Mass Senate audit information via Senate President Karen Spilka

Via Senate President Karen Spilka:

"If you are interested in reviewing Senate audits, payroll, or expenditures please visit the links or scan the QR codes below."

Senate expenditures (link #1) ->   https://cthruspending.mass.gov/#!/year/2025/explore/0/department/SENATE+(SEN)/0/cabinet_secretariat

Senate payroll (link #2) ->   https://cthrupayroll.mass.gov/#!/year/2025/full_time_employees,others/pay1,pay2,pay3,pay4/explore/0-0-0/department_division/SENATE+(SEN)/0/position_title

Senate audits (link #3) ->   https://malegislature.gov/ClerksOffice/Senate/Audits

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/16pV2Ht51Q/

Mass Senate audit information via Senate President Karen Spilka

Senator Rausch Tapped as Senate Chair of Environment and Local Gov. Committees

State Senator Becca Rausch has been tapped by Senate President Karen Spilka to lead not one but two policy committees that likely will see significant legislation move through their subject areas this term, including proposals directly from Governor Healey. 

Senator Rausch Tapped as Senate Chair
of Environment and Local Gov. Committees

Senator Rausch was reappointed as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, her third consecutive term at the helm, which should receive an anticipated environmental bond bill from the Governor once filed. Senator Rausch also returns as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, which she led during her first term and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, thrusting the committee's work into the spotlight in order to ensure local governments could continue to function. Governor Healey has already refiled her Municipal Empowerment Act, proposing changes to local procurement rules, local taxation options, hybrid access to public meetings, and more. 

"I am deeply honored and proud to chair not one but two legislative committees for the Massachusetts Senate this term, and truly grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka for her confidence in my leadership and policy-shaping skills and experience," said Senator Becca Rausch. "The Environmental Committee's work on plastic reduction, water, wetlands, air, trees, pesticides, environmental justice, and more is critical to achieving our climate action goals, and increasingly important as the federal administration slashes the EPA's budget and turns its back on environmental protection. Likewise, the work of the Municipalities Committee impacts every town and city in the entire Commonwealth and provides a significant opportunity to empower our local government partners, improve efficiency, and enhance access to public bodies and resources. These positions carry responsibility to help mold legislation and policy that directly impact our families, businesses, and communities, and I look forward to the important work ahead." 

Rausch is one of only four Senators to chair two joint committees this session. She will also serve as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on the Census, her second consecutive term in that position, and as a member of five additional Joint Committees: Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities; Election Laws; Revenue; State Administration and Regulatory Oversight; and Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development. 

Voices of Franklin: J Garland says candidate's claim is "empty words"

Here’s an example of empty words: the Republican candidate for State Senate claims to run on “accountability” and yet failed to satisfy even the most basic of her own accountability requirements: timely reporting of her campaign finances.

Candidates for the legislature were required to file pre-election deposit reports with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance by October 28. That deadline came and went several days ago. Ms. Videira has failed to complete this basic task.

If voters want a real, proven champion of transparency and accountability, they should vote to reelect Senator Becca Rausch. 

Sincerely,

Julie Garland

Wrentham, MA

Correspondence with Ms Videra returned this reply:

"I thank you for the courtesy update regarding the upcoming publication. When covering the story, please highlight that a recent loss in our family has delayed our filing compliance and we are working with OCPF directly to resolve this matter. "

Screengrabs submitted to support claim of noncompliance

OCPF page with requirement for filing within 8 days of elections

OCPF page for D Videra showing no report activity as required

You can search the OCPF site -> https://ocpf.us/Home/Index

If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Consider taking part in the next Citizen Legislative Seminar on Oct 29-30, 2024

"Have you ever wanted to be a State Senator – even for a day? 

You’re in luck! The Citizens’ Legislative Seminar is a chance to learn from Senators and participate in a simulated hearing and Senate session. 

Interested and able to attend on Oct. 29 & 30? 

Contact me! becca.rausch[at]masenate.gov"
#mapoli

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/C_sw48YuouE/

I was fortunate to participate in the April sessions. While I had developed a good understanding of the legislative process during my many years reporting and talking with our State Senators and Representatives, the 2-day experience in the State House is well worth it. 

As I write this, I realize that I did not formally do a recap of the two days to share here. I think the budget discussion took priority for my time. I'll add it to my "To Do" list and get something published before this new session starts in October. 

If you are interested in finding out more about what the sessions cover, let me know and I can arrange to answer your questions.

Consider taking part in the next Citizen Legislative Seminar on Oct 29-30, 2024

Massachusetts Legislature Enacts Comprehensive Midwifery And Maternal Health Bill

Thursday (August 15, 2024), the Massachusetts Legislature enacted a comprehensive midwifery and maternal health bill that creates a state licensure pathway for certified professional midwives and lactation consultants, encourages the creation of more freestanding birth centers, establishes a grant program to address maternal mental health and substance use disorder, and expands the statewide universal postpartum home visiting program. This legislation also mandates that insurers cover post-pregnancy mental health screenings and pediatric well visit appointments once per calendar year up to age six. 

