# Massachusetts H 4761: An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects Massachusetts H 4761, An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects, is a 194th General Court (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by FY25 Supplemental Appropriations; status signed, last action 2025-11-25 (Signed by the Governor, Chapter 73 of the Acts of 2025); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H4761-194 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Massachusetts H 4761 - State: Massachusetts - Session: 194th General Court (2025-2026) - Title: An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-11-17 - Last action: 2025-11-25, Signed by the Governor, Chapter 73 of the Acts of 2025 - Sponsor: FY25 Supplemental Appropriations - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: House Steering, Policy and Scheduling - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (294 yes, 17 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 64 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Tax breaks for South Weymouth projects: benefit, high. The redevelopment area and the three towns are treated as priority economic areas. The authority can seek enterprise zone status. Qualifying projects can get state tax credits, deductions, abatements, and other incentives if they meet the usual rules. - Hundreds of millions for behavioral health care: benefit, high. The state authorizes big annual spending from the behavioral health fund. Up to $160 million goes to expand residential treatment. Up to $135 million pays for medications for substance use disorder. Up to $35 million supports peer recovery and workforce development. Up to $85 million supports care… - More money for MassHealth and clinics: benefit, high. The law provides $2.046 billion for MassHealth fee‑for‑service payments in FY2025, available through FY2026. It adds $18.5 million for public health hospitals through FY2026. It directs $5 million to help reproductive health providers keep services when federal funds drop, through FY2026. It also u… - Tax-free bonds for redevelopment authority: benefit, high. The authority’s property and activities are tax‑exempt. Its bonds, and the income from them, are free from state and local taxes as federal law allows. Bonds remain under municipal‑style reporting and oversight. This can raise after‑tax returns for investors and lower borrowing costs for projects. - Town services guaranteed in South Weymouth: benefit, medium. If you live in the South Weymouth redevelopment area, your town must provide police, fire, schools, and other services like elsewhere in town. Each school‑age child living there counts toward state school aid for that town. The authority or master developer can turn over finished streets to the tow… - Updated vaccine rules; teens covered to 19: benefit, medium. The state commissioner, advised by a new expert committee, now sets routine vaccine choices and funding needs. The commissioner may set standards even when past law pointed to CDC advisors. Routine childhood immunizations cover kids until their 19th birthday. Recommendations must weigh provider cho… - Renter protections during federal shutdowns: benefit, medium. If a non‑essential eviction starts during a federal shutdown and you are an impacted federal worker with proof of major income loss, your court deadlines are paused. These protections last during the shutdown and 30 days after; the Governor may extend up to 75 days. Landlords may use last‑month’s r… - Boston hires can buy EDIC service credit: benefit, medium. If you joined the City of Boston on or after June 29, 2024 with no break in service and used to work for EDIC, you can buy that time as creditable service. You must pay the missed deductions plus interest before retirement. You may request a cost estimate up front. - More aid for students and colleges: benefit, medium. The state moves $100 million in FY2025 into the Student Opportunity Act Investment Fund. It sets a $18.3 million reserve to restore FY2026 financial aid to at least FY2025 and keep MassGrant and Pell allowances at least at FY2025 levels. Eligible community college students with income at or below 1… - Stronger pensions after violent attacks: benefit, medium. The law defines a violent act injury as a catastrophic or life‑threatening permanent injury from a violent attack with a dangerous weapon. If a public employee cannot perform their job because of such an injury, a limiting retirement rule no longer applies. This can help injured workers qualify for… - Tax penalty waiver for hardship cases: benefit, medium. No underpayment penalty applies if paying it would cause undue financial hardship, as the Commissioner of Revenue decides. This covers tax due on or after April 1, 2021 under section 16B. The Commissioner must publish guidance on what counts as undue hardship within 30 days of this law taking effec… - Funds for science, access, and communities: benefit, medium. The state sends $10 million to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. It adds $12.5 million to the Communications Access Trust Fund. Cities and towns receive $1.25 million owed from marijuana taxes. The law creates a Woodlands Partnership fund and adds small earmarks: $87,373 for biodiversity work… - More time to meet state deadlines: benefit, medium. Many program dates move from 2025 to 2026 or 2027. Some funds stay available through June 30, 2026, and others through June 30, 2027. Several deadlines shift: October 15 changes to December 31; January changes to September; and section 206(c) now takes effect June 1, 2026. For FY2027, a prior secti… - Historic health records open, longer retention: benefit, medium. Close relatives and academic researchers can get certain facility patient records more than 50 years after a patient’s death. Records from state institutions become public after 75 years, subject to federal privacy laws. Hospitals cannot destroy covered records until new notice rules are issued. Fa… - More money for roads and water: benefit, medium. The state provides $60,727,344 for snow and ice removal to keep roads clear. It provides $6,779,246 for Clean Water Trust contract help. Many funds and line items stay available to spend through June 30, 2026. This supports safe travel and reliable water services. - Higher hospital funding floor set: benefit, medium. The law raises a key hospital financing figure from $1,484,050,000 to $1,534,050,000. That is a $50 million increase. This supports safety‑net and other hospital payments tied to that amount. - More funding for hospitals and treatment: benefit, medium. The state adds $50 million to the Health Safety Net in each of FY2026 and FY2027 to cut shortfalls. It creates a Western Massachusetts Hospital Fund so the public health commissioner can keep that hospital running. It also sets aside $14 million to expand and upgrade facilities that treat men with… - More state money to preserve housing: benefit, medium. The state transfers $50 million to the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund. The money is available through fiscal year 2026. It supports programs that preserve and stabilize housing, not direct payments to you. - Grants for sports events, $10M for World Cup: benefit, medium. The state creates a Sports and Entertainment Events Fund. It offers competitive matching grants for events, marketing, and related projects, with at least a 1:1 match. At least $10 million supports 2026 World Cup needs like transport, safety, accessibility, and volunteers. One grantee cannot receiv… - State budget moves and carryforwards: benefit, medium. The state moves the FY2025 surplus into a Transitional Escrow Fund. It transfers $5,995,058 to the Federal Grants Fund and records expected federal payments as FY2025 receivables by November 30, 2025. Unspent FY2025 funds and retained revenues stay available in FY2026. The House of Representatives… - Southfield bonds and investor protections: benefit, medium. The authority can issue up to $175 million in bonds and notes, with final maturities up to 35 years. It can issue grant‑anticipation and interim notes with maturities up to 20 years, use refunding bonds, and add credit facilities or interest‑rate swaps. Bonds are lawful investments and are non‑reco… - Extra capital gains split across funds: benefit, medium. For FY2025, extra capital gains tax above the threshold first covers any budget deficits. Any remainder is split: 90% to the Transitional Escrow Fund, 5% to the pension fund, and 5% to the retiree benefits trust. These are transfers between state accounts to support stability and long‑term obligati… - More help with indigent court costs: benefit, low. The state provides $2.5 million for fees and court costs for people who cannot pay in FY2025. The money is available through FY2026. If you qualify as indigent, this helps cover court fees tied to your case. - SNAP systems upgrade to cut errors: benefit, low. The state gives $10 million to improve the SNAP agency’s computers and operations. The goal is to prepare for program changes and reduce payment errors. The agency must report strategies by March 15, 2026, and funds last through June 30, 2027. - More money for school meals: benefit, low. The state adds $12 million for school meals in FY2025. The money stays available through FY2026. This helps schools keep meal service running for students. - New pay and injury protections for officers: benefit, low. Listed union contracts are recognized, so agreed salary and other economic benefits take effect for the contract periods. Group 3 state police officers who are permanently disabled by a violent act injury at work, without contributory negligence, qualify for Section 7 benefits with a rating board a… - Pooled retirement plan for care attendants: benefit, low. The council can contract for a pooled employer plan for consumers and their personal care attendants. This can expand retirement plan access for these