Massachusetts

Push for millionaires’ tax in Massachusetts ramps up

Published

3 years ago

May 11, 2022

Push for millionaires’ tax in Massachusetts ramps up

The marketing campaign to alter the Massachusetts Structure to create a brand new surtax on earnings in extra of $1 million formally kicked off Wednesday, escalating an long-simmering battle that is been brewing since 2015.

The Truthful Share Modification, which can be known as the millionaires’ tax, will go earlier than voters as a poll query this fall. If handed, it might impose an extra tax of 4% on earnings over the million-dollar mark. The following income could be used to fund investments in transportation and schooling.

Not like many different states, Massachusetts at present taxes all earnings ranges on the similar 5% charge. Earlier makes an attempt to amend the structure to create a graduated earnings tax have failed, most just lately in 1994, when two-thirds of voters rejected the thought.

In a Zoom kickoff occasion for the millionaires’ tax, proponents indicated that they are possible to make use of the state’s expertise through the COVID-19 pandemic to make their case for taxing greater incomes at an elevated charge.

The Rev. Ann-Marie Illsley, a pastor at Christ Congregational Church in Brockton, praised the efforts of important employees resembling private care attendants and grocery retailer staff through the pandemic, and solid passing the proposed modification as a option to reward their sacrifices.

“Within the hardest moments of the pandemic, they stepped as much as guarantee that our communities had what they wanted,” Illsley mentioned. “Our important employees have been placing of their fair proportion, and so they proceed to. However these of us and their communities have wants additionally — wants for better-funded faculty methods and elevated coaching alternatives, improved infrastructure.”

Worcester Metropolis Councilor Khrystian King mentioned the modification would increase roughly $1.3 billion by requiring the state’s wealthiest residents to make a comparatively small monetary sacrifice.

“You are speaking about of us that make round $20,000 per week — per week, $20,000,” King mentioned. “These of us are going to should pay an extra $31 per week.”

An evaluation earlier this yr by Tufts College’s Middle for State Coverage Evaluation additionally mentioned the modification would increase about $1.3 billion, and located that it might achieve this “in a extremely progressive manner more likely to advance racial and financial fairness.” Nevertheless, the evaluation warned that there might be a “disproportionate impact on state coffers” if just some of the state’s wealthiest residents transfer out of the commonwealth to keep away from a brand new surtax, and that the shift to hybrid and distant work might result in extra residents relocating than beforehand anticipated.

Supporters of the proposed modification had deliberate to put it earlier than voters in 2018, however the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court docket dominated on the time that the hassle, which relied on the state’s initiative-petition course of, did not meet particular constitutional necessities.

On this electoral cycle, supporters circumvented a doable repeat problem by utilizing the referendum course of, which is pushed by legislative assist quite than citizen signatures. In Constitutional Conventions in 2019 and 2021, the Massachusetts Home and Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of advancing the measure to the poll this yr.

Now, opponents are asking the Supreme Judicial Court docket to amend Lawyer Normal Maura Healey’s description of the proposed modification to convey that the funds raised may not result in the spending will increase advocates promise.

Andrew Farnitano, a spokesperson for Increase Up Massachusetts, which helps the modification, insisted Wednesday that concern is misplaced.

“Dedicating the funding from the Truthful Share Modification within the textual content of the structure is the strongest doable manner to make sure that it goes to transportation and public schooling,” he mentioned. “That’s an iron-clad dedication that the funds raised by this modification have to be spent on these two areas.”

An Supreme Judicial Court docket ruling on the problem to Healey’s abstract is predicted within the coming weeks.

When Farnitano was requested if the Legislature may diminish spending drawn from different sources if the modification passes, resulting in smaller-than-advertised new investments in schooling and transportation, he prompt that such maneuvering could be politically dangerous.

“If you take a look at the phrases that they’ve mentioned and the commitments they’ve laid out, it is clear that their intention is to spend extra on schooling and transportation,” Farnitano mentioned. “And we’ll maintain them to that.”

Towards the shut of Wednesday’s occasion, marketing campaign supervisor Jeron Mariani acknowledged that supporters of the proposed modification have already been campaigning for months.

“We have been on the market knocking on doorways, open-air canvassing at rallies, making telephone calls,” he mentioned.

“That is solely going to proceed,” Mariani added. “And a method that we’re persevering with it’s that this very weekend we’re launching seven canvasses — seven totally different cities, all throughout the commonwealth.”

Mariani additionally introduced the launch of a brand new web site, fairsharema.com, which he described as a “hub for tips on how to get plugged into the marketing campaign … to be an lively member of this motion.”

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Massachusetts

Here's what the largest lottery prize won in Mass. in 2024 was

Published

7 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Press Room

Here's what the largest lottery prize won in Mass. in 2024 was

The largest lottery prize won in Massachusetts in 2024 came from a ticket given to the winner as a birthday gift, which they called “the best birthday present ever.”

