State of the State: 2025 vs 2026
Governor Maura Healey -- comparing priorities year over year
From Infrastructure Investment to Federal Resistance and Kitchen-Table Affordability
Governor Healey's 2026 State of the Commonwealth address represents a dramatic tonal and substantive shift from her 2025 speech, driven largely by the changed federal political landscape under the Trump administration. While the 2025 address was an optimistic recounting of legislative accomplishments — the Affordable Homes Act, the Mass Leads Act, $9 billion in federal funding won — the 2026 speech is combative and defensive, with significant portions devoted to countering federal actions on immigration enforcement, SNAP benefits, healthcare funding, and vaccine access. The governor explicitly called out President Trump as "throwing tantrums like a two-year-old" and devoted multiple paragraphs to describing ICE enforcement actions in Massachusetts, a topic entirely absent in 2025.
On affordability, the 2026 address goes far beyond the 2025 framing. In 2025, affordability was discussed primarily through the lens of tax cuts and housing production. In 2026, Healey announced a sweeping "Affordability Agenda" that includes an immediate 25% cut to electric bills and 10% cut to gas bills in February and March, energy affordability legislation projected to save $13 billion, an expansion of the $25,000 down payment assistance program, elimination of prior authorization requirements in healthcare, a ban on medical debt credit reporting, and even a proposed law requiring easy cancellation of subscription services. The 2026 speech is intensely focused on direct, tangible cost relief in a way the 2025 speech was not.
Education priorities shifted from defending standards to celebrating results and setting ambitious new targets. In 2025, the governor focused on convening a council to replace the MCAS graduation requirement and expanding Innovation Career Pathways to 100 high schools. In 2026, she announced Massachusetts reclaimed the #1 ranking on the Nation's Report Card in every category, set a target of 100,000 Early College students within 10 years, highlighted investments in literacy and high-dose tutoring to address COVID learning loss, and proposed strict new social media protections for children including parental consent and age verification requirements — a completely new policy area.
Economic development messaging evolved from specific legislation to a competitive narrative. The 2025 speech highlighted the Mass Leads Act and its $100 million AI Hub investment. The 2026 speech instead emphasized corporate relocations (Hasbro, LEGO, Alnylam, Transmedics), referenced the DRIVE Act for research and science, touted a 25% reduction in regulations for small businesses, and set a goal of 100,000 apprentices over 10 years. The 2025 emphasis on clean energy as a standalone priority was largely folded into the energy affordability conversation in 2026, with the governor adopting an explicit "all of the above" energy strategy including nuclear and gas alongside renewables — a notable shift from the 2025 climate-forward framing.
Several 2025 priorities received no mention in 2026, including the emergency shelter crisis and immigrant work authorizations, the $8 billion transportation funding strategy's financial details, the Cape Cod Bridges federal grant, West-East Rail, primary care workforce development, and the F-35 fighter jets at Barnes Air Base. The 2026 speech was far more focused on protecting Massachusetts from federal disruption while delivering immediate financial relief to residents.
New Priorities in 2026
- +Aggressive pushback against federal Trump administration policies, including explicit opposition to ICE enforcement actions in Massachusetts, defense of vaccine access, protection of abortion care and Planned Parenthood funding, and response to SNAP benefit freezes with $7 million raised for food pantries and increased budget funding for local food banks.
- +Immediate utility bill relief: a 25% cut to electric bills and 10% cut to gas bills announced for February and March, plus energy affordability legislation projected to save $13 billion, with an 'all of the above' energy supply strategy including nuclear and gas.
- +Directive requiring utilities to justify every line item on bills and mandating they purchase energy at the lowest available price — framed as a new consumer protection initiative.
- +Elimination of prior authorization requirements from insurance companies for medical care, described as a new healthcare reform so patients can receive doctor-prescribed treatments without waiting for insurer approval.
- +Ban on medical debt being reported to credit agencies, and formation of a Health Care Affordability Working Group bringing together leaders from key sectors.
- +Protection of 270,000 families and small business owners from premium spikes after federal actions threatened healthcare coverage, described as the biggest state commitment in the country to maintain affordable coverage.
- +Strict new social media protections for children and teens, including mandatory parental consent, age verification on platforms, and preventing social media companies from targeting kids for profit.
- +Proposed law requiring subscription services to make cancellation as easy as sign-up, building on Attorney General Campbell's regulatory work.
- +Goal of 100,000 apprentices over the next 10 years across building trades, nursing, early education, and technology sectors.
- +Goal of 100,000 Early College students within 10 years, and emphasis on literacy investments and high-dose tutoring to address COVID-era learning loss.
- +New fire safety protections for all assisted living homes in response to the Gabriel House tragedy in Fall River.
