Governor Healey Files Environmental Review Reforms to Accelerate Housing Permitting and Development

 Governor Healey Files Environmental Review Reforms to Accelerate Housing Permitting and Development 

Reforms will cut environmental review times from 1+ years to 30 days for housing projects to expedite housing and bring down costs 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Healey filed final reforms implementing a new streamlined process to make it easier and faster to build homes and lower housing costs. The reforms to  the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office’s review process for housing development make it faster, simpler, and more predictable while maintaining strong environmental protections. The reforms are set to take effect January 30, 2026.  

“When projects move faster, costs go down – and those savings matter,” said Governor Maura Healey. “By shortening review timelines from years to just 30 days, we’re getting more housing built and making life more affordable for families and communities.” 

“A strong economy depends on providing people access to housing they can afford,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This whole-of-government approach removes barriers, maintains environmental protections, speeds up housing production, and supports the state’s economic competitiveness.” 

Under the streamlined process, housing projects that meet clear eligibility criteria, such as a high percentage of residential use, dense infill development, avoidance of flood hazards, adequate infrastructure, and proximity to public transit can complete review in approximately 30 days. Previously, the process could take a year or longer. The reforms also create a new exemption for certain projects for which MEPA review is required solely because of an appeal of a local wetland order, which has caused additional delays for housing.

By reducing unnecessary delays and uncertainty, the changes are expected to lower development costs and support Massachusetts’ broader housing production goals. The streamlined process implements recommendations from the Unlocking Housing Production Commission’s (UHPC) report calling for more efficient environmental reviews for housing projects, which have historically led to costly and unexpected delays that can risk a project’s financial viability. 

In addition to housing, the reforms also simplify environmental review for certain ecological restoration projects with environmental benefits that previously did not qualify for streamlining, such as cranberry bog restoration and partial dam removals. Urban renewal plans and similar planning documents with no other work or project proposed will also be streamlined with a 30-day review process. 

“We’re meeting the moment on housing while also making sure important ecological restoration projects move faster as we face more climate change-driven extreme weather,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These reforms ensure we are keeping environmental protections high and delivering on both housing and climate resilience.” 

"Any unintended delay in housing development is unacceptable when the state is experiencing a housing shortage. Today’s announcement ensures that priority housing projects receive faster environmental approvals, meaning we can get more new homes on the market quicker, and lower costs for all residents,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “Massachusetts is leading the nation in cutting red tape to make housing more affordable, and we’re using every tool in our toolbox to build more housing for homebuyers and renters across the state.” 

MEPA will issue updated forms and guidance, including a revised project notification form with a compliance checklist, and will begin accepting new project filings under the qualifying housing criteria by February 3rd. 

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES VOTING STAGE OF PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING INITIATIVE, “IDEAS IN ACTION”

 MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES VOTING STAGE OF PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING INITIATIVE, “IDEAS IN ACTION”

Beginning January 15, residents can vote for their top five city project proposals 

BOSTON - Friday, January 16, 2026 - Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston’s Office of Participatory Budgeting announced the voting phase for Ideas in Action, the City’s participatory budgeting initiative. Over 1,200 ideas were submitted earlier this year, recommending how $2.2 million could be invested. Until February 15, 2026, Boston residents can vote to select their top five projects to help guide how $2.2 million of the City’s budget will be spent on community-driven projects across the city.

Proposals for the 2026 ballot were developed through five community forums held in fall 2025, where residents worked alongside City staff to prioritize project ideas and draft proposals for the public vote. The process started in the summer of 2025 with over 1,200 ideas collected from residents.

“Our residents provided invaluable insights and their ideas will drive how we can deliver on issues that matter most in our communities,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We are excited to have residents now vote on these proposals, and I am thankful to all community members who engaged in shaping these ideas.”  

Below are the 2026 ballot proposals for voters’ consideration: 

• Neighborhood Fresh Food Access Initiative, $500,000
• Immigrant Legal Defense Fund, $400,000
• Immigrant Stories Through Art: Creating Belonging, Building Connections, $300,000
• Workforce Training Programs Focused on Trades, $300,000
• Immigrant Career Pathways: Bridging Language and Employment, $300,000
• Youth Financial Literacy and Empowerment Workshops, $250,000
• Small Business Development Resource Program, $250,000
• Community Litter Reduction Campaign, $200,000
• Green my Block, $100,000
• Voices of Recovery: Sobriety Supports and Storytelling Pilot, $200,000
• Healing Through Art: Creative Pathways to Wellness, $300,000
• Bridging the Gap: Assistance for Housing Stability, $200,000
• Senior Caregiver Resources & Training Programs, $200,000

"The projects on this year’s ballot represent the direct result of our office's deep commitment to community engagement," said Renato Castelo, Director of the Office of Participatory Budgeting. "By partnering with 19 organizations across the city, we’ve brought the voices of hundreds of residents to the table. I invite everyone to participate in this final step and vote for the projects that will have the greatest impact on their community."

