This spring, I traveled across the Commonwealth to all eight Joint Ways and Means hearings on Governor Maura Healey’s fiscal year (FY) 2027 budget.
Check out more from each hearing, including the questions I asked at each hearing, below.
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#1
On February 11, the Joint Committee on Ways and Means convened for the first hearing o the Governor’s FY 2027 budget in the State House.
This hearing featured testimony from Governor Healey, the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, and Constitutional Officers.
Watch the full recording here.
I asked the Governor about the inequities in proposed funding for transportation. Between the FY27 budget proposal and the Fair Share supplemental budget, the Governor proposed that 70% of all funding for transportation go towards the MBTA.
That’s just not OK with me.
I am at work now to shift the balance back to RTAs, microtransit, and regional rail. Watch my exchange with the Governor and her team here.
#2
On March 9, the Joint Committee hosted its second hearing at the Barnstable Town Hall, focused on economic development, housing, and labor priorities in the FY27 budget proposal.
This hearing featured testimony from Economic Development, Housing, and Labor Secretariats, Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Board of Library Commissioners, the Commission on the Status of Women, and more.
Watch the full recording here.
I am pictured below asking Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones about the inequities in state funding for the MassHire Franklin Hampshire office. You can watch my exchange here.
I also asked Housing and Livable Communities Deputy Secretary Jennifer Maddox about the work to stand up a dashboard displaying state investments in housing production across the state as well as the significant challenges with the emergency shelter system — challenges that are being addressed now. More here.
#3
On March 10, I co-chaired the Ways and Means hearing on transportation, energy, and environmental funding at UMass Amherst, alongside Representative Lindsay Sabadosa.
This hearing featured testimony from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), the Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and more.
Watch the full recording here.
I am pictured below with Rep. Sabadosa and Vice Chair of Senate Ways and Means Paul Feeney.
During the hearing, I asked MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng about regional transportation priorities. I also spoke with EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper and her team about the new PILOT Commission, biosolids, and siting and permitting regulations.
#4
On March 20, members of Ways and Means met at the Mattapan Library for the first of two hearings focused on health and human services (HHS) funding.
This hearing featured testimony from the Executive Office of Veteran Services (Including Soldiers Homes), Dept. of Children and Families (DCF), Dept. of Developmental Services (DDS), Dept. of Transitional Assistance (DTA), Dept. of Youth Services (DYS), and more.
Watch the full recording here.
I am pictured below applauding Department of Children and Families Commissioner Staverne Miller for her team’s work to set up and populate individual accounts for youth in foster care who receive federal social security and disability benefits, keeping those accounts for the young people to access as they age out of foster care. More on my exchange with the Commissioner here.
I also had the chance to ask the Office of Refugees and Immigrants about housing supports for western and north central Massachusetts, before speaking with the Veterans Services team about speeding up reimbursements to municipalities for veterans services and the licensure process for veterans homes.
#5
On March 23, the Joint Committee convened at Lawrence High School for the hearing on education and local aid funding in the FY27 budget proposal before us.
This hearing featured testimony from the Education Secretariat, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Massachusetts Associate of School Committees, Massachusetts Municipal Association, and more.
Watch the full recording here.
I am pictured below asking the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commission Pedro Martinez about state support for school districts experiencing declining enrollment, rural school aid, and the possibility of opening up the K-12 school funding formula. Our full conversation is here.
I also had the opportunity to applaud investments into public higher education, and ask state university and community college leaders about the impact of the Commonwealth’s SUCCESS program on student enrollment and completion.
#6
On March 24, I met my colleagues at the Foxboro Community Center for the hearing on public safety and judiciary priorities in the budget proposal.
This hearing featured testimony from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), the Judiciary, District Attorneys, and more.
Watch the full recording here.
I am pictured below asking Public Safety and Security Secretary Gina Kwon more about the work her team is engaged in to stand up the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund that was a direct result from the historic flooding our region experienced in 2023
#7
On March 23, for the penultimate hearing for this fiscal year, I made my way to Clinton’s Town Hall, for the second hearing on HHS priorities.
This hearing featured testimony from the HHS Secretariat, the Department of Public Health (DPH), the Department of Mental Health (DMH), the Commission for LGBTQ Youth, and more.
Watch the full recording here.
I am pictured below asking HHS Secretary Kiame Mahaniah about what he and his team expect as federal funding cuts and policy changes come home to roost. Check out our full exchange here.
I also spoke with DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein about state supports for free-standing birth centers, and DMH Commissioner Emily Bailey about the proposed funding cuts to co-responder programs.
#8
Each fiscal year, the last hearing is dedicated to public participation. It is an opportunity for constituents to share their funding priorities and asks with the entire Joint Ways and Means Committee in person. Hosted on March 31 back in the State House, the room was abuzz with advocates fighting for increased rural school aid and K-12 education funding.
The entire hearing is available here.
I was thrilled to welcome many constituents — students, teachers, school committee members, and community leaders — to the building and was truly blown away by their advocacy. You can watch their powerful testimony here.
Below I am pictured listening to an incredible group of students from Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools.
In late April, the House will debate and pass its version of the fiscal year 2027 budget, and in May, the Senate will debate its own proposal.
I am receiving a great deal of advocacy from constituents on your budget priorities. Keep it coming.
