Senate working "around the clock" on spending plans

BOSTON (SHNS) - Senate Democrats plan to roll out a surtax-backed spending bill Thursday and vote on it next week, inching the state closer to big education and transportation investments.

Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues told the News Service Wednesday that he will unveil the supplemental budget during a Thursday morning press conference in his office, followed by debate next Thursday. Senators will be able to file amendments until 2:30 p.m. Monday, the Westport Democrat said.

The House passed its $1.3 billion supplemental budget, fueled by excess income surtax revenues, on April 9.

Representatives allocated $353 million for education and $828 million for transportation. Revenues from the 4% surtax on household income above $1 million per year must be spent on education and transportation, according to the constitutional amendment voters approved in 2022.

The branches will eventually settle spending differences, likely with a six-person conference committee.

"There are different priorities, and we will explain all that tomorrow," Rodrigues said after a private caucus with Senate Democrats.

Senate Democrats are also preparing to announce their fiscal 2026 budget proposal. The House is on its third day of budget deliberations.

Rodrigues, pressed whether the Senate budget could come out next week, said, "We are gearing up to release our budget very soon, yes."

"We don't have a date certain yet," he continued. "We're ready. Senate Ways and Means has been working around the clock, literally since February, in writing both the Fair Share budget and the FY '26 budget."

The Senate plans to tackle the budget "in May, just before Memorial Day," Senate President Karen Spilka told the Springfield Regional Chamber at a State House event Wednesday morning.