How to Vote

• Boston residents can vote online by visiting Boston.gov/Participate. 
• For in-person voting, residents can visit City Hall and or BCYF Pino; BCYF Quincy; BCYF Holland; BCYF Leahy Holloran; BCYF Vine Street; BCYF Hennigan.

Participatory budgeting voting is open to all Boston residents age 11 and older, regardless of citizenship status. Each resident is limited to one vote, and participants are encouraged to use that vote to indicate their top five preferred projects.

Cycle One Project Updates

Below are updates on the 2025 winning projects that are moving through implementation.

• Youth Reentry Supports
• In December 2025, Mayor Wu and the Office of Returning Citizens announced $250,000 in grant awards supporting programs focused on reducing youth recidivism and strengthening reentry supports for young people returning from incarceration.

• Fresh Food Access
• The Office of Food Justice reported that their 2025 project, Expand Access to Fresh Foods in Boston, has been completed. These funds supported a coordinated response to the November 2025 SNAP funding delay.

• Rental Assistance For Boston Youth
• The Office of Housing Stability continues to receive referrals from trusted community partners working with at-risk youth. Those eligible can receive assistance of up to $5,000 to help cover late rent payments or move-in costs, first/last month’s rent, security deposit, and/or a broker’s fee.

• Benches at High Ridership Bus Stops
• The City’s Streets team is currently finalizing the procurement of 120 benches and assessing locations based on impact and need. Installation is expected by early summer 2026. All benches will include plaques acknowledging the resident-led PB process.

• Rat Prevention Initiative
• This project will expand a successful rat prevention pilot to two Boston Housing Authority developments in Brighton. PB funding will help upgrade existing residential trash collection service to commercial-level service; install metroSTOR trash, recycling and compost bins; provide in-unit trash, recycling compost containers, and education for 665 units; and install MicroShare sensors to test the effectiveness of this pilot. This project is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

• Support for Community Gardens
• GrowBoston is planning to release a grant application in early 2026, offering grants to nonprofit organizations to build community gardens on underutilized land for public access and use, prioritizing areas where people have limited access to affordable, nutritious food. This project will create a healthier environment, beautify the community, address food insecurity, and build community among residents. Garden operations must have a robust rodent management plan.

For regular project updates, visit Boston.gov/Participate. 

Ideas in Action is Boston’s participatory budgeting initiative, where residents help decide how to spend a portion of the City’s budget on projects that benefit communities across Boston.

Governor Healey Celebrates Completion of NECEC Transmission Line

Governor Healey Celebrates Completion of NECEC Transmission Line 

Transmission line will deliver 20% of Massachusetts' electricity, lower bills by $50 million each year 

BOSTON – Today, Governor Maura Healey celebrated the completion of the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line and is now delivering affordable, stable hydropower from Canada to Massachusetts. The NECEC line will provide Massachusetts with nearly 20 percent of its overall electricity, deliver $3.38 billion in total net economic benefits to Massachusetts ratepayers over the life of the contracts, and reduce ratepayer bills by around $50 million each year. 

“Today, power is flowing to Massachusetts through the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line,” said Governor Healey. “My administration worked closely with the Legislature, the Attorney General, and private partners to ensure the project moved forward and delivered savings. The NECEC line represents our all-of-the-above approach in action – working with regional partners to bring affordable energy into the state that will lower costs and meet our growing demand. We are proud to flip the switch on this line and bring costs down, and we are continuing to work to bring more energy into Massachusetts.”

“Over $3 billion in benefits will flow into Massachusetts thanks to this major transmission line,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “That means lower bills, more jobs, and the power we need to grow our economy. Our administration played an important role in keeping this project on track and affordable. We are glad to see NECEC start operation today.” 

The NECEC project will deliver 1,090 megawatts of firm baseload power over a line capable of delivering up to 1,200 megawatts from Québec to New England. This line will serve as one of New England’s largest sources of baseload power, strengthening grid reliability and lowering energy costs for consumers.  

