Senate adopts FY2026 budget conference report, passes General Appropriations Act

The Massachusetts Senate on the floor voted to accept the conference committee report on the fiscal year 2026 budget and then passed the General Appropriations Act (House No. 4240), sending the bill to the governor.

Senator Roberts, chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, told colleagues the document under consideration "is on time, balanced, and responsible," and emphasized it "does not raise taxes or fees on Massachusetts residents or businesses." He said the report totals roughly $61.01 billion in top-line spending and reduces appropriations by about $400 million from earlier Senate proposals to reflect economic uncertainty and possible federal actions.

The conference report directs one-time and targeted resources to several priorities. It includes a proposed $33 million deposit to the stabilization ("rainy day") fund, uses $599 million in excess capital gains to pay down unfunded pension liability, and relies on other one-time sources (including $260 million from the Student Opportunity Act fund and $350 million reclaimed from unspent appropriations) to balance the plan, Roberts said. The report also…