FY25 Budget Process

The yearly budget for the Department of Higher Education and the community colleges, state universities and UMass system is determined by the process laid out below. Click on the buttons for details on the FY25 budget for Massachusetts public higher education. You can also learn more about the statewide FY24 budget.


Board of Higher Education

December 2023—The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education issues its funding recommendations to the Executive Office of Education.

Board Recommendations

Governor Healey

January 2024—The budget begins as a bill that the Governor submits to the House of Representatives.

Governor's Budget

Joint Ways & Means Public Hearings

March 2024—Commissioner Ortega and other education leaders testify at the Joint Committee on Ways & Means hearing on the education components of Governor Healey’s budget request.

Commissioner’s Testimony

House of Representatives

April 2024—The House Ways and Means Committee reviews the Governor's budget and then develops its own recommendation. Once debated, amended and voted on by the full House, it becomes the final House budget bill and moves to the Senate.

House Budget

Senate

May 2024—The Senate Ways and Means Committee reviews the Governor's budget and then develops its own recommendation. Once debated, amended and voted on by the full Senate, it becomes the final Senate budget bill.

Senate Budget

Conference Committee

June 2024—House and Senate leadership assign members to a "Conference Committee" to negotiate the differences between the House and Senate bills. The conference committee report can only be approved or rejected; no additional amendments can be made.

Conference Committee Budget

Final Budget

Once approved by both chambers of the Legislature, the Governor has ten days to review the Conference Committee budget. The Governor may approve or veto the entire budget, or may veto or reduce particular line items or sections, but may not add anything. Then, the House and Senate may vote to override the Governor's vetoes. Overrides require a two-thirds roll-call vote in each chamber.

July 2024—The final budget, also known as the General Appropriations Act (GAA), goes into effect on July 1, 2024 when the 2025 Fiscal Year begins.

Final FY25 Budget

 

Meetings & Events

Oct 15

Executive Committee Meeting

Oct 22

Board of Higher Education Meeting

Nov 25

Executive Committee Meeting