The fixed prices in the contracts provide power and clean energy attributes at prices well below the projected costs of buying the same amount on the market, and lock in those prices for the next 20 years. 

“The NECEC line proves we can do big things here in Massachusetts,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Transmission is key to unlocking savings for ratepayers and businesses, but it requires partnership. To get this done, many people came together toward a common goal: get more affordable energy into Massachusetts. I want to thank the Legislature for their foresight and direction, state energy officials past and present for pushing this project forward, our Canadian partners and Hydro-Quebec for their continued collaboration, the Attorney General and the utilities for their work in the negotiations, Governor Mills for her support, and Avangrid for executing on this project. We’re going to continue to double down on regional collaboration to bring down costs and get more energy projects built.” 

“Building and using this line shows us that Massachusetts ratepayers and our clean energy future benefit from planning, partnerships, and perseverance,” said Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony. “The hydroelectric power flowing into our electric grid will lower long-term electricity costs, provide needed winter reliability, help meet rising electricity demand, and bring billions of dollars in economic benefits for Massachusetts. We’ll build on this success with more regional collaboration, and more affordable, clean power for our homes and businesses.” 

In addition to lowering electricity prices, this clean, sustainable hydropower will help meet rising electricity demand, provide needed energy reliability in the winter, and reduce harmful pollution in Massachusetts and the region. During cold temperature periods, New England relies on higher-priced, more carbon-intensive fuels. This leads to expensive and volatile winter energy pricing and regional reliability concerns. The NECEC project will help address these challenges by providing consistent clean energy production during cold temperatures. 

“This is an historic day; the New England Clean Energy Connect is now delivering enough renewable energy to power a million homes,” said Hydro-Québec Energy Services U.S. COO Serge Abergel. “We are proud to be your partners. We have all overcome many obstacles to get to today. Now we are not just talking; we are delivering. This is a shining example of our regional partnership, which will continue for the next 20 years and beyond.” 

In 2018, following a competitive solicitation, the Massachusetts electric distribution companies negotiated and executed contracts with the NECEC project. Following authorization from the Massachusetts Legislature in 2023, the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Attorney General’s Office, Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil negotiated with NECEC to ensure these contracts remain beneficial for Massachusetts ratepayers. The joint settlement agreement was later approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, helping pave the way for the project to finish construction. Under the contracts, NECEC will import 9.55 terawatt-hours annually of 100 percent hydroelectricity from Quebec to the New England electric grid. 

聯邦學貸上限10萬元今年7月起生效 麻州護理界憂心人才流失更嚴重

          （Boston Orange 綜合編譯）川普政府去年通過的「高等教育負擔能力與問責制（Higher Education Affordability and Accountability）」，訂今年7月生效，意味著任何人向聯邦政府申請學貸的額度，將有一輩子總額10萬元的上限，讓許多人開始擔心美國、麻州將再現醫護荒。

            根據川普政府的「2025 年減稅與就業增長法案（TCGA 2025）」條文細節，聯邦政府將永久廢除「研究生 PLUS 貸款（Grad PLUS）」，改採「終身累計限額（Aggregate Loan Limits）」， 10 萬美元是人們可為教育，求學，向聯邦政府申請貸款的「終身累計最高限額」。

            由於麻州的護理專業人士在新冠病毒疫情之後，人力缺口雖然已從15%降至10%，聯邦政府這學貸新政策，卻將使很多人借不到足夠的錢來上學，許多人擔心麻州將面對嚴重的護士人才荒。

            儘管法案為11 種「專業學位」（如醫學、法律、牙醫、藥學等）制定了 20 萬美元的更高上限，但護理學（Nursing）卻被排除在這11種專業的豁免名單外。聯邦官員主張，此舉能迫使高學費院校降價，但醫療界認為這忽視了現代高級護理教育的高昂成本。

這政策對麻州衝擊尤其大。麻州健康與醫院協會（MHA）的數據顯示，州內護理職缺率維持在 10% 的警戒線。由於初級保健醫生持續短缺，高級實踐護理師（NP）成為醫療體系的支柱，預計到 2034 年，麻州對此類人才的需求將增長 60%。

然而，麻州頂尖護理學院如 MGH 醫療專業學院或 MCPHS，其護理博士或碩士學位的一年成本（學雜費加生活費）就已超過 6 萬美元，要靠學貸完成學業的人，礙於 10 萬美元終身限額，若無法另謀借錢途徑，將無力完成學業。

