Senate Acts to Boost Campaign Finance Transparency

Senate Acts to Boost Campaign Finance Transparency 

Financial reporting bill holds ballot questions accountable amid onslaught of special interest funding 

 

(BOSTON—01/15/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today passed bipartisan legislation to require ballot campaigns to routinely report to the public who is funding their campaigns and how the money is being used. 

 

The measure increases transparency in campaign finance, gives voters access to the information they need to make informed choices, and guards against a rise in special interests paying millions to put their own priorities on the ballot. 

 

“When you go to the ballot box, you deserve to know who is behind each initiative and to make your own judgment about whether those efforts serve the greater good of our Commonwealth or the personal interests of special interest groups,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “As elected leaders, we hold ourselves to this standard of transparency and accountability, and this legislation ensures that every measure on the ballot is held to that same standard. I commend Chair Rodrigues and Chair Keenan for their work on this bill and applaud Senator DiDomenico for his leadership as the lead sponsor.” 

 

“I am pleased to see this ballot transparency bill passed by the full Senate. It is only fair and proper to require state ballot question committees to abide by the same campaign finance and disclosure requirements that candidates for public office must adhere to,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The bill also mandates the campaign committee’s bank to send donation and expenditure reports directly to OCPF, similar to the procedure for candidates. This commonsense reform legislation will level the playing field and empower voters to make better choices and be more informed on the advocacy groups behind these ballot question referendums. With an increasing proliferation of ballot question initiatives, voters deserve to know the funding source—in real time—of these special interest groups.” 

 

“With the increasing number of ballot questions in each election, the need for transparency has never been greater,” said Senator John F. Keenan (D-Quincy), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Election Laws. “Many of the questions are backed with significant funding and other resources. This important bill will allow voters to see who is supporting or opposing the ballot questions, sponsoring the ads, and paying for mailings. It will help voters make informed decisions at the polls.” 

 

“Statewide ballot questions are a great tool for empowering the public to vote directly on statewide policies, but it is vitally important that our voters know which people and organizations are funding these policy proposals,” said Senator Sal N. DiDomenico (D-Everett), lead sponsor of the bill. “I am proud to pass my legislation through the Senate that will close a loophole in our campaign finance law and ensure our residents have all the information they need to make an educated decision when voting on ballot measures.” 

 

The transparency bill—S.2898, An Act improving campaign finance reporting by state ballot question committees—brings accountability to ballot question campaigns and holds them to the same standard of disclosure already followed by candidates for office. The legislation would remedy a current void of nearly a year leading up to an election during which the ballot question campaigns are not required to report any financial data in a timely manner. 

 

This month marks the start of the current eight-month period when ballot question committees are not required to regularly disclose any financial updates. From now until September, voters will be hit with campaign ads and mail without knowing who is funding them. Today, Senators voted to close that gap, requiring ballot campaigns to report at least monthly on their donors. 

 

The legislation was advanced to the full Senate on January 8, 2026 by a 15-0 vote of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, after a previous draft was reviewed and advanced in November by the Joint Committee on Election Laws. All committee votes are publicly available on the Legislature’s website. 

 

The Senate passed the bill on a bipartisan 38-0 roll call vote, sending it to the House for further consideration. 

 

Senate Creates New License Plate for Families of Fallen Law Enforcement Officers

Senate Creates New License Plate for Families of Fallen Law Enforcement Officers 

Special recognition would help immediate family honor their loved ones 

 

(BOSTON—01/15/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today unanimously approved a new special license plate to honor the memories of fallen law enforcement officers by offering a symbol of respect to their surviving spouses, parents, and children. 

 

The bill—S.2903, An Act honoring Blue Star Families—directs the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to create a new Blue Star Families plate to help the family members remember their loved one in a visible way on their car. It would also create a Blue Star Family emblem for motorcycle plates. 

 

“As we mourn Officer Stephen LaPorta, who fell in the line of duty, we are reminded that the freedoms and protections of our Commonwealth would be impossible without the courage and service of Officer LaPorta and all those who have given their lives to protect others,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “His selflessness reflects the very best of public service and stands as a solemn reminder of the profound debt we owe to those who place themselves in harm’s way to keep our communities safe. This legislation represents small but meaningful recognition to honor the memory of the fallen and to affirm our enduring commitment to the families and loved ones they leave behind. With deep gratitude, I thank Chair Rodrigues and Chair Cronin for their work on this legislation, and Senator Mark for his leadership in proposing this bill.” 

