Into Session’s 2nd Year
As we enter the second year of the 2025–2026 legislative session, all of the Association’s priority bills have now received public hearings, and several have advanced from the Joint Committee on Public Service.
Among them, H2787, Relative to Option B & C, filed by Rep. Tackey Chan, has been released to House Ways and Means. Our two bills, focused on protecting local retirees have also moved forward: H2799, filed by Rep. Mike Day, is now in House Third Reading, and S.1848, filed by Sen. Paul Feeney, has been released by the committee as well.
In addition, H2801, Relative to Health Insurance for Surviving Spouses, filed by Rep. Marjorie Decker, has advanced to the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance.
Both House and Senate versions of the legislation to increase the veterans’ bonus have also been released. The House bill, H2835, filed by Rep. Dennis Gallagher, has gone to House Ways and Means, while the Senate companion bill, S1918, filed by Sen. John Velis, has been sent to Senate Ways and Means. Senator Velis’ related bill redefining “veteran,” S1917, has likewise been released to Senate Ways and Means.
In past sessions, House and Senate versions of a bill were often bundled and moved together to a single committee. Under this session’s new rules, each branch is now releasing its own bills independently. We continue to meet regularly with legislators and leadership to advocate for our priorities, and we will share further updates in the next edition of The Voice.
FY2027 Budget Outlook
On December 16, the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees, together with the Governor’s budget office, convened the annual consensus revenue hearing for FY2027. At this hearing, the Department of Revenue and outside experts provide testimony on the state’s economic conditions and revenue expectations. The resulting consensus revenue estimate will guide the Governor’s FY2027 budget proposal as well as the House and Senate budget plans.
January marks the start of the months-long budget development process for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. Governor Healey will file her FY2027 budget in late January, after which the proposal will move to House Ways and Means for review and public hearings. The House and Senate will release their respective budget versions in April and May, with the goal of enacting a final budget by June 30.
Key components of the FY2027 budget will include the state’s fiscal health, balance sheet, tax and non-tax revenue assumptions, current- year performance, economic outlook, local aid and education funding, line-item recommendations, and various outside sections.