PAST ACTION: FY27 MASS. SENATE BUDGET
Advocates at the State House for Creative Sector Day 2025. Photography by Steph Craig Studios.
On May 21st, the Senate passed their FY27 Budget with $27.32M for the Mass Cultural Council, a $25K stipend for the Commonwealth’s Official Poet Laureate, and $403K in local earmarks.
In May 2026, the Senate Ways and Means Committee released their $63.3 billion FY27 Budget with a proposed 3.6% increase in spending over FY26. The Senate Ways and Means Budget included $27.35 million for the Mass Cultural Council, matching the Governor’s H.2 recommendations and final House appropriation.
The Senate Ways and Means Budget also made critical investments for the arts and cultural sector that the MASSCreative Action Network has been advocating for, including $20.4 million for the State Aid to Public Libraries Program, $19.38 million for the State Aid to Regional Libraries Program, $2.09 million for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and $3 million for the District Local Technical Assistance Fund.
The MASSCreative Action Network urged advocates to share their support for several amendments that would make this budget stronger for the creative sector: #59 sponsored by Sen. Julian Cyr earmarking $175K for technical assistance for the seasonal community designation program, #87 sponsored by Sen. Paul Mark ensuring timely funding for regional tourism councils, #234 sponsored by Sen. Nick Collins to increase unrestricted funding for libraries, #255 sponsored by Sen. Jamie Eldridge to increase funding for the District Local Technical Assistance program, and #288 and #823 sponsored by Sen. Sal DiDomenico and Sen. Lydia Edwards to increase funding for the Community Mitigation Fund.
Only amendment #59 was adopted in the $64.4 billion FY27 Budget that the Senated unanimously approved on May 21st. The Senate approved $27,323,072 for the Mass Cultural Council and a $25,000 stipend for the Commonwealth’s Official Poet Laureate. Senate Ways and Means’ proposed funding for the 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 Senate Budget. Nine local earmarks totaling $413,000 were added to the agency’s line item. This is the highest level of funding ever appropriated to the Mass Cultural Council.
See who co-sponsored the priority amendments:
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Sponsored by Sen. Julian Cyr, co-sponsored by Sen. Adam Gómez, Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Sen. Dylan Fernandes, Sen. Lydia Edwards, and Sen. Bruce Tarr.
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Sponsored by Sen. Paul Mark, co-sponsored by Sen. Jake Oliveira, Sen. Adam Gómez, Sen. John Cronin, Sen. Peter Durant, Sen. Robyn Kennedy, Sen. Rebecca Rausch, Sen. Kelly Dooner, Sen. Michael Moore, Sen. Vanna Howard, Sen. John Velis, Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Sen. Ryan Fattman, Sen. Dylan Fernandes, Sen. Pavel Payano, Sen. Lydia Edwards, Sen. Julian Cyr, and Sen. Bruce Tarr.
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Sponsored by Sen. Nick Collins, co-sponsored by Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Sen. Paul Mark, Sen. Vanna Howard, Sen. Rebecca Rausch, and Sen. Patrick O'Connor.
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Sponsored by Sen. Jamie Eldridge, co-sponsored by Sen. Paul Mark, Sen. John Keenan, Sen. Adam Gómez, Sen. Vanna Howard, Sen. Lydia Edwards, and Sen. Michael Moore.
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Sponsored by Sen. Sal DiDomenico and Sen. Lydia Edwards, co-sponsored by Sen. John Keenan, Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Sen. Dylan Fernandes, Sen. Bruce Tarr, and Sen. Patricia Jehlen.
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, House, AND Senate have chosen to maintain strong investments for arts, culture and creativity in the state spending plan.
A conference committee made up of three state representatives and three state senators will negotiate the differences between the House and Senate Budgets. Both chambers will need to approve the final conference committee report before the budget is sent to the Governor’s desk for her signature or vetoes. Learn more about the state budgeting process below:
We’re grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Chair Paul Mark, and our elected leaders in the Massachusetts State Senate for leading again as champions for arts, culture, and creativity in Massachusetts.
On May 28th, the MASSCreative Action Network sent a thank you letter to Senate leadership signed by 114 creative workers, cultural organizations, and creative businesses across the Commonwealth. You can read the thank you letter below.