 

“It’s especially fitting to bestow this highly visible license plate in recognition for families of law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting their communities,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This distinctive plate will be available to spouses, children, and parents of fallen law enforcement officers all across the Commonwealth at no additional charge from the Registry. It is a small but meaningful token of appreciation that we can do to honor these brave men and women who paid the price when answering the call to duty.” 

 

“Today’s vote affirms the Massachusetts Senate’s commitment to honor those who have given everything in service of our Commonwealth,” said Senator John J. Cronin (D-Fitchburg), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. “This legislation not only recognizes our fallen heroes but also ensures that their service and sacrifice lives on through their loved ones. I’m proud to have voted for this bill and am grateful to Senate President Spilka and my colleagues for their efforts to support Blue Star Families and the law enforcement community.” 

 

Under the legislation, the RMV would be required to make the plates available to Blue Star spouses, parents, and children without charge. The RMV would also be able to offer vanity plate registrations for Blue Star plates up to six characters in length.  

 

The Blue Star Family license plates would join other special recognition plates currently offered by the RMV, including Gold Star Family plates for drivers with close family members who in or as a result of their service in the Armed Forces. 

 

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means advanced the legislation to the floor on a 17-0 vote on January 8, 2026, as a partial report on a bill that was advanced in December by the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website. 

 

The Senate passed the bill on a 38-0 roll call vote, sending it to the House for further consideration.  

 

PLANNING DEPARTMENT ADVANCES FIRST HOTEL PROJECT UNDER NET ZERO CARBON ZONING Affordable housing in Brighton, Jamaica Plain, and Mattapan moves forward

