Right now, the Massachusetts House and Senate are negotiating a final budget for the next fiscal year. We know that a budget is a statement of values, and we need to be sure that the FY 2026 budget is reflecting our values of a more just and equitable Commonwealth.

Write to your state representative and state senator to ask them to advocate for key funding and policy in the FY 2026 budget:

• Immigrant Legal Defense Fund: HOUSE language appropriating $5 million for a new legal defense program to provide immigration legal services to eligible low-income immigrants and refugees without access to legal representation (House line item 4003-0124).

• Banning Broker’s Fees: SENATE language to require that residential rental broker’s fees be paid by the contracting agent (typically, the landlord), ensuring that renters are not burdened with unexpected and extraordinary costs.

• Access to Counsel: HOUSE language appropriating $3 million to ensure that tenants facing eviction have access to counsel. (House line item 0321-1800).

• Emergency Assistance for Families: SENATE language appropriating $225 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), which prevents displacement by providing short-term emergency assistance to keep families stably housed.

• Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program: HOUSE language appropriating $258,111,840 for the MRVP, which provides long-term rental subsidies to approximately 10,000 low-income households for use in the private housing market.

• No Cost Calls: HOUSE language appropriating $10 million for the Communications Access Trust Fund for no cost communication in prisons and jails (House line item 1595-6153.

• Universal School Meals: HOUSE language appropriating a full $190M allocation for School Meals for All.

• Fully Funding Our K-12 Public Schools: Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance priorities of closing the Chapter 70 inflation gap of $465 million, fixing the charter school reimbursements with the House funding level of $199 million, increasing funding for school building program, and preserving the House inclusion of a grant program for community schools.