NEW: Dogged by rival bidder Global Partners, Applegreen walks away from lease talks with the state over its winning bid to operate 18 highway service plazas in Massachusetts. #mapoli pro.stateaffairs.com/ma/transport...

NEW: Treasurer Deborah Goldberg is dropping her appeal of Shannon O'Brien's reinstatement as chairwoman of the Cannabis Control Commission, her office said, a decision that likely spells an end to the two-year legal and political saga. #mapoli pro.stateaffairs.com/ma/regulated...

NEW: New legislative spending bill accord attempts to address pay concerns of bar advocates, who have stopped taking new cases representing low-income criminal defendants. #mapoli

STATE BUDGET ON THE MOVE: The $61 billion annual state budget accord filed Sunday afternoon on its way to Gov. Maura Healey's desk following approval votes Monday of 139-6 in the House and 38-2 in the Senate. #mapoli

NEW: The Federal Reserve Board reported late Friday that its annual bank stress test "showed that large banks are well positioned to weather a severe recession, while staying above minimum capital requirements and continuing to lend to households and businesses." #mapoli

BUDGET DEAL REACHED: Lead House and Senate negotiators say they have reached an annual state budget deal. No details announced. Plans call for the consensus budget to be filed this weekend, with floor votes Monday ahead of start of fiscal 2026 on Tuesday. #mapoli

IT'S ON: The Senate just agreed with the House to set Aug. 9-10 as the dates of this year's sales tax holiday weekend. #mapoli

SALES TAX HOLIDAY: The House just voted to hold this year's sales tax holiday weekend on Aug. 9-10. Senate has not weighed in yet but remains in session. #mapoli

PARTY RESERVE: Mass. House Democrats are getting behind a bill calling for a $15 million reserve to support celebrations of the U.S. semiquincentennial (250th) anniversary. #mapoli

NEW: As winter energy bills surged, Gov. Healey on Feb. 26 signaled plans to file legislation to help residents and businesses. She plans to unveil it at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Leominster. #mapoli

NEW: Chief legal counsel Paige Scott Reed is leaving Gov. Healey's office this month to return to the private sector. Deputy chief legal counsel Jesse Boodoo, formerly of the AG's office, the T and Ropes & Gray, was just announced as her successor. #mapoli

NEW: Facing uncertainty on economic and federal funding and policy fronts, Senate Ways and Means Committee offers a $61.32 billion annual budget, calling for a 6.3% increase in spending backed up by $1.2 billion in one-time revenue supports. #mapoli

NEW: State tax collections in April were up by over a half billion dollars compared to April 2024, and are running $2.65 billion or 7.8% over FYTD collections with two months left in fiscal 2025. #mapoli

NEW: On threatened Medicaid cuts, the Hill reports that the "rubber meets the road" on May 7 when a key committee plans to mark up its portion of a reconciliation bill. #mapoli thehill.com/policy/healt...

NEW: Gov. Healey, Mass. business leaders plan to discuss Trump tariff impacts Wednesday at the State House. #mapoli

HEALTH CARE COSTS ⬆️ : In January, the state Group Insurance Commission indicated a budget shortfall of more than $100 million. On Wednesday, Gov. Healey asked for $240 mil more for the GIC. #mapoli

NEW: "The policies of this new federal administration are going to do a lot of damage on our economy here in Massachusetts," Secretary of State Galvin tells lawmakers at annual budget hearing. #mapoli

NEW: With more than 2 million people in Massachusetts covered by Medicaid, Healey budget chief Matt Gorzkowicz flags concerns over health care costs and says there are 260,000 more people enrolled in the health insurance program than before the pandemic. #mapoli

NEW: Gov. Healey tells lawmakers at budget hearing that she's "hearing" a federal executive order is coming Thursday "dismantling the Department of Education." #mapoli

NEW: More midyear spending. At annual fiscal 2026 budget hearing, Gov. Healey budget chief Matthew Gorzkowicz says another fiscal 2025 spending bill is coming from the administration. #mapoli

NEW: In budget testimony, Gov. Healey pledges to protect interests of state residents but says federal funding threats are a major factor this year. "The landscape is shifting every day and every state is facing fiscal disruption," Healey tells lawmakers at the State House. #mapoli

NEW: Top Democrats kicked off state budget hearings by citing federal funding threats from and a recent uptick in state tax collections. "We certainly have our work cut out for us," says House budget chief Aaron Michlewitz, citing speculation about federal support levels. #mapoli

NEW: Both House and Senate Democrats have caucuses scheduled for Wednesday, which may mean that long-awaited leadership and committee assignments are on deck. #mapoli

NEW: Mass. House rejects a proposed rule change that would have forced the chamber to submit to an audit by Auditor DiZoglio's office in compliance with a voter-approved law. The 24-127 vote broke along party lines with all Democrats but one opposed to the audit. #mapoli

