Press Release: 7/2/2025

Malden Delegation Secures Historic Funding in FY26 State Budget

 



Boston - Tuesday, July 1, 2025 - Yesterday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Senate voted on H.4240, the Conference Committee Report of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget. Funded at $61.01 billion, the final FY26 budget addresses the critical needs of families and residents across the Commonwealth while dedicating funding to making our communities and state more affordable, livable, and equitable. 



 



The Malden Delegation worked closely with both House and Senate leadership and Conference Committee conferees to ensure the bill will prioritize support and much-needed resources to the Malden community. Representatives Steve Ultrino, Paul Donato and Kate Lipper-Garabedian, and Senator Jason Lewis have successfully advocated for and secured a historic amount of funding, totaling $1,050,000 for Malden in the FY26 budget, which include the following:    





  • $300,000 for Triangle, Inc.’s School to Career Program that connects special education students with disabilities in Greater Boston to careers and their local communities; 




  • $150,000 for Portal to Hope as part of their community based domestic violence program that includes a "teens-at-risk" project; 




  • $150,000 in for Housing Families to support their Youth and Families Program, and infrastructure improvements to support community-based health services.  




  • $100,000 for capital improvements to Linden Park;  




  • $100,000 for the Leadership Next Gen Fellowship Program;  




  • $75,000 for Action for Boston Community Development’s Mobile Homeless Outreach Team; 




  • $75,000 for the installation of public art and the ArtLine program in Malden 




  • $50,000 for flood mitigation efforts at Town Line and Linden Brook in the City of Malden;  




  • $50,000 for the Malden Police Department’s mental health emergency crisis response efforts. 





 



“Given the uncertainty and hostility from the federal executive branch, this final budget is a beacon of hope and fiscal responsibility. The bill is a testament to the Commonwealth’s dedication to providing critical services and financial support to communities across the state, despite devastating cuts on the federal level,” said State Representative Steve Ultrino (D–Malden). “I’m especially proud to have worked with Representatives Donato and Lipper-Garabedian as well as Senator Lewis to secure a historic amount of funding for Malden. These earmarks will support a range of important initiatives in our community and make a real difference in the lives of Malden residents. Lastly, I sincerely thank Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz for their leadership throughout the budget process.” 



 



“The Malden delegation continues to deliver much needed investments in our communities. This budget, and the earmarks especially, will strengthen our community in a time of uncertainty,” said State Representative Paul Donato (D – Medford).“Thank you again to Speaker Mariano and Chair Michlewitz for their trust and commitment to a budget that allows for no new taxes, while supporting our most vulnerable residents. “ 



 



"The FY26 budget is a powerful statement of our values as a Commonwealth at a time of unparalleled and astonishing federal executive branch actions that undermine our civil rights, civil liberties, and safety," said State Representative Lipper-Garabedian (D-Melrose). "In Massachusetts, we recognize the value of supporting public education, investing in a more reliable public transportation system, protecting the right to safe health care, and aiding local non-profits that do critical work in our communities. I'm additionally glad to secure local earmarks with the Malden delegation that prioritize these values and support Malden's residents." 



 



“I’m proud that this budget, passed with bipartisan support, will deliver critical resources for our public schools and communities, and will make our state more affordable for working families with significant investments in childcare, housing, and healthcare,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “I’m especially pleased that the Malden delegation and I were able to secure funding for Housing Families, local community initiatives, and other Malden priorities.” 



 



While taking into consideration the possibility of federal cutbacks, this final version of the state budget continues to prioritize and increase funding for critical programs such as universal school meals, RAFT, Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), and MassHealth. The budget will allow Massachusetts to maintain critical services for all residents, while not raise taxes or utilizing any money from the Commonwealth’s reserve fund. The bill also included several key statewide funding and policy measures, including: 



 





  • Elimination of broker fees: Fees will now be paid by the party that originally contracted with the broker or salesperson 




  • Historic increase of minimum Chapter 70 aid to $150 per pupil 




  • $200,000 for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to study the equitability of the Chapter 70 formula 




  • $2 billion increase for MassHealth to maintain access to comprehensive health insurance coverage for over 2 million Massachusetts residents 




  • $470 million in new investments to continue supporting improvements to the MBTA 




  • $20.1 million for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) 




  • $5 million for an immigrant legal services program 




  • $253.3 million for the statewide rental voucher program 




  • $207.5 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) 





 



The Conference Committee Report for the FY26 budget (H. 4240) was filed on Sunday, June 29, 2025. The report was accepted by the House of Representatives 139-6, and the Senate 38-2. It now goes to the Governor for final consideration.