Budget & Taxes

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1149: An Act establishing a local option for freezing property tax appraisals

By Ms. Dooner, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1961) of Kelly A. Dooner for legislation to establish a local option for freezing property tax appraisals. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFreezes property tax appraisals to provide relief, reducing tax burden on homeowners - aligns with tax relief indicator for support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1295: An Act relative to the bundled cell phone taxation

This bill changes how sales tax applies to phone bundles. When a seller offers a mobile device with service (like a phone and a plan), the tax will now be calculated on the device's price instead of just the service plan. It directly affects consumers buying phones with service contracts and phone sellers who bundle devices with plans. The key change modifies existing tax rules to include the device cost in the taxable amount.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands taxable base to include device costs in phone bundles, increasing state tax revenue and strengthening fiscal management.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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signed · Massachusetts · House Feb 28, 2025

H 58: An Act making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects

This bill appropriates $425 million from the General Fund for supportive services and safe shelter for unhoused families in Massachusetts, supplementing existing housing programs. It requires emergency housing applicants to disclose unsealed criminal convictions (excluding sealed/expunged records) and mandates criminal background checks before program placement. The bill limits eligibility for families with no other children to six consecutive months of benefits, with extensions possible for documented hardships like domestic violence, veteran status, or disabilities. It also requires translated informational handouts about resources and benefit duration for recipients, applying to the emergency housing assistance program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $425M from General Fund for housing services, increasing state spending on essential public support program.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill appropriates $425M for unhoused families' shelter and supportive services, directly funding housing programs addressing homelessness.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2330: An Act to promote urban agriculture in environmental justice communities

This bill (HD 2330) requires state funding and permitting preferences for urban agriculture projects located in or within one mile of "environmental justice municipalities." It directly affects community gardens, urban farms, and related projects seeking state support in qualifying neighborhoods. The bill defines "environmental justice municipalities" using specific criteria, including low median household income (≤65% of state average), high minority populations (≥40%), or limited English proficiency (≥25% of households). Key provisions amend existing law (Section 1) to prioritize these projects and establish the new definition (Section 2) to identify eligible communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates state funding allocation for urban agriculture projects in qualifying communities, directly advancing budget resources toward community development programs.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes urban agriculture in environmental justice communities via state funding/permitting preferences, directly supporting environmental protection in underserved areas with high pollution burdens.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Environmental Justice

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2361: An Act establishing the suburban infrastructure fund to help municipalities pay for improvements and upgrades to town-owned roads, bridges and sidewalks

HD 2361 creates a state-funded Suburban Infrastructure Fund to support smaller municipalities. It directly affects cities and towns with fewer than 50,000 residents, providing them with grants to improve public infrastructure like roads, bridges, and sidewalks. The fund, administered by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, must receive at least $250 million annually from the state budget, with all allocated funds used for specific qualifying projects through a grant process. Unspent funds in the account do not return to the state’s general budget at year-end.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates $250M annual state budget allocation for municipal infrastructure grants, directly increasing public spending on essential services.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates $250M annually for road/bridge/sidewalk upgrades via grants to municipalities under 50k residents, directly funding transportation infrastructure improvements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jul 6, 2026

S 1985: An Act relative to 100% disabled veteran excise tax exemptions

By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1985) of Ryan C. Fattman and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to 100% disabled veteran excise tax exemptions. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax exemption for disabled veterans, a form of tax relief aligning with support indicator for targeted tax relief.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill grants 100% disabled veterans excise tax exemptions, directly expanding financial benefits for this group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 6, 2026

H 4144: An Act relative to energy affordability, independence and innovation

H 4144 creates a new funding mechanism to support building decarbonization and energy efficiency programs across Massachusetts. It imposes a 2.5 mills per kilowatt-hour charge on electricity consumers (excluding municipal light plant users) and pools funds from cap-and-trade programs and other sources to finance these initiatives. The law requires 20% of these funds to target low-income residential buildings, with additional priority for moderate-income households, renters, and small businesses. Electric distribution companies and municipal energy groups must submit a statewide decarbonization plan every three years, detailing cost-effective programs to reduce fossil fuel use and energy costs while meeting greenhouse gas targets.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes new electricity tax to fund decarbonization programs, creating dedicated revenue stream for essential energy initiatives per budget/funding indicators.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyFunds decarbonization and energy efficiency programs via new charge, prioritizes low-income buildings, aligns with renewable energy advancement and infrastructure investment.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds building decarbonization and energy efficiency programs via new electricity charge and cap-and-trade funds, directly advancing climate goals and reducing emissions.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill targets 20% of funds to low-income residential buildings and prioritizes renters, directly advancing affordable housing through energy efficiency programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Climate Change

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 22, 2025

S 2073: An Act relative to veterans tax exemptions

By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2073) of Michael F. Rush, Paul McMurtry and Steven George Xiarhos for legislation relative to veterans tax exemptions. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax exemptions for veterans, reducing their tax burden under Revenue, aligning with tax relief indicators for targeted groups.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill establishes tax exemptions for veterans, directly providing financial benefits and strengthening veteran support through tax relief.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Education

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jul 15, 2026

S 1962: An Act excluding student loan forgiveness from taxable income for permanently and totally disabled veterans

By Mr. Driscoll, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1962) of William J. Driscoll, Jr. relative to excluding student loan forgiveness from taxable income for permanently and totally disabled veterans. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExcludes student loan forgiveness from taxable income for disabled veterans, providing direct tax relief to a specific group, aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill excludes student loan forgiveness from taxable income for disabled veterans, directly expanding their financial benefits by preventing tax liability on forgiven debt.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Veteran Education

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 16, 2026

H 3021: An Act extending certain existing sales tax exemptions to veteran's organizations

By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3021) of Bruce J. Ayers relative to certain sales tax exemptions for veterans’ organizations. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends sales tax exemptions, providing tax relief to veterans' organizations under Revenue category.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExtends sales tax exemptions to veteran organizations, reducing operational costs and supporting their services per bill title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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