There were at least 150 players who won between $1 million and $15 million — and one player won even more.

The top prize won in Massachusetts in 2024 was worth $1 million a year for life.

The prize was from “Lifetime Millions,” a $50 scratch ticket game released on Feb. 6, 2024. As of Jan. 3, there are still two $1 million a year for life grand prizes remaining to be claimed, along with three $2 million prizes and seven $1 million prizes.

The top lottery winner of 2024 claimed their prize through the Merjon Tangovan Nominee Trust of Boston, represented by trustee Greg Racki, on July 10, 2024.

The winner received $15.4 million after Racki selected the cash option instead of annuity for the grand prize. They told Racki they plan on buying a new car, traveling and helping their family with the cash.

The winning ticket was bought at Northside Market & Liquors, located at 44 North Rd. in Bedford. The store received a $50,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

Here’s the complete list of the top 10 largest lottery prizes won in Massachusetts in 2024:

$1 million a year for life prize claimed from the “Lifetime Millions” scratch ticket game on July 10. The winner opted to receive their prize as a one-time payment of $15.4 million, and bought their $50 ticket at the Northside Convenience shop in Bedford. There’s still two grand prizes left to be claimed.
$15 million prize claimed from the “$15,000,000 Money Maker” scratch ticket game on Aug. 15. The winner bought their $30 ticket in Lynn at the One Stop Mart. As of December, there’s just one grand prize left to be claimed in the game.
$15 million prize claimed from the “300X” scratch ticket game on June 13. The winning $30 ticket was purchased at the Country Farms store in Topsfield. This was the first and only grand prize claimed in the game as of December, with two more grand prizes left to claim.
$10 million prize claimed from the “$10,000,000 Cash Blast” scratch ticket game on Oct. 3. The winner bought their $20 ticket at the Star Liquor store in Shrewsbury. It was the first and only grand prize claimed in the game as of December, with two more grand prizes left to claim.
$10 million prize claimed from the “$10,000,000 Cash King” scratch ticket game, also on Oct. 3. This winner bought their $20 ticket in Boston at Jobi Liquors, Inc., leaving no grand prizes left to be claimed.
$10 million prize claimed from the “$10,000,000 Bonanza” scratch ticket game on Sept. 4. The winning $20 ticket was sold in Raynham at Coletti’s Market, and was the only grand prize claimed in the game as of December, with two more grand prizes left to claim.
$5.37 million jackpot prize won during the “Megabucks” drawing on May 4. The winning numbers for the drawing were 4, 11, 15, 26, 30 and 40, and the winning ticket was purchased in Northborough at Lowe’s Variety Mart.
$5 million prize claimed from a “$5,000,000 100X Cashword 2024″ scratch ticket on Oct. 2. A hot week for lottery players in the state, this $20 winning ticket was sold at From Brazil Restaurant in Peabody. There’s just one grand prize left in the game as of December.
$5 million prize claimed from a “$5,000,000 100X Cashword” scratch ticket (released in 2023) on June 18. The winning ticket was sold at the Price Chopper in Pittsfield, and was the last grand prize left in the game.
$2.64 million prize won during the “Megabucks” drawing on Aug. 24. The winning numbers for the drawing were 5, 6, 8, 9, 24 and 32, and the winner bought their ticket while at the Hillcrest Country Club in Leicester.

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Massachusetts

These 9 new laws go into effect in Mass. in 2025. Here's what they all are

Published

17 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Press Room

These 9 new laws go into effect in Mass. in 2025. Here's what they all are

With the new year comes new laws that are set to take effect in Massachusetts in 2025.

Five bills were signed into law with set dates for when the new laws, signed by Gov. Maura Healey, go into effect.

Four other new laws were part of a large economic development bill Healey signed in November, covering a wide range of issues from clean energy to education. The text of this law contained an emergency preamble, which gives the governor authority to determine whether a new law should go into effect immediately.

Here are the latest changes made to Massachusetts state law.

Employers must show salary ranges in job postings

Beginning Oct. 29, 2025, Massachusetts employers with 25 or more employees must disclose salary ranges and protect an employee’s right to ask for salary ranges. This received Healey’s approval on July 31 when Healey signed the Francis Perkins Workplace Equity Act, named after the first woman to be Secretary of Labor under President Franklin Roosevelt.

The new law also prohibits employers from firing or retaliating against any employee or applicant who asks for salary ranges when applying for a job or promotion, according to state law.

Employers’ demographic wage data

Along with salary ranges, Massachusetts employers with at least 100 state-based employees must file an annual report to the state, according to the legal firm Cooley. This annual report includes workforce demographic and pay data categorized by race, ethnicity, sex, and position.

This goes into effect on Feb. 1, 2025, with the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development then publishing aggregated data in a report on its website on July 1 of each year.

Massachusetts joins 11 other states in enacting this law: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island and Washington.

