THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2025 Page 7 MASS HOUSE | FROM Page 4 in the country that mandate district participation for free school meals for all students, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Additionally, the House’s FY26 budget establishes a 15-member vocational school admissions task force to review admissions policies and standards of review. This budget also prohibits the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) from promulgating new regulations, and from amending regulations, until the completion of a report by the task force. Public Transportation The House budget includes a record investment of $687 million for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), as well as $204 million for the Regional Transit Authorities that serve commuters across Massachusetts. These investments include: • $637 million operating transfer to the MBTA, including funds for reduced MBTA fares for riders with low incomes • $204 million to support operations and transit improvements at the state’s 15 Regional Transit Authorities • $40 million to create an MBTA Academy to support recruiting and training efforts, and to establish a pipeline for a skilled workforce across departments • $10 million for grants for ferry services Early Education and Care Continuing the House’s longstanding commitment towards investing in the early education and care (EEC) workforce, the House budget includes $1.67 billion, $126.3 million more than FY25, to sustain recent rate increases and other historic investments in child care access and aff ordability across the Commonwealth in FY26. Other early education and care investments include: • $475 million for Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants • $448.2 million for child care for children involved with the Department of Children & Families and the Department of Transitional Assistance • $517.6 million for child care for low-income families • $15 million to reduce the income-eligible waitlist • $20 million for child care resource and referral agencies • $18.5 million for Head Start grants • $7.5 million for an EEC educator scholarship program • $7.5 million for an EEC educator loan forgiveness program Higher Education The House budget allocates $838 million for the University of Massachusetts system, $416 million for community colleges, and $409 million for state universities. Other higher education investments include: • $255.2 million for scholarships • $14 million for the Community College SUCCESS program • $14 million for the State University SUCCESSS program • $10 million for a new UMass system SUCCESS program • $14.2 million for the Early College Initiative • $13.1 million for the Dual Enrollment Partnership Affordable and Accessible Housing The FY26 budget maintains the House’s commitment to protect renters and homeowners across the Commonwealth from eviction and homelessness by investing in the following programs: • $275 million for the Emergency Assistance (EA) program, which provides shelter to families with children and pregnant women • $258.1 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) • $207.5 million for Rental Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program • $57.3 million for HomeBase • $10 million for shelter workforce assistance • $8.4 million for the Home and Healthy for Good program, including $500,000 for the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance The House budget makes rent more aff ordable for tenants or prospective tenants by prohibiting a real estate broker from charging a broker’s fee (commission or other fee) to a tenant or prospective tenant for finding an apartment to lease or rent if the tenant did not initiate contact with the broker. The budget only allows fees to be paid by a tenant or prospective tenant if all the following requirements are met: the tenant or prospective tenant initiated the contact with the broker; the tenant or prospective tenant received a rental brokerage fee disclosure from the broker; and the tenant or prospective tenant agreed to all terms and conditions of the brokerage fee disclosure in writing. Workforce Development The House budget funds the Executive Offi ce of Labor and Workforce Development at $113.4 million. Additionally, it invests in the following initiatives: • $58.9 million for Adult Basic Education Services • $20.9 million for Labor and Workforce Development Shared Services • $18.9 million for DTA Employment and Training Services • $15.2 million for Summer Jobs for At Risk Youth • $9 million for Career Technical Institutes MASS HOUSE | SEE Page 9
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