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On July 4, Governor Maura Healey signed the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) $60.9 billion state budget, a $60.9 billion plan that the administration calls fiscally responsible, lowers costs, protects essential care and services, and moves the Massachusetts economy forward.
However, the Governor also vetoed $130 million that had been included in the conference committee budget, resulting in a final budget that is more than $1 billion less than the H1 proposal and $130 million less than the final conference budget. The administration is also continuing an Executive Branch hiring freeze, halting a planned non-union manager pay raise scheduled for January, saving $17 million, and delaying payment on earmarked funds for local projects in the budget totaling approximately $125 million until later in the year when more is
The FY26 budget extends successful initiatives to make housing, transportation and education more affordable by funding universal free school meals, free community college and fare-free regional transit. The budget lowers child care costs for families—with $475 million in support for Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) to early education and care providers—and alleviates financial pressure on college students by providing an $85 million expansion of scholarships through the MASSGrant Plus financial aid program. The budget also codifies Governor Healey’s proposal to drive down housing costs by banning renter-paid broker’s fees,

Forty years ago (1985) MASC held its first Day on the Hill advocacy event. Then, as now, the key issues were funding; funding; and funding, with core competencies, collective bargaining, and concerns around local control rounding out the agenda.

Having received the two-thirds of the Board votes as necessary, current Chicago Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez has been recommended by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to Secretary Patrick Tutwiler as the next Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. Martinez has been one of three finalists considered by the Board, alongside former Texas Education Agency Deputy Commissioner Lily Laux and Executive Director of the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative Jack Elsey. The three finalists were interviewed last Thursday, April 17 at Mass Bay Community College.