Senate to Start FY27 State Budget Debate Next Week   Senators Will Soon Review All Municipal and School Amendments   Please Call Your Senators and Ask for Their Support for Key Amendments   May 13, 2026   Dear Jeffrey,   Next week, the Senate is scheduled to launch a week-long debate on the fiscal 2027 Senate Budget (S. 4). More than 1100 amendments have been filed for consideration including several proposals affecting cities, towns, and school districts.   It is critically important that as soon as possible, you contact your Senators and ask them to co-sponsor and support the amendments below, while opposing amendments that would subvert municipal authority.   The Senate Ways and Means budget is a strong proposal that builds on the education investments included in the House budget with a proposal to boost Unrestricted General Government Aid. When you speak with your Senators, be sure to thank them for the many strong investments included in the Senate Ways and Means budget including: $53 million for UGGA, Chapter 70 minimum aid to $160 per student, full funding the state’s obligation for Special Education Circuit Breaker and Charter School Mitigation Payments, increases in regional school transportation, funding for universal school meals, and more. Additionally, be sure to thank them for not including provisions which would have jeopardized critical local revenue collections.   Please review the below information that includes points to raise with your Senators. Please call them as soon as possible to ask for their action on these amendments and highlight how these proposals would impact your community.   Ask your Senators to support and co-sponsor:   Rural School Aid (Amendments #648 & 731, & 618) – Please ask your Senators to support Amendments, which would target $9 million, $24 million, and $44 million, respectively, for the Rural School Aid program that offers critical support to rural school districts (7061-9813).   Regional School Transportation (Amendments #596, 605, & 619) – These amendments would increase funding for regional school transportation reimbursements by approximately $6.3 million, $12.7 million, and $14.9 million, respectively (7035-0006).