BOSTON - January 15, 2026 - The Planning Department this month recommended approval of the City’s first hotel project to be permitted under the new Net Zero Carbon Zoning. In total, staff recommended approval of five new development projects representing approximately 457,987 square feet (SF). All were approved. The newly approved development proposals will create 119 new homes, including 56 units that are designated income-restricted, and will support approximately 447 construction jobs and 298 permanent jobs. The projects advanced today will help make Boston a more resilient, affordable, and equitable city. Development Projects Project at 393 Cambridge Street will build Boston’s first hotel under Net Zero Carbon Zoning Housing: 96 hotel rooms Jobs: Approximately 30 permanent jobs, approximately 43 construction jobs Community: Public realm improvements Sustainability: Net Zero Carbon, LEED Gold Located in Allston, this new seven-story hotel with 96 rooms will be the first hotel project in the city to be permitted under the new Net Zero Carbon Zoning. The building will include indoor and outdoor bike parking. As part of its mitigation commitment, the project will improve the public realm with new landscaping, sidewalks, street trees, a new raised crosswalk, and pedestrian connections. The project complies with the Allston-Brighton Mobility Plan by creating additional sidewalk dimensions on Cambridge Street, improving overall mobility for all users. As part of the community benefits, this project will contribute $30,000 towards the maintenance of nearby Ringer Park and Playground. Rogerson-Beaufort Project Phase 1 moves forward with new income-restricted senior housing Housing: 41 income-restricted senior housing units, renovation and replacement of 66 beds for memory-care patients Jobs: Approximately 142 construction jobs, approximately 161 permanent jobs Community: Supportive services for residents, public realm improvements focused on pedestrians and bicyclists Sustainability: LEED Gold, all-electric, roof top solar PV, Passive house, EV parking This project will redevelop what is currently the Rogerson House property in Jamaica Plain into 41 new income-restricted senior housing units, while also renovating and replacing the current 66-bed memory care facility that currently exists. The project will improve the public realm with new sidewalks, landscaping, and safer pedestrian access. A second phase of this project will be reviewed separately in the future. New housing moves forward at 1954 Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton Housing: 26 homeownership units, four income-restricted units Jobs: Approximately 24 construction jobs Community: Public realm improvements Sustainability: Preservation of existing historic structures on site This project will convert what is currently a vacant three-family home in Brighton into a five-story mixed-use building including 26 homeownership units, four of which will be income-restricted. These will be a mix of studios, one-, and two-bedroom units. The Allston-Brighton Needs Assessment adopted by the BPDA Board in January 2024 showed that the average rent for a two-bedroom unit increased over the course of the Assessment study period, underscoring the urgent need for more two-bedroom options in the neighborhood. This project will also improve the public realm with better sidewalks and a new street tree. 841 Morton Street project to create new housing, pedestrian connection in Mattapan Housing: 52 units, 11 income-restricted units Jobs: Retail space, approximately 72 construction jobs, approximately five permanent jobs Community: $20,000 in community benefits, public realm improvements Sustainability: LEED Gold, Net Zero Carbon, efficient all-electric, Passive House Located in Mattapan, this project will convert what is currently a gas station and parking lot into a new five-story building with 52 homes, 11 of which will be income-restricted. The units will be a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedrooms. The building will include ground floor retail space, as well as indoor and outdoor bike parking. The use and design of this building aligns well with the current, active corridor of Morton Street, which is in a Squares + Streets zoning district as part of PLAN: Mattapan. This project will significantly improve the public realm with new landscaping, better sidewalks, and a new pedestrian connection between Morton and Flint Streets. The new pedestrian path directly aligns with PLAN: Mattapan, as it will further develop the Mattapan Green Links network as advocated in the plan. The Green Link will be open at all times for public use and will include new lighting, landscaping, and public art. This project will also contribute $49,000 to the Boston Transportation Department in support of the bikeshare system. Project at 371-401 D Street will build new hotel outside convention center Housing: 438 hotel rooms, $1.8 million in Linkage funding toward affordable housing Jobs: Approximately 163 construction jobs, approximately 102 permanent jobs, $338,800 in Linkage funding toward job training Community: Free community meeting space for neighborhood non-profit organizations each quarter Sustainability: LEED Gold, efficient all-electric, indoor bike parking This project will add a new 438 room, 14-story hotel across the street from the Thomas M. Menino Convention and Exhibition Center in South Boston, to a site which currently includes the Element and Aloft hotels. It will also modify the existing layout of the Element Hotel to add more rooms. The new hotel will provide community gathering space for a nonprofit organization every quarter. It will also include a bike room for employees. The project will improve the public realm with new sidewalks, landscaping, and street trees, expanding the tree canopy to combat urban heat island effect. This project will contribute $75,000 to the Boston Transportation Department in support of the city's bikeshare system. The addition of a new hotel to this area will improve the City’s ability to host more large-scale conventions, which will stimulate economic activity in the neighborhood. In addition to these projects, the Board approved: An update to a previously approved project at 445-449 Cambridge Street to change the housing development from two buildings to one building. An update to a previously approved project at 38 Hichborn Street to add two units, relocate the building’s commercial space, and reduce the number of parking spaces. An update to a previously approved project at 639 Warren Street to change the program of units from a mix of rental and homeownership to all rental. An update to a previously approved project at 1208C VFW Parkway for a change of ownership and to make all units income-restricted. The disbursement of $275,000 from the 1350 Boylston Street project Community Benefits Fund to 15 community organizations.

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES 2026 DAY OF CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

 MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES 2026 DAY OF CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.  

The City of Boston and Boston University continue the tradition of paying tribute to the life, legacy, and influence of Dr. King.

BOSTON – Thursday, January 15, 2026 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced that the City of Boston will present the annual "A Day of Celebration in Honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.," in partnership with Boston University. The event will take place on Monday, January 19, at 12:00 p.m. at Metcalf Hall on the second floor of the George Sherman Union at Boston University, located at 775 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. The event will be live-streamed on Boston.gov and air on Boston City TV (Xfinity 26, RCN 13 and Fios 962).

 

"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic life, transformative leadership and enduring legacy is central to the City of Boston. This year’s celebration highlights the Kings’ stand for justice and honors Dr. King’s influence that continues to inspire action and change in our city,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Thank you to Boston University for your partnership in continuing this tradition and allowing us to come together to honor the Kings’ legacy and carry their message of hope and the power of community forward.” 

