Seeking Name Changes. Removes the automatic requirement of a public legal notice for name-change petitions filed in court.

Managed Care Organizations. Adjusts the managed care organization assessment to align with federal changes that require a broad-based and uniform assessment.

Simulcasting. Extends authorization for simulcast wagering from December 15, 2025, to December 15, 2027.

Excess Capital Gains. After accounting for spending contained in the agreement, the remainder of collected excess capital gains will be distributed as follows:

• $502.2 million (90 per cent) to the Transitional Escrow Fund.
• $25.1 million (5 per cent) to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund.
• $25.1 million (5 per cent) to the Commonwealth’s Pension Liability Fund.

Student Opportunity Act Transfer. Transfers $100 million in excess surtax collections to the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) Investment Fund.

Collective Bargaining Agreements. Ratifies 14 new collective bargaining agreements for public employees.