The Senate wrapped up work on its FY2027 budget late last week, adopting $70.5 million in additional spending over three days of deliberations, including various housing amendments, bringing the total to $63.4 billion. The House passed $63.4 billion with approximately $50 million more in spending.
Thank you to everyone who reached out to their Senators and engaged in outreach throughout the week. Below is an overview of where CHAPA’s priority items stand following the Senate budget.
A full side-by-side of funding figures is available in CHAPA’s updated FY2027 Budget Tracker.
What’s Next
The focus now shifts to conference, where negotiators from the House and Senate will work to resolve differences between the two budgets. CHAPA will be advocating for the highest funding levels passed by either chamber for each priority line item.
CHAPA will share specific updates as the conference process moves forward. To stay engaged in the budget-advocacy process, please join us for the next Building Blocks Coalition meeting on June 3rd. Please register here.
NOTE: MBTA Communities Act
- The Senate defeated all three amendments that sought to weaken or delay the MBTA Communities Act (#5, #39, #191, and #298).
- These amendments would have added burdensome municipal reporting requirements, delayed compliance deadlines, or exempted municipalities based on factors outside the scope of the law.
- With 167 communities having adopted compliant zoning, the Senate vote reflects the progress the law has made and keeps it moving forward.
Amendments Adopted During Debate
Re-Entry Voucher Program (7004-9034)
- The Senate budget included $3,120,000, matching FY2026 and $80,000 below the House. CHAPA is requesting $3,620,000.
- A floor amendment raises this line to $3,620,000, matching CHAPA’s full request and $420,000 above the House.
Sponsor-Based Permanent Supportive Housing (7004-0105)
- The Senate budget included $10,072,875, matching the House and FY2026. CHAPA is requesting $12,072,875.
- A floor amendment adds $500,000, bringing the line to $10,572,875 – $500,000 above both the House and FY2026.
Housing Consumer Education Centers (7004-3036)
- The Senate budget included $5,200,000, matching the House but $650,000 below FY2026. CHAPA is requesting $8,974,000.
- A floor amendment adds $500,000, bringing the line to $5,700,000 – $500,000 above the House, though still $150,000 below FY2026.
KEY ITEMS HEADING INTO CONFERENCE
MRVP (7004-9024)
- Senate: $278,341,728 | House: $281,341,728 | FY2026: $253,311,840 | CHAPA request: $300,000,000
- CHAPA will advocate for the House amount in conference.
RAFT (7004-9316)
- Senate: $201,205,991 | House: $210,060,000 | FY2026: $207,477,715 | CHAPA request: $300,000,000
- CHAPA will advocate for the House amount in conference.
HomeBASE (7004-0108)
- Senate: $82,322,001 | House: $82,322,001 | FY2026: $57,322,001 | CHAPA request: $125,000,000
- Both chambers match on funding. CHAPA will advocate for maintaining this level in conference and for adopting the Senate’s stronger policy language, which includes:
- No 12-month cap on the income-increase grace period (the House limits it to 12 months).
- $2,500,000 floor for extraordinary hardship awards (the House converted this to a cap of “not more than” $2,500,000).
- Domestic violence shelter eligibility, explicitly making families in DV shelters eligible for assistance (not in the House version).
- 90-day advance notice to the Legislature before EOHLC can implement any regulation or policy change that would reduce benefits or eligibility below the June 30, 2026 level (not in the House version).
DMH Rental Subsidy (7004-9033)
- Senate: $16,548,125 | House: $20,000,000 | FY2026: $16,548,125 | CHAPA request: $23,548,125
- CHAPA will advocate for the House amount in conference.
AHVP (7004-9030)
- Senate: $19,263,183 | House: $19,263,183 | FY2026: $19,461,214 | CHAPA request: $30,000,000
- Both chambers match on funding. CHAPA will advocate for maintaining this level in conference and for the Senate’s stronger policy language, which preserves EOHLC’s flexibility to implement a payment standard or utility allowance that could reduce tenant payments below the 25% floor – a notable protection for AHVP households on fixed incomes. The House makes the 25% household payment floor unconditional.
