׉?4ׁB!™×‘C‘טšÍUÍUÍru׉œ“׉ Ú7cassandra://Ja6Ecy7VZJ9_JxWrcQi-gqoiyuZKkh6xRAoruYiRgdYÎ8°Í`Í'Íp׉ Ú7cassandra://FJhuAIkCkiiwGSDBmSWt9Zf5PDHF9SD9gXfvpBJRqr4ÍÀñÍ`ÍÍà׉ Ú7cassandra://HTc0Wz_a37NOTgAi5ErUj9tFKJG9u9lcChZc1UUetDIÍ;Í`ÌỐ×jä§\^DŒ^“‘× ×jä§\^DŒ^“Í°ÍÌà 9ׁH»http://www.advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј׈E×jä§\^DŒ^’î׉EÚ ÏYOUR LOCAL NEWS & SPORTS ONLINE. SCAN HERE! Vol. 36, No.19 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net oca Free Every Friday A.C. Whelan Elementary School hosts Pam Muñoz Ryan for literacy event Celebrating ‘The United States of Readers’ program in Revere Special to Th e Advocate S tudents and staff at A.C. Whelan Elementary School in Revere gathered Thursday to celebrate their partnership with The United States of Readers, a Scholastic literacy program dedicated to providing books to Title I schools. A.C. Whelan is one of several Title I schools in Revere benefi ting from the program, which emEVENT | SEE Page 6 781-286-8500 Friday, May 15, 2026 Conservation Commission Approves Gibson Point Access Road Plan After Flooding Concerns Raised By Barbara Taormina T he Revere Conservation Commission unanimously approved the notice of intent for Phase 2 of the roundabout project for the Gibson Point access road at their meeting this week, but it took a while. City Transportation Coordinator Julie DeMauro presented the plan to the commission and explained it is part of the Riverfront Master Plan. “The purpose of the project is to provide access to Gibson APPROVES | SEE Page 2 Mayor’s Spring Fling at Casa Lucia Brings Community Together Mayor Patrick Keefe, State Rep. Jessica Giannino (left), author Pam Muñoz Ryan and A.C. Whelan Elementary School students are shown celebrating the school’s partnership with The U.S. of Readers, a Scholastic literacy program dedicated to providing books to Title I schools on Thursday. (Courtesy photo) WELCOME: Mayor Patrick and First Lady Jennifer Keefe welcomed Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden to his recent Spring Fling event at Casa Lucia Function Hall. See inside for photo highlights. (Advocate photo) Mass. House passes FY27 budget, invests in programs that support families across the Commonwealth O n April 29, 2026, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed its Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget. Funded at $63.41 billion, this budget responds to the needs of residents, provides record support for the Commonwealth’s cities and towns and among many critical investments, includes signifi cant funding for education, transportation, health care, housing and workforce development. “As a result of the Trump Administration’s sweeping federal funding cuts and reckless trade war, as well as two proposed ballot questions that seek to cut the Commonwealth’s revenues by more than $5 billion annually, this budget has come during a period of signifi cant economic uncertainty. That’s why I’m incredibly proud of the investments that this budget makes despite those challenges, from funding for free school meals and for the fi nal year of the Student Opportunity Act, to robust support for the MBTA, to nearly $10 billion for cities and towns across the Commonwealth,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Chairman Michlewitz and the Members of the House Committee on Ways and Means for all their work this budget cycle, as well as all my colleagues in the House for working to ensure that this budget delivers for every community across Massachusetts.” MASS. HOUSE | SEE Page 5 Jessica Ann Giannino State Representative Jeff rey Rosario Turco State Representative ׉ Ú7cassandra://HTc0Wz_a37NOTgAi5ErUj9tFKJG9u9lcChZc1UUetDIÍ;Í`ÌỐ×jä§\^DŒ^’ï×jä§\^DŒ^’îÍ ªÍrבC’טšÍUÍru׉œ“׉ Ú7cassandra://GcRPOtgJKLk1mI3pi7bWj2MlZURbFIzcB_MRWdPqO0EÎl Í`Í'Íp׉ Ú7cassandra://LfADshFeOwftND6jtPblFSOgExRrWsw4g2idHd36F2IÍŽIÍ`ÍÍà׉ Ú7cassandra://yG5X3AY175jr-L7ZgXRpc7WXJWw_OgwVDvKgFSm7ozIÍ6pÍ`ÌỐ×jäš\^DŒ^“טšÍUÍUÍru׉œ“׉ Ú7cassandra://EPgko_Abd3XbnbNWJXUkekDn-cnxOzrt2lsgOe7LIGkÎ ÜÍ`Í'Íp׉ Ú7cassandra://F79ZHZyVY7HrWddEfhsy2VVvzdz8YesLmd2nRn4vA78ͲCÍ`ÍÍà׉ Ú7cassandra://inTBzPjaazuJWjtC69eaMfvhrCwyuw_efKQhvnk7mmwÍ6CÍ`ÌỐ×jä©\^DŒ^“’× ×jä©\^DŒ^“ Í˜ÍÍ~9ׁH»http://WWW.SABATINO-INS.COMׁ ׁ Ј× ×jä©\^DŒ^“Íǽ́9ׁHÚ mailto:lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.netׁ ׁ Ј׉EÚçPage 2 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2026 Bishop Fenwick announces National Honor Society members for 2026 B ishop Fenwick High School was please to recognize the 137 students from senior, junior and sophomore years who have earned their place as a National Honor Society member for 2026. Among the recipients were three students from