Malden Delegation Joins Colleagues to Enact New Affordability and Protection Policies

BOSTON—State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representatives Paul Donato, Steven Ultrino, and Kate Lipper-Garabedian joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass a supplemental budget that prioritizes affordability for Massachusetts residents and protections for those being negatively impacted by decisions at the federal level.

As part of closing out Fiscal Year 2025, this legislation appropriates $2.3 billion for MassHealth, affordable housing, universal free school meals in public schools, operational enhancements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Massachusetts, and more, while only costing the state $806.9 million after accounting for federal reimbursements.

It also decouples childhood vaccine schedules from now unreliable federal standards, protects student access to financial aid, ensures accountability in sheriffs’ operations, criminalizes the impersonation of federal agents, and supports transportation and public safety ahead of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“While uncertainty remains at the federal level regarding critical funding, the Massachusetts Legislature continues its commitment to supporting programs and services that residents rely on each day,” said Senator Jason Lewis. “This bill provides significant additional support for affordable housing, healthcare, education, food assistance, and other vital programs.”

“This budget will ensure that vulnerable residents are insulated from dangerous federal government tactics,” said House Second Assistant Majority Leader Paul Donato. “Closeout budgets provide necessary relief for parts of the general operating budget that are volatile, and are in need of replenishing at the end of the year.”

“In a moment of federal uncertainty, Massachusetts is once again stepping up to protect the well-being of our communities,” said House Chair Steven Ultrino. “This bill protects essential services, strengthens support for families, and reinforces our commitment to keeping residents safe, healthy, and cared for.”

“This legislation prioritizes key investments in healthcare and housing at a time when the Trump Administration continues to defund our public health systems and undermine essential programs that support our most vulnerable residents,” said House Chair Kate Lipper-Garabedian. “I’m further pleased that the Legislature is leading on efforts to keep our children healthy and safe by fully funding the State's universal school meals program and by empowering our Department of Public Health to determine a scientifically based child vaccination schedule. Thank you to Speaker Mariano and Chair Michlewitz for your leadership on this legislation.”

Funding highlights of this legislation include:

• $1.67 billion for MassHealth, with a $303 million net cost to the state.
• $374 million for Steward hospital payments, with a $236 million net cost to the state.
• $60.7 million for snow and ice removal expenses this winter.
• $50 million to support affordable housing through the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund.
• $18.3 million to strengthen student financial aid assistance and ensure existing student stipend amounts are maintained.
• $12 million to support the universal free school meals program for K-12 students.
• $10 million for operational and technical enhancements to improve recipients’ access to SNAP benefits with the aim of mitigating harmful federal cuts.
• $10 million for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to support and bolster scientific research and development.
• $10 million to conduct a public awareness campaign to inform vulnerable populations about new Medicaid work requirements put in place by the recent federal spending bill.
• Matches up to $10 million in private funds to support transportation, public safety, and wayfinding related to Massachusetts’ seven 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.
• $5 million in direct support for reproductive healthcare.
• $2.5 million to the Committee for Public Counsel Services for indigent persons fees and court costs.

Policy highlights of this legislation include:

• Decoupling the state definition of “routine childhood immunizations” from federal standards to gain greater flexibility in determining childhood vaccine schedules.
• Criminalizing the impersonation of a federal agent as a state crime and increasing penalties for impersonating a public official at a time when federal agents’ actions are sowing controversy and disruption in local communities.
• Establishing a Public Higher Education Student Support Fund to maintain financial aid benefits for students attending public colleges and universities.
• Protecting federal workers from losing their housing due to an eviction or foreclosure during or immediately after any federal government shutdown.
• Investigating the spending and performance metrics of county sheriffs’ offices to strengthen public trust and hold them accountable for spending deficits.
• Granting access to archived patient records from state-run institutions for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions to families and scholars to promote transparency where abuse or neglect took place.
• Adjusting the assessment of managed care organization assessments to align with federal changes that require a broad-based and uniform assessment.
• Protecting the privacy of people seeking name changes by removing the requirement of a public notice for name-change petitions filed in court.

After passing in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, the supplemental budget was signed into law on November 25, 2025 by Governor Maura Healey.