- MetroWest Food Collaborative
- May 15, 2024
- 1 min read
As the Fiscal Year 2025 Massachusetts State Budget continues to make its way through the House and Senate, we at MetroWest Food Collaborative (MWFC) are continuing to advocate for the funding that will contribute to a just and thriving regional food system. With government program cuts and fiscal tightening looking like realities this year, we need to keep our voices loud for food equity.
Expand each section below to learn more about 1) why the State Budget matters for regional food access, 2) how the State Budget process works, 3) what is happening with the budget now, and 4) how you can take action for a budget that centers food equity.
WHY DOES THE MASSACHUSETTTS STATE BUDGET MATTER FOR REGIONAL FOOD ACCESS?
Here are just a few examples of how the MA State Budget impacts food access in MetroWest:
State funding makes local fruits and vegetables more accessible for low-income MetroWest residents. The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which the state has funded since 2017, puts money back onto EBT cards when SNAP shoppers buy fresh produce from participating farm vendors. This makes foods available that might otherwise be unaffordable, and supports our local farms. Earlier this spring, Kali joined the annual HIP Lobby Day with our coalition partners to talk to our region’s legislators about the power of this program and urge them to fully fund it. See our post from Lobby Day here.
State funding keeps MetroWest kids fed in and out of school, with programs like Universal School Meals and Summer Eats. We made huge strides last year by passing School Meals for All, but our state has to commit to fully funding this program in order for it to work as it is meant to.
State funding makes critical nutrition benefits available for legally-present immigrant residents in MetroWest. Many immigrants are unfairly barred from federal SNAP benefits, but state funding in last year’s supplemental budget temporarily restored these benefits. More funding is needed to keep these critical benefits available.
State funding enables MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) service expansions that address gaps in transportation access to critical resources including food. Building stronger public transit is not only part of a more sustainable future, but directly connected to equity in our food system.
How does the state budget process work?
Toward the beginning of each calendar year, the Massachusetts Governor’s Office puts out an initial budget version. Between February and May, the House Ways & Means Committee and the Senate Ways & Means Committee each use this Governor’s budget as a basis to develop their own versions of the budget. After each Ways & Means committee puts out their budget, members of the respective chamber can propose amendments before the full chamber votes on the bill.
Following approval of the amended version, the budget from each chamber heads to the Conference Committee, where three members of each chamber work out differences in the House and Senate budgets and develop a consolidated version. The full Legislature votes to approve or reject this budget. If approved, it heads to the Governor’s desk. The Governor has 10 days to approve or veto the budget, or submit amendments for consideration. The House and Senate can override a Governor’s veto with a two thirds vote in both chambers.
Learn more from the Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center

What is happening with the Budget now?
In mid-April, the House passed their version of the State Budget. Unfortunately, this version fell short on many of the priorities we have been advocating for with our coalition partners. It failed to include full funding for HIP and Universal School Meals, and did not include any funding for State-Funded SNAP for Immigrant Residents, grants for local food policy councils, or food literacy in schools.
Learn more about MWFC’s 2024 budget and policy priorities here
Now, the Senate is in the process of finalizing their budget. The Senate Ways & Means Committee has already issued their proposed budget, and we are calling on Senators to support specific amendments for food equity. Here is a look at coalition budget priorities (“FY25 Ask”), where things stand in each version of the budget, and proposed amendments:
Item | FY25 Ask | House Budget (final) | Senate Budget (proposed) | Senate Amendments (proposed) | |
Healthy Incentives Program | $25 million | $25 million | $15 million | $20 million | Amendment #21: Codifying HIP, no cost, Senator Tarr |
Universal School Meals | $200 million | $170 million | $190 million | $170 million | |
State-Funded SNAP | $18 million | $0 | $0 | $0 | Amendment #577:State-Funded SNAP, $12 Million, Senator DiDomenico |
Regional Transit Authority Operations | $150 million | $150 million | $150 million | $214 million | |
MDAR Food Policy Council Grants | $250,000 | $0 | $0 | $250,000 | |
Food Literacy in Schools | $1 million | $0 | $0 | $0 | Amendment #658: Food Literacy, $1 Million, Senator Lewis |
How can you take action for a budget that centers food equity?
Do you have kids in school? Have you ever struggled to pay for the quality of groceries you want your family to have? Do you want to see thriving local farms? Do you want to have the option to hop on a bus to get your groceries? Are you an immigrant, or do you have immigrant friends or family?
If the answer is yes to any of these questions, it’s time to speak up for food equity in the FY25 Budget! Right now, we are urging our Senators to support key Amendments to the Senate Ways & Means Budget. This is a critical moment in the process - if these amendments are included in the final Senate budget, we have a chance of seeing them make it through the Conference Committee and all the way to the Governor’s desk.
The Asks:
Urge your State Senator to support and advocate for the following amendments:
Amendment #21: Codifying HIP, no cost, Senator Tarr. This amendment mirrors the language in the HIP bill (S.85 / H.150), which will enact the program into law permanently, and re-create a trust for program funds.
Amendment #577:State-Funded SNAP, $12 Million, Senator DiDomenico (fact sheet here). This amendment will restore state-funded SNAP to for legally present children, older adults, and persons with disabilities ineligible for federal SNAP (the benefits for 5,000 families ended April 30th).
Amendment #658: Food Literacy, $1 Million, Senator Lewis. This amendment will support DESE in increasing the impact of the school wellness coaching program, which assists local districts in creating or planning wellness policies, and the FRESH grant, which supports farm to school and food literacy projects.
Ask your State Senator to urge their colleagues in the Conference Committee to include the highest level of funding available for each of the MWFC priority areas listed in the table above when they are reconciling the House and Senate budgets.
TIPS TO GET STARTED:
Check out the MetroWest Food Collaborative’s policy and budget priorities, which we recently published on the website. This document will give you more information about the funding and legislation we are advocating for and links to learn more.
If you don’t already know who your State Senator is or you need their contact information, you can find them here.
You can call or email. Be ready to state 1) your name and city/town of residence, 2) your ask: what amendments and funding you want them to support, and 3) why the item you are calling about matters to you personally.
Thank you for being part of the work to build a stronger food system in MetroWest!
As always, please reach out at MetroWestFoodCollaborative@gmail.com if you have questions.