麻州公共衛生局長羅比·戈德斯坦（Robbie Goldstein）警告，這將導致「隱形的人才篩選」，僅有富裕家庭背景的學生能負擔高級醫護教育，嚴重打擊醫療體系的多樣性。麻州大學陳氏醫學院院長奇丘更直言，此政策是解決財政問題的「短視行為」，將以犧牲病人的照護品質為代價。

麻州的瑞吉斯學院（Regis College）已有捐贈者允諾全額資助「護理實務博士（Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP）學生兩年，MGH和麻州大學也正在研究因應之道。

Senate Passes Common Cause – Led Bipartisan Ballot Spending Transparency Act

Senate Passes Common Cause – Led Bipartisan Ballot Spending Transparency Act 

The bill empowers voters, requires real-time reports on spending 

 

BOSTON, MA – Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed the Ballot Spending Transparency Act (H.868/ S.507), landmark legislation championed by Common Cause Massachusetts to strengthen disclosure requirements for spending on statewide ballot questions. The bill’s passage marks a major victory for transparency and reflects sustained efforts by Common Cause Massachusetts to close one of the state’s most significant campaign finance reporting loopholes. 

 

“Massachusetts voters deserve to know, in real time, who is funding the ballot questions that will impact their lives,” said Geoff Foster, Common Cause’s Massachusetts Executive Director.  “Under our current system, special interests can funnel millions of dollars behind issue campaigns without the public knowing for months. The Senate’s passage of the Ballot Spending Transparency Act moves Massachusetts closer to a democracy where voters - not unknown special interests - decide our future.” 

 

Common Cause Massachusetts initially raised concerns about the state’s lax ballot spending disclosure requirements. Under current law, special interests can pour millions of dollars into elections without public scrutiny during an eight month ‘unmonitored’ window during an election year. Through research, coalition advocacy, and direct engagement with lawmakers, the organization advanced the bipartisan Ballot Spending Transparency Act filed by Senator Sal DiDomenico and State Representative Daniel Ryan to ensure voters have timely information about who is trying to influence public policy at the ballot box.  

 

“Statewide ballot questions are a great tool for empowering the public to vote directly on statewide policies, but it is vitally important that our voters know which people and organizations are funding these policy proposals,” said Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett), lead sponsor of the Senate bill. “I am proud to have worked with Common Cause to pass my legislation through the Senate, which will close a loophole in our campaign finance law and ensure our residents have all the information they need to make an educated decision when voting on ballot measures.” 

 

The effort also landed the endorsement from the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts.

 

"The importance of having voters be able to access up-to-date financial data regarding what is on their ballot cannot be understated," said Celia Canavan, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts. "The Senate's passage of the Ballot Spending Transparency Act is more than just a good governance reform: it brings us closer to allowing voters the tools they need to hold power accountable."

 

Massachusetts consistently ranks among the states raising the highest dollar amounts for ballot questions, and the state spends more than the national average on ballot question campaigns. Over the past 10 years, or six election cycles, Massachusetts ballot campaigns have raised over $340 million, averaging $57 million each election cycle.  $123 million, or 36% of all contributions, were received during the unmonitored eight-month window.  

 

By advocating for this legislation, Common Cause Massachusetts is empowering voters by securing stronger transparency for ballot campaign contributions and expenditures influencing statewide public policy. 

 

The Ballot Spending Transparency Act now awaits consideration by the Massachusetts House of Representatives. 

Massachusetts Senate Launches ‘The Gavel Drop’ Newsletter on Substack

 Massachusetts Senate Launches ‘The Gavel Drop’ Newsletter on Substack 

  

(BOSTON—01/16/2026) The Massachusetts State Senate is adding an additional channel to deliver news and insights directly to members of the public by joining Substack, a popular digital publishing platform, and launching a Senate-focused newsletter, The Gavel Drop. 

 

Run by Senate President Karen Spilka’s communications team, The Gavel Drop and the Senate’s Substack account will act as a digital newsroom that will feature guest columns from state Senators, regular updates on major initiatives and votes, and behind-the-scenes context on complex policy areas. All Substack content will be offered for free, with no paywalls and no paid subscription required. 

 

The first policy explainer on The Gavel Drop is focused on the five property tax relief bills debated in the Senate yesterday. You can access it here. 