workers. The council may take steps needed to set up the plan. - One-stop permits for South Weymouth business: benefit, low. State offices must assign senior staff to help the towns set up one‑stop licensing. Agencies must offer a coordinated permit program for projects in the area. The authority alone approves project‑related changes to the parkway layout. This can cut delays and lower red tape for developers and local… - Small funding boosts to state programs: benefit, low. The law raises several line‑item amounts: $55,000,000 (up from $49,000,000), $3,000,000 (up from $2,000,000), $6,756,039 (up from $6,256,039), $2,634,848 (up from $2,547,475), and $25,849,500 (up from $25,826,000). These are targeted increases to the specific state programs named in those items. - Added protections for federal officers: benefit, low. The law adds federal officers and employees to a protected group under state law. It strengthens legal protections against assault or interference with those people while they act under U.S. authority. - Cities get 2025 funding floor increase: benefit, low. Cities and towns that got money under item 1233‑2401 in FY2024 and stay eligible get at least the same amount in FY2025. The law also raises item 1233‑2401 from $750,000 to $1,185,432, an increase of $435,432. - MBTA local assessment study due 2026: benefit, low. The MBTA must study how cities and towns are billed for MBTA service. It will review the formula, yearly increases, and budget impacts, compare peers, and suggest changes. Findings are due by December 31, 2026. - More time to use senior funds: benefit, low. Council on Aging funds in item 9110‑9002 stay available until June 30, 2026. Local councils and providers have more time to use the money for senior services. - Vaccine outreach and provider protections: benefit, low. The state funds $10 million through June 30, 2027 for enrollment help and vaccine outreach, with at least $10 million going to Health Care For All, Inc. Licensed providers who give vaccines required by law, under public health guidance, or state programs are immune from liability, unless they act w… - Framingham gets two state parcels: benefit, low. The state may convey 600 and 602 Concord Street to the City of Framingham for a nominal price. This happens only after the new regional justice center at 121 Union Avenue is complete and the parcels are declared surplus. The deed has no warranties, may include conditions, and the city pays all tran… - Southfield Authority board and oversight rules: benefit, low. A nine‑member board now runs the authority, with seats picked by the three towns, labor, local nominees, and the chamber. The authority must keep accurate books, issue annual reports, and get a CPA audit filed within 180 days; audits are public records. It is treated as a state authority and as a p… - Eminent domain power in Southfield area: cost, high. The authority can take private property inside the redevelopment area using eminent domain under state law. Owners are subject to the legal taking process and compensation rules in those statutes. - No commercial fishing without a permit: cost, medium. It is illegal to fish for commercial sale in coastal waters, or land raw fish to sell, without a commercial fisherman permit. Unpermitted operators face penalties and loss of income. Get the proper permit before selling fish. - Stronger fishing rules and penalties: cost, medium. Massachusetts increases fishing penalties. Recreational fishers pay $10 per fish or $5 per pound for striped bass when fish are seized. Commercial fishers forfeit the market value of the seized catch, up to $10,000 per seizure. The chapter now applies to rules and regulations made under it. Refusin… - State 40B rules don’t apply in Southfield: cost, medium. Affordable housing in the NAS South Weymouth redevelopment area is not governed by Chapter 40B. Housing there does not count toward the towns’ 40B totals, and local zoning rules apply. - State bonds capped at 30 years: cost, medium. Bonds issued under the cited authority must have terms of 30 years or less. All such bonds must be payable no later than June 30, 2065. This limits very long‑dated maturities for these bonds. - Authority staff now at-will employees: cost, low. Employees of the Southfield Redevelopment Authority are at‑will and not covered by state civil service rules. Conflict‑of‑interest rules still apply. This reduces civil service job protections for those workers. - Fingerprint checks for nurse licenses: cost, low. RN and LPN license applicants must submit state and national fingerprint‑based background checks. Applicants must pay a fee set by the state. Results are used only to decide licensure eligibility. - One-year probation for new enviro police: cost, low. New permanent environmental police officers must serve a full‑time 12‑month probation before gaining tenure. The administrator and commission can set evaluation steps during this period. - Higher fines and jail for offenses: cost, low. Maximum penalties under the law rise to a $1,000 fine and up to 2.5 years in jail. Courts can impose these higher limits upon conviction. - New taxes and 40-year assessments in Southfield: mixed, high. If your property is in the NAS South Weymouth area, the authority can bill special taxes, fees, and betterments, with payment plans up to 40 years. It can set how assessments are split (by frontage, unit, value, or square feet), cap a parcel’s total, allow prepayment, and raise charges for delinque… - Big changes to hospital and Medicaid funding: mixed, high. The law resets how hospitals and managed care plans are charged and paid. Hospitals now pay assessments using 2023 charges with set inpatient and outpatient rates by hospital type. The state makes the managed‑care assessment broad‑based and uniform, and defines how to split revenue between Medicaid… - Towns can spread health deficits five years: mixed, medium. A city, town, or district that was in the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust can spread an unexpected health‑insurance deficit from FY2026 or FY2027 over five years. It must withdraw from the trust and certify that by June 30, 2027. The local body must adopt the payment plan before setting the… - Faster permits and 10% affordable homes: mixed, medium. The authority now controls land use and zoning inside the redevelopment area for new projects. It can set faster permitting timelines. At least 10% of homes must be affordable or workforce units, counting qualifying units already built. In a new development deal, the master developer must help plan… - Redevelopment may levy charges with less oversight: mixed, medium. The authority can borrow and pledge revenues to pay for redevelopment. Parcels in the area can face betterments, assessments, or fees tied to that repayment. These charges are not reviewed by most state agencies, though the taxation plan still needs approval from top tax officials. - Rent and eviction relief in shutdowns: mixed, medium. During a federal shutdown, non‑essential evictions are paused if the tenant’s lease began before the shutdown and the tenant shows they are an impacted federal worker with major financial harm. Courts will not enter a possession judgment or default without finding the tenant is not impacted and mus… - Union labor allowed; board pay capped: mixed, medium. The authority can use project labor agreements on its construction. This can raise standards and pay for covered workers and change bidding for contractors. Pay for each board director is capped at the higher of $6,250 a year or 80% of the combined average annual salary of Weymouth town councilors. - Public safety funding and sheriff oversight: mixed, medium. The law adds funding for state police ($3.5 million), prisons ($7.18 million), the Suffolk DA ($700,000), the DA network ($90,663), and the Judicial Conduct Commission ($100,000). Sheriffs cannot get extra funds beyond this act, and the Inspector General will investigate sheriffs’ offices with repo… - Health financing needs federal sign‑off: mixed, medium. If federal matching money or hospital assessments fall short, required payments are reduced in the same proportion. The health secretary must get needed federal approvals, report each year starting February 15, 2026 on assessments and trust fund flows, and notify lawmakers of changes. Some sections… - New Southfield redevelopment authority and powers: mixed, medium. The law creates the Southfield Redevelopment Authority to manage and develop former NAS South Weymouth land in Abington, Rockland, and Weymouth. An 11‑vote advisory board from the towns, regional councils, and the Governor advises budgets and plans. The authority alone negotiates with the U.S. for… - Southfield redevelopment rules and local control: mixed, medium. Old redevelopment agreements at Southfield are canceled unless the authority or the master developer agrees in writing to keep them. Towns can issue alcohol licenses inside the area: Weymouth up to 13, Abington up to 2, Rockland up to 13. After December 31, 2045, new bonds or refinancings need two‑… - State may defer Southfield MOA payments: mixed, medium. The authority must repay the state for any deficiency payment under the Parkway financing deal. The secretary may allow deferral or other treatment if it is fiscally responsible and in the public interest. Any new state financing follows the capital plan and debt limit. - Name change records kept private: mixed, low. Courts must ask probation for a report before granting a name change. You must file a birth record or an allowed substitute unless the judge finds it cannot be obtained. Name-change petitions and related records are kept separate and are not public unless the court orders it or you ask to share the… - Clearer Southfield property tax timing rules: mixed, low. The board must share the next year’s Southfield rate with towns by June 1 and give at least 45 days’ notice. Towns must send Southfield