“I am so immensely proud that the midwives and maternal health bill is on Governor Healey’s desk,” said Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham), lead Senate sponsor of the midwives and pediatric appointment bills.  “In addition to joining the 38 other states that already license certified professional midwives, this single legislative package squarely addresses our maternal health crisis, honors patient choice in maternal care, improves patient outcomes, reduces inequities in maternal health care, lowers health care costs, enhances access to pediatric care, boosts post-pregnancy mental health care, and much more. With this reproductive justice bill, we significantly uplift people deciding for themselves whether, when, and how to parent. I cannot wait for our Governor to sign it into law.” 

A central pillar of the legislative package is licensure for certified professional midwives, or CPMs, a bill Rausch has filed and championed in the Massachusetts Senate. The Senate previously passed the midwifery licensure bill by unanimous vote in 2020, in Rausch’s first term. The bill creates the Board of Registration in Midwifery within the Department of Public Health (DPH) to license and provide oversight of licensed CPMs, enhancing their professional self governance, practice autonomy, and authority to use important and life-saving medication. The bill also ensures equitable reimbursement of certified nurse-midwives by requiring that they receive payment rates equal to those for the same services performed by a physician under MassHealth. 

In an effort to proactively address mental health needs, the legislation requires MassHealth and commercial insurance coverage for post-pregnancy depression screenings for all post-pregnancy patients, without regard to how a pregnancy may have ended. The legislation also requires screenings to be offered at maternal and other adult care appointments, rather than exclusively at pediatric appointments, thereby reaching all post-pregnancy cases, including miscarriage. The inclusion of all post-pregnancy cases reflects a bill filed by Rausch earlier this term. Further, the DPH will develop and maintain a comprehensive digital resource center on post-pregnancy mental health conditions and services and conduct a pregnancy loss awareness program. 

Two other priorities championed by Rausch are encompassed in the legislation: a provision to improve patient safety by requiring the administration of ultrasound services be supervised by a licensed healthcare professional who provides medical care for pregnant individuals; and a provision to improve access to pediatric care that ensures coverage for wellness visits for young children once per calendar year, rather than once every 12 months, so families can stay on schedule with their children’s birthdays even if a doctor’s appointment has to be postponed or rescheduled. 

“Today the legislature took much needed action to strengthen access to physical and mental health care for pregnant people and new parents in Massachusetts,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “This is an important step to help ensure all expecting individuals regardless of background or economic status have access to the health services they need. I offer my sincere gratitude to Senator Friedman for her leadership of the committee, each conferee, and our partners in the House for their hard work on this legislation.” 

“Today we made important strides to reduce maternal health disparities by breaking down barriers to safe, adequate and equitable maternal health care,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing and of the conference committee. “This bill takes significant steps to expand coverage and protections for essential health services that are key to improving maternal and perinatal health outcomes, as well as increasing access to care for those whose needs and pain have often been ignored. While we still have work to do to cover and protect the full spectrum of pregnancy care, this legislation addresses some of the most pressing needs and improves the health care system statewide.” 

To encourage the creation of more freestanding birth centers, which operate independent from hospital systems, the bill requires DPH to promulgate updated regulations governing the licensure of freestanding birth centers to ensure safe, equitable, and accessible birth options. 

“It is with immense gratitude that we get to revel in this moment of progress, celebrating the Senate’s monumental commitment to improving the quality of life, maternal and mental health care for our most at-risk constituents. With the birth justice bill on its way to Governor Healey’s desk, we are taking a crucial step forward in tackling the Black maternal health crisis by expanding prenatal, postpartum, mental health, midwifery, and doula care, while enabling the growth of free-standing birth centers across our Commonwealth,” said Senator Liz Miranda (D-Boston). “I extend my heartfelt thanks to the 28-member, Special Legislative Commission on Racial Inequities in Maternal Health for their vital recommendations, as well as the coalition of advocates who have committed unwavering support to seeing this bill through to the end. Together, we are advancing perinatal care and ensuring better health outcomes for individuals and families throughout our Commonwealth. I am proud to share this moment with you all and look forward to a brighter, more equitable future for all.” 

The legislation also requires that MassHealth cover noninvasive prenatal screenings to detect whether a pregnancy is at increased risk for chromosomal abnormalities for all pregnant patients regardless of age, baseline risk, or family history. The bill requires health insurers to provide coverage for medically necessary pasteurized donor human milk and products derived from it, serving as a critical source of nutrition for the growth and development of babies, particularly for vulnerable premature infants. To better support new mothers in their feeding journeys, the bill also authorizes the Board of Allied Health Professionals to license lactation consultants to ensure their services are eligible for reimbursement through the patient’s insurance.  

