House Speaker Ron Mariano pledged not to raise taxes or fees in Massachusetts for the upcoming fiscal year 2026 budget. He also committed to investing over $1 billion in early education and care, as well as passing legislation to improve access to early college programming for students. Mariano emphasized the importance of addressing energy costs and announced plans to create a procedure to predict the impact of policy decisions on energy costs.
These commitments by Mariano come in opposition to Governor Maura Healey’s proposals to increase certain taxes, such as applying the tobacco tax to synthetic nicotine products and imposing an excise tax on complimentary hotel rooms. Mariano’s stance on taxes, along with Senate President Karen Spilka’s opposition to Healey’s tax-related ideas, makes it challenging for the governor to raise new revenue for the state.
Despite uncertainty around federal funding and slower economic growth post-pandemic, Mariano assured residents and businesses in Massachusetts that the House is committed to protecting them. The House is expected to release its budget proposal next week, with a focus on supporting early education, addressing energy costs, and avoiding tax and fee hikes.
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