This year’s King Day Celebration will center the theme “Justice Indivisible: Fighting Racism, Greed, and War,” inspired by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1967 Three Evils of Society speech, which names racism, poverty, and militarism as persistent threats to American democracy. The 90-minute program will feature a keynote address by writer, scholar, and cultural organizer Dr. Eve L. Ewing, associate professor at the University of Chicago and the award-winning author of five books, including the New York Times and USA Today bestseller Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism. Ewing is also known for her work with Marvel Comics, including Ironheart, Black Panther, and Exceptional X-Men.

The program will also include readings from two Boston University Students that are graduates of Boston Public Schools and musical selections performed by a student band ZURI from Berklee College of Music.

“Martin Luther King Jr. was an alumnus of Boston University, and we are proud that his legacy, and the values he espoused, continue to guide us to this day,” said President Melissa Gilliam. “He devoted his life to building bridges through civil discourse, to creating communities rooted in dignity and mutual respect, and to serving others. These principles matter deeply to us, and they are fundamental to our partnership with the City of Boston and our shared programs in civic engagement and access to education. We look forward to continuing to work together to uphold human rights and opportunity for all people.”

 

In previous years, leaders such as Mayor Michelle Wu, U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley, City of Boston Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Segun Idowu, Beverly Morgan-Welch, Sonia Sanchez, Dr. Alvin Poussaint, Ernest Green of the Little Rock Nine, Judy Richardson of Eyes on the Prize, author and poet Cole Arthur Riley,  and civil rights activist and filmmaker Topper Carew served as keynote speakers. Governor Deval Patrick, Chief Justice Roderick Ireland, Boston Poet Laureates Sam Cornish, Danielle Legros Georges, Porsha Olayiwola, and WGBH Radio host Eric Jackson are among those who have served as readers in previous years. 

National Civil Rights and Latino Leaders Demand Congressional Accountability for Escalating Federal Abuse and Executive Overreach

 National Civil Rights and Latino Leaders Demand Congressional Accountability for Escalating Federal Abuse and Executive Overreach 

Ahead of MLK Jr. Day, leaders convene at the one-year mark of the Trump administration amid affordability concerns and renewed civil rights focus following events in Minneapolis 

 

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, a coalition of national civil rights, faith and Latino advocacy organizations led by UnidosUS held a virtual press conference demanding the U.S. Congress take immediate action to rein in heinous and excessive immigration enforcement practices that are eroding constitutional protections, undermining public safety and harming communities across the country. This press call followed a joint letter signed by 74 national, state and local organizations across the country also calling on the U.S. Congress to exercise its constitutional oversight role. 

 

During the press conference held ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, national advocates cited growing concerns following the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a mother and U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis, as well as the numerous accounts of indiscriminate abuse and unwarranted deaths seen in other states couched under the guise of federal immigration enforcement operations.    

 

In the joint letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), the civil right leaders called on Congress to “enact clear, enforceable guardrails that protect constitutional rights, ensure transparency, and curb the abuse of power we see daily across the country.”  

 

As the Trump administration approaches one year in office, the coalition emphasized that Congress has the authority and responsibility to reject unchecked funding for immigration enforcement, warning that last summer’s legislation provided the administration with unprecedented resources, including $170 billion and 10,000 additional ICE agents. This has fueled abuses of power and the weaponization of a broken immigration system, outcomes that could be repeated without meaningful guardrails and oversight. 

 

Leaders also warned that the expansion of detention, surveillance and unaccountable enforcement, paired with inadequate training and oversight, has predictably resulted in fear, racial profiling, due process violations, wrongful detention of U.S. citizens, unsafe detention conditions and expanded surveillance practices that endanger civil liberties. 

 

National civil rights organizations called on Congress to exercise its constitutional oversight authority and include enforceable guardrails in legislation and in FY 2026 appropriations to rein in abuses of power and protect communities: 

 

· Congress Should Respond to Unlawful Use of the Military: Prohibit the domestic deployment of military personnel or resources for immigration enforcement or policing, reaffirming long-standing limits on military involvement in civilian law enforcement.

· Protect Communities from Misuse of Power: Ban masked federal agents and require clear identification and body cameras; codify sensitive-location protections for schools, hospitals, courts and places of worship; suspend 287(g) agreements until independent oversight is in place; and ensure arrests and detentions are properly documented and legally authorized.

