08/09/2025
Your thoughts?
259 MILLION FISCAL 2025 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (S 2575)
House 150-6, Senate on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a $259 million fiscal 2025 supplemental budget.
The measure provides $40 million for the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) to hire about 320 additional public defenders. This supplemental budget did not include this investment in legal representation for indigent defendants when the governor first filed it, but a work stoppage among private attorneys who take cases as bar advocates had since led some criminal defendants to have charges against them dropped. The Legislature added the $40 million. The budget would provide bar advocates with a $20-an-hour raise over two years - compared to the $60-an-hour raise that some bar advocates were seeking.
Supporters said the $40 million will more than double the CPCS’s existing workforce. They noted that increasing the proportion of indigent clients represented by public defenders—as opposed to private bar advocates, who are independent contractors—will help stabilize the public defense system in Massachusetts.
“This agreement provides a substantial raise for bar advocates that reflects our commitment to supporting the important work that they do, even in a challenging budget year,” said Gov. Healey upon signing the budget.
“Despite chaos at the federal level, the Massachusetts Legislature remains committed to delivering important services to our residents and communities, ensuring our bills are paid, practicing fiscal responsibility and maintaining access to justice for all,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashlan)
Not everyone agreed with that assessment. The Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) said in a statement that the raise is not sufficient and pledged that the MACDL will “continue to support the tireless advocacy, commitment and selflessness of the many bar advocates who stand in solidarity to make their voices heard.”
The statement continued, “The rates for bar advocates in Massachusetts remain insufficient and will not solve the current constitutional crisis. This legislation does not bring the rate of pay for bar advocates anywhere near the rate of pay for appointed attorneys in neighboring states.”
“I say to you today and to the leadership, we’re going nowhere,” said Sean Delaney an advocate of the higher wages. “Your ridiculous proposal that you put forward yesterday has only strengthened our resolve.”
In the meantime, despite the signing of the bill, some criminal defendants who haven’t been appointed a lawyer in the past 45 days continue to have charges against them dismissed.
Other provisions in the budget include $60 million for Home Care Services; $43 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT); $15.5 million for increasing the security of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards by transitioning to chip cards; $7.5 million for the Healthy Incentives Program which both strengthens food security for residents and supports Massachusetts farmers in the face of federal funding cuts; $6 million for veterans’ benefits; $4 million for the Massachusetts State Police crime lab; and $1 million for the Fair Housing Fund.
“Amid President Trump’s dismantling of the Department of Education, and amid sweeping cuts at the federal level to programs that millions of Americans rely on, this supplemental budget makes key investments that will ensure continued funding for state programs that support many of the commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy).
“[This budget] has a carryover from the last budget, still spending money on illegal immigrants and pushing transgenderism and abortion,” said Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver). “Until the Democrat-led Legislature wakes up to reality that these policies are destroying our state, I will continue to vote ‘No’ and I encourage other Democrat leaders to recognize reality and step up to be a voice for sanity and healthy citizens. Additionally, while I think the attorneys should be paid better to defend the indigent, I believe there are better ways than letting criminals go free.”
Five other representatives voted against the budget but did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them to explain why they voted against it. The five representatives, all Republicans, are Reps. Brad Jones (R-North Reading); Paul Frost (R-Auburn); Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick); Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica); and Alyson Sullivan-Almedia (R-Abington).
(A “Yes” vote is for the $259 million budget. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. Christine Barber Didn't Vote Rep. Mike Connolly Yes Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven Yes