 

The Senate’s Substack presence is the latest in the body’s efforts to expand its digital offerings. The Gavel Drop will join the Senate’s multiple social media channels, the Senate Press Room, the digital Session Report and a digital screen positioned outside the Senate chamber that informs members of the public what is taking place on the days the Senate is in session. 

Senate Passes Housing Affordability Package Focused on Property Tax Relief

  Senate Passes Housing Affordability Package Focused on Property Tax Relief 

Local option bills empower cities and towns to offer new and enhanced tax relief 

 

(BOSTON—01/15/2026) The Senate took action today to make housing more affordable in Massachusetts, approving new tools that give cities and towns the ability to lower the cost of property taxes and put money directly back in residents’ pockets.  

 

Senators approved five separate measures to provide meaningful relief to some of the state’s most vulnerable residents and blunt the skyrocketing costs of housing in every part of the state. 

 

If signed into law, the measures together would prevent residents from being blindsided by sharp tax bill spikes, make it easier for seniors to access tax deferral programs, allow cities and towns to implement tax rebates, and create a new program for qualifying seniors to lower their tax bills. 

 

“Today the Senate advanced a comprehensive, statewide slate of tax relief measures to confront one of the greatest drivers of housing costs in our Commonwealth,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “For too many families, sudden tax spikes create uncertainty about whether you can remain in your community or continue raising your family in a home you worked so hard to attain. These proposals will help seniors age in place and give new homeowners the stability to put down roots, regardless of zip code. I thank Chair Rodrigues for his stewardship, and I am grateful to Senators Brownsberger, Collins, Jehlen, Cyr, and Lewis for advancing legislation that delivers real cost relief for families across Massachusetts.” 

 

“The Senate has been laser-focused on affordability, and especially housing affordability for individuals and families in Massachusetts. These property tax relief bills will go a long way towards making home ownership viable for Boston and the Commonwealth at large,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “These four bills give municipalities tools to directly impact and benefit homeowners with municipal tax rebates, expansion of the successful ‘Senior Circuit Breaker’ initiative, providing tax exemption for income and age qualified homeowners, and explicitly identifying high need neighborhood properties. These bills are clear proof that we will continue to prioritize housing affordability for all residents of our state.” 

 

“As the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Revenue, we’ve heard testimony at multiple hearings on the need for property tax relief. Senior citizens, young families and working-class homeowners of all ages are struggling to pay their property taxes,” said Senator James B. Eldridge (D-Marlborough), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Revenue. “The bills that the Senate passed today will give cities and towns important local options to reduce many residents’ property taxes. I'm grateful to the Senate President, the Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, and the bill sponsors for their leadership on this pressing affordability issue.” 

 

Protecting Residents from Property Tax Shocks 

S.2899, An Act to prevent property tax bill shocks, gives cities and towns the ability to shield their most vulnerable taxpayers from the shock of an extraordinarily high tax bill in a year when the community’s residential property tax levy is rising by more than 10 per cent. Senators passed the bill on a 37-1 roll call. 

 

If they choose to, municipalities could offer a tax credit to gradually phase in the increase for vulnerable households, mitigating the shock felt by taxpayers when they receive third- and fourth-quarter tax bills, which fold in the entire tax increase. Qualifying groups of taxpayers include people aged 65 and older who own and occupy the home, people enrolled in MassHealth, and people living with children under age 6. Senators amended the bill during the course of debate (Amendment 1) to give cities and towns the further option of expanding eligibility to cover people living with children under the age of 18. 

 

“Every year across the state, there are a few communities in which homeowners face unusually large tax increases,” said Senator Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont), lead sponsor of S.2899. “This legislation will give those communities tools to help their most vulnerable taxpayers.” 

 

A New Tax Relief Tool for Residents 

Lower- and middle-income taxpayers who already receive a local residential tax exemption would be able to receive enhanced relief in the form of a rebate if cities and towns take advantage of a local option contained in S.2900, An Act relative to municipal tax relief. The bill passed on a 37-1 roll call vote. 

 

If a city or town takes advantage of this tool, the local government would be able to determine their residents’ eligibility and set their own thresholds around assets, income, or other factors. Building on this bill, Senators adopted an amendment (Amendment 9) that boosts the existing senior property tax exemption by giving municipalities the option of further expanding eligibility and raising the limit of possible exemption from $1,000 to $1,500. 