Revere: Danielle Nalesnik, class of 2026; Cori McMeniman, class of 2027; Kaylee Sjursen class of 2027. The awards were presented at a ceremony this past Wednesday evening where recipients were celebrated by the school and their families. Students hailed from 30 local communities, and they represent the founding pillars of the organization: scholarship, service, leadership and character. Bishop Fenwick senior honored with Fenwick FIRST Award B Danielle Nalesnik APPROVES | FROM Page 1 Park without having to drive through the adjacent Riverside neighborhood,” DeMauro told the commission. Riverside residents were adamant that they do not want park traffi c cutting through their quiet, isolated neighborhood. “The residents do not want any car access through Riverdale once the park is complete,” Ward 5 Councillor Cori McMeniman Angela Guarino-Sawaya told commissioners. Gibson Park is in the midst of a multiyear resiliency project meant to reduce tidal and storm flooding in Riverside while upgrading the park to a modern recreation space. The project combines natural fl ood protection with park and streetscape improvements. Alexandra Gaspar, an environmental scientist with Kaylee Sjursen Western & Sampson, explained that the access road construction will impact the barrier beach and the coastal dune. However, she added that the project calls for 150 square feet of native plantings and reseeding with coastal grass seed mix. But the commission had other questions. Traffi c engineer Peter Wroblewski from the engineering fi rm Howard Stein Hudson explained that ishop Fenwick High School is delighted to recognize Natalie Bono, Class of 2026, of Revere, as a recipient of a Fenwick FIRST award. A graduate of IC Revere, Natalie exemplifi es the core values that defi ne the Bishop Fenwick community: Faith, Integrity, Relationship, Scholarship and Tradition. The following is part of her nomination: She is kind and welcoming to everyone. She selfl essly puts others’ needs before her own. She is an amazing person, willing to take time out of her busy schedule to help a friend or to spend time with her family. She works hard to maintain good grades in all her courses. An asset to the varsity fi eld the access road has a simple design similar to a long driveway coming off the roundabout. He said construction would start in the summer of 2027 and take only a few months. According to Wroblewski, the road will bring 8,000 square feet of impermeable asphalt to the area. Commission member Thomas Carleton said that is a large amount of asphalt in an area known for fl ooding. hockey and softball teams as well as to several clubs, she also dances outside of school. She is a strong leader and can easily put a smile on anyone’s face. She is hardworking, determined, and overall, an incredible person. Natalie Bono He said he doesn’t feel comfortable that a public project can use so much impermeable asphalt when a private project cannot. He asked about alternatives, such as permeable pavers. “That sounds like a reasonable change we can make,” said Wroblewski. But he added that it is important to check with the city’s Engineering and Public Works Departments. “During plowing, pavers come up buckled and broken. They look beautiful, but in terms of everyday maintenance, it’s diffi cult to keep up with them,” he said. He also added that 25 drains have been installed around the roundabout. As long as public works maintain the drains, flooding should not be a problem. Commissioner Wilson Correa requested a log of the planned planting and reseeding. He was also interested in an account of the survival rates for new plants. A Riverside resident asked about plans to protect birds, fi sh, animals and plants from pollution and noise. She said there are endangered plants in the area. But DeMauro said the plan was reviewed by MEPA and Coastal Zone Management. She said there was no evidence of endangered species or risk to wildlife. ׉ Ú7cassandra://yG5X3AY175jr-L7ZgXRpc7WXJWw_OgwVDvKgFSm7ozIÍ6pÍ`ÌỐ×jä§\^DŒ^’ð׉EÚ œTHE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2026 Page 3 Human Rights Commission Plans Intergenerational Forum to Bridge Community Divide By Barbara Taormina T he Human Rights Commission is moving forward with an event they hope will become a community tradition. Commission members are working with Debra Peczka-DiGuilio, director of Revere Elder Affairs, to plan an intergenerational conversation with senior residents and senior students from Revere High School. By sharing experiences, concerns, challenges and fears, the commission believes it will generate a better understanding between different groups or generations. Peczka-DiGuilio