Governor Healey Signs Budget That Prioritizes Affordability, Vaccine and Health Care Access, and Public Safety

Governor Healey Signs Budget That Prioritizes Affordability, Vaccine and Health Care Access, and Public Safety 

BOSTON — Today, Governor Maura Healey signed a Fiscal Year 2025 closeout supplemental budget that prioritizes affordability, vaccine and health care access, and public safety in our communities. The $2.3 billion budget reduces costs for families, including through universal school meals and financial aid in higher education.  

This budget continues Massachusetts’ leadership to ensure access to vaccines, including childhood immunizations. It adopts Governor Healey’s proposal to expand flexibility for the Department of Public Health (DPH) to set immunization schedules and requirements in Massachusetts, including for the Childhood Vaccine Program. Now, if the federal government fails to maintain a robust schedule of vaccine recommendations, DPH can set independent standards for Massachusetts. 

The bill also protects health care access by supporting public health hospitals, abortion providers at risk of losing federal funding, and a new information campaign to educate MassHealth members about new federal work requirements.  

The budget also enhances public safety across the state. It criminalizes the false impersonation of a federal official, including ICE agents. It adopts Governor Healey’s proposal to support law enforcement officers – ensuring that State Police troopers permanently injured in the line of duty receive their full compensation as pension until they reach retirement age. 

Governor Healey also signed a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures for federal workers who were impacted by the federal shutdown and took executive action to extend it for 75 days until Jan. 26, 2026. This was a proposal by Senator Lydia Edwards. 

“This budget represents our commitment to delivering for people on what matters in their lives,” said Governor Healey. “It will make things more affordable, promote vaccine and health care access for our kids and families in the face of attacks from the federal government, and protect public safety in our communities. While President Trump is increasing costs and cutting funding from states, this budget is balanced and protects taxpayer dollars. I’m grateful for the partnership of the Legislature as we continue to move our state forward.” 

“With the next fiscal year well underway, it is critical that we close the books on FY25 with a balanced budget that delivers for Massachusetts communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This bill reflects our commitment to responsibly managing state spending and stretching every dollar in service of Massachusetts residents.” 

"In Massachusetts, we are focused on fiscal responsibility,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. “We appreciate the Legislature’s partnership in closing the books on FY25 with a balanced budget and helping to build reserves that set the state up for future budget sustainability."  

“This supplemental budget responds to actions at the federal level, makes timely investments across a wide range of issue areas, including for free school meals, for MassHealth, and for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, and ensures greater accountability and efficiency across critical sectors of government,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Governor Healey for signing this bill into law, along with my colleagues in the Legislature for supporting this legislation.” 

"This budget takes important steps to protect our residents and defend our values,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Our message is clear: while the federal government plays games with people’s livelihoods and health, Massachusetts stands firmly on the side of providing our residents and communities the support they need, whether through funding success for our college students, protecting vaccine access, or shining a light on those hurt by state run institutions. I applaud Governor Healey for signing this legislation and I am grateful to Senate Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues for his work, each Senator for their support, and Speaker Mariano and our colleagues in the House for the collective effort to deliver this legislation for residents." 

“This supplemental budget will close the books on FY25 in a balanced and fiscally responsible manner. By making critical investments into much needed programs in healthcare, education, and housing to name a few, the Commonwealth will be in a strong fiscal position for FY26 and beyond,” said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “I want to thank Speaker Mariano, and all my colleagues in the Legislature for supporting this initiative. I also want to thank Governor Healey for her timely approval of this critical funding package." 

“With the Governor’s signing of the Fiscal Year 2025 closeout supplemental budget, we have effectively closed the books on FY25 with a fiscally responsible $2.31 billion spending plan,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The budget addresses several outstanding health care deficiencies, most notably $1.67 billion for MassHealth, with a net cost of $303 million after accounting for federal reimbursements. We also satisfy Steward hospital payment obligations, and provide $10 million for Health Care For All, funding that will launch an important public awareness campaign informing vulnerable populations on new Medicaid work requirements. This plan also reins in county sheriff spending and provides $10 million to support the 2026 World Cup. I would like to thank my colleagues in both branches of the Legislature, and the Governor and her team for working collaboratively on this budget that meets the needs of all residents of the Commonwealth.” 

“Massachusetts has taken an important step forward with the passage of this historic legislation,” said Senator Lydia Edwards, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and original filer of the Federal Worker and Service Member Civil Relief Act. “This is more than a policy win — it is a promise to thousands of federal workers and service members that we see them, we value them, and we will protect their dignity during any future shutdown. My sincere thanks go to Senate President Spilka, Speaker Mariano, Chairs Rodrigues and Michlewitz, and Governor Healey for their unwavering support. Their leadership reflects the best of state government: bipartisan, thoughtful, and centered on fairness.” 

Additionally, this budget bill deploys $100 million in excess Fair Share funds for the Student Opportunity Act in schools across Massachusetts. It also invests $18.3 million for financial aid and stipends for public higher education students in FY26.  

The budget also includes a proposal by Governor Healey to make state institutional records that are over 75 years old public. This language aligns with recommendations from the Special Commission on State Institutions, and it will make these records easier for loved ones and historians to access while respecting patient privacy concerns. 

Additional investments in the budget include: 

• $60.7 million for snow and ice removal 
• $50 million for housing preservation and stabilization 
• $18.5 million for public health hospital operations 
• $18.3 million for student financial aid assistance 
• $14 million for Section 35 treatment services for Western Massachusetts 
• $12 million for Universal School Meals 
• $10 million to support operations at the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) to ensure access to anti-hunger programs by responding to changes made by the federal government to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program. 
• $10 million to support a Health Care for All information campaign on Medicaid work requirements and vaccine policy changes made by the federal government 
• $10 million for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to support the implementation of the Life Sciences Initiative 3.0, which invests in the Massachusetts life science research and innovation ecosystem 
• $10 million to support costs and tourism associated with hosting the 2026 World Cup 
• $7.2 million for Department of Correction (DOC) Facilities operations 
• $5 million for direct supports to reproductive health providers at risk of losing federal funding