Senate Injects $1.33 Billion into Statewide Education, Transportation Projects

Senate Injects $1.33 Billion into Statewide Education, Transportation Projects

‘Fair Share' dollars would be sent to shovel-ready projects around Massachusetts

 

(BOSTON—5/8/2025) The Massachusetts Senate today passed a $1.33 billion plan to invest in public education and transportation across the Commonwealth. The Senate’s bill directs funding to expand career and technical education opportunities, bolster construction projects at local schools and college campuses, and support public transit, road and bridge funding for city and town governments.

 

The bill, S.2512, prioritizes regional equity by providing support statewide for K-12 school district special education programs, rural roads and bridges, capital improvements for public bus transportation, and infrastructure upgrades at Massachusetts’ public colleges and universities.

 

The overwhelming success of the Fair Share amendment to the Constitution—voted for by residents in 2022—generated more than $1 billion over initial projections in fiscal years 2023 and 2024. This legislation contains restricted one-time investments in public education and transportation initiatives and primarily uses funds from that surtax, which is paid by households in Massachusetts earning more than $1 million per year. The Senate will debate its annual general budget later in the month.

 

“This bill answers the clear message that our residents sent us in 2022—to invest these dollars across the state to continue building the high-quality education and transportation systems Massachusetts deserves," saidSenate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “At a time of economic uncertainty, we are committed to supporting our schools and making sure that residents can travel safely, and these Fair Share funds allow us to do that. I am deeply grateful for the hard work of Chair Rodrigues and the Senate Ways & Means Committee for putting this bill together, and to each Senator for contributing their ideas and support.”

 

“I’m pleased the Senate has passed this Fair Share supplemental budget, prioritizing regional equity while also maintaining fiscal integrity during these highly uncertain times,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, (D-Westport) Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “By utilizing almost $1.3 billion in one-time surplus surtax revenues, the proposal strengthens the Commonwealth’s economic foundation by making meaningful investments in education and transportation. This budget plan reaffirms the Senate’s strong commitment to educational excellence, provides significant resources for special education, and makes substantial investments in our transportation infrastructure. It goes above and beyond to give everyone a ‘fair share’.”

 

“Amid waves of uncertainty at the national level and devastating federal cuts, the Massachusetts Senate answered the call of residents to use surplus Fair Share Amendment funds to invest equitably in education and transportation across the Commonwealth,” said Senate Ways and Means Vice Chair Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “The Senate bill passed today will provide transportation solutions for small, rural towns, will begin addressing the debilitating backlog of deferred maintenance on public higher education campuses, will provide meaningful help to school budgets pushed to the breaking point, and more. Thank you to Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues for leading the Senate to live our shared commitment to regional equity.”

“The quality of our nation-leading public education system and public transportation infrastructure often define who we are as a Commonwealth,” said Senator Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough), Assistant Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “I am proud that this supplemental budget represents a balanced, smart, forward thinking and common-sense approach that directly infuses funds into these consequential sectors to help address residents' most pressing needs amidst economic uncertainty and pinching budgets. I am grateful to Chairman Rodrigues and Vice-Chair Comerford for their thoughtfulness and collaborative approach in crafting this bill, and to Senate President Spilka for her continued leadership on our Commonwealth's priorities and shared values.”

“Our transportation system impacts nearly every part of our lives, from housing costs to economic mobility to climate change,” said Senator Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), Senate Chair of the Transportation Committee. “This legislation secures funding to support infrastructure upgrades to the MBTA, capital investments in our regional transit, and improvements to our local bridges, roads, and culverts. Through these various initiatives, residents of the Commonwealth will experience safer, more reliable and more efficient travel.”

 

“These Fair Share dollars will provide critical support to municipalities struggling with growing education expenses by increasing state reimbursements for rising special education costs, providing additional financial relief for local school building projects, and investing in literacy and English-Language Learning programs,” said Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “I am proud to have been the lead Senate sponsor of the Fair Share Amendment. With this revenue from the state’s highest earners, we can continue to invest in the high-quality schools and innovative transportation projects that help make Massachusetts a top-ranking state to live in and raise a family.”

 

Education

Education investments in the supplemental budget include funding for:

 

• Special Education Costs. $248 million, including circuit breaker reimbursements to local school districts.
• Public Higher Education Deferred Maintenance. $190 million for higher education overall, including $10 million for lab resources for community colleges following the success of MassEducate.
• Career Technical Education Capital Grants. $100 million to expand capacity and accommodate additional career technical education opportunities.
• Local School Construction Relief. $50 million to support cities, towns and school districts experiencing extraordinary school construction increases due to inflation or the impacts of tariffs.
• Literacy Growth. $25 million to support accelerated literacy growth for students in kindergarten through grade 3.
• English Language Learning Programs. $10 million for educational grants to reduce the waitlist for services for speakers of languages other than English to learn English and subsequently help fill in-demand jobs.

Transportation

Transportation investments in the supplemental budget include funding for:

 

• MBTA Improvements and Infrastructure Upgrades. $370 million for improvements and infrastructure upgrades across the MBTA system, comprising:
• $200 million to replenish the MBTA budget reserve after the MBTA’s recent use of reserve funds for operations support.
• $100 million in workforce and safety training to implement Federal Transit Administration improvement recommendations.
• $50 million for commuter rail system maintenance and infrastructure upgrades.
• $20 million for the MBTA’s low-income fare relief program.
• Local Road Improvements. $190 million for shovel-ready transportation improvements to roads, bridges, and culverts.
• Regional Equity in Transportation. $105 million for regional transit initiatives composed of:
• $50 million for capital improvements to equipment and facilities at Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) that serve and connect all regions of the Commonwealth.
• $25 million for RTA workforce recruitment and retention improvement efforts.
• $20 million for ferry infrastructure improvements.
• $10 million for on-demand micro-transit shuttles and Last Mile grants to foster an innovative multimodal transit system.
• World Cup Preparations. $5 million for transportation improvements associated with the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

Amendments

During debate on the Senate floor, members from around the state contributed to the initial proposal with amendments reflecting their priorities and district needs. Notable amendments adopted during the debate include:

 

• Amendment 128 from Senator Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn). Sets aside funds for assistive reading technologies so local school districts can purchase resources such as audio books and voice-text format books to bolster struggling readers in Massachusetts, including children with vision impairments, learning disabilities, or physical disabilities.
• Amendment 213 from Senator Nick Collins (D-South Boston). Supports nurses by allocating funds toward expansion of the facilities at UMass Boston’s Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the ninth largest nursing school in the country that offers several undergraduate and graduate degree programs; also directs UMass Boston to study the feasibility of establishing a satellite campus at the site of Carney Hospital in Dorchester.
• Amendment 106 from Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro). Directs funds for ferry services including pier and dock maintenance serving passengers between the South Coast, Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard.
• Amendment 223 from Senator Lydia Edwards (D-East Boston). Directs funds toward planning and construction of a ferry dock in the East Boston Designated Port Area, along with money for ferry terminal capital improvements in Winthrop.
• Amendment 15 from Senator John Keenan (D-Quincy). Edits the language regarding the bill’s supplemental grant program, which helps school districts deal with skyrocketing material costs for school building projects due to inflation, to also include projects with material cost increases due to tariffs.

A comprehensive fact sheet detailing the investments proposed by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, including further investments and funding sources, is available in the Senate’s press room. Video of debate is publicly available on the Senate website for viewing, as is the full list of investments approved by the Senate.

 

Different versions having passed both chambers of the Legislature, the branches will now move to resolve their differences before sending a compromise bill to the Governor for her signature.