Legislative Caucus

Note: MassINC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and hosts this web page as a public information service. All inquiries should be directed to legislative staff. Contacts:

Svetlana Yefimenko, Office of Rep. Antonio Cabral

svetlana.yefimenko@mahouse.gov

Kevin Bowe, Office of Sen. John Cronin

kevin.bowe@masenate.gov 

Gateway Cities Caucus Priority Bills 

2025-2026 Massachusetts Legislative Session 

• H.298, S.185: An Act to promote school centered neighborhood development (Cabral/Payano) 
  • Seeks to integrate community development with school development to strengthen neighborhoods and stabilize school populations. Establishes a state interagency council to support local partnerships to develop school-centered neighborhood plans 
  • Establishes the Fund for Stronger Neighborhoods and Schools, to administer any funds apportioned by the Governor or Legislature, and overseen by EOHLC 
• H.3632, S.2364: An Act to promote commuter rail ridership (Cabral/Cronin) 
  • Requires the MBTA to analyze the ridership impacts of a range of fare strategies, including a $10 weekday fare, monthly passes for hybrid workers, and reducing the number of commuter rail zones 
  • MBTA recommendations within 12 months and pilot implementation within 24 months 
• H.3039, S.1946: An Act relative to the Housing Development Incentive Program (Cabral/Cronin) 
  • Increases annual tax credit cap to $100M 
  • Doubles the project award cap from $2.5M to $5M (never increased since 2014) 
  • Allows projects to have up to 25% income restricted units (currently 20%) 
  • Would require EOHLC to approve local tax exemption agreements within 90 days 
• H.3038, S.173: An Act to establish a downtown vitality fund to strengthen downtowns and main streets (Cabral/Cronin)  
  • Dedicates 0.75% of regular sales tax revenues to a dedicated fund for reinvesting in local business districts 
  • The fund would release grants to create and sustain district management entities, support MassDevelopment’s TDI program and expand it beyond Gateway Cities, and implement place-based plans like the pandemic-era Rapid Response Plans 
  • Establishes an advisory committee to provide support and guidance to EOED 
• S.1942, H.297: An Act relative to neighborhood stabilization and economic development (Cabral/Cronin) 
  • Builds on previous neighborhood stabilization successes, such as MassHousing’s Neighborhood Hub and Neighborhood Stabilization Program 
  • Modernizes state laws including eminent domain to facilitate addressing vacant properties 
• H.3631, S.2362: An Act to build future-forward parking structures to promote EV equity and walkable downtowns (Cabral/Cronin) 
  • A new funding program to reimburse municipalities 30-80% for the cost of public structured parking garages in downtowns and other walkable areas to reduce surface parking and improve walkability and access to EV infrastructure. Gateway Cities would have priority 
• S.174, H.299: An Act to improve management of business improvement districts (Cabral/Cronin) 
  • Allows BIDs to renew at intervals up to ten years 
  • Aligns BID audit requirements with public reporting standards for Massachusetts nonprofit organizations