Having acted on the state budget more quickly than any Massachusetts governor in at least 25 years, Gov. Maura Healey is out of state this week and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll is in charge.
Healey’s office confirmed Monday that the governor is away with her family for the week, and that Driscoll, Salem’s former longtime mayor, is assuming the acting governor title and powers in the meantime. The governor’s office has a practice of not disclosing Healey’s out-of-state travel in advance. If Driscoll were to travel out of Massachusetts while Healey is still away, the powers of the governor would flow to Secretary of State William Galvin.
The governor’s last public event was on Friday, July 4, when she attended the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Charles River Esplanade. But before that, and without holding a public event or press conference, the governor signed a $60.9 billion annual budget for fiscal 2026. Her budget actions included $130 million in vetoes and a request for greater latitude to cut state spending.
Lawmakers approved the budget Monday and Healey signed it Friday, the fastest turnaround for any annual state budget on Beacon Hill this millennium.
Neither Healey nor Driscoll had a public event scheduled for Monday.