FISCAL YEAR 2024 STATE BUDGET

The EJC’s legislative funding campaign calls on state lawmakers to adequately fund the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) line item in the state budget. MLAC requests $49 million for civil legal aid in the FY24 Budget of the Commonwealth through line item 0321-1600.

Understanding the State Budget Process

Your participation is crucial to our budget campaign’s success.  Below is a timeline of the state budget process that lets you know important dates in our campaign from January to July.

• The State Budget Process [PDF]

Want to stay informed on the latest issues affecting civil legal aid funding in Massachusetts, and know when the critical times are to contact your elected officials? Sign up for our action alerts here, and find out how to get involved and have your say.

Read MLAC’s FY24 Budget Fact Sheet and issue-specific fact sheets.

FISCAL YEAR 2023 STATE BUDGET

Governor’s budget

• On January 26, 2022, Governor Baker included $35 million for civil legal aid in his FY23 budget recommendations.

House budget

• On April 13, the House Ways and Means Committee included $39.5 million for civil legal aid in its FY23 budget recommendations.
• On April 26, the House of Representatives included $41 million for MLAC in its FY23 budget, following the adoption of an amendment filed by Division Leader Ruth Balser and Judiciary Chair Michael Day to increase the civil legal aid funding recommendation by $1.5 million.

Senate budget

• On May 10, the Senate Ways and Means Committee included $40 million for MLAC in its FY23 budget.
• On May 25, the Senate included $41 million for MLAC in its FY23 budget, following the adoption of an amendment filed by Majority Leader Cynthia Creem and Judiciary Chair James Eldridge to increase funding for MLAC by $1 million in the final Senate budget.

Conference Committee budget

• On July 18, the Conference Committee (made up of three Representatives and three Senators) combined the House and Senate budgets into a single bill. It included $41 million for MLAC.

Governor’s approval

• Governor Baker had 10 days to sign or veto portions of the FY23 budget.

Final budget

• Following any legislative overrides, the final budget, called the General Appropriations Act (GAA), goes into effect.
• On July 28, 2022, Governor Baker signed into law the FY23 budget of the Commonwealth,  including $41 million for civil legal aid.