said the plan is to have a moderated panel discussion televised by RevereTV. “It will show us how diff erent, and how much the generations have in common,” Peczka-DiGuilio told the commission at their meeting last week. And Peczka-DiGuilio said the conversation will cover more than seniors telling students about the horror of having one rotary telephone in a home. “Seniors have such a wealth of knowledge, they have so much to give, but I think people don’t want to listen to them. And I think students feel the same way,” said Peczka-DiGuilio. “It’s a way for them to get to know one another and close the gap,” said Commission member Sheila Johnson who is also working on the event. “Our goal is to bridge the gap and facilitate learning between generations.” Commission member Lourenco Garcia, chairman of the Equity Advisory Board for Revere public schools, felt the project supported the commission’s goal of promoting inclusion. Garcia also felt that the project would contribute to the well-being of people watching this type of bridgebuilding conversation take place. Commission Chair Chai Hossaini said she looked forward to seeing what eff ect the conversations might have. “When we start bridging the gap, we will bring some level of change. We won’t see ourselves as diff erent, we are part of the same community,” said Hossaini. Hossanini also saw the potential for practical results from the conversations. If there’s a law or ordinance, local or state, that we want to change, building bridges through these conversations may help build coalitions behind diff erent causes and issues and may lead to real change, she said. The commission is also planning to use their next meeting on June 4 as an early Juneteenth celebration. The event will be held at Costa Park and include music, a spoken word performance, community speakers and an educational program. The commission is celebrating early so that a Juneteenth celebration video can be aired on Revere TV for the entire community on June 19. YARD SALE SATURDAY, MAY 16, 9 AM - 2 PM 21 HIGH ST., EVERETT Tools, sneakers, clothes, home decor, electronics & More! Lawrence A. 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Whelan celebrates 30 students for honesty and integrity By Melissa Moore-Randall T he A.C. Whelan recently celebrated 30 outstanding students from Kindergarten through Grade 5 who were nominated by their homeroom teachers for demonstrating Honesty & Integrity throughout the school community. These students showed what it means to do the right thing even when no one is watching, take responsibility for their actions and lead with truth and strong character. To honor their eff orts, students participated in an Honesty & Integrity Trail (HIT) Celebration, where they helped decorate our school sidewalk along the back of the building. Using stencils, chalk and powerful messages, students created a meaningful and lasting display that refl ects the impor8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. 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Grade 3: Galylea Cano, Catalina Hernandez Gonzalez, Assistant Principal Mr. Gallucci joining students at the Honesty and Integrity Celebration. Rawan Ettour, Kaili Contreras-Kalagher, Rayyan Mendoza. Grade 4: Andrew Arias Lopez, Lennox Roach, Sofi a Rodriguez, Sabrina Addonizio. Students shared inspirational words during their activity celebrating honesty and integrity. Grade 5: Sabrine Ait Hadj Silman, Jayden Flores, Rigoberto Interiano Reyes, Zahra Elsayed, Alan Lopez Rodriguez, Emmanuel Landaverde. www.810bargrille.com A.C. Whelan students honored for honesty and integrity. Spring is Here! 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 67 Years in Business! n Roofing fng ׉ Ú7cassandra://SPqthE6_oShzDMjhy-Ouitk8AFB6hutdCAgXlX8m_XoÍ:oÍ`ÌỐ×jä§\^DŒ^’ò׉EÚËTHE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2026 Page 5 MASS. HOUSE | FROM Page 1 “I’m proud to support a budget that delivers real results for our communities, from record local aid for our cities and towns to critical investments in transportation, education, and public safety,” said State Representative Jessica Ann Giannino (DRevere). “For communities like Revere and Saugus, this means stronger schools, more reliable transit, and continued support for working families. Even in a time of economic uncertainty, we are making responsible choices that prioritize people, protect essential services, and ensure our municipalities have the resources they need to succeed. I’m grateful to Speaker Mariano and Chair Michlewitz for their leadership in advancing a budget that delivers for every corner of the Commonwealth.” “I am proud to have