The bill titled "An Act Making Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025" proposes a total appropriation of $2.45 billion gross and $947 million net to address critical budget needs in Massachusetts for FY25. Key allocations include $2.046 billion for the MassHealth program, $162.7 million for county sheriffs, $75 million for housing preservation, and $20 million for costs associated with hosting the 2026 World Cup. The bill also aims to enhance the state's financial resilience by proposing a $125 million deposit into the Stabilization Fund and creating a new Economic Resiliency and Federal Response Fund. Additionally, it includes provisions to improve government transparency and public health, such as allowing the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to decouple immunization recommendations from federal standards and updating the Medicaid program's Managed Care Organization assessment.

The bill further amends various chapters of the General Laws, including adjustments to penalties for fishing violations and the establishment of new regulations for nursing license applicants, requiring fingerprint-based criminal history checks. It introduces a rebuttable presumption for the disclosure of patient records after a specified period post-death and mandates facilities to maintain resident records for at least 20 years. Financial provisions include directing 75% of any remaining excess capital gains income to the Economic Resiliency and Federal Response Fund and 25% to the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund for FY25, with additional transfers planned for FY26. Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and public health measures while ensuring fiscal stability for the state.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 7C-44, 21A-10H, 23I-3, 25-22, 29-2HHHH, 32-26, 41-56, 66-7, 118E-64, 123-36, 123B-17, 130-2, 149-44H, 161A-7