State Representative Danillo Sena (D – Acton) voted in favor of passing the House version of the FY26 budget on April 30, which included $5 million to create a new Immigrant Legal Defense Fund to provide legal services to immigrants facing deportation, and raised Chapter 70 education aid to $150 per pupil. Rep. Sena has advocated for both of these investments throughout this legislative session.
“I am proud of the FY26 budget, which will bring major investments and support to our communities,” said Rep. Danillo Sena. “This budget will equip the Commonwealth to take on many of the challenges posed by the Trump Administration, and it will help us respond to the challenges that our communities face as a result.”
This year’s budget also included $100,000 in earmarks filed by Rep. Sena on behalf of local communities for the following initiatives:
- $25,000 for PFAS-free Fire Turnout Gear for the Acton Fire Department
- $25,000 for new emergency radio equipment in Acton
- $50,000 for costs related to building a new senior center in Ayer
“These local earmarks will fund essential projects in Ayer and Acton, and I am proud that we were able to secure this funding,” said Rep. Sena. “The earmarks will have a direct impact on the communities, and I am happy to see this money come to our district.”
The $61.47 billion budget passed the Massachusetts House of Representatives 151-6 on April 30 after three days of debate. It now heads to the Massachusetts Senate for consideration. For more information on the FY26 budget, visit the Massachusetts House’s Press Room. For more about Rep. Sena, visit his website.
The recent Town Meeting appropriated $75,000 to begin to replace Acton’s Fire Department turnout gear with PFAS-free jackets, pants, boots, and gloves. The Town Meeting presentation by Select Board member Dean Charter explained that a new state law requires municipalities to provide firefighters with PFAS-free gear by 2027, that such gear costs nearly $5000 per set, and that environmental cancers are a major killer of Acton firefighters. If retained in the final budget, the earmark described by Rep Sena will help with this initiative to protect Acton’s first responders.
