(BOSTON 6/9/2026) — Massachusetts lawmakers last week passed a $1.35 billion spending package that seeks to ease pressures caused by strained school budget and delivers a massive infusion of cash into the state's public transportation system.
The investments in H.5740 are expansive and include cutting taxes to jumpstart housing construction, training the next generation of doctors and teachers, helping cities and towns dig out from an extreme winter, taking steps to shield the state's finances from the ripple effects of federal tax and tariff policy, and protecting immigrants from federal deportation actions.
“The incredible success of the Fair Share Amendment is helping us make historic investments into our schools and transportation systems, and this legislation is the proof,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Combined with smart, targeted policy changes that will help boost housing production and expand healthcare access across the Commonwealth, this Fair Share supplemental budget is a massive win for hardworking Bay Staters. I’m thrilled to have voted to approve this legislation, and to have secured earmarks for each and every city and town in the Second Worcester District. This is exactly the type of policy we need to keep Massachusetts the envy of the nation – I look forward to continuing these efforts through the rest of the term.”
During Senate debate, Senator Moore secured a number of earmarks supporting education and transportation in the Second Worcester District, including:
Regional
$105,000 for Blackstone Valley Tech – in collaboration with Senator Rebecca Rausch and Senator Ryan Fattman
Auburn
$70,000 for Auburn Public Schools to purchase sidewalk snowplow and salt spreader vehicles
Grafton
$130,000 for Grafton Public Schools to upgrade classroom technology and purchase an activity van
Millbury
$125,000 for Millbury Public Schools to purchase a wheelchair accessible van and upgrade school security systems
$5,000 for vocational programming in partnership with the North Atlantic States Carpenters Union
Shrewsbury
$82,500 for Shrewsbury Public Schools to upgrade school security systems
Westborough
$115,000 to conduct a traffic study on Route 9 and upgrade roadway signage
$12,500 for the Westborough Public Library
Worcester
$130,000 for the repair or replacement of ADA non-compliant sidewalk wheelchair curb ramps
$45,000 for Worcester State University’s Latino Educational Institute
Policy and funding highlights of the bill include:
Investing in Schools and Students
The legislation puts $558 million in Fair Share funds toward education, delivering relief to families, students, and school districts across the state. School districts struggling to cover the costs of serving students with disabilities will see immediate help, with $152 million directed toward special education reimbursements, while $150 million goes toward making childcare more affordable and accessible across the Commonwealth.
On literacy, the bill invests $40 million to help the youngest learners read, including $20 million for high-dosage tutoring and $20 million for classroom programs specifically designed to accelerate reading skills for kids in kindergarten through third grade. Research consistently shows that children who are not reading proficiently by third grade face steeper challenges throughout their education, making this one of the most consequential investments in the package.
Fixing Roads, Rails, and Transit
The legislation directs $794 million in Fair Share funds toward transportation. A $595 million investment in the MBTA includes $450 million to keep the T running, $60 million for maintenance and upgrades physical infrastructure with an emphasis on commuter rail improvements, $50.4 million to improve workforce and safety, $20 million to make fares more affordable for low-income riders, and $15 million for water transportation infrastructure across the state.
For communities across the state, the bill delivers $100 million to help cities and towns recover from an exceptionally costly winter—$80 million distributed based on how many roads a community maintains, and $20 million specifically for communities hit hardest by this year's historic storms.
Regional public bus systems across the state also receive $25 million to recruit and retain workers, plus $10 million for equipment and facility upgrades. An additional $3.75 million goes toward maintaining unpaved roads in rural areas.
Making It Cheaper to Build Housing
To address one of the biggest barriers to building new homes in Massachusetts, the bill creates a new tax exemption on building materials used in the construction of affordable, moderate-income, and middle-income housing projects, saving developers money and making it more financially viable to build the homes that families across the state desperately need.
The exemption is capped at $35 million per year and is specifically designed to help offset rising costs driven by tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration.
Responding to Federal Policy Changes
The bill also takes steps to protect Massachusetts taxpayers and businesses from the financial fallout caused by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republican policies. The Legislature is carefully phasing in changes to state tax law to align with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, doing so gradually to avoid a sudden hit to state revenues. The bill includes provisions that would pause these tax changes if the proposed ballot question to lower the state’s income tax from 5 percent to 4 percent were to pass in November, which would help mitigate the expected loss in revenue that the ballot question would inflict.
The bill also creates a new tax credit for airlines that use sustainable aviation fuel, helping Massachusetts work toward its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and offers a tax credit of up to $5,000 for farmers who donate surplus food to local food banks.
Training the Next Generation of Doctors and Teachers
To address a growing shortage of primary care physicians, the bill sets aside $10 million in scholarships for UMass Chan Medical School students who agree to pursue family medicine and practice in underserved communities in Massachusetts after they graduate.
To encourage young educators to start their career in Massachusetts, the bill creates the Tomorrow's Teachers program, investing $10 million in scholarships and loan forgiveness to college students and high school graduates who commit to teaching in Massachusetts public schools.
Helping Immigrants Stay Safe
With the Trump Administration ramping up immigration enforcement, the legislation directs $1 million toward free legal services for immigrants and refugees who need help navigating the courts. This builds on a $5 million investment the Legislature already made to launch the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative, which has helped hundreds of residents access legal representation.
Keeping Phones Out of Classrooms
The bill sets aside $1 million to help public school districts implement bell-to-bell cell phone-free policies that so that students can learn without distractions.
The full text of the legislation is available online, along with a fact sheet summarizing highlights of the legislation.
Having been passed by both the House and Senate, the bill now goes to the Governor for her signature.
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