supported the House budget for FY27. This budget includes important investments in Revere and Winthrop but also unprecedented investments in our transportation and education systems in the Commonwealth. This budget is fi scally sound and keeps the Commonwealth in a strong position to address uncertain economic times ahead,” said State Representative Jeff rey Rosario Turco (D-Winthrop). Due to responsible fi scal management, the House’s FY27 budget is balanced and makes signifi cant investments across several issue areas, without needing to include new taxes or tax increases. The House budget also strengthens the Stabilization Fund, which is set to reach $8.39 billion, reinforcing the state’s bond rating to keep borrowing costs down and save taxpayer money — while protecting the Commonwealth’s longterm fi scal health. Fair Share investments This budget includes $2.7 billion in investments for transportation and education initiatives supported through funding generated by the Fair Share ballot initiative that voters approved in November of 2022, which established a surtax of four percent on annual income above $1 million. The education and transportation investments: Education Student Opportunity Act Expansion — $550,586,435 Child Care Grants to Providers — $365,000,000 Universal School Meals — $198,000,000 Free Community College — $127,048,000 DCF and DTA Related Child Care — $119,446,796 Income Eligible Child Care — $114,718,769 Financial Aid Expansion — $85,000,000 School Transportation Reimbursements — $62,000,000 Minimum Per Pupil Aid — $52,200,000 State University SUCCESS grants— $18,000,000 Community College SUCCESS — $18,000,000 Targeted Scholarships — $10,000,000 Green School Works — $5,000,000 TOTAL — $1,725,000,000 Transportation Mass Transportation Trust Fund — $220,168,000 MBTA — $470,000,000 Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) — $184,832,000 Health and Human Services Transportation — $100,000,000 TOTAL — $975,000,000 Local aid and education The FY27 House budget delivers nearly $10 billion in aid to cities and towns across the Commonwealth, representing a $477 million (M) increase over the FY26 budget. The budget funds Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) at $1.33 billion and Chapter 70 education funding at $7.65 billion. The budget also funds the fi nal year of a six-year implementation plan for the Student Opportunity Act (SOA), which was enacted in 2019 to modernize the state’s school funding formula to better support districts and expand resources for students, particularly those with the greatest needs. The budget increases the minimum aid total to $160 per pupil. Additionally, the budget includes the following education initiatives: SPED Circuit Breaker funded at $805.4M, supporting 100 percent projected reimbursement entitlement; $10M for school districts that have experienced unexpected enrollment reductions in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students; $57.1M for Regional School Transportation and $62M to fund Non-Resident Vocational and Regional Transportation. Additionally, this budget reforms out-of-district school transportation based on the legislatively mandated review by the Inspector General (IG). The FY27 budget implements the recommendations issued by the IG by: • Requiring DESE to maintain an electronic database for procurement and contract documents, establish best practices for districts and study the special education school marketplace to identify areas to improve transparency and ensure open and fair competition Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 Checking that pays you $20 a month. It’s easy: Open a checking account and each month maintain an average balance of $5,000, make $1,500 in direct deposits, and complete three transactions of any kind.* *New checking account customers only. • Requiring school districts to provide detailed cost components from vendors for DESE analysis of cost trends Public transportation This budget includes $470M for the MBTA, including $40M for the MBTA Academy. This budget continues to support water transportation and income-eligible reduced fares. The budget includes $217. 