Sealing eviction records

Healey signed the Affordable Homes Act on Aug. 6. Going into effect on May 5, 2025, this law allows tenants to petition the courts to seal certain eviction records that can make it difficult for renters to secure housing, according to the state’s website.

The law will also make it illegal for a consumer reporting agency to include a sealed eviction record in its reports.

Parentage equality expansions

In August, Healey signed into law an act that updates the state’s parentage laws for the first time in 40 years, according to the Governor’s Office. The Massachusetts Parentage Act provides protections for parents who use surrogacy, in-vitro fertilization and assisted reproduction, as well as for LGBTQ+ parents.

The bill also modernizes the law’s language to be more inclusive, replacing words like “paternity” for “parentage” and “child born out of wedlock” for “nonmarital child,” Healey’s office said.

“Our laws need to reflect the realities of modern families and the loving environments where children grow and flourish,” Healey said in an Aug. 9 statement. “This moment is a victory for all families in Massachusetts who deserve to be treated with dignity and to have their rights recognized and protected under the law.”

This law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Updates to paid family and medical leave

On Oct. 1, the Department of Family and Medical Leave announced it would update weekly benefits for paid family and medical leave in Massachusetts. The maximum weekly benefits that employees can receive are set to increase from $1,149.90 to $1,170.64 per week, according to the legal firm Fisher Phillips.

The overall paid family and medical leave contribution rate will stay at 0.88% for eligible employees working at a business with 25 employees or more, the legal firm Seyfarth said in a statement. The contribution rate for smaller employers will remain at 0.46%.

Changes go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Economic development for climate tech, AI and natural gas

Healey signed an economic development bill called the Mass Leads Act on Nov. 20. Its goal is to promote the development and use of clean energy across the state, with improvements to energy affordability, expand access to electric vehicles, and “facilitate the application of artificial intelligence across the state’s ecosystem‚“ Healey’s office said in a statement.

“This legislation will create new jobs, strengthen our efforts to recruit and retain the best talent, support all of our communities, and grow our arts, culture and tourism sectors,” the administration said in its statement.

The new law supports initiatives that aim to make Massachusetts a hub for climate technology, Healey’s office said. This includes $400 million in capital resources going to the offshore wind industry and establishing a new climate tech incentive program to bring and keep climate tech companies in Massachusetts. It will also update the existing Offshore Wind Tax Incentive Program.

The sweeping bill also includes provisions to overhaul the state’s permitting process for Massachusetts to build more renewable energy infrastructure to meet its climate goals. WBUR reported that these changes are intended to go into effect by March 2026.

The law also authorizes $100 million to be used to create the Massachusetts AI Hub “to facilitate the application of artificial intelligence across the state’s ecosystem,” the statement read. Healey’s office added that this hub is expected to boost innovation and “attract AI talent” to the state.

Additionally (but not lastly), the law establishes new provisions for natural gas. More networked geothermal projects, like Eversource in Framingham, will be built in order to bring cleaner forms of heating and cooling, WBUR reported.

The law also changes how gas utilities are incentivized to replace leaky underground pipes, with the state now prioritizing short-term repairs or retiring segments of a pipeline.

Due to the emergency preamble written into the Mass Leads Act, the law immediately went into effect with Healey’s signature.

More funding for electric vehicle incentives

The Mass Leads Act also introduced new provisions for electric vehicles, including an extension of state funding for its electric vehicle incentive program until 2027, WBUR wrote.

The Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles, or MOR-EV, program is intended to cut down on air pollution and greenhouse gases.

The program offers rebates for buying or leasing eligible battery electric vehicles and fuel-cell electric vehicles.

Another provision includes directing the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to review laws that ban the sale of new gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles after 2035, WBUR reported.

As part of the Mass Leads Act, these parts of the law also immediately went into effect upon the bill’s signing.

Nurses can work across state lines

The passage of the Mass Leads Act also addressed the nursing shortage in Massachusetts. The bill included a measure to join the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows nurses operating in other states affiliated with the compact to practice out of state via in-person or telehealth, GBH reported in November.

Massachusetts became the last New England state to join the compact.

“Compact membership will also enhance the ability of the Massachusetts health care system to prepare for pandemics, emergencies and other staffing needs and to facilitate telehealth and other care delivery transformations in the future,” Mickey O’Neill, spokesperson for the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, told GBH.

This also went into effect immediately after Healey signed the Mass Leads Act.

Educator diversity

Another facet of the economic development bill that Healey signed focused on education. The new law incorporated a bill known as the Massachusetts Teachers Association-supported Educator Diversity Act.

This change will see the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education develop an alternative certification process for teachers who may have challenges with the educator certification exam, but can still demonstrate their capabilities as teachers, Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka said in a statement in November.

Because educator diversity was part of the Mass Leads Act, it immediately went into effect with Healey’s signature on Nov. 20.

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