Massachusetts Senate Passes $63.3 Billion FY2027 Budget Unanimously, 40-0

BOSTON — May 21, 2026 — The Massachusetts Senate passed its $63.3 billion fiscal year 2027 budget 40-0 on Wednesday, concluding four days of debate marked by a failed Republican challenge to a ruling that knocked ten tax relief amendments off the table. Senate President Karen E. Spilka sustained a point of order from Ways and Means Chair Michael J. Rodrigues that measures including an income tax reduction from 5 percent to 4.5 percent and an estate tax exemption increase from $2 million to $5 million would unconstitutionally originate a money bill in the Senate; Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr's motion to overturn the ruling failed 35-4. The Senate unanimously adopted Amendment 901 from Ryan C. Fattman, extending 15-day domestic violence unpaid leave protections to contract and temporary employees — a gap that left Webster resident Amanda Dabrowski without protection when she was fired after being hospitalized following a violent attack. Senators also unanimously created a commission to study the distribution of unrestricted general government aid, after Fernandes highlighted that Plymouth receives less than $5 million in annual UGA while similarly sized Medford receives $15 million, with the underlying budget adding $53 million in UGA distributed on a per capita basis for the first time.