The legislation passed yesterday provides critical support for birthing people and their families during the postpartum period, including requiring DPH to conduct a public awareness campaign about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and to develop and maintain a digital resource center that will be available to the public. It also requires that perinatal individuals be offered a screening for postpartum depression and major depressive disorder, and that those services be covered by health insurance plans. To better address barriers in access to care and reduce racial inequities in maternal health, the bill expands the universal postpartum home visiting program administered by DPH and provides coverage for the program’s services.  

“Massachusetts has some of the best health outcomes in the country, but we have a glaring and persistent disparity in maternal health outcomes, especially when it comes to the experience of Black mothers,” said Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro), who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Public Health. “The maternal health bill passed by the Legislature will expand access to care for all mothers and ameliorate the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis here in Massachusetts. I am proud to stand behind so many brilliant women colleagues in advancing this vital legislation.”  

Additionally, the bill requires DPH to develop and disseminate public information about pregnancy loss to the public and perinatal health care workers to prioritize the physical and mental health care of patients affected. It also requires DPH to establish a program to conduct fetal and infant mortality reviews (FIMR) to identify social, economic, and systems level factors associated with fetal and infant deaths and inform public health policy programs. The bill also includes a provision that will allow Massachusetts residents to use earned paid sick time in the event of a pregnancy loss. 

The bill ensures that the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee will have access to essential records required to conduct thorough and timely reviews of maternal deaths and pregnancy complications. This will enable the Committee to formulate comprehensive recommendations to improving maternal outcomes and prevent mortality. The bill also establishes a grant program under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services aimed at addressing maternal mental health. This program will support the establishment or expansion of initiatives serving perinatal individuals, particularly those in underserved populations, to improve mental health, behavioral health, and substance use disorder. 

The bill establishes a nine-member task force to study the current availability of, and access to, maternal health services and care, as well as essential service closures of inpatient maternity units and acute-level birthing centers. The task force will identify methods of increasing financial investment in, and patient access to, maternal health care in the Commonwealth. 

Having passed both chambers, the bill now sits before the Governor for her consideration.  

Massachusetts Legislature Enacts Comprehensive Midwifery And Maternal Health Bill

Senate Passes Health Care Reform Boosting Safeguards Against For-Profit Entities

Yesterday (7/19/24), the Massachusetts Senate passed urgent reforms to the Commonwealth’s health care system to boost oversight and transparency in the market and improve patient access to prescribed medication and treatment.  

Following debate, the Senate approved the legislation by a vote of 38-2.  

The reforms in S.2871 come as Massachusetts continues to manage challenges related to private equity’s mismanagement in health care, which has created uncertainties for patients receiving care and the communities that the healthcare facilities serve. The legislation passed by the Senate would create strong systemic safeguards around private equity in healthcare, a significant step towards preempting future mismanagement.  

“This bill better protects Bay Staters from rising health care costs while maintaining access to high quality care,” said Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “I’m proud that this legislation includes two of my bills, which will expand cost containment tools to more comprehensively cover the health care industry and add oversight to more industry transactions, including expansions and corporate mergers. This legislation puts patients above profits and enhances transparency and accountability in health care market oversight. I am grateful to Senator Cindy Friedman, Senate President Karen Spilka, and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues for their leadership and partnership, as well as the dedicated folks at the Health Policy Commission (HPC) and the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) for their daily hard work and expertise.” 

Senate Passes Health Care Reform Boosting Safeguards Against For-Profit Entities

“Massachusetts is the health care capital of the world because we take seriously our responsibility to invest in and protect our systems, providers, and patients,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “As we stare down a health care market plagued by high costs and the fallout from private equity mismanagement, the Senate has doubled down on our responsibility to our residents, making us a national leader in safeguarding patients, expanding access to care, and holding private equity accountable. I’m grateful to the unmatched work of Senator Friedman, the work of my colleagues, and the countless advocates who have contributed their voices to this legislation.” 

“The Senate’s comprehensive health care market legislation passed today puts patients and providers back into the focus of the delivery of healthcare, rather than profits,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington). “To ensure that a crisis similar to that surrounding Steward Health Care does not infiltrate our state’s health care system ever again, this bill modernizes and strengthens the health care oversight and transparency tools we have in the Commonwealth. This bill also provides protections for patients and providers, affords our health care regulatory agencies the needed flexibility and scope to oversee the industry as it evolves, and increases the financial transparency of major market players. I thank Senate President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, and my Senate colleagues for their attention to these issues. Residents of Massachusetts deserve health care that is accessible, affordable, and high quality, and this bill continues the Senate’s goal to deliver just that.” 

Provisions of An Act enhancing the health care market review process include:  

Expanding oversight of Private Equity.

 Leading nationwide efforts, the bill expands oversight of private equity firms, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and management services organizations (MSOs) involved with Massachusetts health care providers and provider organizations. In conjunction with the Senate’s efforts to rein in the costs of prescription drugs through the PACT Act, the bill expands oversight of pharmaceutical manufacturing companies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and creates a licensing structure for PBMs.  