- +Celebration of major events including the World Cup, Tall Ships return, and largest-ever July 4th fireworks for America's 250th anniversary.
Dropped from 2025
- −The emergency shelter crisis received extensive coverage in 2025 — including phasing out hotel shelters, 6,000 work authorizations, 4,500 family exits, and TRC closures — but was completely absent from the 2026 address.
- −The detailed $8 billion transportation funding strategy and its framing as the largest state transportation investment in 20 years, built on the Transportation Funding Task Force recommendations, was not discussed in 2026 beyond a passing reference.
- −Winning federal funding was a centerpiece in 2025 ($9 billion won, rising from 34th to 7th in federal transportation dollars, Cape Cod Bridges grant, West-East Rail funding) but went entirely unmentioned in 2026, likely reflecting the changed federal relationship.
- −Primary care as a standalone healthcare priority — with commitments to shift resources to primary care and develop the primary care workforce — was not addressed in 2026.
- −The $100 million AI Hub in Holyoke and the specific Mass Leads Act provisions for life sciences and climatetech industries were not mentioned, replaced by broader references to AI partnerships and the DRIVE Act.
- −The MBTA Communities Law and its implementation across 116 municipalities with 3,000 housing units in the pipeline received no specific mention in 2026.
- −F-35 fighter jets at Barnes Air Base in Westfield, pardoning misdemeanor marijuana convictions, and helping commercial drivers keep their licenses were not referenced.
- −The Statewide Graduation Requirement Council convened to replace MCAS was not discussed, though the governor mentioned having 'the best statewide high school graduation standard in the country' including financial literacy.
- −The proposal to eliminate renter-paid broker fees, announced as upcoming in 2025, was referenced in 2026 as already accomplished ('we banned broker fees').
- −Clean energy as a distinct standalone priority with emphasis on climate law implementation and permitting reform was absorbed into the broader energy affordability framework.
Shifted Emphasis
- ↔Housing shifted from celebrating legislative achievement (the Affordable Homes Act) to an action-oriented building push, with a new claim of 100,000 homes already underway toward a 220,000-home target by 2035, expansion of the $25,000 down payment program, and emphasis on converting state land, empty offices, and ADUs — moving from policy design to execution.
- ↔Transportation shifted from a bold $8 billion investment announcement and MBTA financial stabilization plan to a simpler narrative of operational success (zero slow zones, new commuter rail lines, free regional buses) and a call to accelerate bridge construction, with far less policy detail.
- ↔Healthcare shifted from highlighting specific legislation (maternal health bill, $25 copay caps, ConnectorCare expansion, Steward Health Care resolution) to a consumer-protection and affordability frame focused on eliminating prior authorization, banning medical debt reporting, and protecting residents from federal coverage disruptions.
- ↔Economic development moved from highlighting specific legislation (Mass Leads Act, $100 million AI Hub) to a competitive narrative emphasizing corporate headquarters relocations (Hasbro, LEGO, Alnylam, Transmedics), a 25% regulatory reduction, and the DRIVE Act — with a stronger focus on competing against other states.
- ↔Education evolved from defending academic standards post-MCAS repeal and expanding Innovation Career Pathways to celebrating the #1 Nation's Report Card ranking, setting the 100,000 Early College target, highlighting Universal Pre-K reaching Gateway Cities ahead of schedule, and adding over 20,000 childcare seats — a more expansive and confident framing.
- ↔The tone regarding the federal government completely reversed: 2025 celebrated $9 billion in federal funding won and called on Congress to pass border security legislation, while 2026 was dominated by opposition to Trump administration policies on immigration, healthcare, SNAP, and research funding.
- ↔Energy went from a brief mention of clean energy independence and climate law permitting reform to a central affordability issue, with the governor adopting an 'all of the above' supply strategy (including gas and nuclear), ordering utility bill audits, and announcing immediate bill cuts — a shift from climate framing to cost-of-living framing.
- ↔Veterans shifted from broad accomplishments (HERO Act, ending veteran homelessness plan, new facilities) to a focused celebration of the rebuilt Chelsea and Holyoke veterans' homes achieving full accreditation and Holyoke's perfect VA rating — a completion narrative rather than an aspirational one.
Policy Topics Addressed
Affordability
Governor Healey made affordability central, announcing a 25% cut to electric bills and 10% cut to gas bills for February and March. She proposed expanding a $25,000 down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers, directed utilities to justify every line on bills, and committed to opposing big rate hikes. She highlighted over 100,000 new housing units in progress, plans to beat the 220,000-home target by 2035, free community college, free school meals, and banning broker fees. She also proposed eliminating prior authorization in healthcare and banning medical debt from credit reports.
