Massachusetts State Budget — Latest updates on Maternal Health Funding for FY27
Senate budget debate update May 13, 2026
Funding for midwifery education + more (Senate budget)
It’s time to take action again! Last month, the House failed to pass key maternal health funding items in the state budget, but our fight is not over. Now, we turn to the State Senate, which finalizes their budget over the next week.
Your Senator needs to hear from you this week! Urge your State Senator to cosponsor key maternal health budget amendments. It only takes a minute to make your voice heard using our easy form.
Senate budget details
In early May, the Senate Ways & Means Committee proposed a budget that includes some of our key priorities for maternal health:
$1M for birth center grants
$4.3M for implementation of the 2024 Maternal Health Law
$220K Moms Matter Act funding for perinatal mental health grants
We are very pleased that the Senate has already included important maternal health funding in their budget, and we are advocating for four additional budget items.
Senate budget amendments for advocacy
$500K for Midwifery Workforce Development Fund (Amendment 526) sponsored by Sen. Joan Lovely - Funding for midwifery education including student stipends, loan forgiveness, and burnout prevention
$300K for Neighborhood Birth Center (Amendment 517) sponsored by Sen. Liz Miranda
$1M Center for Maternal Health Advancement (Amendment 577) sponsored by Sen. Nick Collins (formerly Center for Black Maternal Health & Reproductive Justice)
Midwives Reimbursement Correction (Amendment 416) sponsored by Sen. Brendan Crighton - Policy fix to ensure that MassHealth midwifery access passed in the 2024 Maternal Health Law applies to all MassHealth plans.
What happened in the House? (April 2026 update)
In April, the House partially funded two of our maternal health priorities in the state budget: $75K for Seven Sisters Midwifery and $25K for Worcester Community Midwifery.
Thanks to tremendous grassroots advocacy, Bay State Birth Coalition’s 8 budget priorities gained dozens of cosponsors, but unfortunately did not pass. This support builds momentum for our movement, and we have another opportunity to advocate for this funding with the Senate in May.
(Cosponsor lists and additional details will be added soon.)
About the state budgeting process
Each year, the Massachusetts legislature passes an annual budget. It starts with a proposed budget from the Governor early in the year. Then, the House Ways & Means Committee proposes a budget and State Reps in the House propose amendments — this is usually how earmarks to fund a specific local program get into the budget. The House amendments are considered by the Ways & Means Committee and voted on by the House. The House process just takes a few weeks and takes place in April. After the House finishes their budget at the end of April, the Senate has a similar process in May. Currently, Senators are weighing over 1,000 proposed amendments to the state budget, and decisions will be finalized the week of May 18.
Then, the two budgets are reconciled in a House-Senate joint conference committee, going to the Governor for a final sign off. So, stay tuned for more action alerts in a few weeks as we track any additional budget proposals regarding midwifery, birth centers, and maternal health.
You can explore the budget process and see all 1,158 proposed Senate amendments at the legislature’s official web site: https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2027/SenateDebate