Massachusetts House Passes Supplemental Budget to Close Fiscal Year 2025
/BOSTON – Friday, October 17, 2025 – This week, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a supplemental budget to address deficiencies, to make new necessary investments, and to close the books on Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). The legislation appropriates $2.25 billion in gross spending, at a net cost to the state of $750 million, representing a reduction of almost $200 million from the Governor’s original proposal.
“This supplemental budget closes the books on FY25, and aims to fortify the Commonwealth’s finances, bolster economic development, and ensure continued access to critical health care services,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “In the face of unrelenting attacks from the Trump Administration that will strip health insurance coverage from millions of Americans and deny access to lifesaving vaccinations, this supplemental budget will help vulnerable residents prepare for, and avoid, a lapse in coverage, and ensure continued access to vaccines for every child in Massachusetts. I want to thank Chairman Michlewitz for his hard work, and all my colleagues in the House for recognizing the importance of the investments that are included in this legislation.”
“In Massachusetts we are proud to have closed out the FY25 budget with no budget revenue deficit and without any reduction to our state programs,” said Representative Tackey Chan (D-Quincy). “We fully funded the state’s share of MassHealth, universal school breakfasts and lunches, as well as a public awareness campaign aimed at educating the public on the impending federal changes to Medicaid. Additionally, we have invested funds to expand tourism for when the World Cup comes to Massachusetts in June 2026, ensuring our local economy can reap the benefits of hosting such a large event.”
“The supplemental budget passed by the House reflects our continued commitment to fiscal responsibility while addressing critical needs across the Commonwealth, including education, housing, public safety, healthcare, and more,” said Representative Bruce J. Ayers (D-Quincy). “It makes key investments to ensure residents can maintain access to healthcare coverage and essential services, such as child vaccines, while modernizing our Health Safety Net to better support our hospitals.”
The bill passed appropriates $10 million for Health Care for All to conduct a public awareness campaign, and to conduct health coverage enrollment assistance for communities at risk of losing health care coverage as a result of the new Medicaid reporting requirements that were put in place by President Trump and Congress through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It invests $10 million for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, and includes $5 million in grants to reproductive health care providers. It also invests $15 million for a new Sports and Entertainment Fund grant program, for which $10 million will be set aside for the events related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The bill passed also includes a policy section which authorizes the Department of Public Health Commissioner to determine routine childhood immunizations and vaccination schedules, rather than relying on the recommendations of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
In addition to the appropriations, the bill also invests in the state’s future by depositing the remainder of the funds to an escrow account ($337. 7 million), to support pensions ($18.8 million), and to the Other Postemployment Benefits Trust Fund ($18.8 million).
Additionally, the House accepted an amendment from Chair John Lawn that updates and restructures existing assessments on Massachusetts hospitals used to fund the Health Safety Net and related hospital support trust funds. The changes modernize financial data used in the assessment, increase the amount hospitals contribute, and adjust how the resulting funds are distributed among hospitals.
The bill also addresses budget deficiencies, including:
$1.67 billion in gross spending ($303 million net cost) for MassHealth
$60.7 million for snow and ice removal
$35 million for HomeBASE
$14 million for the Section 35 program
$12.5 million for no-cost calls
$12 million for Universal School Meals
$7.2 million for Department of Correction (DOC) Facilities operations
$6.8 million for the Clean Water Trust Fund
$3.5 million for State Police operations
The bill passed in the House of Representatives by a vote 141-14, and now goes to the Senate for its consideration.