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

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

29 provisions identified: 23 benefits, 2 costs, 4 mixed.

Higher pay for court-appointed lawyers

The law sets new hourly pay for appointed private counsel. Pay is $140 per hour for homicide cases. It is $105 per hour for superior court non‑homicide cases and for children and family law and care and protection cases. It is $85 per hour for district court, CHINS, sex offender registry, and mental health cases. Rates are subject to appropriation and must be publicly reviewed at least every three years.

Tougher penalties for commercial drivers

State fines for commercial vehicle violations now follow a federal penalty list. Anyone who used a commercial vehicle to commit certain felonies, including drug distribution or human trafficking, is permanently barred from operating a commercial motor vehicle.

Easier access to key health care

MassHealth must cover speech, occupational, and physical therapy for members with Down syndrome. It must also cover applied behavior analysis for members under age 21 with Down syndrome. Pharmacists can now prescribe and give certain birth control pills and patches without a prior prescription. Pharmacists can also provide medicines for HIV and some STIs. These changes make it easier to get covered care and needed medicines.

More home care and hospital support

The state provides $60 million for home care services and $1.2 million to support Western Massachusetts Hospital. Funds are available through FY2026. This helps seniors and adults who need in‑home support and keeps regional hospital services running.

More SNAP help and safer EBT

The law funds $7.5 million for the Healthy Incentives Program and $400,000 for WIC rebates, available through FY2026. It provides $15.5 million to switch to chipped EBT cards and repay SNAP clients whose benefits were stolen by skimming or cloning through June 30, 2027. It also updates the law to specifically target electronic theft of SNAP benefits.

New integrated care for dual eligibles

The state can run an integrated plan for adults 21 to 64 who have both Medicare and MassHealth. It can contract with plans, certify solvency, and must provide independent care coordinators. The state can also pay county jails and other state facilities directly for covered Medicaid, CHIP, and similar claims. The program needs funding and federal approvals to operate.

State-run pharmacy improves access

The health department can operate a pharmacy to supply certain controlled medicines for reproductive care, gender‑affirming care, or public‑health needs. It does not need a standard state pharmacy license when doing this, but must follow other laws and registrations. This can make needed medicines easier to get.

More housing help for renters and seniors

The state puts $42.9 million into RAFT to help families get or keep housing. This money is available through June 30, 2026. It also moves $1 million into the Fair Housing Fund. The law gives $2 million to build Brooke House in Mattapan, with at least 127 senior units reserved for incomes at or below 60% of area median income. Brooke House must include space for childcare and a community health center.

State worker pay deals take effect

The state makes salary and economic terms in listed union contracts effective. Most agreements run from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027. One agreement runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028.

Stronger supports for English learners

Schools must design English learner programs to build English and grade‑level skills. Staff may not tell parents to decline EL services. Special education tests for EL students must use the student’s main language and include experts in second‑language learning. Schools may not discriminate based on immigration or citizenship status or disability. DESE and the Board must update rules to match these changes.

Major expansion of public defenders

The state sets aside $40 million through June 30, 2027 to hire more public defenders. The committee should aim to add about 160 lawyers by the end of FY2026 and 160 more by the end of FY2027. It must file a hiring plan by September 1, 2025 and a progress report by July 15, 2026. Contracts for appointed private lawyers must set minimum coverage rules and renew every two years.

Stronger gun rules on school grounds

It is illegal to carry a gun on school or college property unless you are a qualified officer. Violators can be fined up to $1,000 or jailed up to two years. The law also restates exemptions for certified officers, qualified retired officers, and some security guards, and allows certain transfers by agencies and licensed manufacturers.

Grants to cover local EMS costs

The state provides $10 million to reimburse cities and towns for extraordinary EMS costs. At least $5 million must go to named fire departments and Devens. The health department sets the rules and may consider call volume, longer travel distances after hospital closures, and overtime. A report is due by December 13, 2025. Funds are available until June 30, 2027.

Insurers can invest in ETFs

Insurers are allowed to hold shares of exchange‑traded funds as permitted investments. This gives insurance companies more options to manage their portfolios.

Small-business financing moves to new agency

The Development Finance Agency becomes the legal successor to the Growth Capital Corporation. Any unspent Growth Capital money moves to the agency to keep programs running. The agency can now borrow by issuing tax‑exempt or taxable debt and can pledge its own revenues, or others’ revenues, mortgages, or notes, to secure that debt.

New seniority rules for police, fire

For municipal police and fire hires from a local register, your seniority date is your register appointment date. It will not be adjusted to count prior jobs elsewhere. MBTA police are added to the register rules. A three‑year rule now runs from your appointment and doing the job, not the certification date.

Donations now support veterans homes

State veterans’ home trustees can receive donations for residents. The State Treasurer holds and invests these funds. Trustees must spend donations for the direct benefit of veterans living in the homes and must act as prudent fiduciaries.

Extra cash aid and SSI boost

The state provides $1 million for Emergency Aid to Elderly, Disabled and Children and $3 million for the state SSI supplement. Funds are available through FY2026. These payments help eligible seniors, people with disabilities, and families meet urgent needs.

More money for veterans’ benefits

The state provides $5.8 million for veterans’ benefits for FY2025. Funds are available through FY2026. This supports aid programs for veteran households.

Better school language and special ed access

Schools must use qualified interpreters and translators for parents who do not speak English well. Standards must cover bilingual skills, school terms, training, ethics, and confidentiality. The Department keeps enforcing federal special education protections as they existed on January 1, 2025, by setting state regulations.

Funding for State Police and safety

The state funds public safety operations: $7.75 million in State Police private‑detail retained revenue, $4.19 million for the State Police crime lab, and $593,539 for the Military Division. Funds are available through FY2026. These investments support policing, forensics, and emergency readiness.

New recovery fund for Inspector General

The law creates a Recovery Fund for the Inspector General. Civil recoveries, settlements, recouped costs, and interest go into the fund. The office can spend the money for investigations and operations without more appropriations. The Inspector General must report balances and spending by January 1 each year.

Senate fund for State House upgrades

A new Senate fund pays for restoring and upgrading Senate rooms in the State House. The Senate’s chief financial officer runs the fund. Money in the fund does not revert and can be spent without new appropriations. Spending appears in the Senate’s annual fiscal audit.

Deadlines and fund dates extended

The act pushes back several reporting and fund‑availability dates, with some money now usable through FY2026. It also sets start dates of August 1, 2025 for section 49 and August 1, 2026 for section 50. These are timing changes, not new benefits.

Oversight funds and reimbursement rules

The law removes a $3 million yearly cap on certain commission‑approved reimbursements. It also moves all money in the Inspector General expendable trust into the Inspector General Recovery Fund within 90 days.

Physician license surcharge funds peer help

Doctors pay at least a $50 surcharge when getting or renewing a full medical license. The money goes to a Medical Peer Support Trust Fund. The fund pays for the physician health program and is outside the normal state budget.

Minor updates to state tax rules

The law changes a number from 14 to 30 in one tax section and from sixteen to 8 in another. These edits adjust timelines or thresholds in those sections. Depending on context, they could raise or lower amounts people owe. The text here does not state the exact downstream effect.

Emergency agency vehicles covered by law

Vehicles operated by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency are now covered by section 7I. This clarifies how MEMA vehicles are treated during operations.

Money to pay legal settlements

The state appropriates $28.92 million to pay legal settlements and judgments for FY2025. Funds are available through FY2026. This pays eligible claimants but is a state cost.

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