All Roll Calls
Yes: 2,434 • No: 179
MassachusettsH 4240194th General Court (2025-2026)HouseWALLET
An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions and certain activities of the Commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund and serial bond requirements, and for certain permanent improvements
Sponsored By: FY26 General Appropriation
Signed by Governor
House Steering, Policy and Scheduling
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
448 provisions identified: 392 benefits, 25 costs, 31 mixed.
Surviving spouses keep benefits after remarriage
Surviving spouses otherwise eligible for the benefit under chapter 115, section 6B remain eligible after remarrying. The law removes the rule excluding them solely because of remarriage. It does not state the benefit amount.
Autism services include children through eight
The law provides at least $5.5 million for children's autism waiver services. The waiver must include eligible children with autism ages 0 through 8, including ages 0 through 3 receiving early intervention. The department must work toward full enrollment and immediate services for eligible children. It must promptly file any needed federal waiver amendment; the waiver's other eligibility requirements still apply.
Cancer treatment benefits for eligible residents
Medical benefits are available to people who need breast or cervical cancer treatment. Income must be no more than 250% of the federal poverty level. Coverage remains subject to continued federal approval.
Child care funding supports eligible families
The law provides about $517.64 million for income-eligible early education and care. Funds can also serve teen parents and homeless families identified as likely to qualify for transitional aid. Services must offer fair access across the state, and subsidized providers are paid based on enrollment. Another $83 million maintains assistance capacity and fiscal year 2025 rates through June 30, 2026. That money can also fund provider grants for personal child care costs, and the commissioner can move it among designated child care accounts.
Disability services protect access without fees
The developmental services department must move qualifying residents from intermediate care facilities for intellectual disabilities to community residential services. Residents must be clinically suited, available community care must be equal or better, and state costs cannot exceed facility costs. The department cannot charge user fees for transportation, community day services, eligibility decisions, or guardianship-transfer applications or requests. It must prioritize transportation to community day and work programs based on need.
Emergency Aid protects eligibility and payments
In fiscal year 2026, Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children must include all eligibility groups permitted by its appropriation. These include qualifying seniors age 65 or older who applied for chapter 118A benefits, people with disabilities, certain caregivers, and specified children and caretakers. Eligible MassAbility vocational rehabilitation participants are also included; disability-based eligibility requires an impairment verified by a competent authority. Need and payment standards cannot fall below fiscal year 2025 levels. The state cannot count sponsors' income as recipients' income or apply related sponsor restrictions.
Longer child care help for families
The law provides about $448.21 million for supportive early education and care and requires services for all eligible children. Children with active child welfare cases can keep care for at least 12 months after the family case closes. Transitional-aid recipients pay no care fees. Former recipients can qualify for up to one year after benefits end, plus up to one further year after that transition, while working or doing an approved activity. Parents under 18 must meet benefit rules and enroll in job training; grandparents' income is not counted. Eligible teens receiving year-round, full-time care must meet the required hours of school, education, work, or training.
MassHealth coverage and application access
The law provides MassHealth benefits to people diagnosed with HIV whose income is no more than 200% of the federal poverty level. An application for chapter 118 assistance also counts as an application for chapter 118E medical assistance. When the Department of Transitional Assistance denies chapter 118 assistance, it must forward the application for a separate medical-assistance eligibility review. That review does not guarantee approval.
Palliative care reaches young people under 22
The law makes people under age 22 eligible for the funded pediatric palliative care program. This expands the program's age eligibility for young people who need this care. The law does not set a per-person benefit amount.
Families can get housing crisis assistance
Eligible families can receive help with eligible expenses, capped at $7,000 in any 12-month period. Families at or below 30% of area median income qualify when at risk of homelessness or homeless and moving into housing. Families above 30% and at or below 50% qualify when homeless and moving into housing. They also qualify when significant income loss or increased expenses puts them at risk of homelessness. At least half the funds target households at or below 30%, subject to state discretion based on demand and use. Priority goes to families most likely otherwise to need shelter.
Homeowners get pyrrhotite testing cost help
The law provides at least $50,000 for pyrrhotite testing reimbursements. Eligible visual testing by a licensed professional engineer is reimbursed at 100% of costs, up to $600. Testing two core samples is reimbursed at 75% of costs, up to $4,000. The supplied provision does not specify how often reimbursements are available.
College help for students from care
College aid provides up to $6,000 yearly after recipients use all other financial support. Recipients must have been in state custody under a care and protection petition and started college by age 18. Aid covers public or private colleges; recipients need not remain in custody after age 18. Separately, the state can reimburse public colleges for foster and adopted students’ tuition and fee waivers, including prior-year waivers. Colleges must certify the actual waived amounts they otherwise would have kept before receiving reimbursement.
Disabled students get tuition-free college access
The law transfers at least $2 million to support inclusive college enrollment for students with severe disabilities, generally ages 18–22. Participating students take credit or noncredit courses alongside students without disabilities, and state colleges must waive tuition. Partner school districts must provide needed services, supports, and accommodations. Students ages 18 or 19 must be unable to meet the required Massachusetts exam competency standard. Colleges can also include students over 21 with severe developmental disabilities.
Eligible children get services without waitlists
The Department of Children and Families must provide services to every child eligible under budget item 3000-3060. The department cannot place these children on a waiting list. This guarantee applies only to children who meet that item's eligibility requirements.
State aid supports cities and towns
For fiscal year 2026, the law provides about $1.323 billion in municipal aid. Funding comes 83.14% from the General Fund and 16.86% from the Gaming Local Aid Fund. Eligible towns also share $54.52 million in payments for state-owned land. This includes at least $1.52 million in one-time payments to keep each town at its fiscal year 2025 amount. These funds go to local governments, not directly to households.
Cities and towns receive budget support
Cities and towns receive about $1.323 billion in unrestricted government aid for FY2026, ending June 30, 2026. The listed town-by-town amounts control if other language in the aid section conflicts. Community grants also receive $80 million for Small Cities development, $24 million for community services, and $3 million for COVID-19-related development. These grants fund municipal and community projects and services, not set household payments.
State services funded through June 2026
The law funds Massachusetts departments and services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. General Fund operations receive about $61.01 billion, and appropriations across all funds total about $61.69 billion. Spending must follow the law's conditions and public spending rules.
School districts receive formula-based state aid
The fiscal year 2026 district aid schedules list about $7.36 billion in Chapter 70 school aid. Districts receive the greater of foundation aid or base aid plus minimum aid; minimum aid is $150 per pupil. Calculations include approved low-income and homeless students, specified inflation adjustments, and added foundation-budget amounts. Assumed special education enrollment is 4.97% for vocational students and 3.97% for others; the statewide local-contribution target is 59%. The effort-reduction percentage is 100%; non-operating districts cannot exceed their foundation budgets, and listed district amounts control.
State aid supports public school budgets
The law provides about $6.865 billion in school aid through the state's school-aid distribution rules. Recipients include cities, towns, regional districts, county agricultural schools, and independent vocational, agricultural, and technical schools. Another $1.2 million reimburses qualifying cities and towns for extra education costs under the state's chapter 40S program. Municipalities receiving that aid in fiscal year 2025 must receive at least the same amount in 2026 if still eligible. A $1 million transfer to the Twenty-First Century Education Trust Fund supports school improvement, achievement gaps, shared teaching practices, and district efficiencies.
State aid supports schools and towns
For fiscal year 2026, the law’s aid schedules allocate about $7.36 billion in Chapter 70 school aid. Municipalities and regional school districts receive that aid for local school budgets. Municipalities also receive about $1.32 billion in unrestricted general government aid for local services. These payments go to local governments and districts, not directly to households.
Child removal blocks family cash aid
Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children is unavailable to families whose child was removed by court order after a care and protection hearing. Otherwise eligible adults are also excluded when the child welfare department temporarily removes their dependent children under its procedures.
Families face checks before shelter placement
Before shelter placement, the state housing office must verify identity, Massachusetts residency, relationships, pregnancy, and other eligibility requirements. It may also check children's identity and custody for safety, and need not provide shelter before required verification arrives. Applicants must establish residency and intent to remain; accepted proof includes specified benefit, insurance, health-care-worker, or state-ID records. Case-specific waivers are available for an imminent domestic-violence threat, documented disability, high-risk pregnancy, or recent birth. Waivers also cover qualifying veterans not enrolled in specified veteran services.
Income and status limits on family shelter
Families entering emergency assistance must have income at or below 115% of the 2025 federal poverty level, or a later-issued higher level. Current recipients lose eligibility after income stays above 200% of the federal poverty level for 120 consecutive days. Shelter eligibility covers specified cases of domestic abuse, disaster, eviction, or unsafe or unsuitable housing. Families generally need no feasible housing alternative and must meet Massachusetts residency and citizenship or lawful-status requirements. Exceptions cover some otherwise-eligible families that have not yet slept somewhere not meant for sleeping, and some families with a qualifying child.
Rental vouchers have income and verification limits
Massachusetts rental voucher eligibility requires household income no higher than 80% of area median income. The housing office may require at least 75% of new vouchers to serve households at or below 30% at initial occupancy. It may require participants and household members to provide Social Security numbers to verify income and eligibility. If a household member fails to provide a required number, the household loses voucher eligibility and benefits. Voucher assistance must also end for proven intentional unit damage exceeding two months of rent during any one-year period.
Police recruits face training fee
Covered municipal police training carries a $3,200 fee for people who begin training no later than July 1, 2025. The full fee is due by the first day of orientation. After graduation, the municipality deducts it from recruits’ wages in 23 equal monthly installments unless otherwise negotiated. Withdrawals before week four receive partial refunds under the withdrawal schedule. A withdrawing recruit must pay the municipality the difference between the fee and the amount forfeited under that schedule.
Children's health coverage and enrollment limits
The law funds specified MassHealth coverage for children and adolescents with household income above 150% of the federal poverty level. The state determines household income, and the applicable coverage rules still govern eligibility. For uninsured children from birth through age 18, a MassHealth request also applies for the Children's Medical Security Plan. Enrollment in that plan requires a MassHealth denial, except for MassHealth Limited. Maximum plan benefits require a state finding that the child is ineligible for MassHealth benefits.
Early intervention help with payment limits
The law provides about $39.25 million for early intervention, including respite for families of enrolled children with complex care needs. Respite covers children with multiple disabilities and extensive medical or health needs, with priority for low- and moderate-income families. MassHealth must cover participating members' transportation, and family insurance status cannot determine service eligibility. The department must use one service model, make no eligibility changes before April 1, 2026, and give lawmakers 180 days' written notice before changes. Payment of an uninsured person's reimbursement claim must wait until the program receives notice of a MassHealth eligibility denial.
New property rules for estate taxes
Massachusetts changes estate-tax calculations using the federal state death-tax credit rules in effect on December 31, 2000. The calculation includes or excludes specified property, which changes the property value used to figure the tax. For nonresidents, it uses Massachusetts real estate, tangible personal property located here, and specified related property. Related property rules cover qualifying lifetime income interests with deductions allowed for Massachusetts estate-tax purposes. The law also disallows deductions tied to property outside the applicable Massachusetts property base; the tax effect depends on the estate.
Child placements prioritize family and assessments
Children referred by or discharged from the Department of Mental Health need an assessment before child welfare placement. The mental health department must recommend foster care or group care, with help from the child welfare department. When placement outside a parent's home is needed, the child welfare department must give family or kin highest priority. It must also support that family resource.
Crime victim rules define catastrophic injuries
Crime victim compensation rules define catastrophic injury as an injury causing permanent impairment. Listed injuries include certain spinal cord injuries with paralysis, amputations, severe brain injuries, qualifying burns, and vision or hearing loss. Severe communication, sensory, or motor problems are also included. Other injuries can qualify under the compensation law. This provision does not set a payment amount.
Crime victims get notices and privacy
Within 15 days after a compensation claim review ends, the director must give an approval or denial, reasons, and court-review rights. Approved payments follow program regulations; after a court award, the clerk must notify the claimant and send the agency a certified decision. The agency must pay the court-set amount without further approval, subject to appropriation. Claim records are confidential and privileged, with exceptions for claim processing, court review, specified exchanges with written consent, and court orders. Rape victims must also receive notice of all available assistance services.
Families get help outside court hours
Child and family service programs must coordinate emergency help for missing or absent children when juvenile court is closed. They must work with the executive office, the Department of Early Education and Care, and municipal police. The response must follow the state's child emergency-assistance law.
Fare-free regional transit and local rides
Subject to appropriation, regional transit authorities cannot charge fares for regular fixed-route trips or required complementary disability paratransit trips. The transportation department must reimburse lost fares, also subject to appropriation. Authorities must report ridership data. At least $20,000 supports Great Barrington’s South County Connector microtransit service in Berkshire County.
Legal help for residents with limited means
The law provides $51 million for legal aid, including disability benefits, Medicare advocacy, and domestic violence legal assistance. It provides about $3.32 million for legal services for people with mental illness who cannot afford a lawyer. That funding must support a western Massachusetts satellite office. At least 20% of clients unable to afford counsel through the public counsel committee must have public defenders. At least $75,000 also supports the Justice Bridge Program at the University of Massachusetts School of Law.
Simpler birth record gender changes
Adults 18 or older, emancipated minors, and minors’ parents or guardians can request a female, male, or X birth-record designation. An affidavit under penalty of perjury must confirm the request matches the person’s gender identity and is not fraudulent. No medical records, court order, or name-change proof is needed for the designation request. A name change needs certified legal proof and can be requested later within three years of the designation change. For someone who was a minor, that deadline runs from their 18th birthday; the department can waive it for good cause.
Ferry riders get expanded service requirements
Ferries operated by or under contract with the MBTA must run year-round by the end of fiscal year 2026. This includes East Boston, Lynn, Quincy, and Winthrop services that ran seasonally in fiscal year 2025. The law also dedicates at least $1.3 million to an inner-harbor demonstration ferry. That service connects Lewis Wharf Mall, Long Wharf, and a new Seaport stop. Its specified schedule is April 1 through November 30 in both 2025 and 2026.
Regional transit riders get fare-free funding
The law directs at least $35 million to year-round fare-free service at regional transit authorities. Riders pay no fare on participating services. Fiscal year 2025 equity funding stays in recipients' funding baselines for fiscal year 2026 and future years. Extra aid may go to authorities receiving relatively little assistance compared with their net service costs.
Cash help for Transitional Aid families
Beginning September 1, 2025, each eligible Transitional Aid child receives a one-time $500 clothing allowance that September. The allowance counts toward the family's standard of need for that month. The law also allows supplemental aid when benefits fall because lost earnings interact with budgeting based on past income. At least $1 million funds cash and transportation help for newly employed Transitional Aid clients, lasting up to 12 months. The law does not set individual amounts for these supplemental or employment benefits.
Child care waitlist help for families
The law provides $10.7 million in FY2026 to reduce the income-eligible early education and care waitlist. It supports contracted slots and informal care benefits for income-eligible families, with services spread fairly across regions. At least $10.7 million must fund the department's FY2026 purchase of contracted early education slots. Eligible groups include teen parents and homeless families at risk of qualifying for transitional aid. The department must report families removed from the waitlist by April 1, 2026; the funding covers FY2026 through June 30, 2026.
Children in care keep federal benefits
The Department of Children and Families must reasonably check for federal benefits within 60 days after a child enters custody. It must apply when it believes the child may qualify and review foster-care cases each year. As payee or fiduciary, it must account for and conserve benefits, not use them to repay foster-care placement costs. It must provide required notices and financial information and consider reunification goals and the child’s best interests when seeking that role. Children age 14 and older receive ongoing financial information and financial-literacy support; youth age 17 and older also receive budgeting guidance. Federal foster-care reimbursement cannot reduce the child’s benefit eligibility or amount. The department must report annually on screening, benefits, accounts, and spending.
College grants help students get food
The higher education department must seek proposals and award grants for campus efforts to reduce student hunger. Help can include food pantries, meals, nutrition-benefit enrollment, and campus grocers that accept benefits. Eligible campuses include public two- and four-year schools and schools the department finds mainly serve historically underrepresented groups. Applicants must show need and submit an implementation plan.
CommonHealth applicants get firm decision deadlines
The state must process a complete CommonHealth application within 45 days. It has up to 90 days when a disability determination is required. Children's disability standards cannot be stricter than those in effect on July 1, 1996.
Community support helps children avoid placement
Child welfare congregate-care funds can pay for community services, including in-home support, for children otherwise facing group placement. Review teams must consider whether community care is possible before recommending congregate care. The law also continues and expands programs that help children and families avoid voluntary residential placement. At least $10.5 million goes to the Department of Developmental Services for that prevention program.
Crisis care outside hospital emergency rooms
The law authorizes $19 million for services that stabilize adults in crisis and divert them from emergency rooms. It also allows at least $6 million in FY2026 spending on youth crisis stabilization and emergency-room diversion. At least $75,000 funds mobile crisis team training on responding to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Emergency service programs must take all reasonable steps to identify and bill each person's insurer. This billing rule does not itself require patients to pay or change their share of costs.
Crisis support includes seniors and veterans
The law provides about $14.3 million for statewide and community suicide prevention, intervention, follow-up, and tracking. Funding includes an elder suicide program coordinated with geriatric mental health services. A veterans-in-crisis hotline connects callers with local or regional veterans' services. Veterans and concerned family members can use the hotline.
Families retain youth mental health supports
Family resource centers can expand or open where coverage gaps exist, subject to required selection and reporting rules. At least $3.3 million supports mental health treatment access for at-risk youth involved in or diverted from juvenile courts. Child and adolescent mental health funds can cover psychiatric and related care during unnecessary discharge delays caused by unavailable suitable settings. The commissioner can send those funds to other health and human services departments for that care. In fiscal year 2026, the state must retain at least the fiscal year 2025 number of intensive and clinically intensive youth residential treatment programs.
Family cash aid standards stay protected
In FY2026, Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children payment and need standards cannot fall below FY2025 levels. The need standard must equal the payment standard set under the appropriation. Otherwise eligible recipients without an established home or living in temporary emergency shelter receive the shelter-cost payment rate. That is the same rate used for recipients paying rent or a mortgage.
Family planning and reproductive support funded
The law provides about $26.47 million for family and adolescent health services. Minimum allocations include $13.812418 million for family health, including $11.207164 million for family planning and $6.7 million for services enhanced because of federal Title X restrictions. At least $1.66 million supports Action for Boston Community Development's previously Title X-funded services. At least $5.634886 million funds teen pregnancy prevention, and $150,000 funds Reproductive Equity Now Foundation's free, confidential abortion legal hotline. Pregnancy-prevention plans need public health department approval; teen programs target the highest teen birth-rate communities and include high-risk children in state care.
Free breakfast during school for children
The law funds free, nutritious breakfast for all children at participating schools that meet the program's requirements. Schools must already be required to serve breakfast, and at least 60% of students must qualify for federal meal discounts. Qualifying K–12 public schools must serve breakfast during regular school hours, after instruction starts and the tardy bell rings. Board of Education rules apply. The program does not create an enforceable legal right to services.
Funding protects older adults at risk
The law provides $49.625111 million for elder protective services. Services include case management, guardianship, the statewide elder abuse hotline, money management, and help for older adults at risk. The appropriation supports services rather than setting a cash payment for each person.
Grants support access to reproductive care
The law provides $1.98 million in grants for reproductive health access, infrastructure, and security. Named recipients include Tides for Reproductive Freedom, Abortion Rights Fund of Western Massachusetts, and Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Fund. The money supports organizations and services, not a fixed payment to each patient.
Health coverage for former foster youth
People who aged out of Department of Children and Families custody are eligible for MassHealth benefits. Eligibility lasts through the age limit in MassHealth's approved state plan. The supplied provision does not state that age limit.
Health support at University of Massachusetts
In fiscal year 2026, the University of Massachusetts must spend at least $2 million on student mental and behavioral health services. Services include crisis care, therapy, learning-disorder assessments, sexual-assault responses, substance-use treatment, and support for mental health needs. The university must also spend at least $15,000 through health services to support access to women's health care.
Home care support for older adults
The law provides about $278.96 million for home care and related services for qualified older adults. Services include health aides, homemaker and personal care, home health, respite, and geriatric behavioral health care. About $110.71 million funds case management and administration through aging service access points or other qualified organizations. Across those two funding items, at least $1.4 million must support home care participants in the over-income cost-sharing program. Harbor Health Services receives at least $150,000 for all-inclusive elder care day centers in Mattapan, Brockton, and other contracted expansion communities. These appropriations do not set individual service amounts or new eligibility formulas.
