MARCH 17, 2023.....Gov. Maura Healey has now proposed over $56.5 billion in state spending since taking office, adding a $734 million supplemental budget request to her agenda on Friday.

The new bill seeks to extend the popular state-funded universal free school meals program through next school year, assist school districts with expensive special education programs, recruit and retain more MBTA employees, and fund temporary staffing to respond to health crises in the face of waning COVID-19 emergency dollars.