Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed into law most of a policy-filled $56 billion state budget for fiscal year 2024 on Wednesday, her most significant legislative action since she took office in January.
The spending plan makes permanent a pandemic-era program providing free school meals to all students, clears the way for high school graduates without legal immigration status to access in-state tuition and financial aid at public colleges and universities, offers assistance to help Bay Staters ages 25 and older attend community college for free, and more.
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It also sets aside $580 million to cover the anticipated impact of a tax relief package, which remains mired in Democrat-led negotiations more than a year after lawmakers first began debating the idea.
"This budget makes our state more affordable, competitive and equitable," Healey said during a ceremonial bill-signing event, flanked by Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, House Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka and Cabinet secretaries. "It will make a real and meaningful difference in the lives of people across Massachusetts."
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Healey gave her approval to 103 of 112 outside policy sections, returned eight with amendments, and vetoed one authorizing the use of $205 million in one-time funding. She also reduced the budget's bottom line by the same amount.
Lawmakers sent Healey a $56.2 billion spending plan on July 31, a full month into the fiscal year it covers, making the budget the second-latest to land on a governor's desk in 22 years.
