From rent control to recreational pot, these 11 questions could be coming to Mass. ballots this fall

Politics

Massachusetts voters could be faced with a record-setting number of ballot questions in 2026.

This fall, Massachusetts voters could be asked to weigh in on a record number of ballot questions. They would cover a range of topics such as rent control, major changes to state elections, and even the elimination of recreational pot shops.

Secretary of State William Galvin’s office certified 11 different ballot question petitions last week, meaning that organizers gathered more than the required 74,574 signatures for each petition. These questions are not locked in for the 2026 ballot yet but are on track to be. Galvin’s office has transmitted these petitions to the Legislature, which has until May to consider and potentially act on the proposals. If lawmakers do not act on a specific proposal, organizers will need to gather another 12,429 signatures to secure their petition’s place on the ballot. 

The following petitions have been listed by the number of signatures that organizers obtained for each one. 

Legislative stipends 

This proposed law would reform the stipend system on Beacon Hill, in which lawmakers who take on leadership positions earn extra pay. The number of lawmakers receiving these stipends has sharply increased over the past decade, and critics say that many of those receiving extra pay are not actually doing the extra work for which they are being paid. Those behind this ballot initiative argue reform is needed to make the Legislature more productive, save taxpayer money, and empower legislators to act without fear of retribution from leaders who control the stipend payments. The proposed law seeks to tie compensation to performance, meaning leaders would have to hit a series of timeliness and transparency benchmarks to earn their stipends. This petition received 96,797 signatures.

A new conservation fund 

This proposed law would establish a “Nature for All Fund” that would dedicate $100 million a year toward conservation efforts and the improvement of public parks and other green spaces. This effort would be funded by state sales tax revenue that is already collected on sporting goods. That revenue currently goes into the state’s General Fund. The law would establish a 15-member oversight board made up of state officials and members of the public, which would decide how the money is spent. This petition received 89,216 signatures. 

Access to public records 

This proposal would make most records held by the governor’s office and the Legislature public under the existing public records law. Supporters of the ballot initiative say that Massachusetts is among the worst states in the country when it comes to government transparency. This petition received 89,013 signatures. 

Rent control

This proposed law would enact statewide rent control. Annual rent increases would be tied to inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index, with a hard annual cap of 5% statewide. Owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units and newly constructed buildings during their first 10 years of existence would be exempt. Supporters say that these exemptions would protect small landlords and keep up the construction of new housing. Rent control was banned statewide after a 1994 ballot measure, and the current effort to bring it back stands to be one of the marquee contests later this year. 

Those backing the proposal argue that rent control is necessary to counteract corporate real estate investors and to keep residents from fleeing to more affordable states. Opponents, which include many in the real estate industry, say that rent control is a failed experiment that slows housing production and actually increases housing prices. Gov. Maura Healey is against it for these reasons. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu would like to see individual communities have the option of implementing rent control but has shown skepticism about the idea of a blanket statewide policy. This petition received 88,132 signatures. 

Same-day voter registration  

This proposed law would allow residents to register to vote and to update their voter registration address on election days. Same-day registration would be an option at local polling places. It would require voters to present proof of residency and to sign a written oath. There are 21 states that currently allow for same-day voter registration. At the moment, there is a 10-day cutoff before elections in Massachusetts. Supporters of the proposal say that it would increase voter turnout by as much as 12% and boost civic engagement as a whole. This petition received 87,408 signatures. 

Reducing the state income tax 

This proposed law would lower the state income tax from 5% to 4% over three years. The income tax rate would be set at 4.67% for tax year 2027, 4.33% for tax year 2028, and 4% beginning in tax year 2029. Supporters say that this would save the average taxpayer about $1,300 annually and boost the state’s GDP by as much as $17.5 billion. This petition received 86,970 signatures. 

A union for the Committee for Public Counsel Services

This proposed law would allow employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services to engage in collective bargaining. Earlier this year, private bar advocates initiated a work stoppage in order to pressure the Legislature to increase their pay. These bar advocates are lawyers that handle about 80% of the cases concerning poor criminal defendants in the state. The CPCS covers the rest. As the work stoppage led to defendants being released from jail and charges being dropped, the CPCS became overwhelmed trying to fill in the gaps left. The CPCS is now arguing that the Supreme Judicial Court should order the Legislature to increase bar advocate pay. This law would not affect the bar advocates but would allow CPCS employees to form a union. Supporters say that this would allow the organization to pay its employees better and better retain talented lawyers. This petition received 86,153 signatures. 

Taxpayer refunds

This proposed law would change the limit on how much revenue the state can collect in any given year. State revenue would be limited to “the net amount of state revenue from the year before, increased by a rate equal to the average growth of wages and salaries in Massachusetts over the most recent three years.” The state is currently required to send refunds to taxpayers when collections exceed a cap. This has been triggered twice, most recently in 2022. The new proposal would likely result in more frequent refunds. This petition received 85,588 signatures. 

Starter homes 

This proposed law would allow single-family homes to be built on any residentially-zoned area that has at least 5,000 square feet, at least 50 feet of land bordering the street, and access to public sewer and water services. Massachusetts has a particularly high minimum lot-size requirement for new homes, and supporters say this law would help alleviate the state’s housing shortage and bring prices down. This petition received 84,343 signatures. 

All-party state primaries

This proposed law would eliminate party primaries for state elections, instead putting in place a system where all candidates regardless of party affiliation are listed on the same ballot for each voter. The two candidates that receive the most votes would advance to the general election. This petition received 79,032 signatures. 

Rolling back recreational pot 

This proposed law would repeal adult-use recreational marijuana in Massachusetts. Medical use would be preserved. Supporters argue that shuttering recreational marijuana stores would improve safety for all residents, especially young people. Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, the organization behind this push, was accused of intentionally misleading voters during the signature-gathering process last year. The group says that these accusations are unfounded and are being pushed by the cannabis industry. Challengers have filed a petition before the State Ballot Law Commission objecting to the ballot initiative’s approval. This petition received 78,301 signatures.