Re-Entry Voucher Program (7004-9034)
- Senate (as amended): $3,620,000 | House: $3,200,000 | FY2026: $3,120,000 | CHAPA request: $3,620,000
- A floor amendment raises this line to $3,620,000, matching CHAPA’s full request and $420,000 above the House. CHAPA will advocate for the Senate amount in conference.
Public Housing Operating (7004-9005)
- Senate: $117,810,000 | House: $117,840,000 | FY2026: $115,600,000 | CHAPA request: $132,900,000
- CHAPA will advocate for the House amount in conference.
Public Housing Reform (7004-9007)
- Senate: $1,269,215 | House: $1,243,831 | FY2026: $1,250,000 | CHAPA request: $1,600,000
- CHAPA will advocate for the Senate amount in conference.
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (4000-0007)
- Senate: $10,439,590 | House: $10,539,590 | FY2026: $10,645,850 | CHAPA request: $15,000,000
- CHAPA will advocate for the House amount in conference.
Sponsor-Based Permanent Supportive Housing (7004-0105)
- Senate (as amended): $10,572,875 | House: $10,072,875 | FY2026: $10,072,875 | CHAPA request: $12,072,875
- CHAPA will advocate for the Senate amount in conference.
Housing Consumer Education Centers (7004-3036)
- Senate (as amended): $5,700,000 | House: $5,200,000 | FY2026: $5,850,000 | CHAPA request: $8,974,000
- CHAPA will advocate for the Senate amount in conference.
First-Time Homebuyer and Foreclosure Counseling (7006-0011)
- Senate: $1,500,000 | House: $3,000,000 | FY2026: $1,500,000 | CHAPA request: $3,050,000
- CHAPA will advocate for the House amount in conference.
Access to Counsel (0321-1800)
- Senate: unknown | House: $3,000,000 | FY2026: $2,500,000 | CHAPA request: $4,000,000
- This item does not appear in the Senate budget sections available for this analysis. CHAPA will advocate for at minimum the House amount in conference.
STASH (7004-0107)
- Senate: $2,670,000 (no directed STASH funding) | House: $1,065,000 (incl. $500,000 for STASH) | FY2026: $3,999,000 | CHAPA request: $1,000,000 for STASH
- The Senate budget did not include a dedicated earmark for STASH. CHAPA will advocate for the $500,000 STASH earmark included in the House budget in conference.
EOHLC Administration (7004-0099)
- Senate: $22,160,301 | House: $22,025,301 | FY2026: $16,017,804 | CHAPA request: $22,000,000
- CHAPA will advocate for the Senate amount in conference.
HOUSING PRODUCTION AND ZONING (OUTSIDE SECTIONS)
In addition to line-item appropriations, the Senate budget includes outside sections that would make meaningful changes to Massachusetts zoning law to support housing production. The House final budget did not include these provisions, making them a key point of negotiation in conference.
Electronic Notifications
- The Senate allows zoning-related notices to be sent electronically alongside existing mail requirements.
Vested Rights and Permit Protections
- The Senate expands protections for housing projects once an application or permit is filed, including allowing certain protections to begin when an application is filed rather than when a permit is issued, extending the building permit protection period from 12 to 24 months, excluding the time needed to pursue other required permits from that 24-month period, and extending the nonconforming use abandonment period from 2 to 4 years.
As-of-Right Extensions for Nonconforming Lots
- The Senate allows structures on lots with pre-existing nonconformities as to size, shape, frontage, or coverage to be extended or altered without a variance or special permit, as long as the work meets current height, story, and setback requirements. This affects a large share of older Massachusetts homes.
Variance Standard Reform
- The Senate replaces the existing variance standard. Under current law, a variance requires proof that soil, shape, or topography conditions cause substantial hardship. The Senate replaces this with a “practical difficulty” balancing test that explicitly requires boards to consider the public interest in housing production. The variance lapse period is also extended from one year to two years, excluding time spent in appeals.
CHAPA will advocate for the inclusion of the Senate language on these outside sections in the final conference budget.