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How I Voted H.4240 & H.4601
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- 4 days ago
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H.4240 An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities of the Commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund, and serial bond requirements, and for certain permanent improvements (VETO OVERRIDES)
On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, I voted YES on overrides of Governor Healey’s FY 26 budget vetoes as recommended by the House Committee on Ways and Means. A “yes” vote means that the House restored funding to certain line items in the FY 26 budget that the Governor had vetoed (cut). This means the amounts referenced below that were reduced, were restored by override votes. Below are the descriptions and override votes on these vetoes (as provided in the House Journal and State House News Service House Session Summary for October 8, 2025):
TRIAL COURTS STAFF: Governor’s veto in line item 0330-0300 (Administrative Staff), which was reduced by $9,338,252, to $350,736,748.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 127-22, the veto was OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
SEWER RATE RELIEF: Question came whether to override or sustain the governor's veto in line item 1231-1000 (DOR Commonwealth Sewer Rate Relief Fund), which was reduced by $1,500,000, to $0.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 141-10, the veto was OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
PARKS AND REC: Question came on overriding the governor's veto in line item 2810-0100 (State Parks and Recreation), which was reduced by $400,000, to $113,420,049.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 150-3, the veto was OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER: Question came on overriding the governor's veto in line item 4000-0051 (Family Resource Centers), which was reduced by $500,000, to $0.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 132-22, VETO OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
NURSING HOME RATES: Question came on overriding the governor's veto in line item 4000-0641 (MassHealth Nursing Home Supplemental Rates), which was reduced by $25 million, to $625,073,456.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 154-0, VETO OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
SERVICES FOR THE BLIND: Question came on overriding the governor's veto in line item 4110-1000 (Community Services for the Blind), which was reduced by $300,000, to $8,864,721.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 153-0, VETO OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
SUBSTANCE ADDICTION SERVICES: Question came on overriding the governor's veto in line item 4512-0200 (Bureau of Substance Addiction Services), which was reduced by $2.5 million, to $184,677,798.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 146-8, VETO OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
EARLY INTERVENTION: Question came on overriding the governor's veto in line item 4513-1020 (Early Intervention Services), which was reduced by $1,530,735, to $37,719,649.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 139-16, VETO OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
CAREER TECH: Question came on overriding the governor's veto in line item 7002-1091(Career Technical Institutes), which was reduced by $250,000, to $8,985,600.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 141-13, VETO OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
MANUFACTURING EXTENSION: Question came on overriding the governor's veto in line item 7003-0606 (Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership), which was reduced by $2 million, to $0.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 141-14, VETO OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
SHELTER WORKFORCE: Question came on overriding the governor's veto in line item 7004-0109 (Shelter Workforce Assistance), which was reduced by $5 million, to $5 million.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 131-24, VETO OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
HOUSING SERVICES: Question came on overriding the governor's veto in line item 7004-3036 (Housing Services and Counseling), which was reduced by $500,000, to $5,350,000.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 131-24, VETO OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
REGIONAL ECO DEV: Question came on overriding the governor's veto in line item 7007-0150 (Regional Economic Development Grants), which was reduced by $1 million, to $0.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 153-2, VETO OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
CHARTER SCHOOLS: Question came on overriding the governor's veto in line item 7061-9010 (Charter School Reimbursement), which was reduced by $19,898,807, to $179,089,258.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 155-0, VETO OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
TUFTS VETERINARY PROGRAM: Question came on overriding the governor's veto in line item 7077-0023 (Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine Program), which was reduced by $700,000, to $5,500,000.
BY A ROLL CALL VOTE OF 148-7, VETO OVERRIDDEN. I VOTED YES.
H.4601- An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects.
On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, I voted YES on H.4601 (including the consolidated amendments), a supplemental budget to address deficiencies, to make new necessary investments, and to close the books on Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). The legislation appropriates $2.25 billion in gross spending, at a net cost to the state of $750 million, representing a reduction of almost $200 million from the Governor’s original proposal. The bipartisan vote was 141 YAY and 14 NAY. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
The bill passed on Wednesday, appropriates $10 million for Health Care for All to conduct a public awareness campaign and to conduct health coverage enrollment assistance for communities at risk of losing health care coverage as a result of the new Medicaid reporting requirements that were put in place by the federal government’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
It invests $10 million for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, and includes $5 million in grants to reproductive health care providers. It also invests $15 million for a new Sports and Entertainment Fund grant program, for which $10 million will be set aside for the events related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The bill passed on Wednesday also includes a policy section that authorizes the Department of Public Health Commissioner to determine routine childhood immunizations and vaccination schedules, rather than relying on the recommendations of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
In addition to the appropriations, the bill also invests in the state’s future by depositing the remainder of the funds into an escrow account ($337.7 million), to support pensions ($18.8 million), and into the Other Postemployment Benefits Trust Fund ($18.8 million).
Additionally, the House accepted an amendment from Chair John Lawn that updates and restructures existing assessments on Massachusetts hospitals used to fund the Health Safety Net and related hospital support trust funds.
The changes modernize financial data used in the assessment, increase the amount hospitals contribute, and adjust how the resulting funds are distributed among hospitals.
The bill also addresses budget deficiencies, including:
• $1.67 billion in gross spending ($303 million net cost) for MassHealth
• $60.7 million for snow and ice removal
• $35 million for HomeBASE
• $14 million for the Section 35 program
• $12.5 million for no-cost calls
• $12 million for Universal School Meals
• $7.2 million for Department of Correction (DOC) Facilities operations
• $6.8 million for the Clean Water Trust Fund
• $3.5 million for State Police operations
• $700,000 for the Suffolk County District Attorney
Votes on Amendments: Consolidated Amendment A: 144 YAY and 11 NAY
Consolidated Amendment B: 151 YAY and 4 NAY
Rep. Sweezey (R-Duxbury) Amendment to be read in the negative - #53. This amendment required proof of American citizenship for the Home Base Program. In essence, Rep. Sweezey asked the House to vote down his amendment, but the procedural motion gave the Rep. the opportunity to speak on it. It was defeated by a voice vote.
Contact State Rep. Mark Sylvia: Mark.Sylvia@MaHouse.gov
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