The House Committee on Ways and Means (HWM) released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget proposal earlier today; a spending plan that totals $63.33 billion. Their budget represents a $2.3 billion (3.7 percent) increase over the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and is $29 million (0.05 percent) less than Governor Healey’s budget.

Compared to the administration’s recommendations, the HWM budget increases spending levels modestly in the areas of housing, public safety, and MassHealth; increases which are offset by lower funding levels for local aid, support services, and transportation. But despite these unique priorities, the committee’s spending plan is most notable for how it largely adheres to the spending and revenue framework proposed by the Governor. 

The HWM budget also includes 73 outside policy sections, which reflect several of the administration’s fiscal initiatives, while also proposing a new mechanism to increase cost of living payments for state retirees, putting fiscal controls on sheriffs, and using data collection and sharing of best practices to address rising special education transportation costs.