Author: john_velis

Legislation Reforms Literacy Education Standards, Aids Teachers’ Professional Development

(BOSTON—1/29/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today passed legislation that supports young learners by ensuring reading instruction is rooted in proven, evidence-based practices.

The bill creates new statewide standards for literacy education and assessment, offers professional development resources for educators, and offers flexible options and supplemental funding for public schools that work to implement evidence-based curricula.

The bill, S.2924, An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, ensures that every Massachusetts student from kindergarten to 3rd grade learns to read using phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and phonemic awareness—practices that data show as the best building blocks for lifetime learning.

“Our state’s future success is built on ensuring that our children become confident readers,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Today, the Senate passed legislation to do just that—ensuring every child in a Massachusetts public school is taught using proven, research-based methods, while providing educators and school districts with the resources they need to succeed. This legislation builds on years of work to advance equity in our schools and ensure that, no matter a child’s background, every student can access a world-class, data-driven education. I am grateful to Chair Rodrigues and Chair Lewis for their work on this legislation, and to Senator DiDomenico for his leadership in filing it.”

“Reading proficiency is a fundamental tenet of early education, when brain development is at its highest. While Massachusetts has been a recognized leader in early education, utilizing proven evidence-based learning models will only further improve our academic standards,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This legislation will not only help close achievement gaps and help disadvantaged learners, but it will support and strengthen teacher development and educator standards for all public schools in the Commonwealth. This comprehensive bill lays the foundation for a more skilled and adaptable workforce, essential to the state’s economic success and competitiveness.”

To support school districts and educators with implementation, the legislation would create a new Early Literacy Fund seeded with $25 million in ‘Fair Share’ funding to help districts with costs and support educators’ professional development. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) would also make additional professional development resources available.

“It is unacceptable that less than half of young students in Massachusetts are proficient in reading at their grade level. This important legislation ensures that educators use evidence-based early literacy curricula that are backed by science while leaving schools the option to decide what curriculum is best for their students and teachers,” said Senator Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “Strengthening student literacy through evidence-based instruction is a bipartisan issue with decades of scientific research backing it up. With the passage of this bill, the

Massachusetts Senate continues its commitment to providing a high-quality education for all students across the Commonwealth.”

“Today is a monumental moment for children across our state because we are passing my bill through the Senate to ensure all our students learn essential literacy skills,” said Senator Sal N. DiDomenico (D-Everett), lead Senate sponsor of the legislation. “We can all agree that teaching our kids to read and write is one of the most important skills we can instill in them, but far too many children in our schools are not meeting basic literacy benchmarks. Working with our teachers and administrators, this legislation will institute evidence-based curriculum to ensure all our students’ success in early literacy and give them the bright futures they deserve. I want to thank Senate President Spilka, Education Chair Lewis, my staff, the educators, and the advocates for their dedication to pushing this needed policy change over the finish line.”

Schools would have three DESE-approved options to implement the new curriculum requirement: utilize a complete curriculum that is made available for free by DESE; use a curriculum from a list that meets evidence-based criteria; or receive a waiver authorizing the use of another curriculum that meets the same standards but had not been previously reviewed and approved by DESE.

The legislation makes sure parents and schools engage in constructive communication about student progress. It requires twice-yearly assessments to gauge every young learner’s reading progress and to screen for dyslexia, and requires schools to contact a parent or guardian within 30 days if a student has fallen significantly behind and propose a response if that is the case.

Full details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate’s press room.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means advanced the bill to the full Senate with a 13-0 vote on January 22, 2026. A previous draft was approved by the House of Representatives on October 29, 2025. All of the underlying Senate and House bills were initially reviewed by the Joint Committee on Education, which solicited public testimony at a hearing on September 16, 2025. All committee votes are posted on the Legislature’s website.

The Senate passed the bill on a 38-0 roll call vote, and the legislation was sent to the House of Representatives to reconcile the few differences between Senate and House bills.

Statements of Support

Mary Tamer, Founder and Executive Director, MassPotential

“This is an historic and necessary step forward for education in Massachusetts. Senate President Spilka and Senator DiDomenico have championed a transformative literacy bill that will change the trajectory of countless students across the Commonwealth, all of whom deserve the right to read. This legislation doesn’t just mandate best practices—it opens the door to opportunity for every child in every district. Reading is the foundation upon which all learning is built, and today, we are one step closer to guaranteeing that no child will be denied the bright future that literacy makes possible.”

Luisa Sparrow, Boston Public Schools Teacher; 2025 Mass. Teacher of the Year

“We become teachers because we dream of helping students learn. Learning to read is the most important academic skill we can possibly teach our students. But when we enter the classroom, too many educators realize we don’t have all the tools we need to actually teach our students to read. This bill will give teachers the tools we need to be effective in the classroom so that ALL students have the opportunity to attain the literacy skills they deserve.”

