State Budget Priorities for Fiscal Year 2027

In addition to our legislative agenda, Project Bread identifies priorities for the annual state budget. Budgets are moral documents and how the state spends its resources tells us a story about what programs, policies, and people are being uplifted through investments.  

In Massachusetts, this process happens over the first 6 months of each calendar year for the fiscal year that runs from July 1st to June 30th.  

• The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is the gateway to SNAP, the most effective anti-hunger program in Massachusetts. SNAP lifted an estimated 85,000 residents – including 17,00 children – out of poverty between 2022 and 2024 and brings significant federal dollars into the state. Yet, many eligible households struggle to access benefits due to long wait times, dropped calls, language barriers, and understaffing. In 2025, 61-77% of calls to reach a SNAP caseworker at DTA were blocked, disproportionately affecting older adults, disabled individuals, and households with limited English proficiency. 

• To keep pace with growing need – especially as the harmful provisions of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) take effect – DTA must have adequate staff capacity. Hiring and training approximately 200 additional caseworkers is essential to support current caseloads, provide accurate information to clients, prevent unnecessary case closures, and protect the state from costly errors. Expanding DTA staffing and modernizing their systems ensures Massachusetts families can reliably access the nutrition support they need.

• Since its launch in 2020, School Meals for All has become a core part of Massachusetts’ commitment to child nutrition and education equity. The program eliminates meal debt, removes stigma, and ensures every student can access healthy school meals. 

• School Meals for All saves families up to $1,500 per child each year and recently helped move 10,0000 Massachusetts residents – including 4,000 children – out of poverty. In a time of instability in federal nutrition programs, School Meals for All provides a critical safeguard, ensuring children can focus on learning while families remain supported.

Updates:

• We are encouraged by Governor Healey’s displayed investment in School Meals for All in her FY27 budget proposal for $198M. We urge the Legislature to fund School Meals for All at this level to preserve the program’s transformative impact on students, families, and communities statewide.

• Project Bread’s Child Nutrition Outreach Program (CNOP), in partnership with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), helps districts expand access to school and summer meals. CNOP provides outreach materials, technical assistance, grants, and training to ensure schools can maximize participation in federally funded nutrition programs. Last year, CNOP supported 103 school districts and 151 Summer Eats sponsors, contributing to significant increases in breakfast, lunch, and summer meal participation statewide. 

• As more districts adopt the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) under School Meals for All, CNOP plays a key role in helping schools navigate implementation, reduce program costs, and reach more students. The program is also leading efforts to expand non-congregate summer meals in rural communities, ensuring children have access to nutritious foods, even when school is out. Continued level-funding of $7000,000 would maintain CNOP’s critical support for schools and keep children fed, healthy, and ready to learn.

• $25,000,000 for Nutrition and Cash Benefits for Immigrant Households (Line Item 4400-1032). 

• $29,700,000 in level-funding for the Healthy Incentives Program (Line Item 4400-1004). 

• $3,000,000 for Hunger-Free Campus Grants (Line Item 7100-4003). 

• A 20% increase to TAFDC and EAEDC cash assistance grants (Line Items 4403-2000 and 4408-1000). 

• $750,000 for farm to school FRESH grants (Line Item 7010-1192). 

• $2,000,000 for Local Food Incentive program (Line Item 7010-1192)