THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2025 Page 17 item to an amount consistent with my House [budget] recommendation.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $1.5 million.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes $300,000 FOR PROGRAMS FOR THE BLIND (H 4240) Senate 38-0, overrode Gov. Healey’s $300,000 veto reduction (from 8,864,721 to 8,564,721) in programs for the blind. “This particular veto would eliminate earmarked funding for maximizing the independent living skills of legally blind residents,” said Sen. Comerford. “The earmarked funding is intended to support rehabilitation programs, housing assistance services, adjustment counseling services and devices, software and technology training for the blind. This funding represents a crucial piece of the Senate’s commitment to providing a robust system of supports for blind and visually impaired residents of the commonwealth.” In her veto message, Gov. Healey said, “I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary. This reduction is not expected to impact planned programming.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $300,000.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes $2.5 MILLION FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE (H 4240) Senate 38-0, overrode Gov. Healey’s $2.5 million veto reduction (from 8,864,721 to $6,364,721) in programs for the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services. “This veto would reduce funding earmarked for low threshold housing, for homeless individuals with substance use and mental health disorders who are also at risk of HIV,” said Sen. Comerford. “The funding supports both continued programming and expansions of low threshold housing units. Low threshold housing units represent an approach to homelessness that is more supportive of individuals with substance and mental health disorders. Many senators in this chamber value these kinds of programs. Fully funding low threshold housing programs is a critical aspect in creating an increasingly public health led and equity focused response to homelessness in the commonwealth.” In her veto message, Gov. Healey said, “I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary to support continued programming. This operating funding overlaps with signifi cant alternative funding sources to support expansions in low-threshold housing units and related supports.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $2.5 million.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes $1.5 MILLION FOR EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES (H 4240) Senate 38-0, override Gov. Healey’s $1,530,735 veto reduction (from $39,250,384 to 37,719,649) in early intervention services. “This particular veto would reduce funding for the early intervention program, which provides crucial support to infants and toddlers experiencing or at risk for developmental delays, as well as supporting their families and caregivers,” said Sen. Comerford. “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, families have faced signifi - cant challenges to accessing and using these early intervention services. This funding represents a critical component of the Legislature’s ongoing commitment to increasing the program’s capacity for the sake of the children and their families across the commonwealth.” In her veto message, Gov. Healey said, “I am reducing this item to align with current utilization trends.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $1,530,735.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes $2.3 BILLION FISCAL 2025 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (S 2575) Senate 39-0, approved a $2.3 billion supplemental budget to close out the books on state government for fi scal year 2025. The actual cost to the state will be $795 million after revenue from federal reimbursements has been sent to the state. The House has approved a diff erent version of the supplemental budget and a House-Senate conference committee will eventually hammer out a compromise version. A key provision provides $2.04 billion for MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program that provides health care for low-income and disabled persons — with a net cost to the state of only $539 million after reimbursements from the federal government. The bill restores $18.3 million in funding for student fi - nancial aid assistance ahead of the spring semester and proactively protects additional support for community college students earning degrees through the MassEducate program. A new Public Higher Education Student Support Fund ensures that a key stipend for books and supplies remains fully funded. Other provisions include $12 million to support the universal meals program for school children; $12.5 million to cover no-cost phone call communications for incarcerated people; $14 million to aid people in treatment for substance use and alcohol addiction; $18.5 million to support public health hospitals; $5 million for reproductive health care; $60.7 million for snow and ice removal expenses; $75 million for the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund which supports aff ordable rental housing in the Bay State; creation of an investigation of sheriff s’ fi scal year 2025 spending in response to sharp annual growth in the sheriff s’ spending defi cits; and protection for federal workers and Armed Forces service members to prevent them from losing their housing to a residential eviction or foreclosure during the federal government shutdown. “I’m proud the Senate has taken this opportunity to support our residents and insist on important transparency measures in this closeout supplemental budget,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (DAshland). “We are reconfi rming our commitment to public higher education by restoring and protecting key funding to support college students’ success. We are protecting our residents from dangerous federal actions by ensuring they have access to the vaccines they need to keep themselves and their families safe.” “With uncertainty persisting in the federal government, it is important to demonstrate the state’s fi scal integrity,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “That is why, today, the Senate responsibly closed the books on fi scal year 2025 with a fi scally sound closeout budget that ensures the commonwealth meets its obligations while continuing to support critical programs that serve Massachusetts residents. This budget also establishes fi scal oversight of all county sheriff s’ departments, a necessary step to rein in years of overspending that has significantly escalated in fiscal year 2025.” (A “Yes” vote is for the budget.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes REQUIRE REPORT ON THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FAMILY SHELTER SYSTEM (S 2655) Senate 38-0, approved an amendment that would reinstate the requirement that the Healey Administration submit a biweekly report on the cost and occupancy of the emergency assistance family shelter system. The previous requirement of reports lapsed at the end of fi scal year 2025. Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), the sponsor of the amendment, said one of the things both parties have always held as a shared value in the Senate chamber is accountability. He noted that when we entered a diffi cult time in our shelter system, we required more information about the cost and occupancy of the shelter system. He said it helped us understand what was happenBHRC | SEE Page 19 ~ HELP WANTED ~ Type of Person Needed: * Are you an experienced/willing to learn, motivated person looking for a shop where your skills can be valued? services and public State inspection services. 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