MassachusettsS 2575194th General Court (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects

Sponsored By: Supplemental Appropriations Bill

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.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

23 provisions identified: 20 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

More public defenders and higher pay rates

The law sets aside $40,000,000 to hire more public defenders. The plan aims to add about 160 attorneys by the end of FY2026 and 160 more by FY2027. A hiring plan is due by September 1, 2025, and a report by July 15, 2026. Appointed private counsel now earn $140/hour for homicide, $105/hour for superior court non‑homicide, $85/hour for district court and certain cases, and $105/hour for children and family law cases. The committee must set minimum coverage and availability standards in all private counsel contracts, and renew those contracts every two years.

Integrated care for people with Medicare and MassHealth

The state can set up integrated, capitated plans for people age 21 to 64 who have both Medicare and MassHealth. Each enrolled person gets an independent community care coordinator to help plan and arrange long‑term supports. Managed care plans cannot own or control the independent coordinators. The Secretary can certify financially sound local plans to CMS and can charge a reasonable certification fee. The Executive Office may pay state agencies like correctional facilities directly for covered Medicaid, CHIP, and similar health claims.

MassHealth covers Down syndrome therapies

MassHealth and contracted plans must cover medically necessary treatment for Down syndrome. This includes speech, occupational, and physical therapy. For people under 21, applied behavior analysis is covered. This lowers out‑of‑pocket costs for families.

More home care help for seniors

The state adds $60,000,000 for home care services in fiscal year 2025. The money is available through June 30, 2026. This funding helps seniors and people with disabilities get care at home and supports the providers who deliver it.

Stronger SNAP and WIC support and security

The state funds $15,500,000 to switch to chipped EBT cards. Leftover money must reimburse SNAP clients hit by skimming or cloning. The law adds $7,500,000 for the Healthy Incentives Program and $400,000 for WIC manufacturer rebates. It also expands what is illegal with SNAP benefits to fight electronic theft and misuse. Most funds are available through June 30, 2026; the EBT funds last through June 30, 2027.

More funds for housing help

The law adds $42,910,506 for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) for fiscal year 2025. The money is available through June 30, 2026. It also provides $2,000,000 for Brooke House in Mattapan to create at least 127 senior apartments for incomes at or below 60% of area median income. The project must include space for the Shattuck Child Care Center and a community health center. Another $1,000,000 goes to the state’s Fair Housing Fund to support fair housing work.

Tougher rules for commercial drivers

Drivers who use a commercial vehicle to commit certain felonies now face a lifetime commercial driving ban. State fines for listed commercial motor vehicle violations follow federal penalty tables in Appendix B to 49 C.F.R. 386. The law updates federal citations in chapter 90F. It also explicitly includes state emergency‑management (MEMA) vehicles under the covered traffic rules.

Money to pay state settlements and judgments

The government provides $28,917,460 to pay state settlements and judgments in fiscal year 2025. Payments are available through June 30, 2026. People and entities owed by the state can be paid from this fund.

Birth control from your pharmacist

Pharmacists can now prescribe and give hormonal birth control patches and pills to anyone, even without a prior prescription. Pharmacists can also prescribe, dispense, and give certain HIV and sexually transmitted infection medicines. This expands access and can save a doctor visit for many people.

More funding for veterans’ benefits

The law provides $5,800,000 more for veterans’ benefits in fiscal year 2025. The money is available through June 30, 2026. This boosts state support for veterans who receive benefits and services.

State pharmacy helps with key medicines

The health department may run a pharmacy to distribute certain controlled medicines. It can supply drugs tied to reproductive care, gender‑affirming care, or to address a public health risk. When doing this, the department pharmacy does not need the usual state pharmacy license.

Better support for English learners and students with disabilities

Schools must evaluate English learners for special education in the student’s primary language or other proper form. IEP teams must include someone trained to tell language needs from disability. English learner programs must build English skills while teaching grade‑level content. Districts cannot recommend parents decline English‑learner services. The law adds protections against discrimination based on immigration/citizenship status and disability, and keeps federal special‑education protections in effect as of January 1, 2025.

Stronger school gun ban, clear officer rules

People who are not qualified officers cannot carry guns on school grounds without written OK. Violators face up to a $1,000 fine, up to 2 years in jail, or both. Certified officers can arrest and detain violators. The law also clarifies exemptions for qualified officers and retired officers, and for on‑duty security guards in some prohibited areas. Federally licensed manufacturers are exempt for out‑of‑state sales or exports, and local governments may still set stricter rules.

Small business finance agency merger

The Massachusetts Development Finance Agency now succeeds the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation. MGCC’s programs, powers, assets, and liabilities move to MDFA. Small business finance support continues under one agency, though processes and access may change as MDFA runs these programs.

Donations support veterans' homes

Trustees of state-operated veterans’ homes can accept donations. The State Treasurer must receive, deposit, and invest all donated funds. Trustees can spend donations for the direct benefit of resident veterans. They must act with the care of a prudent fiduciary.

Extra cash aid for SSI and families

The state adds $3,000,000 to the state SSI supplement for fiscal year 2025. It also adds $1,000,000 for Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children. Funds are available through June 30, 2026. This supports low‑income seniors, people with disabilities, and families who need urgent help.

Support for a Western Mass hospital

The law adds $1,200,000 to support Western Massachusetts Hospital retained revenue in fiscal year 2025. Funds are available through June 30, 2026. This helps sustain hospital services in that region.

Administrative updates to deadlines and reimbursements

A statutory deadline moves from March 15 to June 1. The law removes a rule that blocked reimbursement approvals over $3,000,000 per year. It changes a local board’s appointment makeup so each named lawmaker appoints three members. It also extends a date in a 2021 act from 2025 to 2026.

Funding for state police and military operations

The law adds $7,750,000 to the State Police Private Detail Retained Revenue account. It adds $4,193,083 to the State Police Crime Lab. It provides $593,539 to the Massachusetts Military Division. Funds are available through June 30, 2026.

Senate fund for State House art

The law creates a Senate Artistic Upgrade and Representation Fund to restore and improve State House spaces used by Senate members and staff. The Senate chief financial officer runs the fund. It can receive appropriations and certain transfers. Unspent money stays in the fund for future years and is reported in the annual audit.

Grants for local EMS costs

The law provides $10,000,000 in grants to help cities and towns pay extraordinary emergency medical service costs. At least $5,000,000 goes to the fire departments in Ashby, Ayer, Boxborough, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, Westford, Leominster, and Devens. Grant rules must consider call volume, longer trips after the Nashoba Valley Medical Center closure, and overtime costs. A report is due by December 13, 2025. Funds are available through June 30, 2027.

ETF shares recognized in statute

The law adds exchange-traded fund (ETF) shares to the instruments listed in section 63 of chapter 175. ETF shares are now treated like the other listed instruments under that law.

Doctor license surcharge funds peer support

Doctors pay a surcharge of at least $50 each time they renew or get a new full license. The money goes into the Medical Peer Support Trust Fund for the physician health program. This fund is not part of the regular budget process.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Supplemental Appropriations Bill
Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 150 • No: 6

House vote • 7/31/2025

Committee of conference report accepted, in concurrence