Home-based services protected for older members
Funding for older MassHealth members' community-based waiver services cannot fall below the FY2025 service level. That floor remains subject to assessed needs or waiver terms. Eligibility rules cannot be stricter than FY2025 rules. Funds must support statewide pre-admission counseling and assessment through Aging and Disability Resource Consortia.
Homeless Emergency Aid recipients get shelter rates
Otherwise eligible Emergency Aid recipients without an established home or living in temporary emergency shelter receive the shelter-cost payment rate. This is the same rate paid to recipients with rent or mortgage costs. The law does not state the dollar amount.
Intensive mental health care for youth
The Department of Mental Health must spend at least $4.5 million on intensive community treatment for eligible people under 22. Participants must have serious emotional disturbance, impaired daily functioning, and difficulty consistently using less intensive community care. They must also have a history of difficulty functioning safely and successfully in community, school, home, or work settings. Teams provide tailored mental health and social services, following specified federal evidence-based standards as closely as possible. Services cannot be limited to one physical location, and the department must prioritize fair access across regions.
Mental health care funding for veterans
The law requires at least $2.5 million for Massachusetts General Hospital's Home Base program. The program provides clinical care, education, and training concerning veterans' mental and behavioral health. Supported issues include post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, substance use disorder, and suicide prevention.
Mental health patients gain community pathways
The law directs spending authority toward high-quality, fair access to clinical, emergency, urgent, diversionary, and rehabilitative behavioral health care. The mental health department must update discharge regulations for patients in its programs and facilities. It must move inpatient clients to community residential services when they are clinically suited to a more integrated setting. Available community care must provide equal or better care and cost the state no more than inpatient care.
New fund supports gender-affirming health care
The law creates the Affirming Health Care Trust Fund to pay for gender-affirming health care. Covered uses include services at institutions supervised by the commissioner. The commissioner may also fund providers’ malpractice and general liability insurance, plus research on LGBTQ+ health and gender-affirming care. Unspent balances carry forward, and spending cannot put the fund into deficit. This provision sets no total funding amount or individual payment.
Nursing home residents keep covered beds
MassHealth reimburses nursing facilities for up to 20 medical leave days and 10 non-medical leave days. A hospital observation stay counts as medical leave when it exceeds 24 hours. Facilities cannot reassign a resident’s bed during leave that qualifies for this reimbursement.
Nutrition help for eligible low-income workers
The law funds nutrition benefits for eligible low-income workers. Participation must improve the work participation rate under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The provision does not specify a benefit amount or start date.
Optional extra support for assisted living
The law allows the Department of Transitional Assistance and state health officials to fund an optional assisted-living supplement. Residents must live in a certified assisted living residence and meet the agencies’ income and clinical eligibility criteria. The supplement must operate with the Medicaid group adult foster care benefit. Funding is optional, and the provision sets no payment amount.
Refugee families receive funded service support
Fiscal year 2026 federal grants include about $70.99 million for Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance and $21.9 million for Refugee Social Services. Afghan grants provide about $5.28 million for social services and $788,264 for health promotion. Grants also provide about $2.34 million for refugee health promotion, $2.14 million for school impact, and $151,903 for elderly refugee services. Ukraine refugee support receives $1.2 million, Wilson Fish TANF Coordination receives $1.08 million, and youth mentoring receives $235,200. Money Follows the Person receives $4 million as part of the human services grants. Each program's eligibility rules determine access; these grants do not set individual benefit amounts.
Seasonal workers keep qualifying health coverage
State conservation beaches, pools, and spray pools must stay open, staffed, and fully maintained from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Seasonal employees keep health insurance during fiscal year 2026 seasonal work if they received it in fiscal year 2025. They must also have been hired before the second Sunday preceding Memorial Day. They must remain employed beyond the Saturday following Labor Day.
Suicide prevention support for military personnel
At least $300,000 must support suicide-prevention services for military personnel served by the Massachusetts military division. The funding pays for services, not a stated cash benefit for each person.
Summer grocery benefits for eligible children
For FY2026, the law provides $77.397 million for Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer food benefits for eligible children. It also provides $2.262172 million for the federally funded program. Existing program eligibility rules apply; this provision does not state each family's benefit amount.
Transit advisory employees gain public benefits
Qualifying MBTA Advisory Board employees gain access to applicable Massachusetts public employee retirement and health insurance provisions. Their regular compensation must be paid by the board. Their duties must require board service during the ordinary working hours of regular and permanent employees each year.
Treatment alternatives for nonviolent drug offenses
The law provides $499,950 for diversion programs offering eligible nonviolent drug offenders substance-use treatment instead of traditional prosecution. Treatment can begin before or after arraignment; people charged with violent crimes are ineligible. Uninsured candidates cannot be denied access because they cannot pay. Programs must be designed with the Department of Public Health and may include inpatient, outpatient, and step-down recovery care.
Veterans retain counseling and care-price protections
Veterans' outreach centers must counsel incarcerated veterans, Vietnam War-era veterans possibly exposed to Agent Orange, and their families. They must also serve veterans discharged after September 11, 2001, and their families. Each center must receive at least its fiscal year 2025 payment from this account. Chelsea Soldiers' Home admission and hospitalization charges cannot exceed fiscal year 2025 amounts. Holyoke Soldiers' Home has the same cap for admission, hospitalization, and outpatient treatment.
WIC families get added nutrition funding
The law adds about $15.5 million for the Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program in Massachusetts. State funding supplements federal money to serve eligible women, infants, and children. Participants must meet federal WIC eligibility requirements.
WIC food services and technology funding
For FY2026, the law provides $134.836712 million for Women, Infants, and Children nutrition services. It also provides $150,000 for FY2015 special project grants and $165,329 for regional infrastructure. Another $565,000 funds a federally supported WIC technology project. Existing WIC eligibility rules apply; these provisions do not set household benefit amounts or provide a benefit increase.
Year-round enrollment for prescription drug help
People who meet Prescription Advantage eligibility rules can enroll at any time of year. The law does not change those eligibility rules. When other prescription coverage or benefits are available, Prescription Advantage pays last unless state or federal law prohibits that order.
Families keep aid and housing priority
Families already receiving shelter benefits keep aid while a timely appeal of continued eligibility is pending under chapter 23B. Otherwise-eligible households also keep homelessness-based or at-risk housing priority while receiving help intended to be temporary. This includes temporary or bridge subsidies and assistance under item 7004-0108 after July 1, 2013. The state housing office must clarify and enforce that priority rule uniformly.
Funding for renters and housing vouchers
For FY2026, the law provides $535 million for the Housing Choice Voucher and Moving to Work Program. It also provides $10 million for the Federal Housing Voucher Program and $1.5 million for Federal COVID Rental Assistance. These funds support housing assistance but do not set individual payments or change voucher eligibility. Regional agencies receive at least $50 per voucher each month to run the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program. That administrative payment goes to agencies, not households.
Housing and mediation help after prison
The law funds rental subsidies for people returning from county correctional facilities or state prisons. Participants must join nonprofit re-entry programs or state-funded programs under items 8000-0655 or 8900-1100. At least $120,000 supports a kinship re-entry pilot coordinated with the Department of Correction. For FY2026, the University of Massachusetts Boston mediation grant program must spend at least $200,000 on prisoner re-entry mediation. That grant program must also make funding available for pre-court mediation to help people stay housed.
Housing help for job program participants
Secure Jobs Connect participants receiving assistance under budget items 7004-0101 or 7004-0108 must get housing stabilization services. Services must last at least 12 months. The housing office must make rental assistance under item 7004-9024 available to support participation. The provision does not set a household payment amount.
Housing support for residents with disabilities
The law directs at least $90,000 to Pathway to Possible in Newton. The money supports housing, services, and advocacy for local people with cognitive and developmental disabilities. The provision does not set individual payments or detailed household eligibility criteria.
Housing support for youth without homes
For FY2026, the law provides about $10.65 million for housing and support services for unaccompanied youth. At least $250,000 continues supportive housing for unaccompanied homeless young adults who identify as LGBTQ+ or questioning. At least $300,000 from the Office of the Child Advocate supports youth aging out of state care or custody. This covers youth leaving the Department of Children and Families or Department of Youth Services. Support includes preparation for adulthood, case-management staff, and direct housing services; individual payments are not specified.
Local housing access for homeless families
The housing office must keep staffed offices in the 10 communities where it had offices on January 1, 2025. They must accept in-person applications, decide eligibility promptly, and provide emergency housing services; the office may open additional locations. Within 90 days after the act takes effect, the office must submit a plan to help families avoid shelter. With input from providers, advocates, and legislative chairs, it must review program barriers, benefits, eligibility, costs, and effectiveness, and take steps to extend intake hours. The law also provides $250,000 to continue and evaluate a homeless-family preference program in private multifamily housing.
Low-income households get eviction legal help
The law provides $2.5 million to increase access to lawyers in eviction proceedings. The program serves low-income tenants and low-income owner-occupants facing eviction. The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation distributes funds to designated nonprofits. Funding supports legal services, not direct household payments or a guaranteed lawyer in every case.
Low-income households get home energy help
For fiscal year 2026, the law provides $220 million for low-income home energy assistance and $11 million for its infrastructure-law grant. Weatherization receives $13 million, plus $50 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program. Weatherization funds home improvements that can reduce energy use and costs. Households qualify through each program's eligibility rules; this provision does not set income thresholds or individual assistance amounts.
Monthly housing allowance for aid families
Eligible Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children households receive a $40 monthly housing allowance. They must have rent or mortgage expenses and cannot live in public or subsidized housing. The allowance totals $480 over 12 months when a household qualifies every month.
People facing homelessness get housing support
Fiscal year 2026 federal funding includes $5.5 million for Emergency Shelter Grants and $33 million for Continuum of Care Supplemental Housing. Additional grants support youth homelessness, stability vouchers, foster youth, family unification, and supportive housing. Access depends on each program's eligibility rules, and individual assistance amounts are not specified. The law also funds permanent supportive housing to reduce shelter overcrowding. The state housing office must prioritize geographic fairness when allocating that permanent housing funding.
Placement protections for families in shelters
Approved households must be placed as close to home as possible. When the nearest placement is over 20 miles away, the office must make practicable efforts to transfer families within 20 miles, unless they request otherwise. It must notify schools within five days and make every effort to keep children in their prior schools. It must try to provide refrigeration and basic cooking facilities, and supply a compliant crib for each child under three in hotels or motels. The law funds disability-suitable shelter units and hotel expenses when contracted shelter beds are unavailable.
Rental help for mental health clients
The law requires at least $16.8 million for rental subsidies for Department of Mental Health clients. Eligible department clients can receive help with housing costs. Program payments and commitments must stay within the amount appropriated. The provisions do not set each person's subsidy amount.
Renters pay only brokers they hire
A rental broker or salesperson may contract solely with a prospective tenant or solely with a landlord or landlord's agent. Only the party that originally hired and contracted with the broker or salesperson may pay the fee. A renter who hired the broker may still owe that fee. The law also recognizes a landlord's agent as a recipient of payments covered by the state's rental-payment rule.
Shelter families receive housing search plans
Families receiving emergency assistance must receive housing-search help after entering a shelter, motel, or hotel. The help aims for a sustainable placement within four weeks; placement is not guaranteed. After more than 32 weeks of assistance, each family must have a workable shelter exit plan. The plan must support moving into a sustainable tenancy or safe residence as soon as possible.
Somerville older renters get bridge assistance
Somerville receives at least $200,000 to continue its short-term housing bridge pilot. Households must live in Somerville, include someone age 60 or older, and meet the applicable housing-program eligibility requirements. Income cannot exceed 80% of area median income. Households must face eviction risk because they cannot consistently pay rent. While receiving help, their required rent contribution cannot exceed 30% of monthly adjusted income.
Adults get education and English-learning support
The law provides about $58.95 million for competitively selected adult education providers. Funding supports shorter English-learning waitlists, community college transitions, staff training, and employment contracts tied to results. Providers must meet state performance levels, with preference for organizations serving high shares of parents. At least $25,000 goes to Pathways Inc. in Lynn for adult education.
College scholarships keep funding floors
MASSGrant, MASSGrant Plus, and paraprofessional grants receive at least their fiscal year 2025 funding. Minimum funding includes $22 million for Gilbert Grants and $5 million for early educator scholarships. One Family Scholars receives at least $480,000, and the Gants Scholarship receives at least $150,000. Gants internship stipends support current law students with financial need who meet the program's adopted eligibility guidelines. Fiscal year 2026 grants administered by the Department of Higher Education must be distributed by September 30, 2025.
College students get academic and emergency help
Community colleges receive SUCCESS grants for staff providing mentoring, study workshops, college visits, and academic, career, transfer, and scholarship advice. Allocations follow a formula developed with the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, and funds pay only personnel costs. Mount Wachusett Community College receives support for a food pantry and emergency services for students facing financial hardship. Its civic center also receives funding for service learning, volunteer work, community discussions, programming, and technology. Urban College of Boston receives at least $100,000 for academic and financial support services.
College transition help for adult workers
The Board of Higher Education must award competitive grants for college transition services focused on low-income and entry-level workers. At least $250,000 goes to Jewish Vocational Service for academic and coaching support focused on immigrants and refugees. Other providers must show success helping underserved adults close academic gaps and enter, stay in, and finish college.
Community college trainees get stipend support
At least $1.5 million supports monthly stipends and services for Training Resources and Internship Networks participants in fiscal year 2026. Administration costs cannot exceed $100,000. The Department of Higher Education must seek proposals to expand the program to more community colleges. Separately, more funding sources can count toward community college workforce training incentive grants. These include training contracts funded through public agencies, municipalities, public grants, nonprofits, or private gifts.
Disabled adults get community employment support
The Department of Developmental Services must support people moving from sheltered workshops to community-based jobs. Employer and nonprofit partnerships promote independence and community participation. Regional employment collaboratives serving people with developmental disabilities receive at least their fiscal year 2025 funding. The law does not specify individual payments.
Education help for behavioral health workers
The Department of Mental Health must create loan forgiveness and tuition reimbursement for clinical behavioral health workers. Covered roles include nurse practitioners, psychologists, psychiatrists, peer counselors, and behavioral health navigators. The law does not set awards or a program start date. For fiscal year 2026, at least $500,000 also links colleges and providers to build a culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse workforce. The Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association runs that workforce program.
English learners get school and career help
At least $1 million funds intensive English-learning programs in districts serving gateway municipalities. District support must address middle- and high-school students at risk of dropping out because of language barriers. Funding also supports educator training, required English-learning programs, and vocational-technical educators. At least $25,000 supports the Latinx Community Center for Empowerment's workforce program, including English classes and resume help.
High school students get college pathways
The law funds dual enrollment, early college, and career-focused innovation pathways, including program growth and summer activities. Qualified high school students can take college courses; courses can meet at high schools when enough students enroll. Public colleges receive preference for early college grants, and early college programs prioritize students underrepresented in college. At least $175,000 supports Westfield State nursing and health-science pathways developed with western Massachusetts hospitals and health-care providers. Early college and innovation pathways follow jointly developed state education principles; innovation pathways favor careers in high-demand industries.
Job services for adults with disabilities
Employment assistance for severely disabled adults must include vocational evaluations and employment services. Separately, $1 million funds competitive grants for training unemployed young adults with disabilities through the Commonwealth Corporation. Community groups receiving grants must have a proven record of strong employer partnerships. They must offer extensive training, internships, and ongoing support for participants and employers after job placement.
Job support for people leaving prison
The law funds workforce and support services for people leaving a house of correction or state prison. Services include job training, professional development, and wage subsidies for private-sector employment. The program also provides support services and programs for court-involved youth. At least $250,000 goes to New England Culinary Arts Training. The law does not state total program funding or individual payment amounts.
Minimum pay for assistant district attorneys
Funded district attorneys' offices must pay assistant district attorneys at least $68,000 a year. Employees earning less must receive enough additional pay to reach that floor.
More parents qualify for job services
Former Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children recipients can receive job and training services for one year after benefits end. Noncustodial parents of children receiving Transitional Aid can also receive these services. Some parents under 18 qualify even when counted grandparent income makes them ineligible for Transitional Aid. These minor parents must still meet the service program's other eligibility requirements. The law does not set a cash benefit amount.
National Guard students keep tuition help
The law provides about $8.03 million to reimburse Massachusetts public colleges for National Guard tuition and fee waivers. Summer classes are included. State universities, community colleges, and the University of Massachusetts must certify actual waived amounts before receiving money. The funds remain available through June 30, 2027.
Student aid at minority-serving vocational colleges
The law directs at least $500,000 to student financial aid at qualifying Massachusetts vocational colleges. Colleges must be independent, nonprofit vocational technical institutions of higher education. They must have received federal minority-serving status at least twice in the previous four years. Most of their students must qualify for Pell Grants. The law does not set individual award amounts.
Students get help with advanced courses
The law provides about $2 million for a statewide program expanding access to Advanced Placement courses, especially for underserved students. Support covers course supplies, exam costs, study sessions, and teacher development. The program must be competitively bid and tied to performance. It must secure at least $1 million in private funding for direct educator support.
Veteran court workers gain employment protections
Qualifying veterans in Trial Court jobs outside the civil service classification gain specified state employment rights. They must hold the job for at least one year and complete 30 years of total creditable state service. Elective offices, fixed-term appointive offices, and offices covered by the stated statutory exclusion do not qualify.
Workers get more registered apprenticeship opportunities
The law provides about $3.32 million to expand and diversify registered apprenticeships. Covered industries include manufacturing, health care, and information technology. The funding supports training opportunities rather than setting an individual payment amount.
Young people get year-round job support
The law funds existing year-round job programs, including programs for youth age 25 or younger. The Commonwealth Corporation determines participant eligibility. Minimum awards are $25,000 for Allston-Brighton youth development and $50,000 for the Cape Verdean Association's Cabral Leadership and Innovation Center. The Essex National Heritage Future Leaders program also receives at least $50,000. Private organizations must match $500,000 of the funds, and the provision ends September 1, 2026.
Child care providers get operating support
The law provides $360 million in formula-based child care operating grants for fiscal year 2026, ending June 30, 2026. Programs must answer department data requests and surveys; administrative costs cannot exceed 2%, and the department must report quarterly. A separate $1 million matching-grant pilot supports new or expanded affordable child care slots. Eligible applicants are nonprofits, nonprofit-controlled organizations, and licensed family home-based providers; they must cover at least 50% of expected project costs. Funded providers must follow educator-pay guidelines and enroll, or commit to enrolling, children receiving child care financial assistance. Another $1 million funds Neighborhood Villages’ infant and toddler classrooms serving families across income levels, workforce training, and coordinated health and wellness services. These grants fund providers and pilots, not guaranteed payments or slots for each family.
Funding targets frontline human services pay
The law provides $207 million for fiscal year 2026 human-services rate costs under the chapter 257 funding system. Providers receiving this funding must use at least 75% for direct-care, frontline, medical, and clinical staff compensation. Workers earning less than $20 per hour receive preference; covered workers include home-care staff and specified homelessness-service workers. Exclusions cover specified special education programs, early education contracts, specified class-rate programs, and contracts funded only by federal grants. The law does not set each worker's raise.
Funding helps keep the turnpike operating
The law provides $125 million to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for covered turnpike costs in fiscal year 2026. It helps cover costs incurred by the Turnpike Authority or its successor under the specified operating-cost law. The funding does not require lower tolls or provide household payments.
Funding strengthens state retiree benefits reserves
The law transfers $450 million to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund for fiscal year 2026. This supports benefits for Massachusetts state retirees and other fund beneficiaries. It does not change individual benefit formulas or set per-person payments.
Funding supports Boston-area transit and ferries
The law transfers $470.2 million to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. At least $10 million supports its academy, and at least $10 million supports ferry operating-assistance grants. Funds can also support income-eligible reduced fares for low-income riders on all modes. Money above the prior fiscal year's total cannot pay for capital projects. The law does not set an individual fare discount.
Higher borrowing limit for transportation projects
The law raises the transportation borrowing limit from $250 million to $550 million, adding $300 million in capacity. The new limit remains a ceiling, not an automatic spending award. Projects costing more than $1 billion need specific legislative authorization and approval of borrowing after inclusion in the five-year spending plan. The transportation department must track funded projects on a public website. An annual report is due by October 31.