· Restore Due Process: Require judicial warrants for all arrests and detentions, transparent reporting and independent investigations into deaths or wrongful detentions, access to legal counsel and family for detained individuals, and prohibitions on mass detention, dragnet surveillance, and the use of non-immigration data for enforcement purposes. 

 

The organizations stressed that these reforms should apply nationwide and are intended to protect the constitutional rights and safety of all communities while reinforcing Congress’s role in providing oversight of federal immigration enforcement. 

 

Organizations that joined the press call and signed onto the letter include: 

UnidosUS   

Advancing Justice – AAJC  

America’s Voice 

Aquí: The Accountability Movement 

Hispanic Federation 

LatinoJustice 

Latino Victory 

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law  

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)  

Mi Familia Vota 

NAACP  

National Urban League  

National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) 

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights  

Voto Latino 

Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Grants to Support Playful Learning in Preschool through Third Grade

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Grants to Support Playful Learning in Preschool through Third Grade

EVERETT – The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that it is awarding $140,000 in grants to four school districts to continue efforts to incorporate playful learning strategies into preschool through third grade classrooms. The funding will provide professional development and coaching to district and school leaders, classroom educators and other specialists on how to sustain the use of play as an effective instructional approach that leads to deeper learning and is more accessible to all students. 

“The Healey-Driscoll administration is committed to giving our youngest learners classroom experiences that are fun, engaging and aligned with our state’s curriculum frameworks,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “Through playful learning, students have opportunities to navigate different situations and engage with content in meaningful ways.”

"Young children learn best through play," said Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez. "These grants continue to equip educators with tools that lead to equitable and meaningful learning experiences for students."

The grant, called the Playful Learning Institute Continuation Grant Program, allows four districts to continue participation in the pilot of the Playful Learning Institute hosted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). These four teams were part of the cohort 1 pilot and will continue to build on work started in Year 1 (2023-2024) and Year 2 (2024-2025), including but not limited to mentoring new districts participating in the pilot as part of cohort two. Through continued coaching and professional development, participants will gain additional tools and strategies needed to intentionally design and embed playful learning across the course of the day. This funding builds on the $1.2 million the administration awarded last year for the second cohort.

DESE is working with NORC at the University of Chicago to evaluate the impact of the Playful Learning Institute.

The grant recipients each received $35,000 for grant activities, including professional development and coaching. The recipients are:

• Beverly Public Schools,
• Pioneer Valley Regional School District,
• Sharon Public Schools, and
• Woburn Public Schools.

Governor Healey Condemns President Trump's Cancellation of Millions in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Grants

Governor Healey Condemns President Trump's Cancellation of Millions in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Grants 

BOSTON - Governor Maura Healey is condemning President Trump’s abrupt cancellation of tens of millions of dollars in grants for substance use disorder prevention and treatment, overdose prevention, mental health care, suicide prevention and more in Massachusetts. The Department of Public Health (DPH) and Department of Mental Health (DMH) received notice of more than $5 million in grant terminations from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It is expected that tens of millions of dollars in total have been cut from state agencies and non-profits, including community health centers, in Massachusetts. The loss of this funding will have a significant and detrimental impact on work to prevent and address substance use disorder and provide mental health care across the state. 

“I can't believe Donald Trump is cutting funding for mental health and addiction services. I don’t know a family in America that hasn’t been touched by one or both of these issues,” said Governor Healey. “This is callous and cruel, especially because President Trump has already cut funds for food, veterans, child care, and health care. And today he cuts funds for so many people and families who need access to mental health and addiction services. Unbelievable.” 

“As a practicing physician in the field of addiction medicine and primary care, I know how important these programs are for my patients,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kiame Mahaniah, MD, MBA. “These programs may be what prevents a parent’s overdose or enables someone’s spouse to experience recovery or helps someone’s child cope with trauma. Beyond the loss of this considerable amount of funding – and likely, lives – what we’re losing is grace and compassion in the way we support vulnerable people in our society.” 

Two Massachusetts state agencies, the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Department of Mental Health (DMH), have received notice that more than $5 million in grants were terminated effective immediately. Numerous other non-profit health care providers, human services providers, municipalities and other organizations in Massachusetts separately run programs funded by SAMHSA grants that have also been terminated. The total impact of grant funding across Massachusetts is likely to be tens of millions of dollars across many programs and providers. 

