In a packed Massachusetts State House Chamber on Beacon Hill, Gov. Maura Healey delivered her third State of the Commonwealth address on Thursday, Jan. 22. During her address, Healey applauded her administration’s successes and laid out ambitious goals for the future. She ensured that Massachusetts citizens will “always have a partner” in the Healey-Driscoll administration if she wins her reelection bid in November.
Healey was introduced by state Senate President Karen Spilka and began her speech by declaring, “Let’s go Patriots!” Healey then expressed gratitude to all those who call Massachusetts home, saying that the fighting spirit that led to the American Revolution is still within every citizen.
“Massachusetts has led the way for freedom and progress in our country. It’s more than our history, it’s who we are. It’s our DNA,” Healey said.
She took a more serious tone when shifting to the topic of affordability, which she said should be “the focus of every elected official in America,” pointing out the Trump Administration for the high tariffs that have been placed on other countries.
“Washington’s only making things worse. We have a president who throws temper tantrums like a 2-year-old,” Healey said. “And Congress can’t seem to do anything.”
She referenced her work with the state legislature to cut taxes for middle-class households, provide free lunches to public school students, and make community college free across the state. To continue this fight, Healey announced a plan to reduce electric bills by 25% and gas bills by 10% for the next two months to temporarily help residents and increase down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers.
In a time when most commodity prices are increasing, especially food and medical care, Healey said lowering costs is what matters most to Massachusetts residents.
But some residents are not as hopeful about affordability, including Molly Bernard, a freshman business of creative enterprises major from Newburyport, Mass.
“I feel like everything is just kind of constantly increasing,” Bernard said, pointing to the inflating coffee prices and medical bills she experienced over break. “Under Donald Trump’s rule, it’ll probably get more expensive as we go.”
Healey also announced an initiative that would offer $25,000 to first-time home buyers and construct new homes under the 2024 Affordable Homes Act. The initiative’s goal is to build more than 220,000 new homes before 2035. Healey claimed the goal will be reached much sooner due to faster production and a quicker timeline in receiving environmental approval.
Studies tell a different story; the 2025 Boston Indicators Housing report showed that permits are running 44% below the average compared to five years ago, and that the number of building permits pulled by developers decreased by 67% within three years. Boston remains one of the least affordable metropolitan areas in the U.S, according to a Zillow report.
Mars Becker, a freshman creative writing major and Peabody, Mass. resident, said that the housing production has not reached her town.
“They’re always promising more housing, but where’s the housing?” she said.
The grassroots conservative group, Americans for Prosperity , also called Healey out for failing “to mention concrete reforms that would address the state’s growing cost-of-living crisis.” They stated that over regulation and mandates have caused prices to soar, reflecting residents’ fears of inaction and stagnation in this upcoming year.
“They should work on something else that’s probably more helpful,” said Bernard, sharing the sentiment of the two organizations, believing the state has more important things to focus on than building more homes for a slowly decreasing population.
Shortly after the address, local grassroots organization Progressive Mass called out Healey for not directly discussing immigration in her speech and for dismissing several protective bills that would help immigrants.
“It’s deeply disappointing that Gov. Healey offers nothing of substance in how to protect our immigrant communities in Massachusetts from ongoing ICE terrorism and Trump’s un-American, xenophobic agenda,” Progressive Mass’ statement read.
Healey ended the address on a more positive note than her critics, encouraging Massachusetts citizens to remain hopeful and celebrate their past and future accomplishments. She declared that the state is going “to lead the celebrations of America’s 250th with the biggest ever July 4 fireworks,” and applauded Boston for hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup this upcoming summer, telling residents to focus on the good.
“The year ahead will bring more challenges, no doubt. But we will stand strong. We’re going to do the right things and make the right decisions. We’ll do what we have to do to make it better. And it will get better,” she said.