In addition to PBMs, the bill establishes licensing structures for certain health care providers currently not licensed, and therefore not subject to Department of Public Health (DPH) oversight, including office-based surgical centers, urgent care centers, and health care practices. 

Improving Access to Primary Care.

Access to primary care is proven to reduce health care costs, yet there is an extreme shortage of primary care providers in Massachusetts and across the country. To understand how to best build a sustainable primary care system, the bill establishes a task force to study and make recommendations to stabilize the system and workforce, increase financial investment in primary care, and improve patient access to primary care. 

The bill moves state health planning to the Health Policy Commission (HPC) and the health care resources inventory to the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) to better align with the work of these agencies. In developing the state health plan, HPC is directed to consider health equity goals. The bill also directs HPC and CHIA to set and measure health care affordability goals for the Commonwealth. 

Keeping Health Insurance Affordable.

The bill establishes a health insurance bureau within the Division of Insurance (DOI) to conduct rate reviews of premium rates for health benefit plans, oversee the small group and individual health insurance market and affordable health plans—including coverage for young adults—and disseminate information to consumers about health insurance coverage. 

Cutting Red Tape for Prescription Access.

In response to an increased number of consumer reports of delays accessing medications due to the need for prior authorizations, the bill requires a new insurance carrier to honor any prior authorizations approved by a previous carrier for at least 90 days following a patient’s enrollment in the new health plan.  

The bill also requires that a prior authorization approval for medication and treatment prescribed for chronic disease management must be valid for the length of the prescription, up to 12 months. 

Strengthening the Health Policy Commission (HPC).

To strengthen the HPC’s work to advance a transparent and equitable health system, the bill adds members with expertise in hospital administration and in the development and pricing of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, or medical devices to its Board of Commissioners.  

The bill adjusts the HPC’s setting of the health care cost growth benchmark—the limit of how much the HPC believes health care costs should grow over time—from one year to two years, to better account for irregularities in costs. 

Boosting Transparency at the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA).

To increase transparency, the bill authorizes CHIA to collect information from additional health care entities such as pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers. The bill strengthens HPC’s and CHIA’s ability to ensure compliance with data reporting requirements by health care entities by enhancing the penalties for non-compliance. 

Protecting Practitioner Autonomy.

This bill prevents businesses, such as MSOs and corporate employers of health care practitioners, from encroaching on the clinical autonomy of practitioners. While MSOs were created to provide practices with administrative and business support, in recent years, private equity firms and other corporations have started using MSOs to increase profits by controlling practices, and by extension, the practitioners who work in them. Patients deserve safe and appropriate care that is based on a practitioner’s best professional judgment without the influence of business interests. 

Managing Costs and Improving Quality of Care.

The bill updates several programs aimed at constraining health care costs and improving care quality, including the Determination of Need (DoN), Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), and Material Change Notice (MCN), and programs. 

Determination of Need.

This bill increases coordination between state agencies involved in health care market review by clarifying that DPH should not act on a DoN application until HPC, CHIA, the Attorney General, or other relevant agencies have been given reasonable opportunity to supply required information. This change will ensure that DPH has all the information it needs to more fully assess a proposal’s potential impact on the provision of health care in the Commonwealth. 

Performance Improvement Plan.

The PIP is a process by which HPC can require entities that have exceeded the cost growth benchmark to reduce their spending. The bill provides more flexibility for CHIA to refer health care entities with excessive spending to HPC, which can require the referred entity to file and implement a PIP. In addition, the HPC is given new authority to assess a civil penalty instead of requiring a PIP. 

Material Change Notice.

A MCN is a requirement for providers and provider organizations to notify HPC of a proposed change to their operations or governance structure at least 60 days before the change is to go into effect. The bill adds new types of transactions that require a MCN, including significant new for-profit investment and acquisitions by for-profit entities, such as large for-profit physician organizations and private equity firms, as well as the sale of assets for the purposes of a lease-back arrangement.  

Crucially, the bill gives HPC new authority to require providers to address concerns that their proposed change will significantly increase consumer costs, reduce the quality of care, or reduce access to services. 

A previous version of this bill having passed the House of Representatives, the two branches will now reconcile the differences between the bills, before sending it to the Governor’s desk. 

The legislation can be found -> https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S2871

MA Senate Passes 2025 Budget to Make Community College Free, Invest in Every Region, Open Childcare Seats

The Massachusetts Senate has unanimously approved a $57.999 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). Following robust and spirited debate, the Senate adopted over 400 amendments and took 43 roll call votes, adding $89.6 million in spending for statewide initiatives and local priorities for communities around the Commonwealth.  

The budget builds on the Senate’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while delivering historic levels of investment in every level of education, regional equity, and mental health, reflecting the Chamber’s commitment to creating a more affordable, equitable, and competitive Commonwealth.   

