On Tuesday, May 5, 2026 the Senate Committee on Ways and Means released its fiscal year 2027 budget proposal. The budget includes a number of important food system programs; $180 million for universal school meals, $29.7 million for the Healthy Incentives Program, $60 million for MEFAP, $250,000 for another round of local food policy council grants, and more. We appreciate Senate leadership’s support for HIP and the local food system. The proposal also contains proposed cuts to the MDAR and DTA agency budgets, which we are concerned about.
Dozens of the filed amendments relate to Massachusetts’ food system, proposing investments in local programs and projects, as well as in statewide efforts. The Collaborative has prioritized four amendments. Please use this template to reach out to your Senator and ask them to cosponsor the below amendments.
#810. Food Literacy, $1,000,000, Senator Lewis. This funding will allow DESE to make another round of FRESH grants, continue to support district wellness coaching, and develop a Harvest of the Month curriculum resource.
#344. Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources budget, $10,377,866, Senator Fernandes. This amendment will increase the MDAR agency allocation by $207,000. The agency has seen increasing responsibilities in the last few years, including the implementation of the Farmland Action Plan and the establishment of the Food Security Division.
#318. Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program, $7,000,000. Senator Eldridge. This amendment will establish a state-funded LFPA. This program was federally funded and cut by the federal Administration in spring 2025. State support would continue the momentum from this program, especially important in a time when food insecurity is rising.
#531. DTA Caseworker funding, $147,699,832, Senator Kennedy. This amendment will raise the amount in the DTA caseworker line item by $26 million to level funding compared to the Governor’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal. SNAP recipients need to reach DTA staff so they can continue to receive SNAP. Without SNAP, folks lose access to HIP!
These four amendments total $15.2 million and represent 0.02% of the Senate’s proposed $63.3 billion budget.