5M for the 15 Massachusetts RTAs. This investment includes $94M for general state contract assistance; $66M for additional state contract assistance to support expanded service hours, weekend services, and route expansions; $35M to continue fare-free fi xed routes and ADA-compliant service across all RTAs; $10M for projects that MASS. HOUSE | SEE Page 7 ׉ Ú7cassandra://EVRSd2ZZA07gqzVnXzbb_AMlcfsH2_IUvOvZ6WlrGjcÍ-jÍ`ÌỐ×jä§\^DŒ^’ó×jä§\^DŒ^’òÍ ªÍrבC’טšÍUÍru׉œ“׉ Ú7cassandra://8Lzhbj8Zizg-_yTS-E7ek4aTf9A5QSRflMOc295jJk0ΣäÍ`Í'Íp׉ Ú7cassandra://ZUEEr7VbMXJrK1z8DGZNEVgA9SUBWagNKsHrPa_mWmkÍ¿Í`ÍÍà׉ Ú7cassandra://82HR0ZTq8qVPPMTBmRM96q79oxGPJ7_qxuXDI0cuYLMÍ:Í`ÌỐ×jä¬\^DŒ^“טšÍUÍUÍru׉œ“׉ Ú7cassandra://LHhdeD8aylYy78WFNtKnc4aKmNtqrfJ9MthlwjyabJ4Î ÄÝÍ`Í'Íp׉ Ú7cassandra://cM7w9eZCRtRTBijUAjwLH9LKQPqRsC8fs-Ou_Q8vxs0Íœ1Í`ÍÍà׉ Ú7cassandra://5qTk8iyp4w_8CHq9uE4h3f-X27WxPy2VXM-sOJ0rCfIÍ/_Í`ÌỐ×jä¬\^DŒ^“”× ×jä¬\^DŒ^“Íḿ́9ׁHŒmailto:Info@advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј× ×jä¬\^DŒ^“ÍšÍIb9ׁHµhttp://angelosoil.comׁ ׁ Ј× ×jä¬\^DŒ^“Í’Íe̑9ׁHµhttp://Maldenauto.comׁ ׁ Ј× ×jä¬\^DŒ^“Í.Í/Ìä9ׁH¹mailto:Maldenab@yahoo.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EÚPPage 6 “WE’RE STILL HERE!” Since 1947 49 Robin St., Everett, MA 617-389-3030 * Maldenab@yahoo.com Over 79 years of THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2026 EVENT | FROM Page 1 MALDEN AUTO BODY Book online: Maldenauto.com exceptional service! Massone Family Owned & Operated Established 1978 Mid-grade Regular 4. 4.45 5.24 $4.67 Full Service ULS $4.79 Order online at angelosoil.com Kerosene Now Available! powers pre-K through eighth grade students to choose 10 new books to own and add to their home libraries, at no cost to their families. In addition, teachers at participating schools will each receive 25 books for their classroom libraries, expanding book choice and access for the entire school community. This year, the program will serve 10,000 students across Massachusetts, including over 600 at A.C. Whelan. Massachusetts became the fi rst state in the nation to fund the expansion of The United States of Readers, launching in 2024 across four districts: Quincy, Revere, Holyoke and Framingham. Increased Commonwealth funding has allowed some of Boston’s Title I schools to join, furthering the program’s reach to schools that serve a high proportion of economically disadvantaged students. The United States of Readers program — founded and delivered by Scholastic through a collaboration with new nonprofi t Impact Reading — aims to bridge the gap of literacy and book inequity, specifically in Title I schools and rural areas where students have little to no opportunity to choose their own books and build their home libraries. Research from the Scholastic Kids & Family Read                                                                                      Author Pam Muñoz Ryan presents with a student at A.C. Whelan Elementary School. A student receives her free book, “Mice and Beans” by Pam Muñoz Ryan, as part of The United States of Readers program. Students listen to author Pam Muñoz Ryan. ing Report™ shows more than 90% of children say their favorite books, and the ones they’re most likely to finish, are the books they choose themselves. “Our mission is to ensure every student has the tools they need to succeed, and a love of reading is at the heart of that foundation,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dianne Kelly. “The United States of Readers program continues to bring extraordinary opportunities directly to our students, and welcoming celebrated author Pam Muñoz Ryan to A.C. Whelan Elementary is a perfect example of that commitment. When young readers get to meet the authors behind the stories they love, it sparks a deeper connection to books and the worlds they open up.” “Revere is a city that believes in its young people, and that starts with making sure they have every opportunity to grow and thrive,” said Mayor Patrick Keefe. “The United States of Readers program is doing exactly that, bringing high-quality books and incredible experiences like today’s author event with Pam Muñoz Ryan directly to our students at A.C. Whelan Elementary. I’m proud to see our community come together to make moments like this possible.” “Reading is one of the most powerful gifts we can give a student,” said State Representative Jessica Giannino. “As a Revere student, I remember how exciting it was to look forward to a new book or the book fair— it was the best part of the day. The United States of Readers program understands that getting the right book into a child’s hands at the right moment can change everything. Programs like this not only build reading skills, but also foster confi dent, curious young people who are ready to take on the world. I’m proud to support initiatives like this that make a meaningful impact for students across Revere and the Commonwealth.” For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES! ׉ Ú7cassandra://82HR0ZTq8qVPPMTBmRM96q79oxGPJ7_qxuXDI0cuYLMÍ:Í`ÌỐ×jä§\^DŒ^’ô׉EÚ"œTHE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2026 Page 7 MASS. HOUSE | FROM Page 5 improve connections between