“Today our chamber took a vote of confidence in every Massachusetts resident going to school, raising a family, and working to make ends meet —today we took a vote for an affordable, competitive, and equitable Commonwealth,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “This budget is an investment in our people, and it is an investment in our collective future. I want to thank Chair Rodrigues, Vice Chair Friedman, Assistant Vice Chair Comerford, the Committee, and all my Senate colleagues and staff for their thoughtful and collaborative work on this great budget.” 

“The Fiscal Year 2025 budget overwhelmingly passed by the Senate makes transformative investments in education, regional equity, and builds upon the Commonwealth’s workforce economy,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “These historic measures enable residents to remain in the state, solidifying our economic future for generations to come. The FY 25 budget is also a balanced and responsible plan, centered on sustainability and regional equity by maximizing revenues and building upon the progress we’ve already made in key sectors of the state economy. With a transparent and inclusive amendment process, we were able to improve our original budget and make even further strides in our education, economic development, environmental, and health and human services priorities. Thank you to all my Senate colleagues, especially members on the Committee; whose thoughtful input, advocacy, and collaboration, helped to develop and shape this comprehensive budget plan, I would also like to offer a heartfelt thank you to Senate President Spilka for her compassionate and resolute leadership as we work together to rebuild our economy and grow our state’s long-term economic health,”  

“The Senate’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget ensures stability, regional equity, and a high level of quality for the programs that our municipalities and residents need and rely on,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “As we grapple with rising costs and access challenges within the Massachusetts health care system, I am especially proud that this budget utilizes tools to maximize our health care dollars for the facilities and providers that serve our most vulnerable residents. I thank Senate President Spilka, Senate Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues, and my Senate colleagues for their thoughtful approach and dedication to passing a budget that balances fiscal constraints with targeted, impactful investment in our Commonwealth.” 

“Universally free community college and record public higher education investments. Significant funding for rural roads and bridges, local public health, K-12 schools, Unrestricted Government Aid, PILOT, Regional Transit Authorities, food security, and more,” said Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Assistant Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education. “I am proud of the many ways this budget rises to meet the needs and opportunities of all the Commonwealth’s people. Thank you to Senate President Karen Spilka and Chair Michael Rodrigues for your leadership in crafting this compassionate and visionary budget proposal.” 

The Committee’s budget recommends a total of $58 billion in spending, a $1.8 billion increase over the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) General Appropriations Act (GAA). This spending recommendation is based on a tax revenue estimate of $41.5 billion for FY25, which is $208 million less than revenues assumed in the FY24 GAA. This represents nearly flat growth, as agreed upon during the Consensus Revenue process in January, plus $1.3 billion in revenue generated from the Fair Share surtax. 

As the Commonwealth adjusts to a changing economic landscape and ongoing tax revenue volatility, the FY25 budget adheres to disciplined and responsible fiscal stewardship. It does not raise taxes, nor does it draw down available reserves from the Stabilization Fund or the Transitional Escrow Fund, while at the same time judicially utilizing one-time resources to maintain balance.  

The Senate’s budget continues responsible and sustainable planning for the future by continuing to grow the Rainy Day Fund, already at a historic high of over $8 billion. The Senate’s proposal would build the Commonwealth’s reserves to a healthy balance in excess of $9 billion at the close of FY25.  

Fair Share Investments 

Consistent with the consensus revenue agreement reached with the Administration and House of Representatives in January, the Senate’s FY25 budget includes $1.3 billion in revenues generated from the Fair Share surtax of 4 per cent on annual income above $1 million. As FY25 represents the second year where this source of revenue is available, the Committee’s budget invests these Fair Share revenues into an array of important initiatives to further strengthen our state’s economy by expanding access to quality public education and improving the state’s transportation infrastructure.  

Notable Fair Share education investments include:  

• $170 million for Universal School Meals.  
• $150 million for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) program to provide monthly grants to early education and care programs, which is matched with $325 million in funds from the General Fund and the High-Quality Early Education & Care Affordability Fund for a total investment of $475 million.  
• $117.5 million for MassEducate to provide free community college across the Commonwealth.   
• $105 million to expand financial aid programs for in-state students attending state universities through MASSGrant Plus, which is in addition to the $175.2M for scholarships funded through the General Fund.  
• $80 million for childcare affordability, creating more than 4,000 new subsidized childcare seats and expanding access to subsidized childcare to families making 85 per cent state median income.  
• $65 million for early education and care provider rate increases, to increase salaries for our early educators. 
• $15 million for the CPPI Pre-K Initiative, matching $17.5 million in funds from the General Fund, for a total of $32.5M to support the expansion of universal pre-kindergarten, including in Gateway Cities.  
• $10 million for wraparound supports to boost community college and state university student persistence, which is matched with the $18 million in SUCCESS funds from the General Fund, for a total of $28 million.  
• $10 million for early literacy initiatives.  
• $7.5 million for school-based mental health supports and wraparound services.  
• $5 million for Early College and Innovation Pathways. 