More regional transit service and connections
The law transfers $209 million to regional transit authorities, including at least $66 million for longer hours, weekends, and route expansion. It requires $3.5 million in operating aid allocated by ridership (60%), population (30%), and service-area square mileage (10%). That formula uses the latest certified national transit database report, latest census, and member communities' total square miles. At least $10 million funds routes connecting existing transit, including regional and Boston-area routes, with local economic hubs. Grant priorities include ridership, longer single-trip coverage, low-income access, and geographic fairness. At least $4 million in Community Transit Grant Program funding expands mobility options for older adults, disabled people, and low-income residents.
Transportation funding supports riders and pedestrians
The law transfers about $572.945 million to the Massachusetts Transportation Trust Fund. Named projects include at least $50,000 each for Lexington's Rev Shuttle and Helping Our Women's microtransit program. Brighton Main Streets receives at least $25,000 to continue pedestrian safety work in Brighton's business district. The Longwood Collective receives at least $100,000 to study streetscape effects on emergency response and public transit reliability; this funds a study, not street changes. The Department of Correction must verify quarterly registry reports before requesting transfers of identification-card fees for people released from its facilities.
Higher payments support nursing home care
For FY2026, nursing facility rates must total at least $342.1 million above annual rates in effect on June 30, 2002. State spending on these rates must rise by at least $102 million over FY2025. At least $25 million must fund base-rate payments above the October 2024 rate. That money supports resident care and workforce costs, including wages, hiring, and training. The law funds facilities rather than payments to individual residents.
More funding for MassHealth hospital care
The law transfers $547.5824 million to the Medical Assistance Trust Fund for provider payments, hospital improvements, and health equity incentives. Cambridge’s public health commission can receive up to $493.9 million, directly or through Medicaid care organizations. It must first voluntarily transfer an equal nonfederal share from a federally allowed source. Payments require federal matching funds, approved payment methods, compliance with federal limits, and an agreement with state health officials. This funding supports providers, not direct payments to MassHealth members.
Incarceration bars Emergency Aid benefits
People incarcerated in a correctional institution cannot receive Massachusetts Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children while incarcerated. The rule removes program eligibility during that time.
Pregnant applicants face cash aid checks
A pregnant applicant with no other eligible dependent children must have medically verified pregnancy to receive Transitional Aid. She must also meet the program's categorical and financial requirements as if the child were born and lived with her. That eligibility test applies to the payment month.
Family shelter aid ends after housing offers
Temporary emergency assistance ends when a family receives an available housing or assistance offer sufficient to maintain or stabilize housing. A family that declines an adequate offer loses eligibility. An adequate offer must fit the family's size and disabilities and must not cause the client to lose a job.
Income checks can affect housing subsidies
The housing office may check household income annually for subsidy programs covered by the specified housing appropriations. It may use tax returns, agency records, wage reports, and bank-match data. The office may require household members' Social Security numbers solely to check income eligibility. It may deny or end assistance when an applicant or tenant does not provide a required number.
Delinquent taxpayers face enhanced audit efforts
For fiscal year 2026, the Department of Revenue can spend up to $27.938953 million from additional auditors' collections. The money funds enhanced audits targeting people with overdue tax returns or unpaid state taxes. Auditors must obtain missing returns and collect taxes owed. The program does not create a new tax rate or separate filing requirement.
Home care protects services, limits raises
Home care organizations can retain sliding-scale fee revenue, up to a total of $16 million, without executive office reallocation. They must spend it on home care under state aging-office guidelines. In fiscal year 2026, home care rate increases cannot reduce client services or the number of clients served. Funds also cannot support raises for state-funded homemaker and home health aide workers when those raises reduce client services.
Psychiatry funding with required payer surcharges
The law makes at least $4.375 million available for the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project in FY2026. This includes at least $675,000 for its Moms program and $500,000 for consultations accessible to K–12 staff and students. The Department of Mental Health must assess and collect surcharges from legally defined payors for services benefiting commercially insured clients. Department regulations govern collection; the provision sets no surcharge rate. It does not directly require insured patients to pay.
Senior home care fees allow waivers
Qualified older adults receiving home care program services must pay sliding-scale fees. The Secretary of Aging and Independence may waive collection for extreme financial hardship. The law does not state the fee schedule.
Veterans' medical aid has income exceptions
Applicants seeking chapter 115 veterans' benefits for services available through chapter 118E medical assistance must also apply for that assistance. Veterans' agents must file the applications; health officials decide eligibility and notify the applicant and agent. Chapter 115 medical help remains available during the wait when needed for sufficient relief and support. Most chapter 115 payments for veterans, surviving spouses, or dependents do not count as income for chapter 118E eligibility. However, section 6B benefits do count as income.
Higher voucher limits, different renter payment rules
Mobile vouchers issued or leased on or after July 1, 2025 have rent limits equal to 110% of applicable fair market rent. Another voucher rule allows limits up to 110%, with a state-set start date no later than June 30, 2026. Existing leases get the new limits on their anniversary; agencies must find rents reasonable, and disability accommodations may adjust limits. Households already assisted in a unit are protected from federal rent-limit cuts if they stay without changing voucher size. Project-based households generally pay 30% of monthly net income; the payment-standard rules cap initial tenant-based obligations at 40% of adjusted income. A separate mobile-voucher contribution rule has no maximum income share. Without an applicable payment standard or utility allowance, contributions may be at least 25% of net income without owner-provided utilities, or 30% with them.
Shelter families must save some income
Families receiving the covered emergency assistance must place 30% of their income in a savings account. Reasonable exceptions apply through Executive Office regulations in effect for fiscal year 2026. The savings do not count toward otherwise applicable asset limits. Families can withdraw the money when they enter permanent housing or lose shelter eligibility.
Automatic retirement savings for eligible workers
The law creates Secure Choice, a payroll-deposit retirement account program, subject to funding. Eligible workers must be at least 18 and have wages allocated to Massachusetts. Covered employers must have had at least 25 Massachusetts employees throughout the previous calendar year. They must also have operated for at least two years and offered no qualified retirement plan during the preceding two calendar years. Employers can offer their own retirement plan instead. Automatic contributions start at 6% of wages and rise by one percentage point yearly, stopping at 10%. This builds savings but lowers take-home pay; workers can opt out anytime or change contribution levels and investments. Employers must send withheld money as soon as reasonably possible, no later than the next month's 15th day. Late payments face wage-withholding sanctions. Enrollment failures without reasonable cause carry penalties of $250 per worker per year or partial year, rising to $500 for later years after assessment. Penalties begin no earlier than one year after Department of Revenue notice; reasonable-cause waivers and specified diligence exceptions apply. Fixing enrollment within 90 days after discovering, or being expected to discover, the failure is a stated exception. Workers or state officials can sue for enrollment and court-approved costs and attorney fees.
Child care grants require provider responses
The law provides $115 million for early education and care provider operating grants. Grants follow the existing statutory formula and are coordinated with the related operating-grant account. Providers must answer department data requests and surveys to qualify. This reporting duty applies to providers, not families.
Candidates can fund campaign-related adult care
Candidates can use campaign funds for care of a parent or other adult dependent when costs result from campaign activities. Family members generally cannot receive these payments. An exception covers relatives who own, operate, or work for a caregiving service or organization providing the care. They cannot charge more than their usual rate.
Citizenship and legal help for immigrants
Massachusetts funds citizenship classes, application help, interview preparation, interpretation, and referrals for permanent residents within three years of citizenship eligibility. Highest priority goes to residents eligible for chapter 118A benefits except for noncitizen status. Residents receiving state benefits replaceable by federal benefits after citizenship also receive priority. Minimum grants are $50,000 for Casa Dominicana, $30,000 for the Center for New Americans, and $140,000 for Friendly House. A separate immigration legal services program distributes nonprofit funding subject to appropriation, including at least $75,000 for Framingham’s Brazilian American Center.
Court users get reminders and support
At least $300,000 maintains interactive text reminders for court dates, including criminal cases in district, Boston municipal, and superior courts. The law provides about $1.37 million for dispute-resolution programs, including at least $250,000 for online services. At least $1.13 million hires mental health clinicians for Trial Court facilities. The clinicians must be spread fairly across locations.
Discrimination hearings stay closer to complainants
The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination must maintain offices in Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester. It must hold public hearings in those regions as needed. When practical, each case must be heard in the region where the person filing it lives.
Electronic vehicle transfers retain title duties
The registrar must create an electronic process for retail vehicle sales, dealer reassignments, and other approved ownership transfers. The registrar must accept electronic signatures that meet state law. After an electronic title update, sellers must keep, invalidate, or surrender any paper title as the process requires. Existing seller and buyer title duties remain.
Fair hearings and foster care reviews
The Department of Children and Families must maintain a timely, independent, and fair hearing system. Public hearing records must remove identifying details and follow federal privacy rules. Redacted hearing decisions must be provided within 30 days of a written request. Before each foster care, placement stability, or permanency reform funded through budget item 4800-0038, the department must review racial impacts. It must assess disproportionate or unique effects on racial and ethnic minorities and send findings to designated lawmakers at least 30 days beforehand.
Families get updated vital record rules
Birth records can add parent information through qualifying acknowledgments or parentage judgments, including qualifying out-of-state or foreign judgments. Removal requires legally established nonparentage or a qualifying rescinded acknowledgment. These changes require the applicable filing, request, or court order. Local clerks also follow updated birth, marriage, and death record requirements. Death records cannot include the deceased person's Social Security number.
Funding supports people cleared of convictions
The law gives $250,000 to the New England Innocence Project to support people cleared of convictions. The money goes to the organization, not directly to individuals. The provision does not specify services or individual payment amounts.
Longer period for vehicle registry review
For vehicle registry decisions covered by chapter 90, section 28, the specified period increases from 10 to 30 days. The law also recognizes decisions based on written submissions as an alternative to decisions after a hearing.
Low-income riders get reduced-fare outreach
The MBTA must spend at least $100,000 promoting its income-eligible reduced-fare program. Municipalities and community groups must help plan the campaign. This funding supports enrollment outreach; it does not change fares or income rules.
Lower-cost veterinary care near New Bedford
At least $100,000 in fiscal year 2026 establishes a fund for discounted or free veterinary care for low-income greater New Bedford residents. The Animal Rescue League of New Bedford establishes the Eleanor Mackler-Kruczek Compassionate Care Fund with Lighthouse Animal Shelter, CARE Southcoast, and Hearts 4 Paws. The money cannot pay salaries or administrative costs. No per-household benefit amount is specified.
Returned adoptees can restore birth names
People can restore their birth name on their birth certificate after their adoptive parents return them to state care. This right applies only to people who were in Department of Children and Families custody before adoption.
Small compensation payments for older victims
Crime victims who were at least 60 when the crime occurred can receive compensation even without out-of-pocket loss. The claimant must not be employed or receiving unemployment compensation. Payment under this rule is limited to $50.
Spouses can remove marriage sex information
Both spouses can apply together to remove either or both spouses’ sex information from their marriage record. Both must submit an affidavit confirming their agreement. They can also request changes to either or both names. A name change requires evidence of the legal name change.
Taxi funding helps Somerville seniors
The law directs at least $25,000 to Somerville’s senior taxi program. The funding supports taxi access for older adults who use the program. It does not specify a fare reduction or savings for each rider.
Victims receive clearer notice of rights
The victim and witness assistance board must help local police teach staff about crime victims' rights. It must establish procedures for promptly notifying victims and witnesses of those rights. In towns without local police agencies, the board must work with state police. At least $100,000 also funds training and education supporting the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance.
Drivers avoid qualifying first-offense insurance surcharges
Safe driver insurance plans cannot add an unsafe-driver-point surcharge for a first qualifying noncriminal traffic offense. The protection covers noncriminal motor vehicle traffic violations described in Massachusetts chapter 90C. The law does not state the amount of the surcharge avoided.
Drivers get flexible insurance appeal hearings
The motor vehicle liability insurance appeals board has four members and can hold hearings statewide or virtually. Approved regulations can allow specified cases before one board member or a hearing officer. Written-only decisions require that no party objects. Hearing officers must work for the board or division. Rules for specified insurance appeals need only the insurance commissioner's approval.
Parents get school meal charge information
Every Massachusetts city and town must publish and share its school meal charge policy in an easily accessible format. Policies must follow USDA guidance memorandum SP 46-2016. Families must receive access before the 2025–2026 school year when possible, and no later than September 30, 2025. This requirement does not change meal charges or eligibility.
Vehicle owners can request paper titles
After notice that a vehicle loan lien is satisfied, the registrar can skip issuing and mailing a paper title. Owners must still be able to request one and complete actions that require a title. Skipping delivery to a third party requires registrar authorization and a lienholder request. Existing seller and buyer title duties remain.
Behavioral health support for schoolchildren
At least $3.532 million funds a FY2026 pilot expanding students' access to behavioral health telehealth in schools. The Department of Public Health must report participation, usage, service costs, and insurer reimbursement by June 30, 2026. At least $50,000 also funds Community Teamwork programs supporting children's behavioral health and educational success. Neither provision sets a direct family payment.
Care funding for people with ALS
The law requires at least $250,000 for care services through the Massachusetts Chapter of the ALS Association. The services support people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called ALS. The law does not set individual payments or savings.
Child welfare funding supports family services
The law funds child welfare services, including shelter, substance-use treatment, young-parent help, parent aides, education, and counseling. Funding also covers foster care, adoption subsidies, respite, post-adoption services, and help for families affected by domestic violence. Set-asides include at least $100,000 for Jewish Family and Children's Service and $350,000 for Italian Home for Children. They also include $25,000 for Julie's Family Learning Program, $250,000 for Tempo, and $20,000 for Bet Tzedek legal services. Social worker funding targets offices furthest above the statewide weighted caseload standard and works toward 15 social workers per caseload unit. Only bargaining unit 8 employees can be paid from that staffing account.
Continued mental health support and aftercare
The mental health department must spend at least its FY2025 amount on flexible support services in FY2026. It must also require standards for safe aftercare for adults leaving acute inpatient mental health care. At least $250,000 supports Eliot Community Human Services' outpatient treatment program. That program serves people with serious, ongoing mental illness who repeatedly interact with police or return to the hospital. Treatment occurs through a voluntary agreement or court order.
Disability referrals must consider nearby providers
MassAbility must consider where clients live and how close the nearest service provider is when making referrals. The law does not guarantee a specific provider or referral outcome.
Expense help for SNAP job seekers
Participating SNAP applicants and recipients can receive support payments through SNAP Path to Work. Payments can cover or reimburse expenses reasonably needed and directly related to program participation. The law does not state payment limits.
Food access help for SNAP households
The Department of Transitional Assistance can use available funds for a discounted surplus-food pilot serving SNAP recipients. The pilot must use technology to reach higher-need areas, follow nutrition standards, and prioritize reducing hunger. When adding Healthy Incentives Program vendors, the department must prioritize historically underserved areas with limited fresh, local produce. It must also work with local food coalitions and nonprofits on outreach. No discount rate or new vendor location is guaranteed.
Health services for school students
For fiscal year 2026, the law funds school health services and school-based health centers. At least $3 million supports mental health services in public and nonpublic schools. Funds are divided according to each sector's share of statewide student enrollment. Funding can also pay school nurse salaries for more than three school years.
Holyoke veterans home gets independent advocate
The law funds an ombudsman’s office at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. The office provides an independent, impartial, and confidential resource for residents, visitors, and the home’s community. No funding amount is specified.
Home visits and support for families
The law provides about $17.86 million for parenting education and home visits focused on low-income parents of at-risk newborns. It provides $500,000 for child and family programs, including family resource centers. Funded centers must meet state requirements, use research-backed services, and measure service quality. Smart from the Start receives $500,000 for trauma-informed, multigenerational family services and community engagement in underserved Boston communities. Marie's Mission receives at least $25,000 for free diapers in greater Worcester.
Homicide survivors get burial and counseling help
The law provides $600,000 for statewide homicide-survivor support, including outreach, burial help, and grief counseling. At least $200,000 goes to the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, and at least $100,000 goes to Survivors Say. The Peace Institute must distribute at least $100,000 in grants to Massachusetts Survivors of Homicide Victims Network organizations. The law does not set a payment amount for each family.
Independent living help for blind residents
The law directs at least $1.1 million to independent-living programs for legally blind residents through qualified nonprofit providers. Services include rehabilitation, housing help, counseling, accessible devices and software, equipment, and technology training. At least $500,000 must be available to the Carroll Center for the Blind and $300,000 to MAB Community Services. At least $250,000 also supports commission social workers, rehabilitation teachers, and orientation and mobility instructors.
Information helps patients access yearlong contraception
The law provides $500,000 for information about eligibility and availability of 12-month contraceptive prescriptions. The public health commissioner must work with insurers, pharmacies, advocacy groups, and employers to reach pharmacies and the public. The campaign provides information; it does not create a prescription entitlement or household payment.
MassHealth members and applicants avoid fees
The law eliminates pharmacy copayments for all MassHealth members filling prescriptions through MassHealth. The state registrar must also waive the birth-verification fee when the request is used to establish Medicaid eligibility. Neither provision states the amount saved per person.
Meal and nutrition funding for seniors
The law provides about $12.76 million for elder nutrition programs. At least $750,000 must support Meals on Wheels, and at least $100,000 must support the senior farm share program. A separate $6 million funds the federally funded Nutrition Services Incentive Program. The law does not set an individual food benefit amount.
Mental and preventive care for seniors
The law provides about $2.47 million for mental health services for older adults living in the community. The program offers outreach, counseling, help managing resources, and help finding services for those with mental health needs. A separate federally funded preventive health grant receives $930,000 to support older adults' preventive care.
Repair support for power wheelchair users
The Boston Home receives at least $50,000 for its wheelchair enhancement center. The money supports on-site power wheelchair repairs, modifications, and programming. The law does not specify each user's service amount.
Senior care eligibility starts birthday month
For Senior Care Options eligibility, people count as age 65 on the first day of their 65th birthday month. This changes when they meet the program's age requirement, not its other eligibility rules.
SNAP families face less application paperwork
The state must require only one signature from each SNAP applicant. It cannot require applicants to verify eligibility facts again when those facts were already verified and have not changed. Changed or previously unverified facts can still be checked. These rules simplify applications without changing eligibility or benefit amounts.
Support for adults with developmental disabilities
At least $25,000 goes to Friendship Home for people with developmental disabilities and their families. It supports respite care, social activities, recreation, and family services. Another $99,000 supports initiatives for aging people with developmental disabilities. That work includes care coordination, staff training on dementia and other age-related conditions, and tracking program results.
Text support expands for young people
The law provides $1.8 million for suicide-prevention services from The Samaritans. At least $800,000 supports expansion and operation of Hey Sam, a text-based support line for youth and young adults. That funding also supports community education, outreach, and communications.
Homeless youth receive cash assistance funding
For FY2026, the law directs at least $100,000 to BAY-CASH for direct cash help for unaccompanied homeless youth. The law does not set the payment amount for each recipient.
Housing and financial help for seniors
The law provides $286,000 for assessment, placement, and homelessness prevention services for older adults who are homeless or at risk. Newton At Home receives at least $45,000 for financial help to qualifying Newton seniors. The law does not set individual award amounts or Newton's qualification rules.
Housing services and site protections for seniors
The aging office must maintain the FY2025 number of supportive senior housing sites in FY2026. The law provides about $3.32 million for congregate and shared housing services and naturally occurring retirement communities. At least $856,000 is reserved for providers with FY2025 service agreements. Those providers must retain their FY2025 proportions of total available funding. At least $60,000 goes to the Northern Bristol County Assistance Collaborative toward building low-to-middle-income housing for seniors.
More Boston housing for chronically homeless people
The law provides at least $250,000 to expand low-threshold safe-haven housing in Boston. It serves people with mental illness who are chronically homeless and living in emergency shelters or on the streets. The funding does not set an individual housing payment.
More local help keeping renters housed
The law directs at least $80,000 to W.A.T.C.H., Inc. for staff and eviction-prevention programs. Lynn Housing Authority receives at least $300,000 for housing stability services, information, and referrals. Lynn services target households with serious barriers to keeping housing, including current or former rental-assistance and eviction-diversion participants. Compass Working Capital receives at least $150,000 to expand Family Self-Sufficiency services for eligible greater Boston households. These grants do not set payments for each household.
