House finished budget after 3 days of debate

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May 1, 2025 - 18:30

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House finished budget after 3 days of debate

After three days of extensive debate, adding tens of millions of dollars to the bottom line, the House passed their nearly $61.5 billion dollar statewide spending plan.

Passing a budget is one of the few constitutional requirements of the state body, and this year included 1,650 amendments packaged into seven consolidated mega-amendments. Combined, these amendments covered dozens of key policy issues and added $81 million dollars to the bottom line. The budget still sits about half a million dollars lower than Healey's draft, although it's important to note that Healey submitted her draft before federal funding concerns arose.

The budget passed 151-6, with one Representative abstaining from voting.

The debate also shined a spotlight on some disputed policies in the House from civil immigration detainers, to the migrant crisis, to clean energy, to public transportation systems. In every case, Democrats shot down Republicans efforts to make any sort of significant policy change.

There is still no clear plan for budget adjustments should the Bay State lose federal funding, as the president has repeatedly threatened.

Now, the Senate will create their own budget draft and iron out the differences with the House. By summer, a joint budget draft will sit on Healey's desk for her vetoes and signature. Notably, House and Senate negotiators consistently fail to meet their July 1 joint budget deadline, so it is likely we will see interim budgets passed to hold the state over until a deal can be struck.

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