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Page 18 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2026 BHRC | FROM Page 16 That law requires that annual tax revenue above a certain amount collected by the state go back to the taxpayers. The amendment would only allow the law to be triggered if “the net state tax revenues in the fi scal year are less than 7.5 per cent of the total statewide personal income for the calendar year ending in the fi scal year as determined by the Bureau of Economic Analysis in the United States Department of Commerce.” “Our modern-day economy is completely different from what it was back in 1986 when Chapter 62F was enacted,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester). “Unfortunately, Chapter 62F uses a fl awed method of calculating allowable revenue and economic growth from year to year that only considers income from wages and salaries, instead of a more comprehensive model that includes other income from gig economy work and passive income sources such as capital gains, which are both growing sources of income for residents. Currently, wages and salaries only make up just over 50% of total personal income in Massachusetts—a signifi cant decline since 1986 which hasn’t been accounted for.” Lewis continued, “With this major shift in the state’s economy, we need to update our tax policies to stay in line with it. [My] amendment respects the will of the voters who implemented Chapter 62F by keeping its central cap and formula in place while adding a simple update to take total personal income into account as well when triggering refunds to more accurately refl ect the state of the modern economy. Refunds could only go into effect if net state tax revenues in the fi scal year are 7.5% or more of the total statewide personal income for the calendar year as determined by the Bureau of Economic Analysis in the U.S. Department of Commerce.” “This amendment would undermine that same voterapproved policy by treating those excess revenues as government funds rather than taxpayer funds,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) who opposed the amendment. “That contradicts the will of the voters, who already decided this issue. Reversing that outcome would represent a signifi cant breach of public trust. It also does not promote economic development or make Massachusetts more affordable, which are the stated goals of this bill.” “The voters of Massachusetts made themselves explicitly clear when 62F was fi rst established that excess tax revenue collected by the state should be returned to the taxpayers,” said Sen. John Velis (D-Westfi eld) who also opposed the amendment. “Dramatic changes like these to our state’s only tax rebate law should again be decided by the voters themselves, which is why I opposed the amendment.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment that only allows the law to be triggered if the net state tax revenues in the fi scal year are less than 7.5 per cent of the total statewide personal income. A “No” vote is against the amendment.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL $575 MILLION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE (S 3178) — The Senate approved, on a voice vote, without a roll call, a $575 million economic development package. Senators added millions of dollars in local projects for their districts to the original bill proposed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The House has already approved a diff erent version of the measure and a conference committee will hammer out a compromise version. Provisions in the Senate bill include $100 million to support and promote economic growth and job creation in the defense sector; $75 million to support the development and application of AI; $25 million to support downtown and main street vitality in Massachusetts cities and towns; $2.5 million to help convert vacant storefronts into pop-up opportunities for new small businesses; $20 million to support construction of early stage and high growth business; $25 million to support arts, culture and the creative economy; and aiming to stop Cryptocurrency ATM misuse by fully banning the operation of these kiosks. Supporters said that scammers in recent years have directed older adults to use crypto kiosks to send money which is often not recoverable when the fraud is discovered, leading some seniors to lose their entire life savings. Other provisions require that large AI developers are complying with new safety requirements by requiring independent, third-party safety audits; criminalizing the creation, possession or sharing of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), in response to new AI technology and computer programs capable of generating synthetic images that are indistinguishable from real photos; prohibiting the possession, operation, manufacture or sale of robots that are equipped with weapons—including fi rearms, chemical agents, weaponized lasers and explosives. The package also includes creating a group to study the feasibility of a future international soccer tournament to be held in Massachusetts; making music aff ordable by reining in predatory ticket scalping and instituting a 110% cap on prices charged by ticket resale platforms for music concert tickets; giving cities and towns the option of re-establishing “Happy Hour” discounted alcohol sales policies; allowing cities and towns to permit public alcohol consumption in designated outdoor districts; increasing the production of new housing units through automatic two-family zoning across Massachusetts; and creating safety rules for fast electric scooters and e-bikes. “Today the Senate took action to maintain the commonwealth’s economic edge while giving Massachusetts residents, families and businesses the best bet at success,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “The bill we passed today will help small businesses cut through red tape, provide opportunities for new families to fi nd a home they can afford and set our state up to face the challenges and embrace the opportunities of the coming years.” “It’s critically important to keep the Massachusetts economy on the cutting edge, and this economic stimulus package does just that and more,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (DWestport), chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This bill hits all sectors of the state’s economy, jumpstarting scientific research, spurring housing development, investing in workforce development and business growth; supporting the defense industry and setting limits on the overreach of artificial intelligence. With the federal government no longer a partner, we need to continue to be ambitious and utilize the tools that we have to grow and develop the economic engine of the commonwealth.” “We have a responsibility to invest in the future and to create opportunity for everyone who calls Massachusetts home,” said Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover), Senate chair of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “I’m proud this economic development bill threads that needle, by strengthening our leadership position as a hub for industries of the future while uplifting small businesses and working families who are the backbone of our economy.” “Senators did not have the interests of the taxpayers in mind when passing the economic development bill,” said Paul Craney, the executive director of the Mass Fiscal Alliance. “All it does is spend more taxpayer money and make it harder for a tax rebate to occur. If senators want to help make Massachusetts more affordable, they should cut or eliminate broad based taxes. Spending more tax dollars will never do anything but continue to make our state more expensive to live in and do business in.” SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE — Gov. Healey held a ceremonial signing for two new laws in the state budget that she already signed on July 9. The laws strengthen protections for young people, support survivors of sexual assault and hold off enders accountable. These include the elimination the statute of limitations for rape cases when new DNA evidence identifi es a suspect, as well as a provision to close a loophole that allowed adults in positions of authority to exploit 16- and 17-year-olds. “As a former prosecutor and attorney general, I spent years working alongside survivors of sexual violence,” said Healey. “I saw fi rsthand the trauma they carry, and the extraordinary courage it takes to come forward. I also saw the devastation caused when our laws don’t do enough to protect survivors and hold off enders accountable. These new laws close dangerous loopholes, strengthen protections for children and make sure survivors have a better opportunity to seek justice. While no law can change what survivors have endured, we can take action to make our laws fairer, our communities safer and help survivors get the justice they deserve.” “This is what it looks like when we listen to survivors and act,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “Closing these loopholes means predators can no longer hide behind our laws instead of facing them. Because of this budget, we now have the power to hold accountable anyone who has abused a position of trust to harm kids, and to get survivors the justice they deserve.” “For too long, our laws have allowed adults in positions of authority and trust to exploit the very children they are supposed to protect and then hide behind a claim of consent,” said Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem). “That ends now. No fi gure of authority should ever be able to groom or assault a young person and walk away without accountability. Closing this loophole has been one of the most personal and important fi ghts of my career, and I am proud that we got it done for the children and families of the commonwealth.” ALLOW CONSUMERS TO USE INSURANCE ADJUSTERS (S 785) — The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to legislation that would prohibit an insurance company from including in an insurance policy, a rider that prohibits the insured from hiring or using a public insurance adjuster or a public insurance adjusting fi rm. The measure has already been approved by the Senate. Additional approval is needed in each branch prior to the bill going to Gov. Maura Healey. “An insured that has paid its premiums faithfully should have the choice to hire a public adjuster qualifi ed to read BHRC | SEE Page 19

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