Programs funded for children experiencing homelessness
The law directs at least $800,000 to Home Works for children in the emergency housing assistance program. It supports after-school and summer activities through youth-serving organizations. Organizations must apply for housing-office contracts to receive program slots. At least $350,000 also goes to Horizons for Homeless Children, Inc. These amounts fund programs, not set payments to each child or family.
Bristol college funds veterans education services
The law directs at least $75,000 to Bristol Community College's veterans educational service center in fiscal year 2026. The funding supports services for veterans using the center. It does not set a payment or benefit amount for each veteran.
Career services funding for college students
The law directs at least $250,000 to Thrive Scholars for college-to-career services. The funding supports participating students. The provision does not set individual eligibility rules or payment amounts.
Computer training funding for veterans
At least $100,000 goes to Massachusetts Fallen Heroes for its Veteran Computer Lab and Tech Training Program. The funding supports computer and technology training for veterans. The law does not set the amount of training or support each veteran receives.
Covered state workers get medical leave
Covered state employees can take up to five days of leave for the referenced medical procedure and physical recovery. The supplied text does not identify the procedure or establish whether this leave is paid.
Employment programs receive targeted funding
The Department of Children and Families can spend up to $2 million in retained revenue on transitional employment services and managing-agent overhead. Spending is limited to revenue collected from state, county, municipal, and state-authority sources. The commissioner can contract with Roca to manage services, including for people aging out of care. For fiscal year 2026, New North Citizens Council receives at least $150,000 for Connecticut River Valley YouthBuild. Year Up receives at least $200,000 for workforce development programs; these grants do not set individual payments.
Families gain locally expanded preschool options
The law provides $15.5 million for voluntary local preschool planning and expansion through a public-private partnership model. Programs serve children eligible for kindergarten within two school years. Grants favor districts with high shares of high-needs students and those with completed preschool expansion plans. The funding provision runs through June 30, 2026. Local participation is voluntary, and the law does not guarantee each child a place.
Half-price rail passes for Bridgewater students
A 2025–2026 academic-year pilot provides eligible Bridgewater State University students South Coast commuter-rail semester passes at half the standard fare. Students must live in a municipality next to the South Coast rail corridor. The university must give priority to students with financial need. By June 30, 2026, it must report pass distribution by students’ hometowns and total pilot costs.
Homeless LGBTQ+ youth get job training
The law directs at least $500,000 to BAGLY, Inc. in fiscal year 2026. Funding provides job training and related support for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness. The law does not set a payment or service amount for each participant.
Juvenile court investigators keep rate floor
The Trial Court must fund juvenile court investigator rates at least as high as those established in FY2025. The law does not state the rate amounts.
Retention funding supports experienced prosecution staff
The Massachusetts District Attorneys Association must distribute $1 million among 11 district attorneys’ offices for staff retention. Eligible staff include assistant district attorneys and non-attorney employees with at least three years of experience. No office can receive more than $125,000. Funds must stay in the designated staff-pay account and be used for retention.
Scholarships and training for early educators
The law directs at least $5 million to scholarships for eligible early education and care educators. Another $3 million supports training and college opportunities coordinated with Massachusetts public two-year colleges. Training must follow department skill standards and career paths. Programs must offer credits transferable among Massachusetts public colleges whenever possible. The law does not set individual scholarship or tuition amounts.
Training support for health care workers
The law provides $1 million to the 1199SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund for eligible health care workers' training. Covered workers include MassHealth personal care attendants and workers in nursing homes, community health centers, hospitals, and health systems. At least $150,000 supports Operation House Call at the Arc of Massachusetts. That program trains medical students and graduate-level health professionals to work with people with autism and developmental or intellectual disabilities.
State funding backs qualifying local tax relief
For fiscal year 2026, the state provides $38.972625 million to reimburse cities and towns for specified local tax relief. This covers qualifying property-tax abatements for veterans, widows, blind people, and elderly residents, plus specified vehicle excise exemptions. Municipalities accepting clause 41B or 41C can receive up to $2 per exemption for added eligibility-review costs. This funds municipal reimbursements; it does not create a new household exemption or set individual savings.
Tax appeal hearings reach every county
The Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board must schedule hearings in every county. The law does not set hearing dates or change tax amounts.
Certified diverse businesses get contract help
The Supplier Diversity Office must provide training and other services to businesses it certifies as diverse. These services help certified businesses compete for state contracts. The office must offer an online certification application and protect applicants' personal and financial information. Certification does not guarantee a contract or payment.
More support for small business owners
The law directs at least $100,000 to South Eastern Economic Development Corporation for small-business loans and advice. It directs at least $50,000 to Center for Women & Enterprise and $200,000 to Massachusetts Center for Employee Ownership. The Small Business Development Center gets a $1.426222 million matching grant, capped at 25% of operating costs. State spending must wait until the Small Business Administration pays or commits to paying UMass Amherst to operate the center. Up to $300,000 supports federal-contract help, with federal or private matching funds; no individual business award is guaranteed.
Small businesses get a state advocate
The law creates a small business ombudsperson within the Executive Office of Economic Development. The office provides guidance and advocacy on state programs, licensing, public contracts, and regulatory requirements. It also makes educational resources available. An activity report is due each year by January 1.
Added patrol funding for neighborhoods and transit
The law provides at least $50,000 for neighborhood police management in low-income and downtown areas of Springfield and Chicopee. Boston patrols receive at least $20,000 for Fairmount Housing Development and $50,000 for specified Dorchester and Roxbury locations. Tyngsborough gets at least $25,000 for Lake Mascuppic patrols, and Boylston gets $50,000 for hosting a police academy. Another $100,000 minimum funds added transit police patrols in the First Suffolk senatorial district. Those patrols cover Orange and Red Line stations and commuter rail.
Advocacy centers receive child victim funding
The law provides $5.5 million for children's advocacy centers and related services in fiscal year 2026. These services help child victims of sexual abuse, assault, or trafficking. Each center must receive at least its fiscal year 2025 allocation. Extra funding is shared among 12 accredited centers to promote fair access. At least $1.05 million supports the statewide system through the Massachusetts Children's Alliance.
Arts and historic preservation receive grants
For fiscal year 2026, federal grants provide about $1.157 million for historic preservation surveys and planning. Maritime heritage receives $200,000. Cultural Council grants provide $35,000 for folk and traditional arts and $829,100 for the Basic State Grant. Arts in Education receives $62,900, and Youth Reach programs receive $282,900. The money funds preservation, arts, education, and youth programming, not household checks.
Berkshire jail aquaponics program receives funding
The law provides $150,000 in fiscal year 2026 to operate the Berkshire County House of Correction's aquaponics program. The funding supports the facility's program, not direct payments to households.
Boston historic sites receive repair funding
The law directs at least $2.5 million to Revolutionary Spaces, Inc. for the Old State House and Old South Meeting House. Uses include construction planning, capital projects, and overdue maintenance. The money goes to the organization, not the City of Boston.
Coastal conservation and safety programs funded
Federal fiscal year 2026 grants provide about $2.821 million and $1.600 million for coastal management. Land and water conservation receives about $8.609 million, and Buzzards Bay Estuary receives $3.5 million. Fisheries enforcement receives $333,022, port security $316,291, and recreational boating safety about $2.522 million. Rail transit safety oversight receives $2.6501 million, and pipeline security receives about $2.441 million. These grants fund state conservation and safety programs rather than household payments.
Community grants support youth violence prevention
A neighborhood pilot serves out-of-school youth and young adults ages 17 to 24 in eligible communities. Grants go to local nonprofits serving high-risk youth for case workers, counseling, academic help, and research-based services. Awards involve state public safety and education agencies; recipients must set measurable outcomes and report evidence of success. A separate competitive program provides $4.021326 million for comprehensive youth violence prevention under eligibility criteria referenced in the 2008 law. That program excludes law enforcement agencies, and its one-time grants cannot become ongoing funding in fiscal year 2027.
Community violence and fire prevention funded
The law provides at least $50,000 for Worcester's annual two-day Save R Streets basketball tournament and peace weekend. The funding goes to Compete with Purpose for Score4More's violence-reduction event. Lynn receives at least $50,000 for community gun-violence prevention. The regional NoFIRES partnership receives at least $90,000 for youth fire-safety education and family intervention services. These are fiscal year 2026 program grants, not household payments.
Competitive grants fund human trafficking response
The law provides $100,000 in fiscal year 2026 for competitive grants supporting work against human trafficking. The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security runs the program. Eligible organizations can apply, but no organization is guaranteed an award.
Court and recovery programs receive grants
Federal fiscal year 2026 grants include $643,450 for court improvement and $101,613, $515,968, and $254,121 for wrongful-conviction and postconviction DNA work. Trial Court grants fund Chicopee and Holyoke treatment access ($333,333), sobriety systems ($392,241), guardianship alternatives ($71,477), and the Family Drug Program ($392,937). They also fund Project NORTH ($427,566), Second Chance Act Pay for Success ($225,000), and high-tech career reentry ($300,000). Worcester prosecutors receive $366,173 for the Division and Drug Endangered Children and $530,000 for a Peer Recovery Support Center. Plymouth prosecutors receive grants for sexual-assault kits ($561,956), opioid abuse ($113,015), substance-use response and recovery ($431,003), human trafficking ($312,127), and community courts ($232,638).
Crime investigations receive laboratory testing funds
The law directs at least $250,000 to forensic genetic genealogy DNA work. It supports violent-crime and cold-case investigations, identifying remains, and processing sexual-assault evidence. The appropriation also supports phase II processing of sexual-assault evidence kits. Outside testing labs must be vetted and approved by the State Police crime laboratory. The University of Massachusetts medical school receives $679,810 to analyze drugs, poisons, medicines, and chemicals for law enforcement.
Dam owners get safety compliance help
The law provides $1 million in fiscal year 2026 to help public and private dam owners meet existing safety requirements. State agencies must also establish and maintain a complete inventory of all dams. They must coordinate dam-removal permits and rules to support stream restoration and public safety.
Dam safety and forest programs funded
Federal fiscal year 2026 grants provide about $2.757 million for dam safety and $3.851 million for dam rehabilitation. Asian longhorned beetle eradication receives $2.8 million, and flood insurance community assistance receives $395,000. Recreational trails receive about $1.487 million, Waquoit Bay research $1.030 million, and highway charging and fueling infrastructure $325,000. Forest Legacy administration receives about $1.097 million and $3.367 million, while underserved forest landowners receive $500,000. Related grants support fire response, wildfire prevention, forestry, forest health, invasive species, habitat, historic preservation, wood energy, and temporary bridges.
Disability and family access services funded
Federal fiscal year 2026 grants provide $1.64707 million for Developmental Disability Act programs, $100,000 for technical assistance, and $74,929 for public health workforce support. The first $314,698, $36,000, and $32,400 of those respective accounts are exempt from employee-benefit and overhead charges. The Client Assistance Program receives $230,000 through the Office on Disability. The State Access and Visitation Program receives $179,442 through the Department of Revenue. These provisions fund services but do not set individual payment amounts or new eligibility rules.
Federal grants fund victims and prevention
FY2026 federal grants provide about $37.951 million for victim assistance and $2.019 million and $1.669 million for victim compensation. Anti-heroin task-force grants receive about $3.889 million and $1.558 million. Human-trafficking task forces receive $750,000 and $749,999, while school violence prevention receives $997,672. The compensation grants carry FY2023 and FY2022 labels, respectively. These funds support services and enforcement; the law does not specify individual compensation amounts or eligibility.
Firefighters and students get safety support
Minimum funding includes $100,000 for critical incident stress management and $2 million for the On-Site Academy’s responder stress services. Another $2 million supports student fire-safety awareness. At least $100,000 supports the Holbrook Regional Emergency Communication Center, and $1.7 million supports Boston’s fire department training academy. Funding also supports hazardous-materials response, added operating capacity, and special-event team coverage.
Funding for neighborhood services and improvements
The law provides $25.826 million for named local projects in fiscal year 2026. Listed grants range from $5,000 to $250,000 for parks, accessible playgrounds, arts, youth services, and community improvements. It also requires at least $50,000 for a six-foot privacy fence around Oak Ledge Heights in Peabody. The fence serves the manufactured housing community at 161 Newbury Street. At least $25,000 supports Route 16 land improvements between Seagrave Road and Columbus Avenue in Cambridge.
Funding for youth entering adulthood
For fiscal year 2026, at least $200,000 supports youth entering adulthood through Friends of Children's FOCUS Program. The money funds program support rather than set payments to young people.
Funding helps prevent teen dating violence
At least $1 million funds healthy-relationship education and teen dating violence prevention in fiscal year 2026. Programs must prioritize schools and communities where most students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. At least one program must operate in a municipality with 25,000 people or fewer. Prevention strategies must involve domestic violence and sexual assault providers and community or school organizations.
Funding helps youth in juvenile courts
The Department of Youth Services must spend at least $600,000 on Robert F. Kennedy Community Alliance's detention diversion advocacy program. The program helps high-risk youth appearing in court avoid moving further into the juvenile justice system. The law also requires at least $1.5 million for juvenile court clinics.
Funding improves local access and infrastructure
The fiscal year 2026 budget provides $12.613 million for specified local improvements, including at least $3 million for technical assistance. Accessibility grants include at least $100,000 for Andover’s municipal complex and $20,000 for automated library doors in Topsfield. At least $100,000 supports Stoneham transportation and pedestrian access, $65,000 supports Northborough sidewalks, and $50,000 supports Wilmington traffic signals and pedestrian safety. Funding also covers Reading intersections, Route 38 planning in Wilmington and Tewksbury, and named road, water, sewer, waterfront, and public-facility projects. The money must go to the named recipients and purposes.
Funding improves local parks and recreation
Minimum park grants include $50,000 for Natick fields, $100,000 each for Ponkapoag Pond’s boardwalk and Blue Hill Weather Observatory, and $506,908 for Birmingham Parkway fencing. The package includes $25,000 for Kingston’s hazard mitigation plan and $200,000 for Blue Hills Trailside Museum. At least $250,000 supports Chandler Pond shoreline restoration, $175,000 supports Havey Beach design and construction, and $250,000 supports Boston Pops Fourth of July fireworks. Haverhill receives at least $25,000 to replace the Clement Farm Conservation Area pedestrian bridge, and Russell receives at least $50,000 for playground equipment. Salem receives at least $100,000 for Salem Common entrance, safety, and historic lighting work, in consultation with Friends of Salem Common; funding also supports named trails, accessibility, tree-canopy, invasive-species, and recreation projects.
Funding maintains beaches and free events
At least $900,000 supports maintenance and seasonal staff at specified beaches in Lynn, Revere, Quincy, Nahant, and Hull. At least $290,000 funds matching grants for free beach events and programs. Grants run through Save the Harbor, Save the Bay’s Better Beaches program, as recommended by the metropolitan beaches commission. Additional funding supports the commission, Pilayella algae cleanup, and Red Rock Park maintenance.
Funding protects whales and supports fishing
The fiscal year 2026 budget provides at least $200,000 for right whale protection patrols. Funding supports identifying and removing abandoned fishing gear and using drones to enforce existing vessel speed restrictions. The Division of Marine Fisheries receives $1.039977 million for marine recreational fishing programs. That money can support equipment, upkeep, staff, and data maintenance and updates.
Funding reimburses qualifying underground tank cleanups
The fiscal year 2026 budget provides $5.9201 million to reimburse qualifying underground storage tank cleanups. Claimants must have cleaned up petroleum-product spills under the state’s underground tank cleanup law. The appropriation does not set an individual reimbursement amount.
Funding restores local ponds and rivers
At least $50,000 supports restoring Cambridge’s Parkway Pond, addressing mature-tree loss linked to tunnel construction and long-term damage. At least $90,000 funds testing and treatment of cyanobacteria and related contaminants in Halifax’s Monponsett Pond. The Central Plymouth County Water District Commission receives at least $50,000 to improve and manage district lakes and ponds. Friends of Bass River receives at least $50,000 for filtration culvert inserts and boring-sponge removal work in Dennis and Yarmouth.
Funding supports calls for incarcerated people
The law transfers $1 million to the Communications Access Trust Fund for sheriffs' offices and the Department of Correction. The money supports communications access for incarcerated people. The administration and finance office must report by March 10, 2026. Its report must cover fund distribution, barriers to free calls, and call volumes.
Funding supports gun violence prevention education
The fiscal year 2026 budget provides at least $50,000 to the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. The money supports education about gun violence and how to prevent it. It funds the organization’s programs, not direct household payments.
Funding supports local environment and climate
Fiscal year 2026 minimum grants include $25,000 each for Hales Pond improvements in Wrentham and Methuen sewage-line updates. Boston Harbor Now receives at least $200,000 for harbor planning, programs, climate resilience, and community-science education; Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance receives $500,000 for sustainable-fishing modernization and maintenance. Minimum grants also include $60,000 for Littleton Common planning, $50,000 for Quiet Communities, $30,000 for OARS river monitoring, and $150,000 for Buzzards Bay Coalition water and natural-resource monitoring. The Massachusetts Housing and Climate Innovation Center receives at least $50,000 for climate-resilience and clean-energy testing; Springfield Water and Sewer Commission receives $200,000 for an energy and climate study, without requiring implementation. At least $20,000 supports Gloucester coastal-bird monitoring and disturbance reduction, $50,000 supports Team Haverhill resilience work, and funding supports Groundwork Somerville and Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation’s school curriculum.
Funding supports Massachusetts zoo operations
The fiscal year 2026 budget provides $7 million for Commonwealth Zoological Corporation operations. Minimum allocations include $25,000 for Lupa Zoo, $250,000 for the EcoTarium, and $75,000 for the Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center. Money can also match private and corporate donations to Franklin Park Zoo and Walter D. Stone Memorial Zoo. Agencies cannot transfer these funds through interdepartmental service agreements.
Funding supports museums and community festivals
Fiscal year 2026 minimum grants include $500,000 for First Night Boston and $200,000 each for the New England Aquarium and Massachusetts Women’s History Center. The Norman Rockwell Museum receives at least $75,000. At least $50,000 supports Franklin’s 250th-anniversary celebration, and $70,000 supports ZUMIX’s East Boston Latino Festival in summer 2025. Funding also supports named festivals, museums, public art, tourism, memorials, and historic properties. Money must be used for the specified projects and purposes.
Funding supports Plymouth and Falmouth internet
The fiscal year 2026 budget provides at least $75,000 to OpenCape Corporation. The grant must support high-speed internet availability in Plymouth and Falmouth. It does not set household subsidies or internet prices.
Funding supports programs for at-risk youth
The Department of Public Health provides $10.985 million through competitive grants for proven youth development programs, including programs serving LGBTQ+ youth. Minimum awards are $2.5 million for the Massachusetts YMCA alliance, $3 million for the Boys & Girls Clubs alliance, and $1 million for the YWCA. The first $2 million for Boys & Girls Clubs must be split equally among member organizations. The YWCA allocation must be split equally among Massachusetts alliance organizations. The law also earmarks funds for named local youth, mentoring, violence-prevention, and community groups.
Funding supports veterans’ rides and memorials
Fiscal year 2026 funding includes at least $40,000 for Lynn war memorials and $100,000 for Worcester’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The U.S.S. Massachusetts Memorial Committee receives at least $250,000 to maintain historic naval vessels. At least $15,000 supports Agawam veterans memorials, and $25,000 supports North Andover’s September 11 memorial. Another $20,000 supports the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center’s ride-scheduling system and a services contract with the regional Blinded Veterans Association.
Grants support community crisis response reforms
The law provides $1.25 million in municipal matching grants for jail diversion, de-escalation, behavioral health supports, and emergency-response alternatives. Municipalities must submit full implementation plans and show measurable public-health benefits under Department of Public Health criteria. Priority goes to plans spending most grant money on community-based care providers. Preference goes to unarmed community responders without police accompaniment, though they can call police when needed. At least $250,000 supports competitive trauma-training grants for people treating victims of hate or bias.
Intensive probation continues across court locations
The law provides about $1.37 million for high-intensity probation supervision aimed at reducing repeat offenses. The Trial Court must maintain the program in at least 10 locations. Those locations must include both a district court and a superior court.
