House adopts FY26 budget amendments funding environment, food assistance and economic development

The Massachusetts House of Representatives voted to adopt multiple consolidated amendments to the FY26 budget that increase funding for environmental protection, parks, food assistance, agriculture and regional economic development programs.

Supporters described the package as targeted investments to carry out the state’s climate and environmental mandates and to address food insecurity. Representative Barber of Somerville urged colleagues to support consolidated amendment F, highlighting House investments that include more than $85 million for the Department of Environmental Protection for PFAS testing, air quality and low-emission vehicle programs and approximately $160 million for the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The amendment also includes $25 million for the Clean Energy Center, $46 million for the Department of Fish and Game, and $67 million for the Department of Agricultural Resources.

The budget increases emergency food assistance (MFAP) by $13 million to a record $55 million and raises the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) by $5 million to $20 million, both of which supporters said will expand access to fresh local food for SNAP participants. Representative Barber said the FY26 budget “makes important investments in the environment including over $85,000,000 for the Department of Environmental Protection” and cited line items for parks, seasonal staff and biodiversity work.

Consolidated amendment G, described on the floor by Representative Viola of Fall River and moved on the floor by Representative Michael Woods of Boston and others, concentrates on economic development and includes a $128 million operation and programming allocation for the Executive Office of Economic Development, $5 million in grants to community action agencies, $1 million for the Mass Office of Business Development and $5.75 million for the Commonwealth Zoological Corporation. The amendment also creates a $1 million Commonwealth Fund to support Black- and Brown-led nonprofits and includes local project and tourism investments totaling about $24 million.

Lawmakers recorded roll-call votes on the amendments. The clerk displayed a tally of 54 in the affirmative and 3 in the negative for at least two consolidated amendments; the transcript records several roll calls and displays with the clerk announcing the tallies. Later in the session the House passed a bill to be engrossed (clerk tally announced 51 in the affirmative, 6 in the negative). The consolidated amendments and votes leave the budget work to subsequent steps in the legislature’s process.

Representative Garcia of Chelsea noted one funded item included in the package: an immigration legal assistance fund administered by the Office for Refugees and Immigrants to distribute grants to nonprofits providing legal representation for immigrants and refugees. Garcia said the fund would increase access to counsel for immigrants across the Commonwealth and framed the item as both a legal and economic support.