On Wednesday April 15, 2026 the House Committee on Ways and Means released its fiscal year 2027 budget proposal. The budget includes a number of important food system programs; $198 million for universal school meals, $29 million for the Healthy Incentives Program, another infusion of $14 million in the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund, $60 million for MEFAP, and more. We appreciate House leadership’s support for HIP, and a climate resilient 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 five amendments. Please use this template to reach out to your representative and ask them to cosponsor the below amendments.
#308. Food Literacy, $1,000,000, Rep. Duffy. 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.
#350. Local Food Policy Council Grant Program, $250,000, Rep. Sabadosa. This amendment will fund a fourth round of this grant program, which helps local councils increase food security and build a more connected food system in their communities.
#795. Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources budget, $10,377,866, Rep. Saunders. This amendment will increase the MDAR agency allocation by $188,000. 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.
#351 Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program, $7,000,000. Rep. Sabadosa. 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.
#899. DTA Caseworker funding, $147,699,832, Rep. Lebouef. 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 five amendments total $27 million and represent 0.04% of the House’s proposed $63.3 billion budget.