Notable Fair Share transportation investments include: 

$250 million for the Commonwealth Transportation Fund (CTF), which will leverage additional borrowing capacity of the CTF and increase investments in transportation infrastructure by $1.1 billion over the next 5 years. This $250 million includes:  

• $127 million to double operating support for the MBTA.  
• $63 million in debt service to leverage additional borrowing capacity.  
• $60 million in operating support for MassDOT.  
• $125 million for Roads and Bridges Supplemental Aid for cities and towns, including $62.5 million for local road funds through a formula that recognizes the unique transportation issues faced by rural communities.  
• $120 million for Regional Transit Funding and Grants to support the work of Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) that serve the Commonwealth, which together with General Fund spending funds RTAs at a record $214 million.  Fair Share funding includes:  
• $66 million in direct operating support for the Regional Transit Authorities.  
• $40 million for systemwide implementation of fare-free transit service.  
• $10 million to incentivize connections between regional transit routes.  
• $4 million to support expanded mobility options for the elderly and people with disabilities.  
• $24.5 million for Commuter Rail capital improvements.  
• $23 million to support implementation of a low-income fare relief program at the MBTA.   
• $15 million for municipal small bridges and culverts.  
• $7.5 million for water transportation, funding operational assistance for ferry services.   

Education 

The Senate Ways and Means FY25 budget proposal implements the Senate’s Student Opportunity Plan by shaping polices to make high-quality education more accessible and by making significant investments in the education system, from our youngest learners to adults re-entering the higher education system.   

Recognizing that investing in our early education and care system directly supports the underlying economic competitiveness of the Commonwealth, the Senate’s budget makes a $1.58 billion investment in early education and care. The FY25 budget will maintain operational support for providers, support the early education and care workforce, and prioritize accessibility and affordability throughout our early education and care system. Notable funding includes: 

$475 million for a full year of operational grants the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) Grant program, this is the second fiscal year in a row that a full year of C3 grants have been funded using state dollars in the annual state budget. The Committee’s budget also makes the C3 program permanent, while also adding provisions to direct more funds from the C3 program to early education and programs that serve children receiving childcare subsidies from the state and youth with high needs. Currently, more than 92 percent of early education and care programs in the Commonwealth receive these grants. This program, which has become a model nationwide, has proven successful at increasing the salaries of early educators, reducing tuition costs for families, and expanding the number of available childcare slots beyond pre-pandemic capacity.  

• $80 million for childcare affordability, creating more than 4,000 new subsidized childcare seats and expanding eligibility for subsidized childcare to families making 85 per cent of the state median income. 
• $65 million for center-based childcare reimbursement rates for subsidized care, including $20 million for a new reimbursement rate increase. 
• $53.6 million for quality improvement initiatives at early education and care providers, with $6 million supporting the Summer Step Up program. 
• $32.5 million for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative, which empowers school districts to expand prekindergarten and preschool opportunities through public-private partnerships. This is double the amount that was appropriated for this initiative in FY23. 
• $20 million for Childcare Resource and Referral Centers to assist parents, childcare providers, employers, and community groups in navigating the state’s early education and care landscape.  
• $18.5 million for grants to Head Start programs, which provide crucial early education and childcare services to low-income families. 
• $5 million for grants to early education and care providers for childhood mental health consultation services. 
• $2.5 million for a new public-private matching pilot program to encourage employers to create and support new childcare slots, with an emphasis on serving children most in-need.  

Building off the Senate’s unanimous passage of the comprehensive EARLY ED Act in March, the Committee’s FY25 budget codifies several provisions of the bill, transforming the early education sector by improving affordability and access for families, increasing pay for early educators, and ensuring the sustainability and quality of early education and care programs.  

In K-12 education, the Senate follows through on the commitment to fully fund and implement the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) by Fiscal Year 2027, investing $6.9 billion in Chapter 70 funding, an increase of $319 million over FY24, as well as increasing minimum Chapter 70 aid from $30 to $110 per pupil, delivering an additional $40 million in resources to school districts across the state. With these investments, the Senate continues to provide crucial support to school districts confronting the increasing cost pressures that come with delivering high-quality education to all students. 

In addition to the record levels of investment in early education and K-12, the Committee’s budget removes barriers to accessing public higher education by codifying into law MassEducate, a $117.5 million investment in universal free community college program that covers tuition and fees for residents, aimed at supporting economic opportunity, workforce development, and opening the door to higher education for people who may never have had access. The FY25 budget permanently enshrines free community college into law in an affordable, sustainable, and prudent manner across the Commonwealth, while leaving no federal dollars on the table.  

