Massachusetts Senate releases FY’25 budget proposal

On Tuesday, May 7th, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means released its $58 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2025. The budget represents a 3.3% increase over the current fiscal year 2024 budget, and it is $100 million less than the House budget.

The executive summary of the Senate budget highlights investments in early education and care as well as the Senate’s goal to prioritize accessibility and affordability. The executive summary states, “With this increased level of funding, we are further building upon a sturdy foundation to support our early education and care workforce in an impactful way, while ensuring accessible and affordable care for children and families across the state.”

The Senate proposal includes $1.56 billion for early education and care. This includes fully funding the Commonwealth Cares for Children, or C3, grants at $475 million (line items 3000-1045, 1596-2410). The budget also includes:

• $65 million to sustain and provide additional rate increases for early education and care providers (1596-2434)

• $80 million for child care affordability (1596-2435), and

• $32.5 million for preschool expansion in the CPPI grant program (3000-6025, 1596-2412)

In Outside Sections of the budget, the Senate includes 11 early education and care sections. Together with budget line items, these sections codify several provisions from the Senate’s recently passed EARLY ED Act, including making C3 grants permanent, expanding eligibility for child care subsidies, establishing a career ladder for early educators, and creating a matching grant pilot program for employers investing in child care.

The Boston Globe adds:

“The Senate plan would also direct $10 million to the ‘Literacy Launch’ program — one-third of what the governor requested for the new five-year program that aims to ensure schools, teachers, and students ages 3 through third grade have access to high-quality reading instruction. Healey says she hopes the initiative will make Massachusetts first in literacy nationwide.”

Senators have until Friday, May 10th, to file amendments to the budget, and they will begin debate the week of May 20.

Contact Strategies’ Deputy Director Titus DosRemedios if you would like more information, and check our webpage for future updates and advocacy opportunities.