PAST ACTION: FY27 MASS. HOUSE BUDGET
Image of Regie Gibson, Massachusetts’ first official Poet Laureate approaching the podium to perform at Creative Sector Day 2026. Photography by Steph Craig Studios.
On April 29th, the House passed their FY27 Budget 149-9 including $27,348,072 for the Mass Cultural Council (0640-0300) with $375,000 in local earmarks.
In April 2026, the House Ways and Means Committee released their $63.3 billion FY27 Budget with a proposed 3.6% increase in spending over FY26, but $33 million decrease from the Governor’s H.2 proposal. The House Ways and Means Budget included $27,348,072 for the Mass Cultural Council, matching the Governor’s H.2 recommendation. This 5% increase to the agency’s operating budget, a record-high appropriation, will support programs, services, and grantmaking for the creative sector through FY27.
The House Budget also made critical investments for the arts and cultural sector that the MASSCreative Action Network has been advocating for, including $21 million for the State Aid to Public Libraries Program, $19.6 million for the State Aid to Regional Libraries Program, $2,052,106 for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and $3 million for the District Local Technical Assistance Fund.
We asked advocates to urge their state representatives to co-sponsor House Budget amendments #261 sponsored by Rep. Sally Kerans to increase the Board of Library Commissioner’s operating budget to $2.1 million, #543 sponsored by Reps. Mindy Domb and Sean Garballey to change references of “STEM” to ‘STEAM” in state law, and #710 sponsored by Rep. Sean Garballey to ensure the Massachusetts Poet Laureate receives a $25,000 stipend.
Ultimately, none of these amendments were adopted in the $63.4 billion FY27 Budget that the House voted 149-9 to pass on April 29th. House Ways and Means’ proposed funding for the Mass Cultural Council, State Aid to Public Libraries Program, State Aid to Regional Libraries Program, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and District Local Technical Assistance Fund was retained in the final House Budget. Nine other amendments adding earmarks to the Mass Cultural Council’s line item were adopted, resulting in an additional $375,000 in funding on the agency’s line item.
See who co-sponsored the priority amendments:
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Sponsored by Rep. Sally Kerans, co-sponsored by Rep. John Barrett, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. Joan Meschino, Rep. Patricia Duffy, Rep. Susannah Whipps, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Rep. Mary Keefe, Rep. James Hawkins, Rep. Tram Nguyen, Rep. David Vieira, Rep. Paul McMurtry, Rep. Hannah Kane, Rep. Angelo Puppolo, Rep. Aaron Saunders, Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, Rep. Bruce Ayers, Rep. Amy Mah Sangiolo, Rep. Michelle Ciccolo, Rep. Manny Cruz, Rep. Mike Connolly, Rep. Brian Ashe, Rep. Lisa Field, Rep. Michelle Badger, Rep. Kate Donaghue, Rep. David Rogers, Rep. Christine Barber, and Rep. Adrian Madaro
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Sponsored by Rep. Mindy Domb and Rep. Sean Garballey, co-sponsored by Rep. Steven Owens, Rep. John Barrett, Rep. David Paul Linsky, Rep. Amy Mah Sangiolo, Rep. Donald Wong, Rep. Patricia Duffy, Rep. Samantha Montaño, Rep. Thomas Moakley, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. Tara Hong, Rep. Steven Ouellette, Rep. Patrick Joseph Kearney, Rep. Paul McMurtry, Rep. Sally Kerans, Rep. Carmine Gentile, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Rep. Antonio Cabral, Rep. Mary Keefe, Rep. David Vieira, Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, Rep. Bruce Ayers, Rep. Tackey Chan, Rep. Manny Cruz, Rep. Mike Connolly, Rep. Danillo Sena, Rep. Jessica Ann Giannino, Rep. Lisa Field, Rep. David LeBoeuf, Rep. David Rogers, Rep. John Lawn, Rep. Hannah Bowen, Rep. David Robertson, Rep. Christine Barber, Rep. James Arena-DeRosa, and Rep. Adrian Madaro
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Sponsored by Rep. Sean Garballey, co-sponsored by Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Rep. John Barrett, Rep. Amy Mah Sangiolo, Rep. Tara Hong, Rep. Kevin Honan, Rep. Paul McMurtry, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Rep. Mary Keefe, Rep. Michael Kushmerek, Rep. Patricia Duffy, Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, Rep. Bruce Ayers, Rep. Bud Williams, Rep. Manny Cruz, Rep. Mike Connolly, Rep. David Rogers, Rep. John Lawn, Rep. Adrian Madaro, and Rep. James Arciero
We have enjoyed consistent increases to the Mass Cultural Council’s budget in recent years because of increased advocacy from the sector, including advocates within the MASSCreative Action Network and leadership from the Mass Cultural Council and Mass Humanities. We shouldn’t take for granted that during an increasingly challenging budget year, the Healey-Driscoll Administration and House have chosen to maintain strong investments for arts, culture and creativity in the state spending plan.
We’re grateful to Speaker Ron Mariano, House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Chair Sean Garballey, and our elected leaders in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for leading again as champions for arts, culture and creativity in Massachusetts.
On May 5th, the MASSCreative Action Network sent a thank you letter to House leadership signed by 134 creative workers, cultural organizations, and creative businesses across the Commonwealth. You can read the thank you letter below.