Other education investments include: 

• $492.2 million for the special education circuit breaker. 
• $198.9 million for charter school reimbursements. 
• $99.4 million to reimburse school districts for regional school transportation costs. 
• $28.3 million for higher education wraparound services, including $18.3 million in General Fund resources, to support wraparound supports to the influx of new students coming to community colleges campuses because of MassEducate.  During debate, the Senate added an amendment to fund $500,000for the Hunger Free Initiative. 
• $17.5 million for Rural School Aid supports. 
• $15 million for Early College programs and $13.1 million for the state’s Dual Enrollment initiative, both of which provide high school students with increased opportunities for post-graduate success. 
• $5 million to support continued implementation of the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Higher Education law, including $3 million for grants offered through the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment initiative to help high school students with intellectual disabilities ages 18–22 access higher education opportunities; and $2 million for the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Trust Fund. 
• $3 million for the Genocide Education Trust Fund, continuing our commitment to educate middle and high school students on the history of genocide. 
• $1 million for Hate Crimes Prevention Grants to support education and prevention of hate crimes and incidences of bias in public schools.  

Community Support 

The Committee’s budget—in addition to funding traditional accounts like Chapter 70 education aid—further demonstrates the Senate’s commitment to partnerships between the state and municipalities, dedicating meaningful resources that touch all regions and meet the needs of communities across the Commonwealth. This includes $1.3 billion in funding for Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), an increase of $38 million over FY24, to support additional resources for cities and towns.  

In addition to traditional sources of local aid, the Committee’s budget increases payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for state-owned land to $53 million, an increase of $1.5 million over FY24. PILOT funding is an additional source of supplemental local aid for cities and towns working to protect and improve access to essential services and programs during recovery from the pandemic. Other local investments include: 

• $214 million for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to support regional public transportation systems, including $120 million from Fair Share funds to support our RTAs that help to connect all regions of our Commonwealth. 
• $51.3 million for libraries, including $19 million for regional library local aid, $20 million for municipal libraries and $6.2 million for technology and automated resource networks. 
• $25.6 million for the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support local arts, culture, and creative economic initiatives. 

Health, Mental Health & Family Care 

The Senate budget funds MassHealth at a total of $20.33 billion, providing more than two million people with continued access to affordable, accessible, and comprehensive health care services. Other health investments include: 

• $3 billion for a range of services and focused supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 
• Nearly $2 billion to protect and deliver a wide range of mental health services and programs, including $622.3 million for Department of Mental Health adult support services, including assisted outpatient programming and comprehensive care coordination among health care providers. 
• $582.1 million for nursing facility Medicaid rates, including $112 million in additional base rate payments to maintain competitive wages in the Commonwealth’s nursing facility workforce. 
• $390 million for Chapter 257 rates to support direct-care providers across the continuum of care. 
• $198.9 million for a complete range of substance use disorder treatment and intervention services to support these individuals and their families. 
• $131 million for children’s mental health services. 
• $113 million for the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program to prevent service reductions and maintain accessible eligibility thresholds. 
• $75.8 million for domestic violence prevention services. 
• $30.9 million for Early Intervention services, ensuring supports remain accessible and available to infants and young toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities. 
• $33.8 million for Family Resource Centers to grow and improve the mental health resources and programming available to families. 
• $28.5 million for grants to local Councils on Aging to increase assistance per elder to $15 from $14 in FY 2024. 
• $26.7 million for student behavioral health services across the University of Massachusetts, state universities, community colleges, K-12 schools, and early education centers. 
• $25 million for emergency department diversion initiatives for children, adolescents, and adults.  
• $25.1 million for family and adolescent health, including $9.2 million for comprehensive family planning services and $6.7 million to enhance federal Title X family planning funding. 
• $20 million to recapitalize the Behavioral Health, Access, Outreach and Support Trust Fund to support targeted behavioral health initiatives. 
• $14.2 million for suicide prevention and intervention, with an additional $1.4 million for Samaritans Inc. and $1.1 million for the Call-2-Talk suicide prevention hotline. This investment will fully fund 988, the 24/7 suicide and crisis lifeline. 
• $14.5 million for maternal and child health, including $10.4 million for pediatric palliative care services for terminally ill children and a policy adjustment to ensure that children up to age 22 can continue to be served through the program.  
• $12.5 million for grants to support local and regional boards of health, continuing our efforts to build upon the successful State Action for Public Health Excellence (SAPHE) Program. 
• $6 million for Social Emotional Learning Grants to help K-12 schools continue to bolster social emotional learning supports for students, including $1 million to provide mental health screenings for K-12 students. 
• $5.5 million for Children Advocacy Centers to improve the critical supports available to children that have been neglected or sexually abused. 
• $3.9 million for the Office of the Child Advocate. 
• $3.75 million for the Massachusetts Center on Child Wellbeing & Trauma.  
• $2 million for grants for improvements in reproductive health access, infrastructure, and safety. 

