Massachusetts Budget Process

A brief overview of the Massachusetts budget process

Description

Each fiscal year Massachusetts allocates resources for the operation of both state and municipal governments and such appropriations are agreed upon in advance during the previous fiscal year’s lengthy budget process. The Executive and Legislative branches each submit their own budget recommendations, beginning with the Governor (published as H.1 or H.2), followed by the House, and then finally by the Senate. After the Senate releases the final draft of their budget recommendations, a conference committee consisting of both House and Senate members convenes to come to a final agreement on the budget, which is then sent to the House and Senate for a vote. If the final “compromise” draft receives a favorable vote by both chambers, it is then laid before the Governor for a final review and signature. Once the budget is signed by the Governor, it is published as a “General Appropriations Act” for the upcoming fiscal year.

For a comprehensive timeline of the budgetary process, as well as access to related documents, please visit the following sites:

Budget Process (Legislative): The Massachusetts General Court's budget information page

Budgetary Processes : Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance's budget information page

Budget Glossary : Explanation of terms used in the budget process

Appropriation Acts (final budget texts; search using keyword “appropriation”):

Acts Passed by the Legislature (1692-2010)

Acts Passed by the Legislature (1997-Current)

Proposed budgets, amendments, and other communication by the Governor, House and Senate (search using keyword “appropriation”):

Legislative Documents (Historical)

Legislative Documents (2009-Current)

Official daily proceedings of the House and Senate:

Journals of the Senate

Journals of the House of Representatives

Additional Resources

Learn more about the Outside Sections of the budget

List of Massachusetts State Budgets