2025

In 2025, our work continued to be guided by a simple but powerful commitment: building a Commonwealth where every person—every child, family, worker, and neighbor—has the opportunity to thrive. Over the past year, I have deepened my focus on expanding access to quality education, strengthening community well-being, and advancing equity across systems.

​​

At the State House, 2025 was a year of steady progress, strategic partnerships, and meaningful investments. Collaborating closely with Senator Mike Moore and our legislative colleagues—Representatives Mary Keefe, Jim O’Day, David LeBoeuf, John Mahoney, Meghan Kilcoyne, and Kate Donaghue—we secured critical funding for programs that matter deeply to our communities. Through the FY26 budget and supplemental spending bills, we championed investments that strengthen behavioral health supports, enhance safety-net services, improve our school facilities, and continue the modernization of our Regional Transit Authorities so that every resident can access reliable, equitable transportation.

​

Closeout Supplemental Budget​​​​

As part of allocating the final expenses of Fiscal Year 2025, the legislation, H.4761, provides funding for MassHealth, hospitals, and reproductive care; ensures that students at public colleges and universities are delivered the financial aid they depend on; adds funding for the universal meals program for children in public schools; and funds operational enhancements to improve how Massachusetts residents access supplemental nutrition assistance, or SNAP.

​

It also directs state funds to support transportation and public safety ahead of the upcoming 2026 World Cup, ensures accountability in sheriffs’ operations, and brings transparency to former state institutions where residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities suffered abuse.

The Fiscal Year 2025 closeout supplemental budget conference report agreement totals $2.31 billion in gross spending, with a net cost to the Commonwealth of $806.9 million after accounting for federal reimbursements.

​

Responsibly Honors Commonwealth's Commitments

 

The legislation closes the books on Fiscal Year 2025 with a total bottom line of $2.3 billion, which results in $795 million in net spending of state resources after accounting for revenue from federal reimbursements. The supplemental funding includes:

​

· $12 million to support the universal meals program for schoolchildren;

· $12.5 million to cover no-cost phone call communications for incarcerated people;

· $14 million to aid people in treatment for substance use and alcohol addiction through Section 35 programs;

· $2.04 billion for MassHealth (with a net cost to the state of only $539 million after reimbursements) covering the rapidly rising cost of providing healthcare;

· $18.5 million to support public health hospitals;

· $10 million to fund technology enhancements at the Department of Transitional Assistance, with the aim of forestalling harmful federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP);

· $18.3 million to strengthen student financial aid assistance;

· $5 million in direct support for reproductive health care;

· $75 million for the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund, which supports affordable rental housing in Massachusetts; and

· $60.7 million for MassDOT’s snow and ice removal expenses.

​