Expanding & Protecting Opportunities 

The Senate remains committed to continuing an equitable recovery, expanding opportunity, and supporting the state’s long-term economic health. To that end, the Senate’s budget increases the annual child’s clothing allowance, providing a historic $500 per child for eligible families to buy clothes for the upcoming school year. The budget also includes a 10 per cent increase to Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) benefit levels compared to June 2024 to help families move out of deep poverty.  

In addition, the budget provides $87 million in critical funding to support a host of food security initiatives including $42 million for Emergency Food Assistance to assist residents in navigating the historical levels in food insecurity, and $20 million for the Health Incentives Program (HIP) to ensure full operation of the program to maintain access to healthy food options for SNAP households.  

Economic opportunity investments include: 

• $499.7 million for Transitional Assistance to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and $179 million for Emergency Aid to Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) to provide the necessary support as caseloads increase, and continue the Deep Poverty increases. 
• $59.7 million for adult basic education services to improve access to skills necessary to join the workforce. 
• $42 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program. 
• $20 million in Healthy Incentives Programs to maintain access to healthy food options for households in need. 
• $15.5 million for the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program. 
• $10.4 million for Career Technical Institutes to increase our skilled worker population and provide residents access to career technical training opportunities, which will combine with $12.3 million in remaining American Rescue Plan funding for the program. 
• $10 million for the Food Security Infrastructure Grant program. 
• $10 million for a Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant Program to provide economic support to communities disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system. 
• $5.4 million for the Innovation Pathways program to continue to connect students to trainings and post-secondary opportunities in the industry sector with a focus on STEM fields. 
• $5 million for Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, which will pair with $12.8 million in remaining American Rescue Plan funding for the program. 
• $5 million for the Secure Jobs Connect Program, providing job placement resources and assistance for homeless individuals. 
• $2.5 million for the Massachusetts Cybersecurity Innovation Fund, including $1.5 million to further partnerships with community colleges and state universities to provide cybersecurity workforce training to students and cybersecurity services to municipalities, non-profits, and small businesses. 

Housing 

As the Senate moves forward to shape a more fiscally sustainable path for the Commonwealth, affordable housing opportunities remain out of reach for too many. Longstanding housing challenges are being exacerbated by the influx of individuals and families migrating to Massachusetts, and a lack of federal financial assistance and immigration reform. To that end, the Committee’s budget invests $1.14 billion in housing, dedicating resources for housing stability, residential assistance, emergency shelter services, and homelessness assistance programs, ensuring the state deploys a humane, responsible, and sustainable approach to providing families and individuals in need with an access point to secure housing. 

The budget prioritizes relief for families and individuals who continue to face challenges brought on by the pandemic and financial insecurity, including $325.3 million for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters, in addition to the $175 million in resources passed in the recent supplemental budget, to place the Commonwealth’s shelter system on a fiscal glidepath into FY25, in addition to $197.4 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT). 

Other housing investments include: 

• $231.5 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), including $12.5 million in funds carried forward from FY24.   
• $115 million for assistance to local housing authorities.  
• $110.8 million for assistance for homeless individuals. 
• $57.3 million for the HomeBASE diversion and rapid re-housing programs. 
• $27 million for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), including $10.7 million in funds carried forward from FY24, to provide rental assistance to people with disabilities.  
• $10.5 million for assistance for unaccompanied homeless youth.  
• $9 million for the Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs). 
• $8.9 million for sponsored-based supportive permanent housing. 
• $8.9 million for the Home and Healthy for Good re-housing and supportive services program, including funding to support homeless LGBTQ youth 

The final FY25 Senate budget will be available on the Senate budget website.  https://malegislature.gov/Budget/SenateBudget

A conference committee will now be appointed to reconcile differences between the versions of the budget passed by the Senate and House of Representatives. 

CommonWealth Beacon coverage of the Senate budget actions ->   https://commonwealthbeacon.org/government/state-government/senate-budget-plan-makes-community-college-free-eliminates-rta-fares/

MA Senate Passes 2025 Budget to Make Community College Free, Invest in Every Region, Open Childcare Seats

Episode 42 starts with eclipse highlights and legislative seminar before discussing headlines (audio)

FM #1176 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1176 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.  

We continued making sense of climate on an almost extemporaneous discussion similar to what we recently had. Starting with highlights from Ted’s experience of the eclipse, and with my highlights from the Citizen Legislative Seminar where I spent 2 days in State House.

• NY Attorney General sues meat producer https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/29/new-york-jbs-climate-lawsuit

• Meat a contributor https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/04/us-banks-sabotaging-own-net-zero-plans-by-livestock-financing-report-claims 

• 80/20 rule strikes again https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/04/just-57-companies-linked-to-80-of-greenhouse-gas-emissions-since-2016 

• How to spot five of the fossil fuel industry’s biggest disinformation tactics https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/14/climate-disinformation-explainer?CMP=share_btn_url 

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 43 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.

Audio link ->   https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1176-making-sense-of-climate-42-04-16-24

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** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Episode 42 starts with eclipse highlights and legislative seminar before discussing headlines (audio)