Local emergency facilities and equipment funded
Fiscal year 2026 minimum grants include $65,000 for a Millis response and outreach truck and $100,000 for a Somerset public-safety-building study. Saugus gets $30,000 for building upgrades, Wenham $50,000 for a rescue boat, and Blackstone $15,000 for a regional-dispatch study. Grafton gets $40,000 for public-safety improvements; Northbridge and Upton each get $25,000. Seekonk gets $25,000 for public-safety-building heating and cooling, Braintree $100,000 for fire equipment, and Plymouth $50,000 for traffic barriers. Each grant must support its named project.
Local medical rescue tools receive funding
For fiscal year 2026, Sisters@Heart receives at least $15,000 for public defibrillators and training materials in Mansfield and Foxborough. Westborough receives at least $12,126 for defibrillators in police cars. Mansfield receives at least $5,000 for tools to find or rescue vulnerable people. Another $30,000 minimum supports Mansfield's mobile blood-transfusion program.
Local police equipment and cameras funded
Fiscal year 2026 minimum police grants include Holyoke gym equipment ($30,000), Holyoke traffic equipment ($20,000), Marblehead firearms and sights ($35,000), and Seekonk cameras ($15,000). Grants also cover Plainville radios ($25,000), Worcester software and equipment ($80,000), Boxford's all-terrain vehicle ($15,000), and Freetown cameras ($130,000). Melrose gets $25,000 for rifles and shields, Charlton $20,000 for response equipment, Auburn $65,000 for communications, Bourne $19,000 for equipment, and Woburn $25,000 for capital items. East Bridgewater gets at least $25,000 for police drones, and Boston's A-1 police district gets at least $50,000 for accessible event barriers. Boston Main Streets Foundation gets at least $50,000 for cameras in its 5th Suffolk commercial districts, coordinated with local organizations and public-safety officials.
Local safety and outreach programs funded
Fiscal year 2026 minimum grants include $50,000 for Southern Berkshire ambulance services and $25,000 each for eviction-sealing outreach and domestic violence services. Westminster gets $75,000 for station planning; West Brookfield gets $35,000 for police station upgrades; Hardwick gets $100,000 for hydrants. BlueForce Strategies gets $100,000 for free law enforcement training, including de-escalation and stress management. Shrewsbury gets $47,000 for vehicles and voting equipment, Worcester advocates get $21,000, and Shirley gets $16,000 for police drones. Another $100,000 funds football safety equipment in Amesbury, Haverhill, Andover, Merrimac, North Andover, Tewksbury, and Wilmington.
Local safety projects and firefighter screenings
At least $2.1135 million funds specified local fire and public safety projects. Projects include PFAS-free test gear for designated Plymouth County towns, seasonal Boston emergency services, and Sharon police body cameras. The funding includes $250,000 for municipal firefighter cancer-screening grants administered by the state fire marshal. Each recipient must use its money for the named project.
Mental health diversion gets continued support
At least $19 million supports mental health jail diversion. Municipal programs providing an equal public or private match must receive at least their prior-year funding level. The Trial Court must also keep funding a Massachusetts Community Justice Project coordinator. That project serves justice-involved people with mental health or substance use disorders; the coordinator manages operations and financial oversight.
Middlesex sheriff can reuse program revenue
For fiscal year 2026, the Middlesex Sheriff's Office can spend up to $100,000 collected for community programs. It can also spend up to $75,000 from prison industry product sales on program costs, including participant pay. Each limit falls to the latest state accounting revenue estimate if that estimate is lower. By March 16, 2026, the office must report prison industry outcomes, participant demographics, customers, and pay rates.
Police crisis and family services funded
For fiscal year 2026, Abington receives at least $20,000 for police training, embedded clinicians, and a response trailer. Milton receives at least $20,000 to improve access to police clinician resources. Braintree receives at least $100,000 for its police family services unit. The funds support these local services, not direct household payments.
Prison profits can fund rehabilitation programs
The Commissioner of Correction can use year-end net profits from prison industries and farm services for rehabilitation. Eligible uses include drug and substance-use programs. The amount available depends on those profits.
Public agencies can buy additional protective vests
Eligible public agencies and educational institutions can use replacement bulletproof-vest reimbursements to buy additional vests without another appropriation. Purchases must occur in the fiscal year the reimbursement arrives. Eligible agencies include police departments, sheriffs, State Police, and the Department of Correction.
Public campaign explains extreme risk orders
The Department of Public Health must run a public campaign explaining extreme risk protection orders. It must explain who can petition and how to apply, working with the state public safety office. The campaign must stay updated to reflect changes in related laws and rules.
Radiation monitoring funded near Seabrook
The law authorizes at least $125,000 for C-10 Research and Education Foundation to provide radiation monitoring near the Seabrook plant. Monitoring covers the six Massachusetts communities in the plant's emergency planning zone for exposure from a radioactive plume.
Radio funding helps blind listeners
For fiscal year 2026, five services each receive at least $150,000 for blind and print-disabled listeners. They are Audible Local Ledger, Audio Journal, Berkshire Talking Chronicle, Lowell Association for the Blind, and Valley Eye Radio. The Talking Information Center receives at least $350,000 for human-voiced broadcasts of local news, articles, and other information.
Reentry services and support receive funding
For fiscal year 2026, the law provides at least $10,000 for the Attleboro Vincentian Immersion Reentry Project. The project serves incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in Bristol County. Dismas House in Worcester receives at least $125,000. Recidiviz receives at least $250,000 for technology and data support intended to improve reentry outcomes.
Regional emergency communications get spending authority
Four sheriff's offices can spend collected revenue on regional emergency and public safety communications in FY2026. Limits are $1.5 million for Barnstable, $300,000 for Dukes County, $55,430 for Norfolk, and $300,000 for Plymouth. Each office's limit is the lower of that amount or its latest state accounting revenue estimate. The money supports operations, development, membership, and maintenance.
Regional library services keep receiving funding
The law requires funding for continued operation of one regional library system serving different parts of Massachusetts. This provision does not state a funding amount.
Regional teams receive dangerous-materials response funding
The law provides at least $3.127 million in FY2026 for fire department hazardous-materials response teams in Boston, Cambridge, and Everett. The money supports regional emergency response to dangerous materials.
Safety funding for Worcester and Roxbury
At least $50,000 goes to Main South Community Development Corporation for safety in Worcester's University Park and Beacon Brightly neighborhoods. At least $250,000 goes to Roxbury Main Streets for safety efforts in Nubian Square.
Secure youth facilities fund safety services
Department of Youth Services funding for secure facilities must address the needs of the female population. It must also provide suicide prevention services. The provision does not state a funding amount.
Sexual assault evidence processing receives funding
The law provides about $29.853 million to process sexual-assault evidence kits, including phase II processing. It also requires a report on phase II's status, expected completion timeline, and processing costs so far.
Sheriffs can spend police detail fees
For fiscal year 2026, Berkshire's sheriff can spend up to $1.5 million from private police detail fees. Essex's sheriff can spend up to $1.85 million. Each office is limited to the lower of its stated cap or its latest state accounting system revenue estimate. The money can cover related administrative costs; the law does not set a new household fee.
Sheriffs fund staff and officer training
Sheriffs must appoint an executive director, assistant executive director, research director, and needed staff for their statewide association. Staff coordinate services, analyze incarceration and repeat-offense data, prepare reports, and provide training and technical help. They serve at the pleasure of a majority of sheriffs and are exempt from specified civil-service and personnel laws. The law also requires at least $150,000 for correctional-officer and deputy-sheriff training and certifications.
Sheriffs support community programs and training
Franklin's sheriff must direct at least $100,000 to an active-bystander training pilot in FY2026. Norfolk's sheriff can spend up to $160,000 in collected revenue on community programs. Norfolk's spending cannot exceed its latest state accounting revenue estimate, even when that estimate is below $160,000. These provisions fund programs, not direct household payments.
Specialty court funding stays protected
The Trial Court cannot transfer money from its specialty courts appropriation to another Trial Court budget item. This preserves the funds for specialty courts. The provision does not state the appropriation amount.
Staffing grants support approved safety programs
At least $6 million supports competitive public safety and emergency staffing grants in fiscal year 2026. Only communities with qualifying applications approved in fiscal year 2025 can receive grants. Awards must follow the fiscal year 2025 methods and criteria. No more than 4% of program funds can pay administrative costs.
State agencies must promote equal opportunity
Funded state agencies must promote equal opportunity in spending, employment practices, operations, and dealings with the public. Their measures must promote nondiscrimination for minority groups, women, and people with disabilities. At least $378,000 supports the Trial Court’s Race and Bias Initiative, including expanded diversity-office work and staff training. The office must seek community feedback on barriers to equity and recommend ways to address them.
State parks and rinks stay open
State recreation properties open in fiscal year 2025 must remain open in fiscal year 2026. State-controlled rinks must stay open and staffed for the full season, with skating from September 1 through April 15. Local youth programs and nonprofits get first choice when booking department-operated playfields and hockey rinks.
State police fund hiring and training
The law provides about $10.434 million in FY2026 to hire, equip, and train State Police recruits. The funded work must promote diversity and inclusion in recruit hiring. It must also provide comprehensive racial-bias training within the department. The funding supports staffing, not a guaranteed job for applicants.
State police fund targeted local patrols
FY2026 funding includes at least $1.2 million for directed-patrol payroll and at least $30,000 for mounted patrols in specified areas. Patrol allocations include $95,000 for Wollaston Beach and Furnace Brook Parkway, $25,000 for three Hyde Park parkways, and $50,000 for South Boston. Troop H receives $400,000 for capital costs and dedicated patrols along the Southwest Corridor and Old Harbor areas. Within that amount, at least $50,000 each supports marine and mounted patrols. Additional Constitution Beach and eligible FY2008 community patrol funding remains subject to appropriation. Castle Island must have a seasonal office trailer and satellite barn from Memorial Day through Labor Day, inclusive.
State properties require stormwater upkeep
The Department of Conservation and Recreation must manage stormwater on properties and roads it controls under state and federal requirements. It must inventory drainage systems, assess current practices, estimate long-term spending needs, and prepare a compliance plan. Interim work must begin immediately, including street sweeping, catch-basin inspections and cleaning, and emergency road-drainage repairs.
Translation helps residents join environmental discussions
The state energy and environmental office must fund translation services for public comment periods. The services must support adequate participation as part of its environmental justice strategy. The law does not specify languages or a funding amount.
Two reservations gain dedicated public-use funds
The law creates dedicated funds for Old Harbor and Middlesex Fells reservations, administered by conservation and recreation officials. Both can use specified reservation fees only when those fees are not already directed to the General Fund. Old Harbor supports recreation, education, conservation, public health, and safety; Middlesex Fells supports recreation, education, conservation, facilities, and infrastructure. Middlesex Fells can also receive designated appropriations, transfers, contributions, and interest, with balances carried forward. Both funds can spend without another appropriation, but neither can spend into a deficit.
Veterans homes and cemeteries receive funding
Federal fiscal year 2026 funding provides about $2.044 million for Agawam cemetery expansion and $1.695 million for Winchendon. State veterans' homes receive one-time COVID payments of $512,203 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act. They also receive about $1.714 million under the American Rescue Plan Act. These funds go to facilities, not individual veterans or residents.
Waltham cultural organization receives staffing support
The law provides at least $50,000 for staffing at African Cultural Services in Waltham. The money supports the organization rather than set payments to individuals.
Water and pollution programs receive funding
Federal fiscal year 2026 funding includes $16 million for the Department of Environmental Protection's Performance Partnership Grant. Drinking-water grants include $7.605 million, $250,451, $164,249, and $30,140. Long Island Sound receives $3 million, EC-SDC Grant Program #2 receives about $3.208 million, and Superfund receives $875,490. Related grants fund water-quality planning, leaking tanks, brownfields, hazardous-site cleanup, air monitoring, environmental justice, recycling, and cleaner diesel. The money supports environmental programs and does not establish household payments or bill reductions.
Young adults receive prison reentry support
The law provides $7.025 million for up to six competitive nonprofit reentry grants serving people ages 18 through 25. Participants must be returning from state prisons or county correctional facilities. Programs must demonstrate correctional-agency collaboration and use research-based, evidence-based, or evidence-informed designs. Required services span release and include transition plans, education, job readiness, life skills, counseling, and at least 12 months of post-release case management. No more than 7.5% can fund specified administrative support and training.
Inspection fees support boiler safety staffing
The Department of Fire Services can spend up to $2.32506 million in annual boiler and pressure vessel fee revenue. The money supports operations and the existing inspection backlog. It can also pay for additional engineering inspectors or engineers. The provision does not change the fees.
Local inspections get dedicated state funding
The Division of Standards gets $160,372 for municipal inspection efforts. No more than 15% can pay the division's administrative costs. The funding supports local standards enforcement, not direct household payments.
More inspectors address overdue elevator checks
The state elevator inspection division must employ at least 70 full-time-equivalent inspectors, including an additional engineer. Funds also support work on the inspection backlog and overtime inspections. These measures support timely elevator safety checks.
Berkshire opioid education receives county funding
For fiscal year 2026, at least $200,000 from the Berkshire Sheriff's Office appropriation supports the county opioid education and awareness task force. The money funds education and awareness work, not direct household payments.
Bridgewater hospital reforms receive outside monitoring
At least $125,000 in fiscal year 2026 goes to the Disability Law Center to monitor Bridgewater State Hospital reforms. Monitoring covers services, specified units, and physical conditions. It also tracks continued care for people discharged to county correctional or Department of Mental Health facilities. The center must report on reform impacts at least every six months.
Community health centers receive targeted funding
The law provides at least $500,000 for statewide technical help to community health centers. Named allocations include $50,000 for Lowell residency housing stipends, $150,000 for Harbor Health’s Plymouth expansion, and $100,000 for Mattapan staff recruitment and retention. It provides $100,000 for Codman Square’s mobile unit, $250,000 for NEW Health–Charlestown substance-use treatment, and $400,000 for North End Waterfront Neighborhood Health Center. Other allocations include $125,000 for Geiger Gibson upgrades, $15,000 for High Point Treatment Center services, and $100,000 for the 413Cares database. Lynn recuperative care receives $50,000; a South Boston federally qualified health center substance-use program receives $100,000; Baystate Brightwood outreach receives $50,000. The Ellie Fund receives $600,000 for breast-cancer support education, Manet receives $165,000, and South Boston Community Health Center receives $100,000 for nurse practitioner training. State loan repayment spending must at least match fiscal year 2025 if federal matching funds are received. At least $1 million must also go to the Affirming Health Care Trust Fund; these allocations do not set household payments.
Dental care and disease prevention funded
At least $1.595525 million funds comprehensive dental care for adults with developmental disabilities, and $6.252977 million funds smoking prevention and quitting. The law sets aside $4.568628 million for health promotion and disease prevention. Named funding includes at least $475,000 for Forsyth's children's oral health center, $100,000 for Cranberry Health Research Center, and $25,000 for VITfriends. It also provides $250,000 each for UMass Medical School's Duchenne Program and Alzheimer's advocacy and education, plus $50,000 for phenylketonuria-related education and family support. Mass in Motion community grants must match or exceed FY2025 spending, provided matching federal prevention block grant funds arrive.
Family caregivers receive funded program support
The law provides about $5.69 million for the federally funded National Family Caregiver Support Program. The money supports family caregivers and program recipients. It does not set a direct payment or service amount for each household.
Family supports and foster parent recruitment
The law provides $975,000 for a FY2026 campaign to recruit foster parents. At least $500,000 funds the Stop Abuse For Every Child community pilot. The pilot coordinates home visits, social and behavioral health services, substance-use treatment, and support for parents. Children and Families and Early Education and Care agencies must set standards for supportive child care placements. They must also maintain a central list of eligible children and filled or available supportive child care slots.
Federal grants support older vulnerable adults
Older Americans Act grants receive about $1.029 million and $23.367 million. A separate supportive-service grant receives about $1.992 million, and the Title VII Ombudsman grant receives $781,032. Adult protective services receive two federal grants of about $4.237 million and $302,735. These funds support programs for older and vulnerable adults; the law does not set each person's services or payment.
Funded care protects assault survivors’ services
For FY2026, at least $8.287997 million funds statewide and pediatric sexual assault nurse examiner programs. At least $56.084884 million funds domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and survivor services, including crisis, residential, and trauma care. Named grants include at least $150,000 for Portal to Hope and at least $75,000 for RIA, Inc. The Department of Public Health must prevent disruptions to survivor services and violence-prevention activities throughout FY2026.
Funded counseling helps people navigate insurance
Health Care For All receives at least $300,000 for its free statewide consumer helpline and online coverage-enrollment support. It also receives at least $2 million to work with community groups in high-need areas on enrollment, outreach, and education. At least $2 million funds SHINE health insurance counseling and community partners’ operating costs. Those partners include councils on aging and aging service access points. The money supports assistance services, not household payments.
Funding addresses sudden family benefit losses
At least $100,000 in fiscal year 2026 supports Springfield WORKS' three-year pilot for low-income families. The pilot addresses benefit cliffs, or sudden losses of benefits as income rises. This grant does not change existing benefit eligibility or set new household payments.
Funding backs veterans’ benefits and services
The state reimburses cities and towns for 100% of veterans’ benefits paid to residents of soldiers’ homes, homeless shelters, or transitional housing. This repayment goes to municipalities, not directly to veterans. Fiscal year 2026 grants include at least $150,000 for the Veterans’ Association of Bristol County. Vietnam Veterans of Massachusetts receives at least $75,000 to help veterans file medical and financial benefit claims. Veterans Inc. receives at least $500,000 for operations and services, including job training and substance use treatment.
Funding connects health care and housing
The law directs at least $150,000 to North Shore Community Health for the El Centro project. This pays project costs connected to public health and affordable housing. The law does not set individual payments or eligibility rules.
Funding develops mobile health care services
The law requires at least $500,000 to develop and carry out the mobile integrated health care program. The funding supports the program, without setting individual eligibility rules, service amounts, or patient payments.
Funding for clothing and household essentials
The law requires at least $50,000 for Fresh Start Furniture Bank in Hudson. At least $200,000 supports Cradles to Crayons' clothing and essentials distribution services. At least $350,000 supports Hope and Comfort's operations and purchase of hygiene products. These are organization grants, not set payments to households.
Funding for disability equipment and services
For fiscal year 2026, the law requires at least $1.92 million for assistive technology services. It separately requires at least $500,000 for REquipment to refurbish and repair home medical equipment and assistive technology. At least $100,000 goes to New England Homes for the Deaf for resident services and sign language training for all staff.
Funding for pregnancy and childbirth care
The law provides $13.125116 million for the federally funded Maternal and Child Health Services grant in FY2026. At least $1 million funds competitive grants for freestanding birth centers, covering facilities, startup, prenatal care, and postpartum care. Centers must be licensed or seeking a license; priority goes to communities historically most affected by unequal maternal health outcomes. At least $220,000 funds community groups providing mental health and substance-use services during pregnancy and around childbirth. Those services must follow state law's perinatal service requirements.
Funding maintains the state ALS registry
The law requires at least $292,035 for the Argeo Paul Cellucci Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Registry. This supports the state ALS registry, not direct payments to people with the disease.
Funding supports addiction care and treatment
The law provides at least $100,000 for SAFE Coalition’s substance use support, education, and treatment options in Franklin. It transfers at least $1.5 million to the Criminal Justice and Community Support Trust Fund for the Middlesex restoration center pilot. The pilot serves qualifying people with mental illness or substance use disorder during pre-arrest investigations or court proceedings before adjudication. It directs them to treatment instead of lock-up facilities or hospital emergency departments.
Funding supports children and young mothers
The law provides at least $100,000 to coordinate student access to social services and mental and behavioral health resources. At least $250,000 supports the hospital-based child protection program at University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center. Roca receives at least $1.25 million for its pilot serving young mothers experiencing acute trauma. Enough Abuse receives at least $150,000 for adult-focused child sexual abuse prevention training and support in schools and communities. That work includes stronger screening, conduct, reporting, and training practices.