Dr. De’Shawn C. Washington, Founder and President, Cultivating Changemakers; 2024 Mass. Teacher of the Year

“The ability for a child to read is one of the greatest and most essential gifts an educator can ever bestow. Literacy is a civil right, and it is the civic responsibility of the village to raise our children so they are empowered to become lifelong readers. The Right to Read Bill is a monumental step towards honoring that responsibility. By passing this legislation, Massachusetts affirms that every child attending school in the Commonwealth has the right to learn to read and use literacy as a vessel for purpose, possibility, and liberation. This bill also honors our educators by equipping them with the evidence-based tools and training needed to teach reading exceptionally well to our students. When we ground literacy instruction in research

and invest in our teachers in training, we invest in a future where 100% of our children can read, learn, and lead, with confidence and boldness.”

Nancy Duggan, Executive Director, Decoding Dyslexia MA

“All students need to start their academic careers with strong foundational reading skills. This legislation ensures high quality standards for that to happen in every classroom across the Commonwealth.”

Dr. Sarah Fennelly, President, The Reading League Massachusetts

“Reading is more than a subject in school. It is a life skill every person needs to be a productive member of society. It is also a right, not a privilege. It is not a developmental milestone; it requires direct instruction by educators. We have research and evidence to show that there are best practices to teach children this important skill, and that there are practices that have been shown to be ineffective for a majority of students. This bill will ensure that best practices are applied so all students are taught this important life skill. This is not just best for students, it is best for all of us as a society to create a generation of well read, critical thinkers who can make important decisions and become the future leaders we need.”

Jennie Williamson, State Director, EdTrust MA

“Today marks a defining moment for literacy in Massachusetts. With the Senate’s passage of comprehensive literacy legislation, our state is taking bold action to close long standing equity gaps that have held too many students back—not because of ability, but because they lacked access to the instruction and support every child deserves. This bill helps change that by ensuring students in every community receive evidence based literacy instruction from well prepared educators. We are deeply grateful to Senate leadership for tackling this urgent issue, and to the MassReads coalition for the fierce advocacy that made this milestone possible.”

Bithiah Carter, President and CEO, Give Black Alliance

“The right to read has always been a civil right, won through struggle, sacrifice, and lives lost. Our 21st century responsibility is to finish the work by protecting this right, because when every child can read, knowledge becomes liberation, and democracy survives. When our children look back on this moment, we want to be on the right side of history.”

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Hello everyone,

We hope you all are shoveled out from the winter storm and were able to keep warm despite this week’s frigid temperatures. As a reminder our office remains available to assist constituents with applications for fuel assistance or to locate a nearby warming center.

A huge thank you is in order to all of the DPW crews, first responders, and utility workers who braved last weekend’s storm and worked tirelessly in the cold to clear our roads and keep our communities safe. Thank you!

While the storm unfortunately impacted our monthly office hours in Westfield on Monday, Team Velis remained hard at work. To kick off the week, Bridget joined Holyoke Community College for their annual legislative breakfast which was moved to a virtual location to ensure everyone remained safe. We are fortunate to have such a robust community college in our district. Whether providing high school students their first college experiences or helping adults learn new skills, Holyoke Community College is always making significant contributions to our communities!

This week our office was proud to join members of the Massachusetts State Senate in strongly urging the Department of Public Utilities to reject any proposal from utility companies to charge residents interest on payment deferral plans intended to provide relief. Heating assistance should be about helping families stay warm during the winter, not about turning a profit. In addition to this week’s letter, the Senator has been pushing several bills before the legislature that aim to reduce delivery charges and high rates that so many constituents are seeing on their bills each month. As everyday costs continue to rise, Senator Velis and our office remain steadfast in our commitment to focusing on policies and initiatives that prioritize affordability and support everyday families.

Prior to the weekend, Team Velis participated in the Human Service Forum Annual Legislative Reception. Each year, Senator Velis looks forward to this gathering as it brings together so many dedicated front line community providers to advocate for the issues that will best support their efforts in assisting our community’s most vulnerable residents. Although the Senator was unable to attend this year, our office greatly appreciated the opportunity to represent him and engage with attendees on his behalf. Later that day, we attended the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council’s inaugural roundtable discussion with their new President, and proud Holyoke resident, Aaron Vega. Our office and the Senator look forward to continuing to collaborate with Aaron in his new role to enhance economic opportunities not only in Holyoke but throughout Western Massachusetts.

This week Team Velis held office hours in Russell and Southampton. Next week we will be hosting office hours at the Agawam Council on Aging on Monday from 11:00am to 12:00pm. If you are unable to make office hours, you can reach us by email,  john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.   