revenue to the authority within 30 days after each fiscal quarter. After the authority ends, each town taxes these properties the same as the rest of town. These a… - Suffolk simulcast license extended to 2027: mixed, low. A Suffolk County running horse race operator that ran in 2025 keeps its simulcast license until December 15, 2027. All days in 2025 through 2027 are dark days unless a supplemental live racing license is granted. Greyhound simulcast wagering remains banned. All simulcasts must meet federal rules, w… - Several outdated sections are repealed: mixed, low. The law repeals Section 23 of chapter 26 of the acts of 2023, subsection (a) of section 222, Section 176 of this act, and sections 1 to 5 of chapter 113. The rules in those sections no longer apply. The exact impact depends on what those removed sections did. - Technical effective dates are set: mixed, low. Two timing rules are set. Section 19 of chapter 15D is effective July 1, 2023. The repeal in section 196 takes effect March 1, 2026. - Set split for child care item: mixed, low. Item 3000‑4060 is divided 83.94% to the General Fund and 16.06% to the Early Education and Care Affordability Fund. To find dollars, multiply the item’s total by 0.8394 and 0.1606. This sets how the appropriation is split between core operations and affordability support. - FY25 funds shift and youth grant change: mixed, low. For FY2025, net revenue from abandoned property stays in the state’s General Fund. The law also changes a named grant under item 4200-0100 to New North Citizens Council, Inc. Youth Services. These are budget choices that may affect future spending plans. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: FY25 Supplemental Appropriations ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-11-19 | House | Enacted | pass | 149 | 9 | | | 2025-11-18 | House | Committee of conference report accepted | pass | 145 | 8 | | ## Actions (12) - 2025-11-25: Signed by the Governor, Chapter 73 of the Acts of 2025 - 2025-11-19: Laid before the Governor (Senate) - 2025-11-19: Enacted -see Roll Call #107 (Yeas 38 to Nays 0) (Senate) - 2025-11-19: Enacted - 149 YEAS to 9 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 113) (House) - 2025-11-19: Emergency preamble adopted (Senate) - 2025-11-19: Emergency preamble adopted (House) - 2025-11-19: Committee of conference report accepted, in concurrence (Senate) - 2025-11-18: Committee of conference report accepted - 145 YEAS to 8 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 110) (House) - 2025-11-17: Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting, the question being on acceptance (House) - 2025-11-17: Referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling (House) - 2025-11-17: Reported on a part of H4615 (House) - 2025-11-17: Reported from the committee of conference (House) ## Bill text - Chapter 73 of the Acts of 2025, 2025-11-25: [PDF](https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4761.pdf) ## Related bills - H 4585: An Act authorizing the town of Auburn to offer expanded senior property tax abatements (signed) - H 5435: An Act authorizing the town of Topsfield to continue to employment of police chief Neal Hovey (passed senate) - 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 o… (passed house) - H 4755: An Act amending the means tested senior citizen property tax exemption in the town of Sudbury (signed) - H 3909: An Act authorizing the Provincetown year-round market rate rental housing trust to acquire year-round housing occupancy restrictions (signed) - H 5429: An Act providing injured on duty compensation to Chelmsford firefighter Nicholas Spinale (second reading) ## Sources - [Chapter 73 of the Acts of 2025 (PDF)](https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4761.pdf) ## Related - [H 4585: An Act authorizing the town of Auburn to offer expanded senior property tax aba…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H4585-194) - [H 5435: An Act authorizing the town of Topsfield to continue to employment of police ch…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H5435-194) - [H 5515: An Act to increase the value of estates eligible for abatements pursuant to M.G…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H5515-194) - [H 4755: An Act amending the means tested senior citizen property tax exemption in the t…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H4755-194) - [H 3909: An Act authorizing the Provincetown year-round market rate rental housing trust…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H3909-194) - [H 5429: An Act providing injured on duty compensation to Chelmsford firefighter Nichola…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H5429-194) - [Massachusetts bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/massachusetts/bills) - [Massachusetts state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/massachusetts) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MA-H4761-194 (as of 2026-11-01).