diff erent RTAs and between RTAs and the MBTA; $8.5M to support RTAs in delivering enhanced service and workforce initiatives; $4M for the Community Transit Grant Program, which expands mobility options for older adults, people with disabilities, and lowincome residents. Early education and care Continuing the House’s longstanding commitment towards investing in the early education and care (EEC) workforce, this budget includes $157.2M more than in FY26 to sustain recent rate increases and other historic investments in child care access and aff ordability. This investment is in addition to the Fair Share supplemental budget that was recently passed by the House, which included $38.7M to reduce the income-eligible waitlist, $8M for child care providers and $7.5M for an EEC educator loan forgiveness program. Other early education and care investments in this budget: • $598.6M for child care for children involved with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA); also allows for expanded access to families involved in the Emergency Assistance (EA) Shelter System • $623.6M for child care for lowincome families • $475M for Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants • $20M for Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies • $20M for Head Start • $7.5M for an EEC Educator Scholarship Program Public Higher Education This budget allocates $866.5M for the UMass system, $419.8M for community colleges and $407.9M for state universities. Other higher education investments include $176.7M for scholarship funding, $18M for the Community College SUCCESS program, $18M for the State University SUCCESS program, $10M for the UMass SUCCESS program, $15M for Early College, $12.9M for Dual Enrollment. Health and Human Services This budget includes $22.41 billion for MassHealth and invests in primary care rates and behavioral health. It extends the Health Connector’s ConnectorCare Pilot program, which off ers lower premiums, no deductibles and reduced copays, until the end of 2027. As of January 1, 2026, residents with incomes of only up to 400% of Federal Poverty Level (FPL) were eligible because of the expiration of the ACA tax credits. The Pilot Program included in this budget extends coverage to those with an income of up to 500% of the FPL. This budget invests in the human services workforce by including $175M for Chapter 257 rates for health and human service workers and $132M for rate increases for nursing facilities. This budget also extends the Personal Care Attendant Program working group and mandates that any additional cuts to the program can only occur with the agreement of the working group. It also funds the following initiatives: • $5.6M for the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety • Maintains $16 per elder formula grant and $2.2M for Service Incentive Grants for Councils on Aging • Permits MassHealth to set coverage limits of $1,750 per year on dental services provided to MassHealth members and Health Safety Net patients, in alignment with caps on Group Insurance Commission (GIC) members. This would save the state $35M annually. This budget ensures greater access to HIV-prevention medications, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). It prohibits cost sharing and prior authorizations, improves access for incarcerated individuals in the Commonwealth consistent with 1115 waivers and requires insurers to accept prescriptions from any licensed health care provider. To alleviate the cost of living, this budget makes investments to lower food costs and ensure access to our most vulnerable populations. It includes $60M for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, $20M for the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) to provide a dollar-for-dollar match to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients purchasing locally grown healthy food and $11M for the SNAP for Low-Income Workers program, increasing the benefi t to $35 per eligible family. Public Health and Mental Health This budget funds the Department of Public Health (DPH) at $1.16 billion and the Department of Mental Health (DMH) at $1.32 billion for FY27. Investments include: • $184.1M for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) • $35M for HIV/AIDS Treatment and Preservation • $11.1M for a Gun and Violence Prevention Program • $10.1M for Community Health Centers, including $4M for the Gender Affi rming Care program • $4M to address safety, health and quality of life at the “Mass & Cass” area of Boston • $679.7M for Adult Mental Health Supports • $136.7M for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services • $3M for the DMH Loan