The Massachusetts Legislature on Monday moved to hand off the budget hot potato to Gov. Maura Healey, approving a $61 billion annual spending bill on the earliest date in nearly a decade as Congress hurtles toward major spending cuts that could force significant revisions.
A day before the start of Fiscal Year 2026, the House and Senate accepted a compromise budget that raises spending on health care, education and transportation, while reining in rental broker fees, codifying free bus trips at regional transit authorities, and allowing the use of political campaign funds for adult care services.
The House voted 139-6 and the Senate voted 38-2 in favor of the budget. Each branch is expected to take the final procedural votes Monday afternoon to place the bill on Healey’s desk.
All eight votes against came from Republicans: Reps. David DeCoste of Norwell, John Gaskey of Carver, Marc Lombardo of Billerica, Alyson Sullivan-Almeida of Abington, Ken Sweezey of Pembroke and Justin Thurber of Somerset, as well as Sens. Kelly Dooner of Taunton and Ryan Fattman of Sutton.
Dozens of other Republicans, including minority leaders in both chambers, supported the budget compromise.
If passed, whoever hires the broker would be the one on the hook for the costly fee.
