Press Room

Without raising taxes on Massachusetts residents, the Massachusetts Legislature today delivered a Fiscal Year 2027 budget that drives down costs for residents, boosts the state's economy, and adds to the state’s savings account.

Under a bill passed today by the Senate, known as the ‘Dark Skies Bill,’ cities and towns would be able to save taxpayers money on the cost of operating streetlights with a new lower electric rate.

With temperatures expected to climb past 100 degrees this week, the Massachusetts Senate is debating legislation today that would make it illegal for utility companies to shut off electricity to residents struggling to pay their bills during the hottest months of the year.

The Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget agreement totals $63.4 billion in spending, an increase of $2.4 billion, or 4 per cent, over Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26).

Today, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael J. Rodrigues and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz issued the following statement regarding the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget:

An Act to improve outdoor lighting, conserve energy, and increase dark-sky visibility will help lower energy costs for cities and towns and help restore the environment’s natural light levels by reducing ‘light pollution’—additional, unnecessary light from population hubs that shines into the night sky.

Massachusetts Senate leaders today introduced energy affordability legislation to deliver more than $14 billion in estimated ratepayer savings to Massachusetts residents, while also maintaining Massachusetts’ leadership in the fight against climate change.

An Act to save people money, repair the climate and grow the economy will bring billions of dollars in energy savings to Massachusetts homeowners, renters, and businesses by prioritizing affordability in their energy bills, while at the same time making sure the state remains a leader in the global fight against climate change.