The letter from SAMHSA referenced the agency’s new strategic priorities, with the goal of, “ending harm reduction practices.” For years Massachusetts has invested in harm reduction initiatives and increased access to services, both of which directly led to a 36.3% decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2024, the lowest levels since 2013. 

“The complete and abrupt nature of the cancellation of these federal grants has an immediate impact on care for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. These grant initiatives were designed to meet specific identified needs, and it is irresponsible to abruptly terminate funding that supports services and staffing in many parts of the state,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “The impacts are compounded by federal grant cuts to local municipalities, community health centers, and organizations for substance use and suicide prevention strategies in Massachusetts. Collectively, the state programs and community services are essential components of the recent successes in the reduction in overdose deaths statewide. Terminating them abruptly could have devastating, long-term negative impacts.” 

“The programs funded by these grants are providing critical services to some of the most vulnerable individuals in the Commonwealth with mental health and substance use needs, including youth experiencing early psychosis,” said Department of Mental Health Acting Commissioner Beth Lucas. “These programs are highly effective in providing timely treatment that enables youth to fully experience the life of their choosing in school, work and with their families, friends and communities. Without these critical, timely interventions, youth may instead experience disconnection from these meaningful activities and experience hospitalizations, housing instability and arrests.”  

Grants awarded to EOHHS, now terminated 

Psychosis Prevention Grant – $499,999 via DMH 

• Supports work at four Massachusetts hospitals to provide comprehensive coordinated specialty care and outpatient treatment to adolescents and young adults who are experiencing early psychosis. 

Strategic Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs (SPF Rx) – $384,000 via DPH Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) 

• Prevents prescription drug misuse by older adults, who are particularly susceptible. 

Grants to Prevent Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose-Related Deaths (PDO) – $850,000 via DPH BSAS) 

• Reduces the number of prescription drug/opioid overdose-related deaths and adverse events, including through training of first responders and distribution of naloxone to high-need communities.  

Promoting the Integration of Primary and Behavioral Health Care (PIPBHC) – $2,000,000 via DPH BSAS 

• Supports adoption and improvement of integrated care models for behavioral and primary physical health. Aims to increase behavioral health screening, access to behavioral health care and substance use disorder treatment, and to improve the quality of care for undeserved individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders who are living with or at high risk for co-morbid health conditions. 

MA Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Program (GLS) – $1,470,000 via DPH Bureau of Community Health and Protection (BCHAP) 

• Supports the implementation of youth suicide prevention and early intervention strategies in schools, educational institutions, juvenile justice systems, substance use programs, mental health programs, foster care systems, pediatric health programs, and other child- and youth-serving organizations. 

Statements from impacted organizations 

Bill Yelenak, the Providers’ Council's president and CEO 

"The Providers' Council, representing 220 community-based human services organizations across the Commonwealth, is deeply concerned by the abrupt termination of more than $2 billion in federal SAMHSA funding. Several of our members learned overnight that hundreds of thousands of dollars will no longer be available to fund essential programs related to mental health services, substance abuse treatment programs, children and families experiencing trauma, and more — putting some of the most vulnerable in the state at risk of losing services. These funding cuts will negatively impact individuals, families and communities across Massachusetts, and we plan to work with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and our partners at the state and national level to respond to these alarming cuts and ensure essential human services are preserved in the Commonwealth." 

Michael Curry, Esq., President and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers: 

“Community health centers have saved countless lives and have made immeasurable progress treating substance use disorder in our most vulnerable communities who are often last in line for lifesaving treatment and care.“The loss of these grants will undermine health centers’ ability to address this devastating epidemic and will have a direct impact on the lives of patients in every corner of the state and country.”  

Lydia Conley, President and CEO, Association for Behavioral Health: 

“Providers across Massachusetts depend on SAMHSA funding to provide services to people with behavioral health needs – federal grants actually make this work possible. Our members woke up to an email from the agency telling them that all funding has been terminated as of yesterday, and that has created major chaos and will ultimately harm the people who need these services.  We are thankful for the leadership of Governor Healey who, contrary to the Trump administration’s actions, has worked zealously to protect health care access in Massachusetts.”