Funding supports families facing hardship
Fiscal year 2026 minimum grants include $125,000 for Rick’s Place grief support in the Pioneer Valley, $25,000 for Empower mentoring, and $10,000 for Scituate Community Christmas emergency help. Families First receives at least $100,000 for free multilingual parenting education, and Family Outreach of Amherst receives $30,000 for low-income residents’ assistance. East End House receives at least $25,000 for family support, and F.A.M.I.L.Y. Movement receives $50,000 to help families leave shelters and build financial independence. Minimum grants also include $50,000 for Community Action Programs Inter-City and $20,000 each for South Worcester Neighborhood Improvement Corporation and AccessMA. Named organizations must use funds for specified services, including housing, employment, health, food security, education, economic stability, and reentry.
Funding supports high-risk men’s cancer awareness
The Department of Public Health runs a prostate cancer awareness, education, and research program focused on high-risk men. This includes men of African-American, Hispanic, or Latino heritage and men with a family history of prostate cancer. At least 85% of program funds go to the AdMeTech Foundation-led Prostate Cancer Action Council. The provision does not state the total funding amount.
Funding supports immigrants, refugees, and survivors
Saheli in Woburn receives at least $85,000 for legal and housing help for immigrant survivors of domestic abuse. Worcester Refugee and Immigrant Support and Empowerment receives at least $50,000 for community health workers. Social Capital Inc. receives $100,000 for youth leadership, civic engagement, migrant support, and health-equity work. Funding also supports named community organizations in Everett, Chelsea, Springfield, and other communities. These fiscal year 2026 grants go to organizations for the specified services, not directly to households.
Funding supports inclusive disability programs
At least $100,000 goes to Everett to improve service access for neurodivergent residents and their families. At least $200,000 goes to the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. Raising Harts in Cohasset gets at least $30,000 for inclusive programs and mentorship for children with autism and their families. S.A.I.L. Home gets at least $100,000 for inclusive programming for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At least $300,000 supports the Massachusetts Commission on Autism's work.
Funding supports local markets and produce
Fiscal year 2026 minimum grants include $50,000 for Somerville’s mobile market fund and $375,000 for Boston Public Market operations and programs. Eastie Farm receives at least $75,000 for food-access and related work. World Farmers receives at least $25,000 for operations and well installations. Land’s Sake receives at least $50,000 for infrastructure supporting fresh-produce sales and donations. The grants go to these programs and organizations, not directly to households.
Funding supports local postpartum depression care
The law provides $860,000 for postpartum depression programs at community health centers in six locations. They are Holyoke, Lynn, Worcester, Fall River, Salem, and Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood. If a center declines funding, the money must support participating centers or expand the program to additional centers. The provision does not set individual payments or household eligibility rules.
Funding supports local seniors and centers
Boston Age Strong programs receive at least $75,000 each for the West End, Dorchester, and East Boston. Separate minimum grants provide $50,000 for South End programming and $50,000 for programming in Dorchester and Roxbury. At least $50,000 supports Agawam Senior Center transportation and accessibility, and $50,000 supports West Springfield Senior Center services and upkeep. Millbury receives at least $57,000 for senior-center repairs, and Fall River Housing Authority receives $25,000 for senior-center improvements. Fall River also receives at least $50,000 for events serving local seniors and teens.
Funding supports officers after stressful incidents
For fiscal year 2026, the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council receives at least $175,000. The funding gives officers access to critical-incident stress management and peer-support programs. The Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council also receives at least $100,000.
Funding supports patients’ critical medical transport
The law provides at least $150,000 for Boston MedFlight’s critical care operations. It also requires funding for Nantucket Cottage Hospital and Martha’s Vineyard Hospital to provide off-island medical transportation. That transportation includes patients with behavioral health conditions. The island transportation provision does not specify a funding amount or patient cost savings.
Funding supports prevention and children’s care
The law transfers $2.7 million to the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Trust Fund for FY2026. It also requires at least $3 million in supplemental payments to Franciscan Hospital for Children, above base rates. The hospital payment supports care for children with complex medical needs. Neither measure establishes a direct household payment.
Funding supports reproductive and birth care
The law provides at least $2 million to Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts for continued sexual and reproductive care and community needs. At least $100,000 goes to Worcester Community Midwifery for midwifery care and birth center services. These grants fund services through the named providers, without setting per-patient payments or new eligibility rules.
Grants help qualifying hospital host communities
For fiscal year 2026, at least $500,000 funds grants to municipalities hosting qualifying state care facilities. The facility must be a Department of Public Health facility that also provides Department of Mental Health continuing care. It cannot also operate as a Department of Correction facility. The law does not set each municipality's award.
Grants support Medicare counseling and assistance
The law funds Medicare-related assistance grants without changing Medicare coverage or benefit amounts. Area agencies on aging receive $248,170 for FY2024–25 and $329,000 for FY2023 Priority 2 grants. Aging and disability resource centers receive $219,423 for FY2024–25 and $202,203 for FY2023 Priority 3 grants. State Health Insurance Assistance Programs receive $238,235 for FY2024 and $572,406 for FY2023 Priority 1 grants. These grants support program activities, not direct household payments.
Hospital pilot tracks harmful patient events
The law directs at least $500,000 to the state’s health-care safety plan. The work includes a hospital pilot using automated systems to monitor harmful events. The provision does not set household payments or guarantee a specific safety outcome.
Local grants support healthier community services
The law directs at least $25,000 to Plymouth for health and human services. FY2026 grants include at least $5,000 for Prospera Institute’s health-equity work and $50,000 for Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition’s wellness programs. Blue Bridge receives at least $40,000 for more inclusive health research and better care access for underserved groups. Worcester Community Action Council receives at least $25,000 for equity strategies in the Greater Worcester Community Health Improvement Plan. The funding also supports named organizations’ health services, community health workers, and related health-access initiatives.
Local health boards receive service grants
The law provides $9.232014 million in grants to local and regional health boards. The money supports public health capacity, statewide data and reporting, and shared services between communities. It also supports the State Action for Public Health Excellence program. The Department of Public Health must prioritize fair geographic distribution.
Local police crisis teams receive funding
At least $50,000 supports Malden Police Department's mental health emergency response. At least $100,000 supports the behavioral health unit serving Dracut, Tyngsborough, Tewksbury, Chelmsford, and Billerica police departments. The money supports clinicians, officer training, and other crisis-response resources.
Local services receive funding for seniors
FY2026 grants provide about $30.889 million to councils on aging and qualifying groups through formula and incentive grants. The formula portion provides $16 per elder to organizations, not individuals. Required minimums include $30,000 for rides and outreach, $100,000 for LGBTQIA+ virtual senior centers, and $70,000 for emergency preparation. They also include $50,000 for wellness nursing and $110,000 for member-led nonprofit support for residents 60 and older. Separate minimums provide $120,000 to Fenway Health's LGBTQIA+ Aging Project for commission support and $20,000 to Martha's Vineyard Community Foundation for older adults' transportation. The local grants also fund senior-center work, equipment, programs, nutrition, and food resources.
Manufacturer rebates support HIV drug assistance
Up to $15.162386 million in manufacturer rebates can fund HIV drug assistance and services eligible under the Ryan White law. The drug assistance program gets priority. Rebates above that ceiling go to the General Fund. Equivalent services must then be funded through the designated health-services account.
MassHealth drug managers must disclose finances
Covered managed-care contracts must require pharmacy benefit managers to identify and disclose their related finances to MassHealth. Disclosures must include all sources and amounts of income, payments, and other financial benefits from their work. This rule covers services for members of the specified medical assistance programs. It does not directly change household drug prices or coverage.
Medically tailored meals pilot for veterans
At least $330,000 goes to Community Servings for a statewide pilot providing medically tailored meals to veterans. The money supports both program development and meal services. The law does not specify individual eligibility rules or meal quantities.
Medicare recipients retain funded counseling help
The law provides about $1.51 million for the federally funded State Health Insurance Assistance Program. The program helps people navigate Medicare. The appropriation does not guarantee a particular service level or payment to each person.
Mental health outreach and local services
At least $1 million funds a FY2026 campaign promoting available behavioral health services. The campaign must partner with organizations to reach people most at risk of facing barriers to care. At least $300,000 supports International Institute of New England mental health services suited to clients' cultures and languages. At least $4.8 million supports services and operations at Cape Cod and Islands Community Mental Health Center, also called Pocasset.
Mental health services get access protections
The mental health commissioner must approve prior authorization and other restrictions on medicines used to treat mental illness. Approval follows the department’s written policies, procedures, and regulations. During fiscal year 2026, the department must maintain at least 671 inpatient beds, including 45 continuing-care beds at Taunton State Hospital. It may operate additional Taunton beds within its existing budget. At least $50,000 supports Therapy Matcher, which connects people with licensed clinical social workers. These provisions do not guarantee a particular medicine, hospital admission, or therapist.
More coordinated care for dementia families
The law provides at least $300,000 to the Massachusetts Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association. The money expands access to and administration of Dementia Care Coordination. The program must use evidence-based methods aimed at reducing hospitalizations, emergency visits, and delays in long-term care placement. Funding supports people with dementia and their caregivers, not individual cash payments.
More crisis help and mental care
For FY2026, at least $1.5 million supports staffing and payment incentives to reduce long emergency-department waits for behavioral health treatment. Grants prioritize children and teens, support inpatient and community treatment capacity, and can maintain incentives for beds opened in 2023. At least $1.1 million funds United Way of Tri-County’s Mass 211 and Call 2 Talk information and support programs. Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer gets at least $50,000 for open-access mental health follow-up hours and a walk-in clinic. Sturdy Memorial Hospital gets at least $100,000 for emergency-department expansion and behavioral health capacity; Brookline Community Mental Health Center gets at least $250,000 to expand Healthy Lives.
More food support for hungry households
For FY2026, the Department of Agricultural Resources gets $50.575 million for supplemental food purchases through Feeding America’s allocation formula for four regional food banks. At least $1.25 million supports their food-distribution operating costs; named allocations also include $500,000 for Women’s Lunch Place. Administrative charges cannot exceed 2% of the appropriation. Another $2.49 million funds community food access, including at least $150,000 in independent restaurant grants coordinated with the Brookline Chamber of Commerce. Restaurant allocations are at least $65,000 for Newton, $50,000 for Brookline, and $35,000 for Wellesley, supplying food banks, senior programs, and food-insecurity programs.
More mental health support for preschoolers
The law provides $5 million for mental health consultation in early education and care programs. Funding includes professional training on supporting children affected by trauma. Preference goes to services that aim to reduce expulsions and suspensions. Programs serving high shares of children with significant needs also receive preference.
More support for addiction treatment patients
The law provides $18.5 million in FY2026 for medication-assisted substance use treatment in county correctional facilities. The administration and finance secretary can transfer funds to state agencies after consulting the public health commissioner. At least $650,000 funds the Massachusetts Consultation Service for Treatment of Addiction and Pain, run by the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership. It helps providers with case management, care navigation, and community referrals for pain and substance use treatment.
More support for sickle cell and cancer
For FY2026, at least $250,000 goes to the Massachusetts Sickle Cell Association for advocacy, family services, awareness, and staff expansion. At least $35,000 supports operating costs for Massachusetts Oncology Patients, Survivors, and Supporters, which provides cancer-related services and advocacy. These grants support affected people through organizations rather than direct payments or new health coverage.
Nutrition education funding for SNAP households
The law provides $10 million for federally funded SNAP nutrition education and obesity prevention in FY2026. Massachusetts agencies use the money for education and prevention activities. This funding does not change SNAP benefit amounts or eligibility.
Provider training supports LGBTQIA+ older adults
The law funds a contract with the LGBTQIA+ Aging Project for provider training and outreach to older adults and caregivers. Training includes home care, home health, councils on aging, skilled nursing facilities, and adult day health programs. The provision does not state a funding amount or direct household benefit.
Regional mental health care for prisoners
The law funds mental health evaluation and stabilization units in Hampden and Middlesex counties, using existing facilities. Both serve incarcerated people in their designated counties and Department of Correction facilities. Middlesex serves Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties. Middlesex and Hampden sheriffs must align patient definitions; Middlesex, the correction department, and the sheriffs association must report services and costs by February 9, 2026. The Department of Mental Health must maintain monitoring and quality review for the Middlesex unit.
Regional opioid education receives targeted funding
Franklin's sheriff must direct at least $150,000 to the county opioid education and awareness task force in FY2026. A separate Northwestern district attorney allocation provides at least $150,000 to the Franklin County and North Quabbin Opioid Task Force. These are separate funding requirements, not individual resident payments.
Safer facilities and technology support care
The law provides at least $75,000 to Transhealth for infrastructure and security improvements. At least $100,000 goes to Housing Families in Malden for technology improvements supporting community-based health services. The grants fund provider systems and facilities, not direct patient payments or changes in who qualifies for care.
School breakfast and summer meals funded
The law provides about $4.47 million for school breakfast and summer food programs. At least $700,000 goes to Project Bread for outreach. Summer grants prioritize full-summer programming and increased participation. Sponsors must show plans to offer full-summer programs or increase participation, and grant recipients must report results.
Specialized care funding for disabled residents
The law grants $150,000 to the Down Syndrome program at the Children's Medical Center at UMass Medical Center. At least $50,000 supports the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at UMass Memorial Medical Center and UMass Medical School. Both programs use a patient-centered medical home approach to care. At least $125,000 funds urgent security, program, and support-service technology upgrades at Latham Centers for residents with complex disabilities. These funds go to providers, not directly to patients or residents.
State hospitals retain payments and beds
Western Massachusetts Hospital can receive and keep full Medicaid payments for goods and services meeting federal requirements. Tewksbury Hospital must maintain its FY2025 bed count during FY2026. These rules support hospital financing and capacity, without creating a new patient charge or guaranteed admission.
Towns get discounts on overdose medicine
The law provides $1.404 million to lower municipalities' naloxone purchase prices. Subsidized purchases must go through the municipal naloxone bulk purchase program. The funding does not provide direct household payments or set a household price.
Veterans get claims and service assistance
The law provides at least $150,000 to the Veterans’ Association of Bristol County. Vietnam Veterans of Massachusetts receives $75,000 to help veterans file medical and financial benefit claims. Veterans Inc. receives $500,000 for operations and services, including job training and substance use treatment. At least $50,000 supports Ludlow veterans’ services, which may include monthly lunches, food pantry help, and outreach. These grants do not guarantee a payment to each veteran.
Veterans receive health and housing support
Fiscal year 2026 grants support veterans’ outreach, housing, behavioral health, and community projects. Allocations include $100,000 for Veterans Inc.’s Worcester housing-program behavioral health services and $250,000 for the NEBSI and JLC services eTMS network. That network serves veterans and first responders with PTSD, brain injuries, substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, or sleep disorders. Housing support includes $50,000 for Cape and Island Veterans Outreach Center and $125,000 for Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center housing and operations. Other allocations include $50,000 for the Bilingual Veteran’s Outreach Center’s Pittsfield caseworker and $25,000 for Springfield Veterans First. The law also provides at least $30,000 for Natick’s Veterans Oral History Project, $10,000 for Dudley-Gendron Post 414, $30,000 for Attleboro’s Global War on Terrorism monument committee, and $10,000 for Granby Legion Post 266’s kitchen renovation. Separately, at least $85,000 funds NEADS service-dog training for veterans; the law does not specify how many veterans receive dogs.
Funding and payment floors for homeless services
Homeless-service organizations cannot receive an average payment below $25 per bed per night. This is a provider payment floor, not a charge to shelter residents. The law allocates at least $92.5 million to contracted homeless-service providers; the supplied provision labels that allocation FY2020. At least $500,000 goes to the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance for promotion, resource development, and technical help. That work supports permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities experiencing homelessness and related housing solutions.
Funding for housing rights and neighborhoods
The law directs at least $200,000 to Revitalize Community Development Corporation. Boston Housing Authority receives at least $40,000 for exterior spaces and community gardens at Gallivan Boulevard Homes. Maverick Landing Community Services receives at least $75,000 for housing-rights and housing-assistance support in East Boston. Massachusetts Fair Housing Center receives $200,000 to protect residents from housing discrimination. These grants support organizations and improvements, not set household payments.
Funding protects veterans' housing support services
Each covered veterans' homelessness service must receive at least its fiscal year 2025 funding amount in fiscal year 2026. The law also directs at least $914,000 to the Disabled American Veterans Department of Massachusetts Service Fund. That money supports three veterans' homes, counseling, benefits assistance, and wrap-around support for disabled veterans and their families. It does not set individual payments.
Funding supports shelter stakeholder group
The law provides at least $100,000 to operate the shelter stakeholder working group. This money funds the group’s work. The appropriation itself does not change household eligibility or provide a direct payment.
Grants support housing and community improvements
For FY2026, F.A.M.I.L.Y. Movement receives at least $50,000 to help families leave shelters, find permanent housing, and build financial independence. Caribbean Integration Community Development in Springfield receives at least $100,000. Urban Impact Initiative receives $250,000 to support organizations and programs in Springfield and Chicopee. Essex County Community Foundation receives $75,000 for community-development and improvement projects. Hearth receives at least $200,000 for upgrades and improvements, including work needed to operate its Boston facilities.
Help developing year-round rental housing
The law makes at least $100,000 available to Housing Assistance Corporation for housing development and project feasibility studies. It also funds technical advice for homeowners building accessory dwelling units for year-round rentals. These are small additional homes on residential properties. The provision does not set a payment for each homeowner or specify how many homes will result.
Housing assistance funded for people with HIV
The law provides $700,758 for the federally funded Housing Opportunity for People with AIDS Program in FY2026. The funding supports housing assistance for people with HIV/AIDS. The provision does not specify household eligibility rules or individual assistance amounts.
Local housing help during family crises
At least $25,000 goes to Belonging to Each Other in Falmouth for cold-weather housing and year-round homelessness services. Community Teamwork receives at least $75,000 for emergency needs of families in crisis. Heal Lawrence receives at least $50,000 through Greater Lawrence Community Action Council for families displaced by fires or residential emergencies. Its services include short-term housing, stabilization, referrals, and community education; Quincy Community Action Programs receives at least $100,000 for homelessness prevention. Somerville receives at least $20,000 for staffing and administration of its housing bridge pilot, helping applicants stay housed while seeking more affordable permanent housing.
Mental health housing fees fund repairs
All occupancy fees collected through the mental health department's CHOICE housing program must fund routine facility maintenance and repairs. The department can spend up to $125,000 in retained occupancy-fee revenue for that work. The law does not change tenants' fee amounts.
Regional funding to help prevent homelessness
At least $450,000 supports regional coordination and a pilot to reduce families' need for shelter. Recipients are Father Bill's & MainSpring, the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness, and Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance. Another earmark provides at least $75,000 to United Way of Pioneer Valley on behalf of the western Massachusetts network. It supports coordination in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties using a housing-first approach centered on racial equity. These funds do not set household payments.
Shelter programs can fund housing alternatives
Existing shelter programs can renegotiate how they use shelter funds for other services shown to work. Options include housing-first models, transitional housing, and shelter diversion. Both the state housing office and the host municipality must agree. The change does not guarantee a household payment or a particular service.
Advanced training for home care aides
The law provides about $1.20 million for advanced skills training for home care aides. The Secretary of Aging and Independence runs the grant program. Aides served by the program must work with people in the elder home care program. The funding does not guarantee a change in household services or provide a direct household payment.
Career learning and paid student work
The law supports public-private partnerships connecting high-school students with paid work, mentoring, and career learning, coordinated with YouthWorks. Private partners must provide at least a 200% match in student wages and commit resources for salaries, mentoring, instruction, and teacher collaboration. Public funds can cover school-business connection costs; grants can go to workforce boards or local partnerships. At least $300,000 supports Triangle's program for students with disabilities, and $200,000 supports Girls Inc. SMART and Eureka programs in six designated chapter cities. Separately, about $3.15 million funds planning and implementation of new career and technical programs, including career technical institutes. Vocational schools with documented admission waitlists receive preference, and at least $35,000 goes to Hopedale for specified transportation costs.
College programs fund student support services
At least $100,000 supports Bridgewater State University's Racial Equity and Justice Institute in fiscal year 2026. The institute provides training and advice to help close higher education achievement gaps. At least $50,000 supports Worcester State University's Latino Education Institute and pre-collegiate programs. At least $125,000 supports its John J. Binienda Center for hands-on learning, service, leadership, scholarships, civic engagement, and program development. The law does not set individual scholarship amounts.
Employment program funding helps older adults
The law provides $1.7 million for the federally funded Senior Community Service Employment Program. The money supports employment services for older adults served by the program. The law does not set individual wages, payments, or an eligibility formula.
