Budget & Taxes

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 15, 2026

S 2900: An Act relative to municipal tax relief

Senate, January 8, 2026 -- The committee on Senate Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill relative to municipal tax relief (Senate, No. 1935),- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2900).

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides municipal tax relief, reducing local tax burdens - direct support for tax relief measures95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 15, 2026

S 2914: An Act relative to senior property tax deferral

Senate, January 15, 2026 -- Text of the Senate Bill relative to senior property tax deferral (Senate, No. 2914) (being the text of Senate, No. 2901, printed as amended)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides property tax deferral relief for seniors, reducing immediate tax burden on fixed-income residents, aligning with tax relief indicators for lower-income groups.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 15, 2026

S 2902: An Act authorizing the establishment of a mean tested senior citizen property tax exemption

Senate, January 8, 2026 -- The committee on Senate Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill authorizing the establishment of a mean tested senior citizen property tax exemption (Senate, No. 2036),- reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2902).

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a mean-tested property tax exemption for seniors, providing direct tax relief to lower-income seniors, aligning with tax relief indicators for middle/lower income groups.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives Tags Seniors

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 31, 2026

H 4946: An Act mandating access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plans or programs provided by the public employer

This bill requires public employers (such as state, city, or fire district departments) to provide full-time firefighters with free cancer screenings every three years, starting three years after they begin working as firefighters. It covers screenings for 11 specific cancers including colon, lung, bladder, and prostate, with all costs paid by the employer's health plan - no co-pays or deductibles required. The mandate applies to firefighters in municipal departments, the Massachusetts Military Reservation, the 104th Fighter Wing, and Devens fire departments. The only exception is if the employer's health plan is federally tax-exempt and would lose that status without cost-sharing, though this is uncommon.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates public employers to cover cancer screening costs, increasing government spending on firefighter health programs without tax changes.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates free cancer screenings via employer health plans, eliminating out-of-pocket costs and expanding access to preventive care for firefighters.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates free cancer screenings for firefighters, enhancing workplace safety and expanding health benefits without worker cost, directly protecting high-risk workers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jan 20, 2026

HD 5555: An Act establishing a local option sales tax

By Representative Cruz of Salem and Senator Lovely, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Manny Cruz for legislation to establish a local option sales tax. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes local sales tax for revenue generation, directly increasing state budget funds through new taxation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Dec 18, 2025

H 4830: An Act advancing equity for rural communities receiving state grants

H 4830 defines "rural communities" as municipalities with under 500 people per square mile or under 7,000 residents (per U.S. census). It requires state agencies administering grants to waive local funding matches for rural communities with median income below the state average, especially those seeking to share services regionally. Agencies must also identify and inform eligible rural communities about discretionary grant programs supporting service sharing. The bill mandates an annual report to specific legislative committees on implementation progress.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill waives local funding matches for rural communities, increasing state budget allocation for grants and directing funds toward underserved areas without tax changes.90% confidence

Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 22, 2025

S 2751: An Act relative to affordable housing and environmental adaptation dollars

Senate, December 22, 2025 -- The committee on Revenue to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1973) of James B. Eldridge, James K. Hawkins and Jason M. Lewis for legislation relative to the imposition of an excise tax to provide for climate change adaptation infrastructure and affordable housing investments in the Commonwealth, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2751)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes excise tax to fund climate adaptation infrastructure and affordable housing, directly advancing public service funding under Budget & Taxes.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill imposes excise tax to fund climate change adaptation infrastructure, directly advancing environmental protection through dedicated funding.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill imposes excise tax to fund affordable housing investments, directly advancing housing affordability through dedicated funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Climate Change Affordable Housing

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 17, 2026

S 2864: An Act relative to the long-term fiscal health and sustainability of special education in the Commonwealth

December 15, 2025 -- The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 383) of John F. Keenan for legislation to create a facilities loan program for private special education schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 430) of Jacob R. Oliveira, Joanne M. Comerford, Vanna Howard, Michael D. Brady and other members of the General Court for legislation for a special commission to review and valuate the commonwealth’s current special education financing structure; (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 442) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to establish a special commission on special education funding; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 454) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to conduct a study on the delivery of special education services; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 455) of Bruce E. Tarr relative to the foundation funding of special education, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2864).

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates facilities loan program and reviews special education financing structure, directly funding essential public education services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates facilities loan program for special education schools and reviews financing structure to ensure fiscal sustainability, directly advancing special education funding and access.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 21, 2026

H 3044: An Act relative to tax exemptions for contributions to a 401(k) through a sole proprietorship

By Representative Cataldo of Concord, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3044) of Simon Cataldo relative to tax exemptions for contributions to 401(k)s through sole proprietorships. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax exemption for sole proprietor 401(k) contributions, providing tax relief under Revenue subject per bill title and summary.90% confidence

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passed both · Massachusetts · House Jun 11, 2026

H 4605: An Act authorizing the town of Millis to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption for school building construction projects

By Representative Arena-DeRosa of Holliston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4605) of James C. Arena-DeRosa (by vote of the town) that the town of Millis be authorized to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption for school building construction projects. Revenue. [Local Approval Received.]

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMeans-tested senior property tax exemption provides tax relief for lower-income residents, aligning with support indicators for fiscal relief.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives

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