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| Good morning. Governor Healey signed a $63 billion budget without touching a single line, Maine's Senate race turned into an eight-person scramble overnight, and a Beacon Hill push to regulate how teens use social media just cleared the Senate by a landslide. Let's get into it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| The Lead | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Governor Maura Healey signed the state's $63.4 billion fiscal year 2027 budget Thursday — and for the first time in her tenure, she didn't veto a single line item or hold back a dollar in local earmarks. That's a notable break from the last two years, when she slashed hundreds of millions in spending and warned lawmakers about looming fiscal trouble. This year, with reelection season underway, she signed it as-is, touting a budget that raises spending 4 percent without new taxes or fees, funds a review of how the state pays for local schools, and adds new protections for sexual assault survivors. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| The "no new taxes" framing matters politically — it gives Healey a clean talking point heading into the fall campaign. But the real story is what's coming next: state budget officials are bracing for what they've called "major financial turmoil" as a new federal law reshapes public benefit programs, likely squeezing things like SNAP and Medicaid funding that Massachusetts has leaned on for years. Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz framed the budget as protecting "long-term stability," but that stability is about to be tested by decisions coming out of Washington, not Boston. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Watch for two things in the months ahead: how the state responds if federal benefit cuts start hitting local budgets, and whether Healey's "no cuts, no new taxes" budget becomes a campaign liability if revenues underperform. She's betting voters reward restraint. Her opponents will be watching for the first sign of a shortfall. Full story at GBH News → | ||||||||||||||||||||
| What Else You Should Know | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A strike with no end in sight. Bus drivers and mechanics with Teamsters Local 170 have shut down Merrimack Valley Transit Authority service for more than a week, stranding riders in Lawrence, Salem, N.H., and beyond. Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña publicly begged both sides Thursday to remember "working families, seniors, students, and individuals with medical needs" who have no other way to get around. Boston Globe → | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Senate takes on the algorithm. The Massachusetts Senate passed a bill 38-2 that would force social media platforms to turn off autoplay, infinite scroll, and late-night notifications for minors by default. Majority Leader Cindy Creem framed it as reclaiming "OG social media" from Big Tech's engagement machine — teens currently average nearly five hours a day on these apps. WBUR → | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Markey and Moulton spar over age vs. urgency. In their first debate of the Senate primary, Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton found little daylight on policy but plenty on tone — Moulton needled the 79-year-old Markey over decades of unfinished promises on rail and climate, while Markey cast his experience as an asset in fighting the Trump administration. Boston.com → | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bomb threats on the commuter rail. A 29-year-old Boston man, Shane Cautillo, was ordered held on $10,000 bail after allegedly bringing homemade explosive materials aboard a commuter rail train into North Station and telling other riders he wanted to make bombs for extremist groups. Alert passengers and Transit Police intervened before anything happened. Boston Globe → | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ICE detained a legal East Boston resident, lawsuit alleges. Jose Pineda, a 62-year-old Salvadoran immigrant with Temporary Protected Status and a pending T visa, says he was held for two days in "cruel and inhumane conditions" at a Burlington ICE facility despite his legal status. Lawyers for Civil Rights is seeking damages, alleging racial profiling. Boston.com → | ||||||||||||||||||||
| A death that hits close to City Hall. Louisa Gag, a staff member for Mayor Michelle Wu, was killed in a bicycle crash in Roxbury Crossing. Details are still emerging, but it's a sobering reminder of Boston's ongoing struggle with cyclist safety. WBZ / CBS Boston → | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Worth Your Attention | ||||||||||||||||||||
| July 15: The State Ballot Law Commission holds a hearing on whether fraud tainted the signature drive behind the marijuana repeal ballot question — the measure squeaked onto the ballot by just 122 signatures. CommonWealth Beacon → | ||||||||||||||||||||
| July 27: Maine Democrats face a hard deadline to pick a replacement Senate nominee after Graham Platner's withdrawal — at least eight candidates, including Shenna Bellows and Troy Jackson, are already jockeying for the nod to face Sen. Susan Collins. WBZ / CBS Boston → | ||||||||||||||||||||
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FY2027 Budget Tracker
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Current stage: Sent to Governor
Governor's Budget (H2) — filed House Budget (H5500) | 1744 amendments filed — house_floor Senate Budget (H5501) | 1 amendments filed — conference Conference Budget (H5555) — governor_desk
📋 No notable actions in the last few days. |
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💰 Money Watch
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Yesterday's Biggest Contributions
Data from the MA Office of Campaign & Political Finance |
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This Week on Beacon Hill
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Monday, July 13, 4:00 PM None Topic: SPECIAL COMMISSION ON CABO VERDEAN CULTURAL CENTER Location: Virtual Hearing, Boston Tuesday, July 14, 9:00 AM Joint Committee on Transportation (4 bills) Topic: Regarding four lately filed pieces of legislation. Location: Written Testimony Only, Boston
Tuesday, July 14, 11:00 AM Joint Committee on Public Service (13 bills) Topic: Miscellaneous Location: A-1 , Boston
Tuesday, July 14, 1:00 PM None Topic: Status of Persons with Disabilities Event - "Meeting the Moment" Community Conversation and Resource Fair Location: Northampton Senior Center, Northampton |
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New on the Ballot
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Recent filings with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance: Candidates
PACs
Ballot Question Committees
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