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How I Voted H.4001
- State Rep. Mark Sylvia
- Jun 19
- 11 min read
H.4001 An Act making appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions and certain activities of the commonwealth for the interest, sinking fund, and serial bond requirements, and for certain permanent improvements.
On April 30, I joined my colleagues in the House in voting - YES on a bipartisan FY26 House Budget (151 Y – 6 N). The FY26 House budget is a $61.47 billion spending plan that invests in the Commonwealth’s families, schools, infrastructure, and local priorities while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Our budget makes historic investments in public education, transportation, early education and care, public health, and housing—without raising taxes (no candy tax, no pharmacy assessment, no charitable donation cap). It reflects the House’s commitment to supporting working families and vulnerable populations, including continued funding for universal school meals and child care stabilization.
Budget amendments for our district
As part of the House budget, I was able to secure three amendments that will allocate funds to support programs and projects in our district. These amendments are included in the House budget and are not definitive until the final budget is approved by the House and Senate and it is signed by the Governor.
These amendments include:
· $40,000 for New Bedford’s Coastal Foodshed
· $25,000 for a new kitchen at the Fairhaven Council on Aging
· $25,000 for the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society and Museum
Next steps
The Senate completed its work on the FY26 budget on May 22nd. The House and Senate have appointed a conference committee to iron out any differences before final passage. Once passed, the budget goes to the Governor for approval.
To learn more about how the FY26 House or Senate budgets impact your community in the 10th Bristol District click on the button, then select the municipality and the submit button.
How I voted on certain amendments
More than 1,600 amendments were filed by Representatives as part of the FY26 Budget process. The majority sought support for programs and projects within our respective districts. However, a number of amendments were policy related and not specific to the FY26 operating budget.
Amendment 348 was filed by a representative in an effort to ban trans and non-binary youth from playing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.
During House debate the representative’s amendment was further amended by Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regionalization House Chair Jason Lewis. Chair Lewis’ further amendment, 348.1, directs the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education to collect data on this topic to ensure discussion is well-informed and fact-based.
The representative who filed Amendment #348 has also filed a stand-alone bill with the same goals. That bill is moving through the general legislative process, which includes a public hearing, written testimony, and in person testimony on the topic. The appropriate committee of jurisdiction will determine the status of his bill.
I supported Chair Lewis’ further amendment to collect data and the need for this bill to go through the general legislative process. There was a voice vote - no roll call vote. The further amendment (#348.1) from Chair Lewis passed.
Amendment #404 (Rejected - 21 YEAS to 136 NAYS)
I am incredibly concerned with the rise in utility bills/fees and the effect on our neighbors in the 10th Bristol and throughout the Commonwealth. I'm proud to have been at the forefront of conversations between multiple agencies including the Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Energy Resources, the Department of Public Utilities,and the Governor's Office as well as with Eversource. I will continue to work tirelessly towards reform that will make utilities more accountable to our citizens and I will keep pushing for relief for ratepayers.
Amendment #404 was filed by a representative to change the Commonwealth’s climate and clean energy laws/requirements to goals, suggesting this change would address costs. The amendment neither addresses ratepayer costs nor does it direct the Department of Public Utilities, the agency charged with overseeing utility rates, or any other energy agency to take any action.
Addressing the high cost of gas and electric on ratepayers requires immediate attention, An amendment offered during the budget process, that has not had hearings, no testimony from those impacted and that does not include language to address the problem, is not the answer. Therefore, I voted NO on the amendment (Roll Call).
I will continue to advocate for ratepayer relief, both short term and long term, engaging as I have since I was sworn in, with our energy agencies, the Attorney General, the utilities, constituents and my colleagues in the House on legislation.
Amendment #417 (Rejected - 27 YEAS to 129 NAYS)
This amendment would further restrict legal residents those who can utilize the emergency assistance program (shelters). Earlier this session, in an effort that I voted to support, the House took action that implemented reforms restricting access of the emergency assistance program to legal residents of the Commonwealth.
In addressing Amendment #417, House Assistant Majority Leader Peisch stated that passing the amendment would have the effect of prohibiting long-time, legal, tax- paying residents from accessing the shelter system. The ultimate impact of that inevitably increases overall costs to taxpayers and would force Massachusetts residents in need out on the street.
I voted NO on this amendment for the reasons described above.
The Governor has provided updates on the emergency assistance program since both legislative and executive branch reforms were implemented demonstrating that they are working - including (1) the shelter population has decreased, (2) the deadlines established as part of these reforms, will be met sooner than what had been set and (3) all hotel shelters will be closed this summer.
Amendment #554 (Rejected - 25 YEAS to 131 NAYS)
This amendment would require local police to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement in civil detainers. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s 2017 decision in Lunn v. Commonwealth provided clarity on the issue of local police assisting federal law enforcement in the case of a criminal vs. civil detainer.
