Vetoed by Governor Charlie Baker

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a $40.2 trillion state budget for the fiscal year 2018.

Highlights:

•  Establishes a $40.2 trillion state budget for the 2018 fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2017 and ending on June 30, 2018 (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that roughly half of all funds appropriated in the budget will go towards health and human services, while most of the remaining funds will go towards education, governmental affairs, administration and finance (Secs. 1 - 153)

• Establishes the following appropriations (Secs. 1 & 2):

• $21 billion to health and human services

• $6.96 billion to education

• $1.1 billion to public safety.

• $607.8 million to transportation

• $505.7 million to housing and economic development

• $236.4 million to energy and environmental affairs

• $47.6 million to labor and workforce development.

• Establishes new funds for the MassHealth program to meet healthcare needs and address fiscal challenges caused by a decline in employer-provided health insurance coverage for private sector employees (Secs. 1 & 2).

• Establishes financial support for behavioral health and substance abuse, including mental health services in the corrections system and cross-departmental initiatives to combat opioid abuse (Secs. 1 & 2).

• Authorizes the following tax reforms (Secs. 1 & 2):

• Establishes new taxes for short-term room rentals;

• Requires more online retailers to collect sales taxes; and

• Requires credit card companies to remit sales taxes at a quicker rate.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a $40.2 trillion state budget for the fiscal year 2018.

Highlights:

•  Establishes a $40.2 trillion state budget for the 2018 fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2017 and ending on June 30, 2018 (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that roughly half of all funds appropriated in the budget will go towards health and human services, while most of the remaining funds will go towards education, governmental affairs, administration and finance (Secs. 1 - 153)

• Establishes the following appropriations (Secs. 1 & 2):

• $21 billion to health and human services

• $6.96 billion to education

• $1.1 billion to public safety.

• $607.8 million to transportation

• $505.7 million to housing and economic development

• $236.4 million to energy and environmental affairs

• $47.6 million to labor and workforce development.

• Establishes new funds for the MassHealth program to meet healthcare needs and address fiscal challenges caused by a decline in employer-provided health insurance coverage for private sector employees (Secs. 1 & 2).

• Establishes financial support for behavioral health and substance abuse, including mental health services in the corrections system and cross-departmental initiatives to combat opioid abuse (Secs. 1 & 2).

• Authorizes the following tax reforms (Secs. 1 & 2):

• Establishes new taxes for short-term room rentals;

• Requires more online retailers to collect sales taxes; and

• Requires credit card companies to remit sales taxes at a quicker rate.

Full Bill Text