Senate Passes FY26 Budget: Progress on Housing Priorities, Key Gaps for Conference Committee to Resolve
The Massachusetts Senate passed its $57.9 billion FY2026 budget last week, adding $43.5 million through more than 300 adopted amendments. The budget includes important progress on housing priorities, with investments in emergency rental assistance, first-generation homeownership, and fair housing enforcement. However, several high-priority programs included in the House received lower funding or were not included in the Senate version.
As the budget moves to Conference Committee, advocates are urging lawmakers to adopt the strongest funding and policy provisions from both chambers to meet the scale of the Commonwealth’s housing needs.
Senate Budget Additions
- Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) – Line Item 7004-9316
$225 million
Maintains the Senate’s higher funding level and adopts Amendment 557, which directs the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to develop a statewide homelessness prevention strategy and evaluate the removal of barriers to programs like RAFT, including the potential elimination of the “notice to quit” requirement. - Saving Toward Affordable and Sustainable Homeownership (STASH) – Line Item 7006-0011
$500,000 (via Amendment 19)
Adds targeted funding for first-generation homebuyers through the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance, supporting matched savings accounts and homeownership education. - Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs) – Line Item 7004-3036
$5.7 million (via Amendment 428)
Restores some of the funding for regional housing counseling and tenant assistance services after earlier cuts, though funding remains below the prior-year level of $8.97 million. - Housing Assistance for Reentry Transition – Line Item 7004-9034
$3.12 million (via Amendment 848)
Supports stable housing for individuals returning from incarceration. Amendment language ensures carry-forward of unspent funds to sustain services. - Department of Mental Health Rental Subsidy Program – Line Item 7004-9033 (Amendment 130)
This amendment proposed increasing funding for rental subsidies for Department of Mental Health (DMH) clients by $500,000, from $16,548,125 to $17,048,125, to better meet the housing needs of individuals with mental health challenges. The amendment was not adopted. - Massachusetts Fair Housing Center – Line Item 7004-0099 (earmark via Amendment 10)
$200,000
Earmarked within EOHLC’s administrative account to support enforcement and outreach in Western Massachusetts. - Public Housing Operating Subsidies – Line Item 7004-9005
$116 million
Senate funding exceeds the House’s $115.6 million by $400,000, helping local housing authorities maintain operations and address quality and safety needs. - Senate Broker Fee Language – Outside Section 31
Clarifies that broker fees must be paid by the party who hires the broker. Ensures tenants aren’t charged for services they didn’t request, offering stronger protections than the House version, which permits fees with written disclosure even when the broker was hired by the landlord.
Key Priorities For Further Advocacy
- Office of Fair Housing and Fair Housing Trust – Line Item 7004-0099 (Amendment 171)
Proposed $5 million to launch the new Office, fund the Fair Housing Trust, and support U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-aligned fair housing efforts. The amendment was not adopted. - Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) Administration – Line Item 7004-0099 (Amendment 20)
Amendment ECO 20 proposed increasing funding for the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities from $15,573,388 to $22,235,340 to strengthen the agency’s administrative capacity. The amendment was not adopted. - Small Properties Acquisition Fund – New Line Item (Amendment 89)
Proposed $1 million to help nonprofit organizations acquire and preserve small multifamily homes. The amendment was withdrawn. - Healthy Homes Program – New Line Item
A proposed $5 million line item to address mold, lead, and other housing-related health risks was withdrawn and not included. - Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) – Line Item 7004-9024
Funded at $253.3 million in the Senate—$4.8 million less than the House’s $258.1 million level. - Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP) – Line Item 7004-3045
TPP received no funding in either budget. Amendment ECO 105 proposed $42,755 to retain a dedicated line item, but it was not adopted. The program will be supported this year through MassHousing funding. - Access to Counsel – Line Item 0321-1800
Not funded in the Senate budget. The House includes $3 million to provide legal representation for tenants facing eviction, a key strategy for homelessness prevention.
What’s Next
The FY2026 budget now goes to a Conference Committee, a group of House and Senate lawmakers responsible for reconciling the two versions into a final budget.
Housing advocates are urging the committee to adopt the strongest funding levels and policy provisions from both chambers to address housing needs across Massachusetts. CHAPA will be drafting a letter to conferees to ensure that each housing program receives the necessary funding and support to promote stability, affordability, and equity statewide.
Please see an updated version of our budget tracker here.