More funding for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) may be on the way in fiscal year 2026, as Gov. Maura Healey’s proposed budget, along with those put forward by the Senate and House of Representatives, all request more money than in FY25.

Healey’s proposal requests $18.2 million, the House’s line item is $20.1 million and the Senate’s proposed funding level is $25.4 million. With the House and Senate both putting forward budgets, the two chambers will now each appoint three members to a conference committee to reconcile the differences, which will result in a compromise bill that will need to be approved by both bodies.

The approved FY25 budget funded HIP at $15 million, meaning if Healey’s request, the lowest of the three, is approved, then HIP funding would increase by 21.3%.

“We’re going to continue to push for additional funding for this program,” said state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield. “There is a growing recognition for how important this program is for the commonwealth, not only to the individuals who receive benefits, but also to the farmers it supports.”

HIP is a program that puts money back on EBT cards when people use their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to buy healthy, local produce from HIP vendors. Both HIP and SNAP are administered by the state Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).

Proponents of HIP say the program is a multi-pronged economic engine for the state, as folks get healthy food and the money they are spending on that produce goes to farmers and the local food system.

“It’s a triple win,” state Sen. Jo Comerford said in January. “For example, a farmers market, that farmers market will attract more people because they have more money to spend and they might choose to buy something that is not covered by SNAP or HIP. … It’s a positive reinforcing program.”

The prospect of increased funding comes more than half a year after monthly HIP benefits, regardless of household size, were reduced to $20 in December 2024. The DTA made the reductions to ensure the program can operate through the end of the fiscal year at its current level of funding. The previous benefit model saw households of one to two people receiving up to $40, households of three to five people getting up to $60 and houses of six or more people getting up to $80 per month.

The benefits cut has had a significant impact on HIP, according to data published by DTA.

In April 2025, the most recent month for which data is available, there were 36,187 HIP transactions across the state, totaling $524,574 with an average incentive of $19.26. In April 2024, there were 59,495 HIP transactions, totaling more than $1.39 million with an average incentive of $41.

The total number of households using HIP has also plummeted, with 27,233 in April 2025 compared to 34,007 in April 2024.

As the Legislature prepares to reconcile the House and Senate budgets, Blais said she is “ever hopeful” the valuable HIP program will see increased funding.

“This program is a national model and it’s something that is growing in popularity here in Massachusetts as more and more people learn about all of the impacts that it has in our communities,” Blais said. “I expect that it will continue to grow and the Legislature will do everything we can to support it financially.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.