Fitchburg police program receives recruitment funding
At least $100,000 goes to Fitchburg State University for an admissions position focused mainly on recruiting police-program students. The allocation funds recruitment, not scholarships or direct student payments.
Funding improves local libraries and programs
The fiscal year 2026 budget provides at least $50,000 for Stoneham Public Library operations. Westford’s J.V. Fletcher Library receives $100,000 for audiovisual equipment and open or hybrid meeting spaces. At least $25,000 supports Tewksbury Public Library roof repairs and renovations, and $6,500 supports Watertown Free Public Library’s citizenship corner. Funding also supports furniture, layout, and technology upgrades at Wrentham’s Fiske Public Library and named libraries’ equipment, materials, and programs. Funds must be used for the identified library purposes.
Funding supports civics and history learning
The law provides $1.7 million for civics programs, including $1 million for the Edward M. Kennedy Institute. At least $500,000 supports Kennedy Library Foundation-coordinated learning focused on underserved and other Massachusetts communities. The account also provides $100,000 for USS Constitution Museum programs and $100,000 for a student fellowship serving underrepresented communities of color. Separate transfers provide $2.5 million to the Civics Project Trust Fund and $3 million to the Genocide Education Trust Fund. Genocide education funding supports middle and high school materials and teacher training on causes, international reactions, progression, and aftermath.
Funding supports disability employment and independence
For fiscal year 2026, federal grants provide about $8.135 million for Commission for the Blind vocational rehabilitation and $53.522 million for MassAbility vocational rehabilitation. The law bars deductions from those two grants for specified state employee pension, health, life insurance, and similar indirect costs. Blindness programs also receive $700,000 for older adults' independent living, $58,000 for supported employment, and $2.755 million for the Fort Devens vending stand award. MassAbility grants include $303,452 for supported employment and $235,100 for informed-member planning. Another $4 million supports Road to Independence, Self-Sufficiency, and Employment.
Funding supports institutional schools and families
The law provides about $8.811 million for institutional-school expenses and related support. The state education department may provide special education services to eligible people held in houses of correction. At least $25,000 each goes to Fundacion CEMDPCD and Food for the World for specified family-support services.
Funding supports Merrimack Valley youth programs
The law provides at least $50,000 to Lawrence’s SISU Center for education, health, and recreation programs for at-risk youth. These programs serve the Merrimack Valley. Greater Lawrence Community Boating receives at least $50,000 for activities at the Abe Bashara Boathouse. Funding supports boating, rowing, water safety, training, certifications, and seasonal jobs for low-income youth, including after-school and summer programs.
Funding supports special education students
The circuit-breaker program funds eligible instruction and reimburses 75% of eligible required out-of-district transportation costs for fiscal year 2026. It uses fiscal year 2025 claims after required reports arrive; payments can be prorated to stay within funding. At least $750,000 supports Best Buddies Massachusetts students with intellectual disabilities, and $200,000 supports accessible audio books, outreach, and training. At least $250,000 supports districts whose special education costs exceed 25% of total district costs. Those districts must also meet the stated approved-private-school tuition and circuit-breaker cost tests: above $1 million and 20% of relevant placement costs.
Funding supports students at three colleges
Quincy College receives at least $300,000 for student supports and services. Fiscal year 2026 funding also supports Salem State University’s Frederick E. Berry Institute for Politics and Civic Engagement. Its programs give students firsthand learning experiences in public service and civic engagement. At least $75,000 goes to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s Leduc Center for America Reads/Counts transportation costs.
Funding supports young children and families
The law provides $20 million for Head Start grants, which can also support Early Head Start. About $11.741 million funds family and community engagement grants, with distribution required by August 29, 2025. Those supports must follow state pre-kindergarten and quality standards and can include extra services for children with individualized education plans. Another $4.25 million supports Parent-Child Plus, also called the Parent-Child Home Program. Reach Out and Read receives $1.75 million, contingent on at least $1 in private or corporate contributions per state dollar.
Grants fund student learning and wellness
The law provides $10.334 million for education, student-support, and community programs in fiscal year 2026. At least $1 million supports farm-to-school and food-system learning, including $750,000 for FRESH grants and $250,000 for wellness coaching. Named grants also support after-school services, accessible transportation, mental health, career events, literacy, English learning, and school equipment and improvements. At least $100,000 supports New Bedford and Fall River Youth Courts, and $500,000 funds a one-time SouthCoast Community Foundation grant program. That SouthCoast program's unspent fiscal year 2023–2025 funds remain available in 2026 instead of returning to the state.
Grants support longer summer learning programs
The law provides $2.97 million in competitive grants to develop or expand comprehensive summer learning. Funded programs must offer at least 150 hours and build academic, college-readiness, and career-readiness skills. Programs must use research-based methods and involve multiple organizations through cost-sharing partnerships. The law does not set individual student awards or household costs.
Grants support science and cybersecurity education
The law provides $1 million to the Massachusetts Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Grant Fund, also called the Pipeline Fund. At least $85,000 supports the MassBay Center for Cybersecurity Education in fiscal year 2026. These funds support education programs, not a stated tuition payment for each student.
Job training funds for SNAP participants
For fiscal year 2026, the law provides $3.235 million for the federally funded SNAP Employment and Training grant. It supports employment and training services for eligible participants. This funding does not change SNAP eligibility or grocery benefit amounts. The law does not set an individual service value or payment.
Job training funds support young people
The law provides $3 million in grants to Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition members for youth education, job training, and skills development. At least $150,000 supports the Weymouth Teen Center in fiscal year 2026. That money funds job skills, technology support, extra learning help, and social services. These grants fund organizations; they do not set payments for individual participants.
Local grants support youth sports and learning
At least $250,000 supports youth-sports nonprofits primarily serving low-income or marginalized students in fiscal year 2026. Grants must pursue goals for physical health, mental well-being, school participation, and community life. Named allocations include $50,000 each for Project D.E.E.P. and Just-A-Start's biomedical careers program. Boston Music Project, Haverhill's Girls Empowered Means Success, and Daddy & Me youth literacy each receive $25,000; Ray of Hope's Hoops and Handles receives $10,000. Funding also supports mentoring, leadership, track and field, violence prevention, and Build Boston's one-year Gateway Academy entrepreneurship program.
Matching grants support youth mentoring
The law provides $1.5 million for competitive grants to start or expand youth mentoring programs. Mass Mentoring Partnership administers the grants. Each funded public or private agency must match every grant dollar with $1; families do not owe this match. Programs must follow current best practices and meet the grant program's mentoring purposes.
More support for preschool learning programs
The law provides at least $300,000 to Jumpstart for evidence-based preschool programs supporting language, literacy, and early relationships. Early education and care grants include at least $100,000 each for Elizabeth Peabody House and More Than Words’ young parents program. Cape Cod Children’s Place receives $25,000 for early education and care support services. At least $50,000 funds equipment for Framingham’s Harmony Grove and Miriam F. McCarthy Elementary Schools’ early education programs. The equipment must meet Department of Early Education and Care standards.
Prison education gets funding and reviews
The Department of Correction must check each education program against an evidence-based model at least every three years. The Secretary of Public Safety and Security selects the model. The department must work with the Executive Office of Education on education quality and reintegration. Fiscal year 2026 reentry programs must add to those provided in fiscal year 2025. At least $80,000 supports partnerships with colleges offering post-secondary education in state prisons.
Reading and preschool support for children
The law creates Literacy Launch to support research-backed reading instruction from pre-kindergarten through grade 3. Led by the education secretary with the two education commissioners, it serves public schools and licensed early education providers. It supports grants, curriculum, teacher training, coordinated assessments, materials, and related reading programs. Separately, $5 million in fiscal year 2026 grants supports voluntary preschool planning and expansion by local schools and educational collaboratives. These grants serve children eligible for kindergarten by September 2027, with preference for districts serving many high-needs students.
School grants connect students with services
The law funds school grants that connect students with community resources, including social services and mental and behavioral health care. At least $500,000 must go to schools and districts serving high percentages of low-income students. Applications supporting school-to-community coordination receive priority. Local grants must stay in separate accounts, which school committees can spend without another appropriation. Unspent funds remain available until August 28, 2026.
School grants help prevent hate crimes
The law provides $1.05 million in grants to prevent hate crimes and bias incidents in public schools. Grants support education, staff development, prevention, and community outreach. Grant guidelines must prioritize schools with a hate crime or bias incident during the previous two years. At least $25,000 goes to Mosaic Interfaith Youth Action.
School partnerships fund youth enrichment programs
The law funds partnerships between school districts and local community organizations for youth services. Named programs receive funding for summer activities, after-school programs, mentoring, and enrichment. Student data can be shared only as allowed by law. The grantee must report on the pilot's effects on participating students by June 30, 2026.
Senate fellowships support public-service career exposure
The law requires at least $100,000 in FY2026 for a Massachusetts Senate fellowship pipeline program. The program promotes inclusive and diverse participation and introduces participants to long-term public-service employment opportunities. It does not guarantee a job or set participant payments.
State funds Worcester school excellence program
The law provides $2 million for Worcester Polytechnic Institute's School of Excellence program. Sending school districts do not have to pay students' attendance costs. The academy must provide professional development activities, including teacher and visiting-scholar salaries and benefits. It must make every effort to recruit and serve equal numbers of male and female students.
Students get safer, more supportive schools
The law funds safe and supportive school grants, staff, training, technical help, and evaluation. Schools and district teams must build action plans using the full state framework and self-assessment tool. Continuing grantees must include those plans in school improvement plans, and districts must plan support for recipient schools. Applications with age-appropriate input from students reflecting the school population receive priority. Unspent money remains available through June 30, 2027.
Targeted aid for rural school districts
The law provides $12 million for eligible rural school districts. Districts must have no more than 35 students per square mile and average per-person income no higher than the state average. Priority goes first to districts below 11 students per square mile, then those at or below 21, then 35. Vocational, independent agricultural and technical, and charter schools are excluded. This aid is not counted as Chapter 70 aid when calculating fiscal year 2027 minimum required local contributions.
Transportation funding helps students reach school
The law provides about $53.768 million to reimburse regional school districts for student transportation. Another $28.672 million reimburses cities, towns, and regional districts for eligible transportation of nonresident homeless pupils under federal law. State reimbursement obligations for both programs cannot exceed their appropriations. At least $50,000 supports solar-powered flashing beacons and safer crossings at five high-priority Worcester locations leading to public schools.
Violence prevention funding for public colleges
The law requires at least $150,000 for a campus violence prevention administrator and related safety work. The funding supports full implementation of the state's 2020 campus safety initiatives. This includes sexual violence prevention at Massachusetts public colleges and universities.
Agencies can spend older federal grants
Agencies can spend qualifying unused federal grant balances during fiscal year 2026. The money must have arrived before June 30, 2025, and not be included in this section's appropriation items. This authority adds to the section's appropriated amounts. Federal funds above appropriated amounts must follow the spending rules in section 6B of chapter 29.
Boston and Wellesley funds remain available
Specified Wellesley funds under budget item 1599-0026 remain available through June 30, 2026. Specified Boston funds under item 7010-1192 also remain available through that date. The provisions do not state funding amounts or identify more specific recipients.
Federal grants fund state energy programs
For fiscal year 2026, federal grants provide $36.382289 million for Solar for All and $947,380 for an energy-efficiency loan fund. They provide $21.925837 million for IRA-50121 HER and $21.842739 million for IRA-50122 HEAR. Other allocations include $2.396912 million for the State Energy Security Plan and $1.228359 million for the State Energy Plan. The law provides $2 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and $1.24734 million for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants. It also provides $115,000 for Clean Cities and $22,288 for the heating oil and propane program; household benefits and eligibility are not specified.
Fisheries research and conservation receive funding
Federal fiscal year 2026 grants fund land acquisition ($3.5 million), Windsor Brook wetlands ($650,000), chronic wasting disease management ($6,000), and NEWC metapopulations ($50,000). Boating grants provide $1.175 million for Clean Vessel Act work and $500,000 for infrastructure. Fisheries grants fund statistics ($500,000), interstate management ($400,000), ACCSP implementation ($25,000), cod-avoidance testing ($250,000), and turtle disengagement ($950,000). Age and growth research receives $450,000, and sport fish restoration coordination receives $125,000. Separately, up to $250,000 in lobster-permit-sale fees funds commercial invertebrate surveys, including ventless lobster traps and hired commercial vessels.
Funding supports tourism and local events
For fiscal year 2026, the law provides $4.715621 million for tourism office operations and administration. The office leads state efforts to attract major sports events and movie production and development. Named allocations include at least $500,000 for the HBCU Kickoff Classic Weekend and $375,000 for Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. The law also funds named museums, municipalities, events, and tourism projects, not direct household payments.
Marine projects receive targeted state funding
FY2026 minimum allocations include $30,000 for a Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance kelp-industry study. They include $150,000 for shellfish propagation in Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties and $175,000 for marsh restoration and research. Another $50,000 establishes lost-fishing-gear collection and removal, and $60,000 supports the commercial fisheries commission. At least $50,000 funds a Saugus harbormaster boat. These allocations support projects and operations, not household payments.
Tourism promoters gain spending exceptions
Nongovernmental matching funds are exempt from the spending restriction in section 14. Covered entities can also fund participation in trade shows promoting Massachusetts tourism, conventions, travel, and recreation. They can spend money hosting tour operators and media visits to Massachusetts.
Funding added for sewer rate relief
The law adds $1.5 million to the Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund for fiscal year 2026. This provision funds sewer-rate relief but does not set household eligibility or distribution rules. It does not specify how much any customer's sewer bill decreases.
Funding helps finance clean water projects
The law provides $63.38368 million in fiscal year 2026 for contract assistance to the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. Assistance can cover debt payments, loan principal forgiveness, lower interest rates, and other subsidies or financial help. The funding supports recipients of Trust assistance. It does not promise lower household water bills.
Retirement savings program gets operating support
The law creates a separate Massachusetts Secure Choice Savings Fund in the state treasurer's office. It pays administration, compliance, and oversight costs not covered elsewhere. Unspent money remains available in later years. The treasurer or a designee can seek private donations and grants to lower plan operating costs, but no amount is guaranteed.
Funding keeps health eligibility systems running
The law transfers $14.1779 million to the Health Information Technology Trust Fund. The money covers operating costs for the statewide health information exchange and integrated eligibility system. It supports continued system operations. It does not change who qualifies for health coverage or create a household payment.
Local costs count in service contracts
State health and human services agencies must consider higher local costs when contracting on Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, or in Provincetown. They must consider increased costs for goods, services, and housing. The law does not set contract prices or guarantee higher payments.
More funding supports mental health access
For FY2026, MassHealth spending on outpatient mental health and addiction service rates must rise at least $5.2735 million over FY2025. The law transfers $20 million to the Behavioral Health Outreach, Access and Support Trust Fund. That fund supports awareness campaigns, professional loan forgiveness, and pilot programs addressing barriers to fair access to care. Another $200,000 goes to the Community Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention Trust Fund for FY2026.
More funding supports primary care patients
The state must spend at least $13.75 million more on MassHealth primary care in FY2026 than in FY2025. The law also directs at least $250,000 to remote patient monitoring through Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for primary care. These measures fund care delivery rather than direct patient payments.
Payments support qualifying acute-care hospitals
MassHealth must spend $13 million in total on qualifying acute-care hospitals. More than 63% of a hospital's gross patient-service revenue must come from government payers and free care. The Executive Office determines which hospitals meet that test. Payments go to hospitals, not directly to patients.
Targeted funding supports local nursing homes
The law provides at least $2.973456 million for additional allowable base-rate costs at nursing facilities near North Adams. Facilities must be within 17 miles of 71 Hospital Avenue in North Adams. It also provides at least $3.8 million for additional allowable costs above a Martha’s Vineyard facility’s October 1, 2024 base-year rate. That facility must be on the island and within 8 miles of a federally designated Critical Access Hospital.
Tewksbury care funding for disability clients
The Department of Public Health may spend up to $4.334319 million in payments received for Tewksbury Hospital services. The services are for Department of Developmental Services clients and include behavioral health care and continued short-term medical rehabilitation. Spending cannot exceed the lower of that authorization or the latest revenue estimate in the state accounting system.
Agencies get employee unemployment management support
The law requires a state employee unemployment management program that gives agencies training and assistance. It does not specify individual employee benefits, eligibility, payment amounts, or program funding.
Biotech diversity efforts receive targeted funding
Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives must spend at least $250,000 on diversity efforts in life sciences and biotechnology. It must work with the Office of Business Development. It must seek $1 in private matching funds for each $1 contributed by the budget item. The law requires seeking the match, not securing it.
Campus funding and operating support
Through June 30, 2026, about $20.95 million supports campuses through a funding formula that includes equity. The higher education commissioner develops it with the education, labor, and economic development secretaries; the higher education board approves allocations. Funds also support public college trustees’ required duties, recruitment, training, and accountability. Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology can use the state education computer system and join the state buying group.
Clean energy jobs get investment funding
The law transfers $20 million to the Clean Energy Investment Fund for workforce development and emissions-reducing investments. Investments cover energy, transportation, and buildings and must follow Massachusetts' clean energy and climate plan for 2050. At least $1 million must fund entrepreneurial fellowships that help turn research into businesses, products, and jobs.
Community college employees get pay study
The law allows up to $200,000 to study jobs in the Massachusetts Community College Council bargaining unit. The Department of Higher Education compares duties and salaries with peer colleges and the education market. It works with the Office of Employee Relations and Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges. Recommendations for updated job descriptions and salaries are due July 1, 2026. The study itself does not change pay.
Funding for university research and services
For fiscal year 2026, the University of Massachusetts must fund three named facilities and programs. They are the Amherst Cranberry Station, UMass Boston’s Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration, and Fall River’s Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center. The provision directs operating support but does not specify amounts.
Funding helps train health care workers
For fiscal year 2026, the law provides $1.125 million for nursing and allied health careers, including at least $500,000 for public-college/provider partnerships. At least $100,000 supports a University of Massachusetts Dartmouth partnership with Southcoast Hospitals; at least $50,000 supports Curry College nursing and simulation partnerships. At least $75,000 funds Labouré College's advanced nursing-related English program in Milton. At least $190,000 supports Bunker Hill Community College's Boston Welcome Back Center, which helps internationally educated nurses meet Massachusetts licensing requirements. Another $200,000 trains community health workers at the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center to connect underserved Worcester and MetroWest residents with medical and social services.
Funding supports family medicine doctor training
At least $250,000 supports Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s family medicine residency program. By December 5, 2025, $750,000 must be distributed equally to teaching community health centers in Worcester, Lawrence, and South Boston. Those centers must have family medicine residency programs. The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers administers those funds and retains 5% of the total funds.
Funding supports pathways into teaching
At least $450,000 goes to Journey into Education & Teaching, Inc. to strengthen pathways into the educator workforce. The law funds the organization’s programs. It does not set individual payments or participant eligibility rules.
Funding supports workforce and business skills
The law transfers $8 million to the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund for fiscal year 2026 workforce programs. At least $15,000 supports Young Craftsman Foundation equipment for emerging trades workers, and $10,000 supports Urban Bridges workforce initiatives. At least $25,000 funds Latin American Business Organization technical help for historically disadvantaged businesses in Worcester County. The funding also includes $10,000 for Build Boston's one-year entrepreneurship program at Haverhill's Gateway Academy. These grants fund programs and assistance, not specified payments to individual workers or business owners.
Matching funds support university student internships
The law provides at least $1 million for the state university internship incentive program. The state matches private gifts to a university’s trustees or foundation dollar for dollar, up to the item’s funding limit. Program money cannot replace other state funding for operations, scholarships, financial aid, or other purposes. The law does not set individual student payments.
More workforce support for health centers
For FY2026, at least $5 million supports allied health workers at community health centers receiving federal health-center funding. Funds can support loan repayment, workforce development, hiring pipelines, and retention payments. Centers receive payments based on financial need. Workforce support must prioritize recruiting and keeping a culturally and linguistically diverse workforce.
Technical training supports trade careers
The law funds career technical institutes at vocational schools, with industry and community partners, to offer adults recognized work credentials. The labor secretary can transfer development funds to the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund for competitive startup and education-cost grants. At least $150,000 goes to the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association for trade training in secondary and post-secondary schools. At least $25,000 supports commercial driver’s license training programs in Paxton. Individual award amounts are not stated.