 

“It is critical that we begin this new year by prioritizing municipal property tax relief,” said Senator Nick Collins (D-South Boston), primary sponsor of S.2900. “By advancing these responsible tax relief proposals, we can help ease the burden of rising property tax bills on homeowners without harming small businesses or putting our economy at risk.” 

 

Helping Seniors Age in Place 

An Act relative to senior property tax deferral, S.2901, would expand eligibility for the Senior Tax Deferral program by lowering eligibility to seven years of state residency, instead of the current ten-year requirement, to keep more money in seniors’ pockets at a time when property values and tax bills are steadily climbing. Senators approved the legislation 37-0. 

 

The bill also gives a respectful amount of time to grieving families of people who have taken advantage of the Senior Tax Deferral, allowing heirs more time to plan for and pay the deferred taxes by delaying an increase in the interest rate for deferred taxes until a year after the taxpayer’s death, and delaying the date on which a foreclosure petition may be filed until 18 months after their death. A successful amendment adopted today (Amendment 1) prioritizes current military servicemembers by ensuring that these interest rate and lien changes are mirrored in an existing property tax deferral for active members of the military. 

 

“Property tax deferral is an important program that can help older adults stay in their homes,” said Senator Patricia D. Jehlen (D-Somerville), primary sponsor of S.2901. “It allows older adult homeowners to defer all or part of their property tax bill, which is paid back to the municipality with interest when the property is sold.  It can be a better alternative to reverse mortgages, especially if the municipality sets the interest rate lower than the 8 per cent cap.  It is under-utilized, and this legislation will remove one barrier by extending the time a municipality can reduce the interest rate, and the time before foreclosure is allowed.  Many cities and towns can do more to inform older homeowners of this option, and this is a chance to do that.” 

 

Means-Tested Senior Property Tax Exemption 

S.2902, An Act authorizing the establishment of a means tested senior citizen property tax exemption, would make it easier for municipalities to offer local property tax exemptions to seniors. It builds on the success of the recently-increased Senior Circuit Breaker. Departing from a piecemeal system of towns and cities petitioning to offer their own senior tax exemption, the bill creates a statewide opt-in program that prioritizes longtime residents and gives controls to local authorities. The Senate passed the bill on a 37-0 roll call. 

 

“Rising property taxes have created serious financial burdens for many elderly residents across Massachusetts. I filed legislation to provide an option for municipalities to opt in to establishing a senior citizen property tax exemption to allow them to ease the burden for struggling income-eligible seniors and allow many aging residents the ability to continue to live in their communities and not be driven out due to increasing tax burdens,” said Senator Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester), lead sponsor of S.2902. “I appreciate the hard work of Senator Eldridge, Senator Rodrigues, and Senate President Spilka to champion these local affordability bills to give communities more options to support seniors and lower- and middle-income residents.” 

 

Giving Back to Armed Forces Veterans 

S.1948, An Act relative to veteran property tax work-off, bolsters the targeted tax relief offered to veterans and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans. Continuing their career of service or honoring their spouse’s sacrifice, they would be able to reduce their property taxes by up to $2,000 per year in exchange for providing volunteer services to their municipality, an increase from the current $1,500 cap, under a provision that local governments can choose to adopt. Senators approved the bill, 38-0. 

 

“Our veterans have already given so much in service to our nation, and they deserve to be able to remain in the communities they call home,” said Senator Julian A. Cyr (D-Provincetown), primary sponsor of S.1948. “For many veterans on Cape Cod, the Islands, and across Massachusetts, rising property taxes are putting undue pressure on household budgets that are already razor thin. This bill gives communities a meaningful property tax relief tool while recognizing the service veterans have already given so they may live with the dignity they have earned. I'm grateful to Senate President Spilka, municipal leaders, and advocates who helped move this legislation forward, and to our veterans for their continued contributions to civic life.” 

 

The first four bills were advanced to the Senate floor by unanimous votes of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on January 8, 2026. The tax shock and municipal relief bills were subject to an 18-day public comment period held by the Ways and Means Committee in December. The Joint Committee on Revenue advanced the senior deferral and senior exemption bills on November 7, 2025 after soliciting public testimony in June. 

 

The veterans’ housing relief bill was advanced by the Senate Committee on Rules with a unanimous poll of January 12, 2026. The Joint Committee on Revenue solicited public testimony at a hearing in June and gave the legislation a favorable report on November 7, 2025. All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website. 

 

Now that they have been passed by the Senate, all five bills head to the House for further consideration.