On April 15th, the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee released its fiscal year 2027 budget proposal. State reps introduced 1737 amendments to the proposal for new policy proposals and increased funding for various state agencies and programs. Over three days of debate, the amendments were packaged into consolidated amendments based on topic, and passed. Many amendments supporting the local food system were proposed, including an amendment for another round of local FPC grants by Rep. Sabadosa, FRESH grants and food literacy by Rep. Duffy, an increase to MDAR’s administrative budget by Rep. Saunders, for a state-funded LFPA program by Rep. Sabadosa, and for an increase to DTA’s caseworker line item by Rep. LeBoeuf and others. Unfortunately, none of these amendments were adopted. An amendment to establish a school meals nutrition standards advisory council, introduced by Rep. Vargas, was adopted.
House Ways and Means proposed $20M in new funding and a commitment to carry forward $9M on unspent funds for the Healthy Incentives Program, similar to the Governor’s proposal of $29.7M in H.2. The Collaborative thanks the House for their leadership, especially HWM Chair Michlewitz for mentioning HIP once again in his remarks to open debate. Please thank House leadership, and your own state rep, for voting for full funding for HIP! We look forward to the Senate process in May.
See our updated budget table below.