Track center can spend event receipts
In fiscal year 2026, Roxbury Community College can spend up to $2.5 million in eligible Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center receipts. Eligible receipts include fees, rentals, and facility charges from covered athletic events, conferences, meetings, and programs. Spending can cover contracted event services, event staff, utilities, and facility capital needs. Timing-related expenses and comptroller-certified payments cannot exceed the lower of $2.5 million or the latest revenue estimate in state accounts. This is college spending authority, not a household payment.
Training and employment help for workers
Massachusetts AFL-CIO Workforce Development Programs receives $150,000 for laid-off worker assistance, layoff prevention, and job training. Training includes traditional and non-traditional apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship pathways. At least $175,000 goes to Volunteers of America Massachusetts to develop a transitional employment program. The law does not set individual payment amounts.
University centers keep minimum funding protections
Each University of Massachusetts Boston center and institute receives at least its fiscal year 2018 funding in fiscal year 2026. Reductions are allowed only when extraordinary or unforeseen circumstances make them necessary. Before a reduction or closure, the university must seek student and staff input and prepare a plan to limit harm. It must submit the required reasons and planned steps at least 120 days ahead.
Workforce and education funding for women
At least $100,000 supports a grant program at St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children in Dorchester. The program provides workforce development and educational programming for women. The law does not set individual benefit amounts or detailed eligibility rules.
Funding for cannabis oversight and opportunity
For fiscal year 2026, the law provides $1 million from the Marijuana Regulation Fund for agricultural oversight of hemp and cannabis. It also directs at least $60,000 to Equitable Opportunities Now for programs, services, and technical help. That help supports cannabis industry opportunities for people from communities harmed by the war on drugs. Neither allocation creates a direct household payment.
Funding for farms and local food
For fiscal year 2026, the law funds farm programs, food safety, and local food efforts. Minimum allocations include $120,000 for Farm to School, $300,000 for the Massachusetts Food Trust, and $250,000 for local food councils. It also sets aside at least $175,000 for bee inspection, $100,000 for invasive insects, and $300,000 for farm marketing. At least $750,000 supports Buy Local efforts, which must include locally harvested fish and shellfish. Federal grants include $3.5 million for farm and ranch land protection, $700,000 for institutional marketing, and $1.5 million for food systems infrastructure. Farmers’ market coupons receive $600,000, while senior nutrition grants receive $535,000 and $200,000. Other federal grants provide $575,000 for food safety, $500,000 each for pesticide enforcement and pest surveys, $10,000 for country-of-origin checks, $45,000 for animal identification, and $12,000 for organic certification cost-sharing. The law also funds named local markets and food groups, but sets no individual coupon amount or household eligibility rules.
Funding supports small and midsized manufacturers
The law provides $2 million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership's operation and maintenance. The funding also supports programs designed to help small and midsized manufacturing companies. It does not set an award amount for each business.
Grants support local businesses and communities
The law provides $1 million for contracts with regional economic development groups. Fiscal year 2026 allocations also include at least $500,000 for the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts. The New Commonwealth Fund receives $1 million to expand grants for Black- and Brown-led nonprofits. The Addiction Treatment Center of New England receives $200,000 to expand its three-quarter step unit program. The law also funds named local projects, but creates no direct household payment.
Local business and workforce groups get funding
Mission Hill Main Streets receives at least $50,000. Roxbury Main Streets receives at least $100,000 for storefront improvements in Nubian Square. The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts receives at least $200,000, and Community Action's MakeIT Haverhill receives at least $50,000. These grants support local business, community, or workforce activities, without setting individual payments.
Local businesses get development program funding
For fiscal year 2026, Westmass gets at least $350,000 to help revitalize the Ludlow Mills Industrial Complex. Develop Springfield gets $200,000 to manage and revitalize the Springfield Innovation Center. Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development gets at least $250,000 for regional and municipal technical help. Woburn gets at least $100,000 for storefront façades, awnings, and signs; Wellesley gets $25,000 for local-business support. The law also funds business-assistance, entrepreneurship, coworking, and economic-opportunity programs, rather than direct household payments.
Fees apply to approved vital-record changes
Applicants must pay a fee after approval to correct or amend a birth, marriage, death, or delayed record. The secretary of administration and finance sets the fee. The law does not state the amount.
MassAbility must share client payment details
MassAbility must share payment recipients' names, Social Security numbers, and payee names after a written request from the revenue commissioner. The request must concern checking eligibility or detecting and preventing fraud, errors, and abuse in MassAbility programs.
Stronger collection of overdue state debts
The Comptroller must fund an enhanced intercept program to collect overdue debts owed to Massachusetts. The program supports state agencies that bill for eligible services. The law does not set a new debt amount or individual repayment formula.
Civil service applicants pay exam fees
Each applicant for a Massachusetts civil service exam must pay at least $50. The law does not set a maximum fee or specify the final amount charged.
Seasonal state workers face appointment limits
Covered conservation and recreation seasonal jobs have fixed appointment windows in fiscal year 2026. Appointments must fall within April 1–November 30 or September 1–April 30. A worker cannot fill a covered seasonal position for more than eight months within a 12-month period.
Vehicle excise covers revoked registrations too
The vehicle excise law counts vehicles and trailers with revoked or suspended registrations as registered. It also covers similar registration statuses determined by the registrar. The provision does not set a new tax rate or specify the change in an owner's bill.
State litigation payments need written approvals
The Comptroller needs written Attorney General approval to pay specified state-agency outside-lawyer fees or settlements from the reserve. Payments over $250,000 also need written approval from the finance secretary or a designee. State officials and employees seeking reimbursement for lawsuits over work-related actions must first get written Attorney General approval.
Contracted police services can carry charges
State Police can charge recipients the cost of police services provided under specified agreements. They can spend up to $52 million from private-detail fees and $3.5 million from security-service fees. Spending from specified police-activity agreements is capped at $3.205922 million. These spending limits do not set each recipient's bill.
Insurers must pay fire-service assessments
Insurers writing fire, homeowners multiple-peril, or commercial multiple-peril policies on Massachusetts property must pay assessments. These cover 100% of specified fire-service and fire-and-arson-investigation appropriations. Insurers writing specified commercial multiple-peril non-liability or commercial auto liability policies also fund 100% of hazardous-materials response appropriations and related staff benefits. Payment is due within 30 days after notice. The law does not state any amount passed on to policyholders.
Older legal service payments face caps
In fiscal year 2026, private-counsel compensation funds can spend at most $2 million on services provided before that year. The indigent fees-and-costs appropriation has its own separate $2 million limit for earlier services. These limits govern state spending, not charges to households.
Telecommunications assessments must cover agency costs
For fiscal year 2026, telecommunications and cable assessments must cover 100% of the department’s $3.443116 million appropriation. They must also cover related staff benefit costs. Assessed entities pay these charges; the law does not specify each entity’s bill or any change to household prices.
Utility and energy assessments cover agency costs
For fiscal year 2026, assessments on covered entities must pay for Department of Public Utilities operating spending and related employee-benefit costs. Residential conservation service assessments must likewise cover program spending and related staff-benefit costs in fiscal year 2026. The Department of Energy Resources assessment must cover its appropriation spending and related staff-benefit costs. The law does not state the rates or establish whether these costs raise household bills.
Newborn hospital-stay management funding is barred
In FY2026, the health executive office cannot fund case-management programs intended to shorten newborn intensive care stays. The restriction applies to agency funding, not family payments. The law does not state how it changes care or hospital stays.
State health spending faces funding limits
State agencies generally cannot use the relevant health appropriation for costs that are not federally reimbursable. Exceptions cover administration, MassHealth Standard-equivalent benefits for children under 21 in state youth or child welfare custody, and dental care for adult developmental-services clients. Specified institutional mental health services and approved cost-containment work are also exceptions; cost-containment purposes and amounts require submission at least 30 days before spending. Other exceptions need prior written approval from the Secretary of Administration and Finance. Before increasing existing Medicaid provider rates, health agencies must take all possible federal-law measures to limit rates to efficient costs of adequate-quality care.
College boards must reimburse state costs
Trustee boards associated with the State College and University of Massachusetts building authorities must transfer specified current-year costs to the General Fund. These cover employee benefits and state-provided heat, light, power, and other services for authority projects. The relevant authority determines costs, the higher education commissioner verifies them, and the administration and finance secretary approves them. The law does not set a student or household charge.
Vital record corrections and access limits
Original informants or credible people with knowledge can submit affidavits to fix or complete vital records. After one year, documentary evidence must prove the facts beyond a reasonable doubt; regulations can allow simpler changes within one year. Original-record information is generally restricted, with exceptions for proper court orders, requests for one’s own birth or marriage record, and official duties. Originals amended after adoption generally require an appropriate probate court order or authorization under section 2B. Specified people and officials can inspect records and supporting evidence under the law’s access rules.
Limited insurance help for small-business workers
Health insurance subsidies support small-business employees who cannot get subsidized Connector insurance or any MassHealth coverage. Employees eligible for either option are excluded from this funding. Enrollment can be capped to keep MassHealth spending within the appropriation. The law does not state an individual subsidy amount.
Public employee compensation counts accrued leave
The relevant public employee compensation rule includes accrued sick, personal, and vacation leave. It excludes leave paid to supplement weekly workers' compensation benefits. The supplied provision does not establish how this changes any individual's compensation amount.
Alcohol sellers gain local license conversion
In municipalities accepting this rule, local authorities can let section 12 wine-and-malt license holders trade for all-alcohol licenses. The traded-in license becomes nontransferable. Authorities can charge a reasonable, nonexcessive fee and impose additional requirements. The conversion does not increase the authorized number of licenses.
Gang prevention grants require local matches
About $10.09 million funds one-time regional gang-violence prevention, intervention, enforcement, prosecution, and reintegration grants. Preference goes to regions with high youth violence, gang problems, and substance use. Applicants must document regional collaboration, written commitments, measurable outcomes, and data collection and sharing, using a local government fiscal agent. They must provide a 25% municipal or private match; administration cannot exceed 10%, and State Police cannot receive awards. These grants do not continue into fiscal year 2027 or later.
Nonprofit security grants include matching costs
The law provides $5.2 million for security improvements at Massachusetts nonprofits at high risk of terrorist attacks or hate crimes. Organizations that have experienced those attacks or crimes receive priority. Awards must be spread fairly across eastern, central, and western Massachusetts, with at least one in each region. At least $500,000 supports a security-personnel pilot. Nonprofits joining that pilot must match state funds dollar for dollar.
Operator license applications become public records
Operator license applications are public records. The commission can withhold trade secrets, competitively sensitive details, or other proprietary information. Withholding requires that disclosure could disadvantage or harm the applicant or license holder.
Suffolk jail funding includes agency fees
Suffolk's sheriff must spend at least $1.5 million on Project Evolve at the county jail in Boston. The office can also use up to $1.8 million in revenue to run the regional lockup in FY2026. Lockup spending cannot exceed the latest state accounting revenue estimate. The office must make detention-service agreements and set and collect fees from law enforcement agencies and municipalities. The law does not set a household detention fee.
Standards enforcement revenue excludes municipal grants
The Division of Standards can keep up to $875,432 from specified registration, item-pricing, and weights-and-measures fees and fines. It can use that money for enforcement. It cannot use those funds for the referenced municipal grant program. This restriction does not itself end that grant program.
Addiction care includes possible involuntary commitment
The law funds a Hampden County addiction treatment program serving Hampden, Hampshire, Worcester, Franklin, and Berkshire counties. Services include case management, medical and mental health care, withdrawal management, and medication-based treatment. The program also includes safety staffing, release planning, and aftercare. It may commit people with alcohol or drug addiction to treatment without consent for no more than 90 days. The provision does not specify a funding amount.
Infection services funded with billing requirements
The law provides about $31.85 million for HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, and related services. Services must remain at least at the prior year's level and proportionately serve affected demographic groups. HIV community testing and screening vendors must seek third-party payment. The public health department must also ensure tuberculosis care vendors seek third-party payment. The appropriation cannot fund disease research in FY2026; these billing rules do not create a new patient charge.
Stroke care funding adds reporting duties
The law provides $500,000 in FY2026 for stroke treatment, prevention, quality improvement, and registry expansion. Act F.A.S.T. education must focus on communities with the highest stroke rates. Primary stroke service hospitals and emergency medical services agencies must report treatment data using nationally recognized guidelines. The public health department must update its Statewide Stroke Point-of-Entry Plan by September 1, 2025. It must implement the specified stroke regulations by October 1, 2025.
Agencies share more child service data
Specified state agencies can share personal data about families receiving early education and care, despite the state's personal-data law. Uses include investigations, waitlists, program work, evaluation, reports, and policy planning. Education, early education, child welfare, and disability protection agencies can also share data about students in covered special-education programs. Those programs must be approved, licensed, monitored, or regulated by the education or early education departments. Special-education sharing must serve the agencies' legal duties.
Libraries face funding rules and waivers
Fiscal year 2026 regional library aid uses fiscal year 2025 population figures. The Library for the Commonwealth gets at least 47.5 cents per resident, capped at 25% of that appropriation. Municipalities lose public library aid below 102.5% of their prior three-year average library funding, unless granted a waiver. For fiscal year 2026, extra waivers can last no more than one year; aid above the 1998 amount follows equalization, incentive, and nonresident-circulation grant rules. Public library aid goes into separate accounts with municipal treasurers, and libraries must spend it without a municipal appropriation.
Police and fire hiring exemptions expand
Qualifying cities and towns can adopt police or fire civil service exemptions without further legislative action. Their locally approved legislation must have been filed January 4, 2023 through July 31, 2024, with legislative clerk acknowledgment. A letter signed by the required municipal executive and police or fire chief had to arrive by February 15, 2025. Exemptions take effect March 1, 2025. The personnel administrator must reconsider specified earlier eligibility denials by August 30, 2025; approved exemptions apply from March 1.
Designated funds get fixed spending deadline
Funds under budget item 7008-0900 are available through December 15, 2025. This replaces the deadline of 12 months after the act's effective date. The provision does not state the amount or specific recipients.
Gaming revenue funds nine state priorities
For fiscal year 2026, covered category 1 gaming license revenue is divided among nine funds. Gaming Local Aid gets 30.1%, Transportation 20.6%, Education 19.4%, and Gaming Economic Development 13.2%. Local Capital Projects gets 6.2%, Public Health Trust 5%, and Race Horse Development 2.5%. Cultural and Performing Arts Mitigation gets 2%, and Massachusetts Tourism Trust gets 1%. These shares allocate all covered revenue; the law does not state the total dollar amount.
Local aid faces checks and emergency advances
Payments after November 30 are withheld from cities, towns, and counties maintaining agricultural schools until prior-year financial reports are accepted. Acceptance must be certified by the Commissioner of Revenue. Cities, towns, regional school districts, and independent agricultural schools can receive advance aid during emergency cash shortfalls. Advances require Revenue Commissioner certification and finance secretary approval.
State parks face revenue and staffing rules
For fiscal year 2026, the conservation and recreation department must set or renegotiate fees, permits, licenses, rents, and leases. It must also adjust or develop other revenue sources to support operations; no specific charge amounts are stated. The commissioner can fill no more than 1,300 full-time positions. Staffing must be geographically fair, and additional funds must address park needs in every region.
Some districts exclude retiree health spending
The state cannot count retired teacher health costs toward net school spending for qualifying districts through June 30, 2026. Districts must still count spending equal to the related increase in their foundation budgets. The rule covers districts that excluded these costs in fiscal year 1994. They must also have declined the 2014 law's option to count those costs.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
FY26 General Appropriation
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 7002-1091 passed over veto
Yes: 142 • No: 13
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 7061-9010 passed over veto
Yes: 155 • No: 0
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 4110-1000 passed over veto
Yes: 155 • No: 0
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 7004-3036 passed over veto
Yes: 131 • No: 24
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 4512-0200 passed over veto
Yes: 147 • No: 8
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 0330-0300 passed over veto
Yes: 132 • No: 23
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 1231-1000 passed over veto
Yes: 143 • No: 11
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 2810-0100 passed over veto
Yes: 151 • No: 3
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 4000-0051 passed over veto
Yes: 133 • No: 22
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 4000-0641 passed over veto
Yes: 155 • No: 0
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 7004-0109 passed over veto
Yes: 131 • No: 24
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 7007-0150 passed over veto
Yes: 153 • No: 2
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 4513-1020 passed over veto
Yes: 139 • No: 16
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 7003-0606 passed over veto
Yes: 141 • No: 14
House vote • 10/8/2025
Item 7077-0023 passed over veto
Yes: 148 • No: 7
House vote • 6/30/2025
Committee of conference report accepted
Yes: 139 • No: 6
House vote • 6/30/2025
Enacted
Yes: 139 • No: 6
Actions Timeline
Item 7077-0023 passed over veto -see Roll Call #89 (Yeas 38 to Nays 0)
10/23/2025SenateItem 7061-9010 passed over veto -see Roll Call #88 (Yeas 38 to Nays 0)
10/23/2025SenateItem 7004-3036 passed over veto -see Roll Call #86 (Yeas 34 to Nays 4)
10/23/2025SenateItem 7003-0606 passed over veto -see Roll Call #84 (Yeas 36 to Nays 2)
10/23/2025SenateItem 4513-1020 passed over veto -see Roll Call #82 (Yeas 38 to Nays 0)
10/23/2025SenateItem 7007-0150 passed over veto -see Roll Call #87 (Yeas 38 to Nays 0)
10/23/2025SenateItem 4512-0200 passed over veto -see Roll Call #81 (Yeas 38 to Nays 0)
10/23/2025SenateItem 7002-1091 passed over veto -see Roll Call #83 (Yeas 37 to Nays 1)
10/23/2025SenateItem 4110-1000 passed over veto -see Roll Call #80 (Yeas 38 to Nays 0)
10/23/2025SenateItem 7004-0109 passed over veto -see Roll Call #85 (Yeas 33 to Nays 5)
10/23/2025SenateItem 4000-0641 passed over veto -see Roll Call #79 (Yeas 38 to Nays 0)
10/23/2025SenateItem 4000-0051 passed over veto -see Roll Call #78 (Yeas 35 to Nays 3)
10/23/2025SenateItem 2810-0100 passed over veto -see Roll Call #77 (Yeas 37 to Nays 1)
10/23/2025SenateItem 1231-1000 passed over veto -see Roll Call #76 (Yeas 38 to Nays 0)
10/23/2025SenateItem 0330-0300 passed over veto -see Roll Call #75 (Yeas 35 to Nays 3)
10/23/2025SenateItem 7077-0023 passed over veto - 148 YEAS to 7 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 88)
10/8/2025HouseItem 7061-9010 passed over veto - 155 YEAS to 0 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 87)
10/8/2025HouseItem 7004-3036 passed over veto - 131 YEAS to 24 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 85)
10/8/2025HouseItem 7003-0606 passed over veto - 141 YEAS to 14 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 83)
10/8/2025HouseItem 4513-1020 passed over veto - 139 YEAS to 16 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 81)
10/8/2025HouseItem 7007-0150 passed over veto - 153 YEAS to 2 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 86)
10/8/2025HouseItem 4512-0200 passed over veto - 147 YEAS to 8 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 80)
10/8/2025HouseItem 7002-1091 passed over veto - 142 YEAS to 13 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 82)
10/8/2025HouseItem 4110-1000 passed over veto - 155 YEAS to 0 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 79)
10/8/2025HouseItem 7004-0109 passed over veto - 131 YEAS to 24 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 84)
10/8/2025House
Bill Text
Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025
7/4/2025
Related Bills
H 4585, An Act authorizing the town of Auburn to offer expanded senior property tax abatements
H 5435, An Act authorizing the town of Topsfield to continue to employment of police chief Neal Hovey
H 5515, An Act to increase the value of estates eligible for abatements pursuant to M.G.L. chapter 59, section 5, clauses seventeenth D and forty-first C in the town of Shrewsbury
H 3909, An Act authorizing the Provincetown year-round market rate rental housing trust to acquire year-round housing occupancy restrictions
H 5429, An Act providing injured on duty compensation to Chelmsford firefighter Nicholas Spinale
H 5520, An Act exempting George Patrinos from the maximum age requirement age for the position of firefighter in the town of Dudley