How I Voted: FY25 Closeout Supplemental

Closing Fiscal Year 2025 Through Supplemental Budget

Investments

Bill: H.4458. An Act Making Appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2025 Closeout Supplemental Budget

Date of Vote: October 15, 2025

What Problem Was This Bill Trying to Solve?

The Commonwealth needed to address budget deficiencies, complete outstanding Fiscal Year 2025 obligations, and make targeted investments in critical areas including health care, education, housing, public safety, and economic development.

As Massachusetts faced rising costs and uncertainty surrounding changes at the federal level, the state needed to ensure continued access to essential programs and services while maintaining fiscal responsibility. The supplemental budget provides funding for programs facing shortfalls while making strategic investments to support residents and strengthen the Commonwealth’s financial position.

This legislation closes the books on Fiscal Year 2025 while addressing immediate needs, protecting access to critical services, and investing in long-term priorities.

What Does the Bill Do?

• Appropriates approximately $2.25 billion in gross spending to address Fiscal Year 2025 deficiencies and new investments, with a net cost to the state of approximately $750 million.

• Provides $1.67 billion in gross funding for MassHealth, with a $303 million net cost to the state after federal reimbursements.

• Provides $10 million to Health Care For All for public outreach and enrollment assistance to help residents at risk of losing health coverage due to new federal Medicaid reporting requirements.

• Provides $10 million to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to support research, innovation, and economic development.

• Provides $5 million in grants to reproductive health care providers.

• Establishes a new Sports and Entertainment Fund with:

  • $15 million total investment.

  • $10 million dedicated to transportation, public safety, and related expenses connected to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

• Authorizes the Department of Public Health Commissioner to establish routine childhood immunization requirements and vaccination schedules rather than relying solely on recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

• Deposits remaining funds into long-term financial accounts, including:

  • $337.7 million into an escrow account.

  • $18.8 million into the Pension Liability Fund.

  • $18.8 million into the Other Postemployment Benefits Trust Fund.

• Updates and restructures hospital assessments used to support the Health Safety Net and related hospital assistance programs by:

  • Modernizing the financial data used for assessments.o Increasing hospital contributions.

  • Adjusting distribution methods among hospitals.

• Funds additional budget deficiencies, including:

  • $60.7 million for snow and ice removal.

  • $35 million for HomeBASE housing assistance.

  • $14 million for the Section 35 substance use treatment program.

  • $12.5 million for no-cost telephone calls.

  • $12 million for the Universal School Meals program.

  • $7.2 million for Department of Correction facility operations.

  • $6.8 million for the Clean Water Trust Fund.

  • $3.5 million for State Police operations.

  • $700,000 for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

How I Voted

I voted YES.

Why I Voted This Way

A responsible state budget requires addressing immediate needs while also protecting the Commonwealth’s long-term financial stability. This supplemental budget takes a balanced approach by closing the books on Fiscal Year 2025 while ensuring that residents continue to have access to critical programs and services.

The legislation provides essential funding for health care, education, public safety, housing assistance, and other programs that directly impact Massachusetts residents. It also makes strategic investments in areas that support economic growth, including life sciences, workforce development, and major events that bring economic activity to the Commonwealth.

At a time when residents face uncertainty and increased costs, state government must remain focused on fiscal responsibility while protecting the programs and services that communities rely on.

I supported this legislation because it responsibly resolves outstanding budget obligations, strengthens critical services, supports vulnerable residents, and makes targeted investments that prepare Massachusetts for the future.