NEW: Senate votes 33-6 to approve $425 million more for emergency family shelter and adopt reforms aimed at limiting eligibility and getting system costs under control. Republicans say the bill doesn't go far enough and voted against it. Next stop conference committee. #mapoli

NEW: "I intend to run for reelection," Democrat Gov. Maura Healey says during GBH radio appearance. The governor's current term runs through 2026. #mapoli

NEW: Mass. House votes 126-26 to approve bill restricting eligibility at emergency family shelters and allocating an additional $425 million to the system, which is out of funds. Bill now moves to the Senate. #mapoli

NEW: Three days before the Chiefs and Eagles square off in New Orleans, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is set Thursday to entertain "discussion and possible adoption of Super Bowl prop wagers." #mapoli

NEW: Mass. House Democrats release bill limiting family shelter eligibility, increasing security at shelters, capping shelter system capacity, and pouring $425 million more into system. Full House vote expected Thursday. #mapoli

NEW: Announcing lawsuit, New York AG Letitia James says some states are already reporting frozen federal funds, calls Trump administration funding pause directive "reckless, dangerous, illegal and unconstitutional." #mapoli

NEW: Gov. Healey's soon-to-be-filed supplemental budget will cut a 20,000-person waiting list in half with $30 million for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), according to veteran organizer Lew Finfer. #mapoli

MASS. OWES FEDS: Massachusetts owes the federal government $2.1 billion under a new settlement regarding the improper overdrawal of federal unemployment benefits during the pandemic. Agreement includes a 10-year repayment timeline. #mapoli

MBTA: As Gov. Healey declares in televised speech that the T "is full speed, with no more slow zones," the agency is reporting delays, "high priority alerts" on the Green Line, numerous bus lines, and four commuter rail lines. #mapoli

NEW: On crowded shelter system, Healey pledges to "get families out of hotels for good" in 2025, urges passage of federal border security bill and deportation of "violent criminals." #mapoli

NEW: Gov. Healey creating council to develop a new "high, statewide standard" for high school graduation, after voters eliminated the MCAS passage graduation requirement. #mapoli

PLEDGES: For 2025, Gov. Healey tells Mass. residents to expect efforts "to fix transportation, make homes more affordable, invest in education, and grow our economy." #mapoli

NEW: Gov. Healey plans to sign a hospital sector oversight bill and prescription drug access and cost control legislation Wednesday at the State House. #mapoli

NEW: Joshua Levy just announced that he will be stepping down as US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. He plans to step down Jan. 17, three days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. #mapoli

NEW: Gov. Healey files spending bill seeking $425 million more to cover emergency family shelter costs in second half of fiscal 2025. #mapoli

BILL FLOW: Senate President Spilka wants joint committees to make recommendations on bills in first year of two-year session. The current reporting deadline is first Wednesday in February in the second year of the session, although extensions are routine. #mapoli

NO SURPRISES: Lawmakers on opening day back reelection of Speaker Mariano in House and President Spilka in Senate, and Minority Leaders Jones in House and Tarr in Senate. #mapoli

CONTRAST: House Democrats will hold open press caucus ahead of first session Wednesday while Senate Democrats won't allow media to cover their private caucus. #mapoli

THAT'S A WRAP: The Mass. Legislature adjourned Tuesday sine die (House at 1:11 a.m., Senate at 1:25 a.m.) after meeting for more than 14 hours and sending dozens of bills to Gov. Maura Healey's desk. A new two-year session begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday. #mapoli

NEW: Biden issues executive order stating that all executive departments and agencies of the federal government shall be closed on Jan. 9, 2025, "as a mark of respect for James Earl Carter, Jr., the thirty-ninth President of the United States." #mapoli

NEW: With few legislators present, the House and Senate on Monday are rushing late-session accords on hospital oversight and prescription drug access to Gov. Healey's desk. #mapoli

NEW: Rep. Marc Lombardo announces candidacy for House minority leader, a post held since 2002 by Rep. Brad Jones. Lombardo says House GOP caucus has a "duty to provide a real alternative" and offer leadership "that's unafraid to chart a new course.” #mapoli

NEW: Gov. Maura Healey plans to deliver her State of the Commonwealth speech on Thursday, Jan. 16. #mapoli

NEW: Low-interest loans to local developers and public and private funding sources will fuel a new Boston Acquisition Fund that Mayor Wu plans to launch Thursday to help acquire and preserve affordable housing. #mapoli

NEW: Boston tax bill delayed again by South Boston Sen. Collins, who cites "campaign of fear and manipulation" around tax rates and urges City Council to keep working on matter and cancel their "planned three-week vacation." #mapoli

NEW: The four business groups that reached a compromise in October with Mayor Wu over property tax reclassifications are now calling for the Legislature to pause consideration of Boston's home rule petition, citing new and materially different" property valuations. #mapoli