Budget & Taxes

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2917: An Act relative to universal breakfast and lunch at senior centers

HD 2917, titled "An Act relative to universal breakfast and lunch at senior centers," requires the Massachusetts Department of Aging and Independence to provide free breakfast and lunch at all senior centers, centers for active living, and councils on aging statewide. To participate, these centers must have a kitchen. The bill establishes a new Senior Breakfast and Lunch Fund, funded by 1% of clothing and footwear sales tax revenue over $175, plus federal grants, private contributions, and dedicated state appropriations. The fund must be used to create meal programs, improve kitchen facilities, and partner with existing programs, with annual reports to legislative committees on fund activity. This directly affects over 300 community-based senior service organizations across Massachusetts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds senior meal program via 1% clothing/footwear tax revenue, directly allocating tax funds to expand public service.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2261: An Act limiting excessive growth in the operating budgets of health care oversight agencies

By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 864) of Barry R. Finegold for legislation relative to the operating budgets of health care oversight agencies. Health Care Financing.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesLimits budget growth for health care oversight agencies, restricting government spending expansion per bill title and summary.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill limits budget growth for healthcare oversight agencies, restricting funding expansion per title and summary.90% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1237: An Act increasing the Commonwealth's share of the education foundation budget

By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 394) of Jason M. Lewis, Joanne M. Comerford and Leigh Davis for legislation to increase the Commonwealth's share of the education foundation budget. Education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly increases state funding for education foundation budget, advancing public service funding within fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly increases state funding for education foundation budget, directly advancing school funding as per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1320: An Act relative to exempting small businesses from the telecommunications tax

This bill (HD 1320) exempts qualifying small businesses from the Massachusetts telecommunications sales tax. It applies to independently owned businesses (such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, or LLCs) that meet Small Business Administration size standards and either employ fewer than 100 people in Massachusetts or generate under $2 million annually in retail/service industries. The exemption covers sales tax on telecommunications services as defined in existing law. Only businesses meeting all three criteria (independent ownership, SBA size standards, and employee/revenue thresholds) qualify for the tax exemption.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts qualifying small businesses from telecom tax, providing direct tax relief per bill's intent to reduce burdens on eligible entities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Incentives Tags Small Business

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1089: An Act reducing senior citizen property taxes

By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2061) of Patrick M. O'Connor for legislation to reduce senior citizen property taxes. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directly reduces property taxes for seniors, providing targeted tax relief as a fiscal support measure for a specific demographic.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2152: An Act relative to commercial renewable investments

By Mr. Tarr (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2090) of Sofia Isabella FloresQuero Llamas, and Mariah Delaney Eskel, for legislation relative to energy tax credits for corporations. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides corporate tax credits for renewable investments, directly addressing taxation policy through revenue incentives.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill provides tax credits for corporate renewable energy investments, directly promoting clean energy development through financial incentives.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill provides tax credits for corporate renewable energy investments, directly promoting clean energy adoption per title and summary.90% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 577: An Act granting property tax exemptions to disabled veterans

By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2046) of Michael O. Moore and James B. Eldridge for legislation to grant property tax exemptions to disabled veterans. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesGrants property tax exemptions to disabled veterans, providing direct tax relief for a vulnerable group, aligning with tax relief indicators under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly grants property tax exemptions to disabled veterans, directly expanding financial benefits and support for this group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Housing

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 483: An Act providing property tax relief for older adults

By Mr. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2021) of Edward J. Kennedy for legislation to provide property tax relief for older adults. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides property tax relief for older adults, directly reducing tax burden on a lower-income group per tax relief indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 255: An Act to promote employee ownership

This bill (SD 255) allows small businesses with fewer than 500 employees to deduct capital gains from selling company shares to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) when the ESOP owns at least 49% of the business. It directly affects small business owners who sponsor ESOPs, providing a tax incentive to transition ownership to employees. The key provision amends tax law to permit this deduction for gains from the sale of employer securities to qualifying ESOPs. The bill must be sponsored by the business itself and applies only to non-publicly traded companies. The measure was recently referred to the Revenue committee after House concurrence.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax deduction for small business ESOP transitions, providing tax relief under fiscal policy.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPromotes employee ownership via tax incentives for ESOPs, aligning with worker benefit protections and ownership rights85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Incentives Tags Small Business

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1856: An Act relative to taxation of equipment used to provide broadband communication services

By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1996) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation relative to taxation of equipment used to provide broadband communication services. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly imposes taxation on broadband equipment, generating state revenue per 'Revenue' subject and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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