Forgiveness Program Affordable and Accessible Housing This budget maintains the House’s commitment to protecting renters and homeowners across the Commonwealth from eviction and homelessness by investing in the following programs: $115M for programs for homeless individuals; $10M for shelter workforce assistance; $281.3M for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP); $210M for the Rental Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program; $82.3M for HomeBASE; $8M for a new Winter Beds program; $3M to the Access to Counsel program, which provides legal representation for low-income families in eviction proceedings. This budget includes $258.6M for the EA Shelter System, which accounts for $17.1M in savings because of a decreased shelter portfolio and several savings initiatives. The budget also expands protections for children in the shelter system by requiring any child under the age of three to be referred for an Early Intervention evaluation and assessment. Workforce Development and Economic Development The FY27 House budget funds the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development at $112.8M and the Executive Offi ce of Economic Development at $123.9M. Additionally, it invests in the following workforce development initiatives: • $58.4M for Adult Basic Education Services • $20.4M for DTA Employment and Training Services • $17.4M for Summer Jobs for At-Risk Youth • $10M for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund • $8.9M for Career Technical Institutes • $7.9M for One-Stop Career Centers • $6.5M for School-to-Career Connecting Activities • $3.3M for a Registered Apprenticeship Expansion • $3.1M for Career and Technical Education Grants • $1.5M for fi rst-time homebuyer counseling and best lending practices • $1M for Social Enterprise Grants, a new workforce development program This budget requires 7.5 percent of sports wagering revenue to be deposited into the Sports and Entertainment Events Fund, which was created in 2025 to provide competitive matching grants for major sports or entertainment events in the Commonwealth. Based on recommendations issued by the COLA working group that was established in the FY25 budget, the FY27 House budget establishes a funding process to trigger cost-of-living adjustments for retirees in the State Employees’ and Teachers’ Retirement Systems and provides an opt-in for local retirement systems. Energy and Environmental Affairs The House budget includes $477.1M for the Executive Offi ce of Energy and Environmental Aff airs, continuing investments in conservation and sustainable development while keeping the Commonwealth on track to meet its climate goals. This investment includes $153.3M for the Department of Conservation & Recreation; $81.1M for the Department of Environmental Protection; $71.4M for the Department of Agricultural Resources; $63.4M for the Clean Water Trust and a $10M transfer to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Criminal Justice The budget annualizes the second phase of increases to Committee For Public Counsel (CPCS) raises for private bar advocates and the hiring of more staff attorneys. The budget also increases the minimum salary of Assistant District Attorneys to $76,000 a year. The House budget includes $812.1M for the state’s sheriff offi ces, which is a $52.6M increase. The budget takes the fi rst step in an ongoing process toward eliminating funding defi ciencies by adopting reforms that were outlined in the IG’s preliminary recommendations. To better track cost drivers, the budget separates out funding for costs that have been identifi ed as reasons for the defi ciencies: operations, payroll, no cost calls, and medication-assisted treatment. Other criminal justice investments: $33.7M for the Office of Community Corrections; $16.1M for CommunityBased Reentry Services; $6.9M for Emerging Adults Pre-andPost Release Reentry Grants; $52M for Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp. to provide legal services to the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable populations; $7M for the Immigration Legal Assistance Fund for nonviolent off enders.  ׉ Ú7cassandra://5qTk8iyp4w_8CHq9uE4h3f-X27WxPy2VXM-sOJ0rCfIÍ/_Í`ÌỐ×jä§\^DŒ^’õ×jä§\^DŒ^’ôÍ ªÍrבC’טšÍUÍru׉œ“׉ Ú7cassandra://WVRK1diN4B0joCjsplCQNYlB0GX2PZL-yZQ4cqW2HrsÎþZÍ`Í'Íp׉ Ú7cassandra://LKhCM340YmwtYv_BJlJBv-tGU-j09c5Gp7Bhimit2YQÍŒÍ`ÍÍà׉ Ú7cassandra://U6_be7N3eljEUkQzoYCxksAtUlwBLsmk4Vg5midDUvkÍ=šÍ`ÌỐ×jä­\^DŒ^“טšÍUÍUÍru׉œ“׉ Ú7cassandra://N933DpBJEvmXC4VyNeHLX2C_M0_dJ8XbjCOx_AC3MfUηaÍ`Í'Íp׉ Ú7cassandra://ErfIey8AGBN921AbWVwjlk5QkGoXH0O7n-Vq19Pk2TwÍÇfÍ`ÍÍà׉ Ú7cassandra://aiUk17iRr1LB9FVDCUtdOMxVUwpD4tof5Ak1QpUredUÍ