SJC Removes Two Major Ballot Questions with Significant Implications for NECA Contractors

This month, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued decisions that removed two proposed ballot questions from the November 2026 ballot, one related to statewide rent control and another that would have dramatically altered the state's income tax structure.

While the rent control proposal received significant attention within the construction and housing communities, the income tax proposal may have seemed less relevant to many contractors at first glance. In reality, both measures had the potential to affect Massachusetts employers, including our NECA contractors, and the state's ability to invest in critical infrastructure and workforce priorities.

NECA Greater Boston joined a coalition of construction industry organizations in filing an amicus brief opposing the rent control initiative. See here https://sackscom.egnyte.com/dl/BWHpcpmTYY6J. The coalition raised concerns that the proposal would discourage housing investment, complicate project financing, and ultimately reduce housing production at a time when Massachusetts faces a significant housing shortage. The SJC's decision (read here https://www.mass.gov/doc/cella-v-attorney-general-sjc-w13893/download) helps housing development and job creation.

The Court also struck down a proposed income tax ballot question that would have reduced state revenues by an estimated $5 billion annually. While some may view tax policy as unrelated to the electrical contracting industry, a revenue reduction of that magnitude would have affected every taxpayer and every business operating in the Commonwealth. Such a significant budget shortfall could have resulted in reduced funding for transportation, workforce development, education, energy initiatives, and other public investments that support economic activity and construction work across Massachusetts.

Together, these decisions underscore the importance of evaluating ballot initiatives not only for their direct impact, but also for their broader economic consequences. NECA Greater Boston will continue to monitor legislative and ballot developments that affect our members, our workforce, and the long-term health of the Commonwealth's construction industry.