State Legislatures Cut Billions from Social, Healthcare Budgets Across Multiple States

Recent budget proposals and legislative actions across multiple states have sparked significant controversy due to deep cuts and policy changes affecting vulnerable populations and essential services. In Wisconsin, Legislative Republicans removed over 600 items from the 2025-27 State Budget, cutting funding for crime victim services, child care, water safety, and lead service line replacements, drawing sharp criticism from Democratic representatives. Minnesota's Senate passed a Human Services budget that cuts over $1 billion from long-term care and disability services while failing to adequately address fraud prevention, despite Republican efforts to introduce amendments for stronger safeguards. In Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey's $8 billion transportation funding plan faces pushback from Senate Democrats, who reduced the proposed funding for the MBTA citing regional equity concerns, though they maintain it is still a significant investment. Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, hundreds testified against the House-passed budget, arguing it harms the developmentally disabled, elderly, mentally ill, and low-income individuals by cutting funding to critical health and social services, with particular concern over child care funding and controversial legislative provisions tied to cultural issues. These developments highlight the ongoing tensions between fiscal priorities, accountability, and support for vulnerable communities in state budget processes.