PAST ACTION: AMENDMENTS TO THE FY26 SENATE BUDGET
State Senator Paul Mark speaks at a podium to the left. State Representative Sean Garballey stands to the right.
On May 22, 2025, the Senate passed its FY26 Budget and proposed $26,245,152 for the Mass Cultural Council, which is higher than what Gov. Healey proposed in her H.1 Budget, but lower than what the House passed in their version of the budget on April 30th.
As with the House Budget, we understand that legislators have difficult decisions to make regarding this year’s budget and are grateful that we have leadership in Massachusetts, from the Governor’s Office through the House and Senate, that unanimously values arts and culture in the Commonwealth. We are pleased that each of these proposed budgets includes a modest 0.58% increase for the state arts agency’s operating and grantmaking budget in FY26.
The House approved its budget on April 30th, 2025, with $26,775,152 allocated for the Mass Cultural Council. The House and Senate budgets are now being deliberated in the Conference Committee.
SENATE BUDGET AMENDMENT UPDATES
These are the following outcomes on amendments endorsed by the MASSCreative Action Network:
(Amendment 66) “Public Libraries” filed by Sen. Nick Collins and Sen. Becca Rausch and (Amendment 615) “State Aid to Regional Public Libraries” filed by Sen. Jake Oliveira and Sen. Becca Rausch. Both of these amendments move to increase state aid to regional public libraries by $950,000.
As of 4:30 pm on Tuesday, May 20th, Amendment 66 was WITHDRAWN
As of 5:00 pm on Wednesday, May 21st, Amendment 615 was ADOPTED
(Amendment 91) “Strengthening Downtowns and Main Streets” filed by Sen. John Cronin. This amendment would invest $500,000 towards the Downtown Vitality Fund.
As of 4:30 pm on Tuesday, May 20th, Amendment 91 was REJECTED
(Amendment 155) “Tourism and Visitation Economic Competitiveness” filed by Sen. Paul Mark. This amendment would appropriate $1 million for the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund, supporting the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism and Regional Tourism Councils.
As of 4:30 pm on Tuesday, May 20th, Amendment 155 was REJECTED
(Amendment 159) “Poet Laureate” filed by Sen. Paul Mark and Sen. Becca Rausch. This would ensure that the poet laureate of Massachusetts would receive a $25,000 honorarium.
As of 4:30 pm on Tuesday, May 20th, Amendment 159 was ADOPTED
(Amendment 271) “Safeguarding Free Expression” filed by Sen. Julian Cyr. This amendment is taken from S.2328, An Act regarding free expression, and declares that book bans undermine the public good and restrict academic growth, and that librarians should be protected from personal attacks and threats.
As of 12:00 pm on Wednesday, May 21st, Amendment 271 was WITHDRAWN
(Amendment 741) “Board of Library Commissioners” filed by Sen. Jake Oliveira and Sen. Becca Rausch. This amendment would add about $400,000 to the operations budget for the Board of Library Commissioners.
As of 12:00 pm on Wednesday, May 21st, Amendment 741 was REJECTED
(Amendment 742) “Library Technology and Resource Sharing” filed by Sen. Jake Oliveira and Sen. Becca Rausch. This amendment would add approximately $300,000 to the line item supporting library technologies and resource sharing.
As of 12:00 pm on Wednesday, May 21st, Amendment 742 was REJECTED
To follow where the budget is now, click below to find updates on the state budget.
Advocacy and broad coalition building are essential to protect federal funding for arts, culture, and the humanities.
