Budget & Taxes

Report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two branches with reference to the House amendment to the Senate Bill making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects (Senate, No. 2540) (amended by the House by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of House document numbered 4265),-- reports, in part, a “Bill making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects.” (Senate, No. 2575).

H 4000 is a fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill that allocates funding to various Massachusetts state departments, programs, and activities. It specifies exact dollar amounts for agencies like the Department of Correction ($208,990,924), regional public libraries ($20,871,772), and emergency mitigation programs (e.g., $500,000 for Severe Winter Storm and Flooding). The bill primarily establishes budgetary allocations without introducing new policies or altering existing laws. It directly affects state agencies and programs receiving these funds during the 2026 fiscal year. (Note: The provided text includes unrelated legislative amendments at the end, but the core of H 4000 is this funding allocation.)

This bill allocates $425 million from the General Fund for supportive services and safe shelter for unhoused families in Massachusetts, with funds transferable to state agencies and workforce programs. It adds new requirements for the emergency housing assistance program, including mandatory disclosure of prior criminal convictions (excluding sealed/expunged records) and criminal record checks for applicants. The bill limits eligibility for certain families to six consecutive months of benefits, with hardship waivers available for veterans or those facing domestic violence. It also mandates written notices before benefit termination, multilingual resource handouts for participants, and updated eligibility procedures.