Economy & Jobs
Governor Healey highlighted companies like Hasbro, LEGO, Alnylam, and Transmedics choosing Massachusetts, with the state leading in education, healthcare, and innovation. She emphasized supporting small businesses by cutting 25% of regulations and pledged to cut more. She announced plans for 100,000 apprenticeships over 10 years across building trades, nursing, early education, and technology, and highlighted the DRIVE Act for research and science investment.
Education
Governor Healey celebrated Massachusetts schools ranking Number One in the Nation's Report Card in every category for the first time in eight years. She announced a target of 100,000 Early College students within 10 years, expanded free community college for adult learners, proposed Universal Pre-K in every Gateway City ahead of schedule, and made big investments in literacy and high-dose tutoring. She also proposed strict new requirements to protect kids on social media, including parental consent and age verification.
Environment & Energy
Governor Healey announced immediate energy bill relief: a 25% cut to electric bills and 10% cut to gas bills in February and March. She filed energy affordability legislation projected to save $13 billion, pursuing an "all of the above" supply strategy including wind, solar, hydro, gas, and nuclear. She directed utilities to justify every line item on bills and pledged to require utilities to buy energy at the lowest price, while highlighting a new hydroelectric line from Quebec already lowering bills by $50 million.
Government Reform
Governor Healey announced plans to cut 25% more regulations for small businesses, and highlighted converting unused state property — former courthouses, hospitals, and offices — into housing. She proposed eliminating prior authorization requirements from insurance companies for medical care, stating 'if your doctor says you need it, you'll get it,' and called for making subscription cancellation as easy as signing up.
Healthcare
Governor Healey announced she would eliminate prior authorization requirements for insurance, ban medical debt from credit reports, and create a Health Care Affordability Working Group. She committed to protecting 270,000 families and small business owners from premium spikes caused by federal subsidy cuts, calling it 'the biggest commitment in the country.' She also capped insurance deductibles and copays for the first time.
Housing
Governor Healey made housing a centerpiece of her affordability agenda, noting the state hasn't been building enough homes since the 1990s. She outlined accelerating environmental approvals from over a year to 30 days, converting empty state properties and downtown offices into homes, promoting ADUs with free designs and low-cost financing, and expanding programs giving families $25,000 toward down payments and lower interest rates. She stated the goal of 220,000 new homes by 2035, with 100,000 already in progress.
Immigration
Governor Healey condemned ICE actions, citing a high school student arrested on his way to volleyball practice and a college student deported to Honduras. She stated "none of this makes us safer" and described parents afraid to send kids to school or go to church. She emphasized Massachusetts was "built by immigrants" including her own Irish grandparents.
Infrastructure
Governor Healey outlined an $8 billion plan to fix the transportation system, highlighting the elimination of 220 slow zones on the T, new ferry routes, two new commuter rail lines, and accelerated bridge construction. She announced a new hydroelectric line lowering bills by $50 million and plans for more solar, transmission, and battery storage, plus converting unused state property and empty offices into housing.
Public Safety
Governor Healey emphasized supporting state and local police while building community trust. She highlighted Trooper Rassan Charles, who saved a man in crisis on the Tobin Bridge, and Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon for heroism during an assisted living facility fire. She announced proposals for new protections at assisted living homes and reiterated the state's approach of community-oriented policing.
Social Services
Governor Healey described extensive social service protections against federal cuts, including backstopping SNAP benefits, covering health insurance premium increases for 270,000 families, and replacing Planned Parenthood funding. She announced expanding a $25,000 down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers, proposed banning medical debt from credit reports, and highlighted eliminating prior authorization requirements from insurance companies for medical care.
Tax & Budget
Governor Healey proposed cutting electric bills by 25% and gas bills by 10% in February and March. She highlighted a $400 million middle-class income tax cut already delivered, elimination of licensing fees, expansion of the earned income tax credit, free community college, and free school meals. She noted the state's strong economy allows continued investments without raising taxes and committed to protecting healthcare for 270,000 families affected by federal subsidy cuts.
Technology
Governor Healey proposed strict new requirements to protect kids on social media, including parental consent and age verification on all platforms, preventing social media companies from targeting kids for profit, and building on Attorney General Campbell's regulatory work. She also launched free community college for adult learners in fields including technology and announced 100,000 apprenticeships over 10 years. She proposed requiring all AI-generated election images and videos to include disclosures.
Veterans & Military
Governor Healey stated that "everything we have, we owe to" military members, veterans, and Gold Star Families. She highlighted the transformation of the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, which suffered 76 COVID deaths, into a facility with a perfect VA rating — now one of the best veterans' homes in America. The Chelsea veterans' home was also rebuilt and fully accredited.