Per the Lunn Decision, local police currently cooperate with federal immigration enforcement when there is a criminal detainer/warrant. However, when there is a civil detainer (non-criminal) the Lunn Decision makes clear, it is a violation of the MA Constitution to hold a subject once their matter is concluded.
I believe it is important for local law enforcement to work with both state and federal law enforcement consistent with the MA and US Constitution. In conversations I have had with local law enforcement in the 10th Bristol District, there is clarity on how and when local law enforcement should engage federal immigration enforcement under existing law.
If there is to be any change in law on this topic, I believe it must go through the correct legislative process, with hearings, expert testimony, and legal analysis/review. Pushing an amendment during the budget process that has significant constitutional implications and that will impact our communities and local law enforcement is not appropriate.
For these reasons, I voted NO on this amendment.
OVERVIEW OF FY26 HOUSE BUDGET
House’s FY26 Fair Share Investments | |||
Education | Transportation | ||
Child Care Grants to Providers | $360 million | CTF Transfer to MBTA | $450 million |
Minimum Per Pupil Aid | $240 million | MBTA Academy | $40 million |
Universal School Meals | $190 million | MBTA Water Transportation Grants | $10 million |
Free Community College | $94 million | CTF Transfer to RTA | $110 million |
Financial Aid Expansion | $80 million | CTF for Debt Service and Additional Bonding Capacity | $100 million |
Childcare Supports | $53 million | CTF Transfer to the Mass Transportation Trust Fund | $55 million |
School Transportation Reimbursements | $50 million | ||
MassReconnect | $24 million | ||
Green SchoolWorks | $20 million | ||
Income Eligible Waitlist | $15 million | ||
Early Literacy | $15 million | ||
State University SUCCESS | $14 million | ||
State University Funding Formula | $10.5 million | ||
Targeted Scholarships | $10 million | ||
Community Colleges Funding Formula | $9.5 million | ||
TOTAL | $1.185 billion | TOTAL | $765 million |
Local Aid and Education
The FY26 House budget funds Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) at $1.308 billion, and Chapter 70 education funding at $7.121 billion, representing a $257.2 million increase over the FY25 budget. The budget also funds the fifth year of a six-year implementation plan for the Student Opportunity Act (SOA), which was enacted in 2019 to ensure that public schools have the necessary resources to provide high-quality education to students, regardless of zip code or income level. The budget provides an additional $120 per pupil in minimum aid supplements, increasing the minimum aid total to $150 per pupil. Additionally, the budget includes the following education initiatives:
$483.2 million for Circuit Breaker Special Education reimbursement
$199 million for 100 percent charter school reimbursement
$122.1 million for regional school transportation
$28.7 million for homeless student transportation
The House’s FY26 budget continues to fully fund universal free school meals for every public-school student in the Commonwealth. Massachusetts is one of only six states in the country that mandate district participation for free school meals for all students, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Additionally, the House’s FY26 budget establishes a 15-member vocational school admissions task force to review admissions policies and standards of review. This budget also prohibits the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) from promulgating new regulations, and from amending regulations, until the completion of a report by the task force.
Public Transportation
The House budget includes a record investment of $687 million for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), as well as $204 million for the Regional Transit Authorities that serve commuters across Massachusetts. These investments include:
$637 million operating transfer to the MBTA, including funds for reduced MBTA fares for riders with low incomes
$204 million to support operations and transit improvements at the state’s 15 Regional Transit Authorities
$40 million to create an MBTA Academy to support recruiting and training efforts, and to establish a pipeline for a skilled workforce across departments
$10 million for grants for ferry services
Early Education and Care
Continuing the House’s longstanding commitment towards investing in the early education and care (EEC) workforce, the House budget includes $1.67 billion, $126.3 million more than FY25, to sustain recent rate increases and other historic investments in child care access and affordability across the Commonwealth in FY26. Other early education and care investments include:
$475 million for Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants
$448.2 million for child care for children involved with the Department of Children & Families and the Department of Transitional Assistance
$517.6 million for child care for low-income families
$15 million to reduce the income-eligible waitlist
$20 million for child care resource and referral agencies
$18.5 million for Head Start grants
$7.5 million for an EEC educator scholarship program
$7.5 million for an EEC educator loan forgiveness program
Higher Education
The House budget allocates $838 million for the University of Massachusetts system, $416 million for community colleges, and $409 million for state universities. Other higher education investments include:
$255.2 million for scholarships
$14 million for the Community College SUCCESS program
$14 million for the State University SUCCESSS program
$10 million for a new UMass system SUCCESS program
$14.2 million for the Early College Initiative
$13.1 million for the Dual Enrollment Partnership
Affordable and Accessible Housing
The FY26 budget maintains the House’s commitment to protect renters and homeowners across the Commonwealth from eviction and homelessness by investing in the following programs:
$275 million for the Emergency Assistance (EA) program, which provides shelter to families with children and pregnant women
$258.1 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
$207.5 million for Rental Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program
$57.3 million for HomeBase
$10 million for shelter workforce assistance
$8.4 million for the Home and Healthy for Good program, including $500,000 for the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance
The House budget makes rent more affordable for tenants or prospective tenants by prohibiting a real estate broker from charging a broker’s fee (commission or other fee) to a tenant or prospective tenant for finding an apartment to lease or rent if the tenant did not initiate contact with the broker. The budget only allows fees to be paid by a tenant or prospective tenant if all the following requirements are met: the tenant or prospective tenant initiated the contact with the broker; the tenant or prospective tenant received a rental brokerage fee disclosure from the broker; and the tenant or prospective tenant agreed to all terms and conditions of the brokerage fee disclosure in writing.
