Final House FY25 Budget
The Massachusetts Representatives passed a $58.07 billion state budget for fiscal year 2025, $95.8 million more than what the House Ways and Means Committee (HWM) originally proposed. The final House budget is still $62 million less than Governor Healey’s budget.
So, what increased the HWM’s budget by nearly $100 million? These key amendments added approximately $15.5 million and earmarks added approximately $80.3 million.
Key Amendments:
The following are historically also known as “feel good” amendments that are up for roll call votes in an effort to show off the goodwill and bipartisanship in the legislature.
1. Rep. Steve Owens' (D - Watertown) Amendment No.1161: This amendment safeguards tax exemption for Braille publications, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility.
2. Rep. Bradley Jones' (R - North Reading) Amendment No. 684: Increases duration of conservation land tax credit to 2034 and increases amounts available for the credit for 2023 and 2024. It also expands the applicability of the credit to include sales by private nonprofit trusts.
Consolidated Budget Allocation:
Consolidated amendments are ways to keep appropriating amendments efficiently but not very transparently. The amendments are lumped together by category and decided behind closed doors. Then they’re brought to the floor to be voted on, making it difficult to determine which exact amendment was passed. Our expert analysts go through every single amendment in a consolidated and provides summaries of what’s actually going on.
Consolidated A. Education, Local Aid, Social Services, Veteran Services, Soldiers' Homes $21.13 million.
Consolidated B. Health and Human Services, Elder Affairs $6.68 million.
Consolidated C. Public Safety and Judiciary $15.70
Consolidated D. Public Health, Mental Health, Disability Services $15.70 million.
Consolidated E. Constitutional Officers, State Administration, Transportation $6.53 million.
Consolidated F. Energy & Environmental Affairs, Housing $8.2 million.
Consolidated G. Labor & Economic Development $27.43 million.
Notable Amendments Not Passed:
1. Rep. Paul Frost's (R - Auburn) Amendment No.1395: Although not added, the proposal to mandate public higher education institutions to accept all AP credits highlights ongoing debates regarding educational policies and standards.
2. Rep. Paul Frost's (R - Auburn) Amendment No. 1393: While not added, this proposal sought to impose a 3-month durational residency requirement for eligibility for admittance to emergency family shelters, Frost's plans, according to Rep. Peisch might face challenges in court especially with the recent surge in migrants from the South, a similar argument she made for Amendment No. 1394. Additionally, the long awaited supplemental budget was passed in late March, which mandated that shelter-seekers have a 9-month limit to stay.
3. Rep. Paul Frost's (R - Auburn) Amendment No. 1394: The proposal to prioritize Massachusetts residents on the waitlist for emergency housing assistance for 12 months failed to pass, indicating divergent views on housing priorities. The Democrats, led by Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Alice Peisch (D - Wellesley), argue that emergency shelter funding should be accessible to all people regardless of their residency status. This amendment failed 27-131 (RC#100).
4. Rep. Bradley Jones' (R - Auburn) Amendment No. 698: Despite advocating for the prioritization of honorably discharged homeless veterans in emergency shelter programs, this proposal was voted down, as Rep. Gerard Cassidy (D - Brockton), who is co-chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, addressed this by stating a veterans-related bill is being prepared for May and will address programs and benefits extension. This was also voted down on a 27-129 (RC#101).
Earmarks:
The inclusion of 748 earmarks added $80.3 million to the House budget. Here are some noteworthy legislators that filed the most earmarks:
Rep. Bud Williams (D - Springfield) - filed a total of 31 earmarks, initially requesting $1,855,000, and receiving $320,000 after negotiations, resulting in 17% of his initial earmarks being accepted. From African Diaspora Mental Health Association for mental health and disability services to creating the Springfield Veterans First (NABVET) Outreach Center, his requests encompassed a diverse range of initiatives aimed at addressing community needs in Western Mass.
Rep. Carlos Gonzalez (D - Springfield) - filed 26 earmarks, initially requesting $7,790,000 and receiving $3,020,000 after negotiations. From initiating the Latino Economic Development Corporation for start-up and existing small businesses in downtown Springfield, to funding the operation of the Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center, his earmarks spanned various sectors, reflecting a commitment to economic development and community enrichment.
Rep. Frank Moran (D - Lawrence) - filed 23 earmarks, asking for $26,175,000 and receiving $425,000, resulting in only a 2% approval rate coming from the House debates. From requesting funds for the Berkeley community garden to supporting the Community Music Center of Boston, this legislator's earmarks covered a broad spectrum of community-focused and cultural projects.
Rep. Tom Stanley (D - Waltham) - filed 11 earmarks for an amount of $55,005,000 and received approximately 92% of it, totaling $50,705,000. From increasing the allocation for Elder Supportive Housing to mandating Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to inform MassHealth beneficiaries aged 65 and over about voluntary program options, including Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) plans and Senior Care Options (SCO) plans, this legislator's earmarks demonstrated a strong focus on elder care and healthcare accessibility.
Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik (D - Gardner) - filed 5 earmarks totaling $375,000, and ended up securing 7% more than his initial request at $400,000! From supporting Growing Places for the operation of their North Central food processing center to aiding GAAMHA Inc in their efforts to assist substance use disorder cases, this legislator's earmarks highlighted a dedication to addressing critical human services with efficient resource allocation.
In reviewing the earmark requests and allocations of these representatives, it's evident that each legislator approached funding priorities with unique strategies and outcomes. While some, like Rep. Tom Stanley, secured substantial portions of their requested funds, others faced significant reductions in their allocations, such as Rep. Frank Moran. Nevertheless, each representative demonstrated a commitment to addressing diverse community needs, ranging from mental health services to economic development and substance use disorder support. Despite variations in success rates, their efforts reflect a dedication to advocating for their constituents and striving to enhance the well-being of their respective communities.
Additionally, new line-items worth $15.5 million were allocated for critical areas such as Group Insurance Commission, HIV/AIDS prevention, METCO, Project Safe Neighborhood.
As highlighted by the Mass Taxpayers Foundation, "The category of spending that saw the largest increase was Labor and Economic Development,” which was “predominantly driven by over 200 local earmarks added to just one line-item.” This emphasizes how budget allocations are fluid and how an extensive set of priorities influence budgetary decisions.
It’s not surprising that budget analysis is hard. InstaTrac’s whole mission is to do that heavy lifting for you. We have full summaries available of all amendments from all versions of the budget. For more information or to see a demo of our services, please visit www.instatrac.com!