Workforce Development
The House budget funds the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development at $113.4 million. Additionally, it invests in the following initiatives:
$58.9 million for Adult Basic Education Services
$20.9 million for Labor and Workforce Development Shared Services
$18.9 million for DTA Employment and Training Services
$15.2 million for Summer Jobs for At Risk Youth
$9 million for Career Technical Institutes
$10 million for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund
$8.3 million for One Stop Career Centers
$6.5 million for School-to-Career Connecting Activities
$3.3 million for Registered Apprenticeship Expansion
$3.1 for Career and Technical Education Grants
Energy and Environmental Affairs
The House’s budget invests $505.4 million in Energy and Environmental Affairs, including:
$163.4 million for the Department of Conservation and Recreation
$85.3 million for the Department of Environmental Protection
$67.2 million for the Department of Agricultural Resources
$63.4 million for the Clean Water Trust
The House budget also includes a $25 million transfer to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and $20 million in continued support for Green SchoolWorks program to decarbonize and increase efficiency in our schools through green energy projects. It also includes a $14 million transfer to the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund, which was created last year for permanent emergency disaster relief from natural disasters or other catastrophic events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, landslides, extreme winds, and extreme temperatures.
Health and Human Services
The House budget includes $22.43 billion for MassHealth, including $13.8 million in primary care rates and $5.3 million in behavioral health investments in outpatient and substance use disorder services.
The House budget extends the Health Connector’s ConnectorCare Pilot program from two years to three years and expands its eligibility from 300% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to 500% FPL. There were 51,237 people enrolled in ConnectorCare Pilot as of June 2024. The House budget also establishes a nine-member task force to address barriers and impediments to telehealth across state lines which must issue a report to facilitate interstate medical practice and the practice of telemedicine.
The House’s FY25 budget invests in the human services workforce, which provides services to our most vulnerable residents, by including $207 million for Chapter 257 rates for health and human service workers, and $132 million for rate increases for nursing facilities. It also funds the following initiatives:
$12.6 million for the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative
$4.9 million in workforce development for funding for nurses through recruitment bonuses, educator funding, and testing
$3.2 million for the Besty Lehman Center for Patient Safety
$29.5 million for Councils on Aging
The House budget makes investments controlling the cost of living by lowering food costs and ensuring access to our most vulnerable populations. It includes $55 million for the Emergency Food Assistance program, $20 million for the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program, which provides a dollar-for-dollar match to SNAP recipients purchasing locally grown healthy food, and $8.4 million for the SNAP for low-income workers program.
Public Health and Mental Health
The House budget funds the Department of Public Health at $1.05 billion and the Department of Mental Health at $1.28 billion for FY26. Investments include:
$194.5 million for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS)
$35 for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention
$14.3 million for statewide and community-based suicide prevention
$10.4 million for community health centers, including $1 million for a new gender-affirming care program
$661.9 million for adult mental health supports
$128.6 million for child and adolescent services
$5 million for DHM loan forgiveness program
Veterans’ Services
The Executive Office of Veterans’ Services provides educational opportunities, outreach centers and service benefits, as well as personal care services through the Veterans’ Homes in Chelsea and Holyoke. The House budget includes the following investments:
$81.8 million for Veterans’ Benefit Payments
$79.8 million for the Veterans’ Homes in Chelsea and Holyoke
$9.5 million for Veterans’ Outreach Centers
$4 million for Veterans’ Homelessness Services
Criminal Justice
The House budget continues to invest in programs and policies that uphold our commitment to criminal justice reform by reducing recidivism rates and increasing access to justice and inmate services. It includes the following investments:
$33.7 million for the Office of Community Corrections
$16.1 million for Community Based Reentry Services
$7 million for Emerging Adults Pre-and-Post Release Reentry Grants
$3 million for Housing Assistance for Reentry Transition
$2.75 million for Reentry Workforce Development and Supportive Services
$1.4 million for the School of Reentry
$51 million for Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp. to provide legal services to the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable populations
$10 million transfer to the Communications Access Trust Fund to provide free phone calls for inmates and their families
$5 million for the Immigration Legal Assistance Fund for non-violent offenders
$3.3 million for Prisoners’ Legal Services
$3 million to implement an access-to-counsel pilot program to provide legal representation for low-income families in eviction proceedings
To read more "How I Voted" click here.
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