Sincerely,  

Team Velis 

Hello Everyone,

We hope you all are staying warm! With all the cold winter weather that has come our way we would like to remind you all that our office remains available to assist constituents with applications for fuel assistance or locating nearby warming centers.

On Tuesday, Caitlyn had the opportunity to welcome school administrators from the West Springfield and Agawam Public Schools to the State House for a special event organized by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). During this event, both Memorial Elementary School in West Springfield and Phelps Elementary School in Agawam were named 2025 “Schools of Recognition” by DESE for their outstanding achievements last school year. Congratulations to all the dedicated school staff, educators, and students who made these awards possible!

Back in the district on Tuesday, Mark joined Representative Finn at the West Springfield Boys and Girls Club for a brief tour and an update on potential future programs. During the visit, the Club kindly recognized both Senator Velis and Representative Finn for their extensive support of not only their local chapter in West Springfield but also the Boys and Girls Clubs across our state.

Before the week ended, several visitors from the district came by our State House office to discuss and advocate for pending legislation. Whether during office hours or through visits to our Boston or Westfield offices, Team Velis always values the chance to sit down with constituents and hear about the issues that matter most to them. If you find yourself in the Boston area and would like to connect with our office or take a tour of the historic State House, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

This week Superintendent Soto from the Holyoke Public Schools announced that Holyoke High School was beginning work to upgrade the auditorium’s aging sound system thanks to a $120,000 fair share earmark secured by Senator Velis last spring. Be sure to check out the Senator’s website to learn more about the work going on over at Holyoke High and to learn about other funding Senator Velis brought back to our district!

This week Team Velis held office hours in Easthampton and Holyoke. Next week we will be hosting office hours at the Westfield Council on Aging on Monday from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, on Tuesday at the Russell Council on Aging from 11:30am to 12:30pm, and again on Wednesday at the Southampton Council on Aging from 9:30AM to 10:30am. If you are unable to make office hours, you can continue to reach us by email,  john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.   

Sincerely,  

Team Velis 

Hello everyone,

We hope you all had a great week! This coming Monday, January 19, the Commonwealth will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As we remember his life and work, we hope you’ll join us in reflecting on how we can continue building a stronger, more inclusive world.

On Tuesday, Bridget participated in a robust roundtable in Springfield with the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development focused on education and workforce development. A major focal point of the discussion between the Secretary, area colleges, and lawmakers was showcasing the many different and exciting career opportunities that are available across our region through internships to retain talented students that travel to Western Massachusetts for college after they graduate.

This week the Senate passed several tax relief bills to help alleviate costs for residents across the Commonwealth. These tax relief bills would give new and enhanced options to local communities to ease the property tax burdens felt by the low- and middle-class homeowners as well as seniors. We are proud to share that among the different tax relief provisions passed by the Senate on Thursday included a bill filed by Senator Velis to help make it easier for municipalities to offer local property tax exemptions to our seniors living on a fixed income.

Senator Velis has been clear since the very beginning of this legislative session that the most important issues to him are the ones that center around affordability especially as the cost of living, home values, and household expenses continue to drastically rise. As the legislative session continues to progress, we know that the Senator will remain committed to advancing policies that ease financial burdens on residents and will work diligently to prevent measures that increase costs for working class people.

On Friday, the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Committee kicked off the beginning of green season for the valley with their annual Grand Marshal Award Dinner and Reception. We would like to congratulate this year’s Grand Parade Marshal Mike Moriarty on this well-deserved recognition following his nearly four decades of work with the Committee and countless years of work in the Holyoke community.

This week Team Velis held office hours in Chicopee and West Springfield. Next week, we will be hosting office hours at the Easthampton Council on Aging from 10:30AM to 11:30AM on Tuesday and again on Wednesday at the Holyoke Council on Aging from 10:00AM to 11:00AM.  If you are unable to make office hours, you can continue to reach us by email,  john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.   

Sincerely,  

Team Velis 

Financial reporting bill holds ballot questions accountable amid onslaught of special interest funding

(BOSTON—01/15/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today passed bipartisan legislation to require ballot campaigns to routinely report to the public who is funding their campaigns and how the money is being used.

The measure increases transparency in campaign finance, gives voters access to the information they need to make informed choices, and guards against a rise in special interests paying millions to put their own priorities on the ballot.

“When you go to the ballot box, you deserve to know who is behind each initiative and to make your own judgment about whether those efforts serve the greater good of our Commonwealth or the personal interests of special interest groups,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “As elected leaders, we hold ourselves to this standard of transparency and accountability, and this legislation ensures that every measure on the ballot is held to that same standard. I commend Chair Rodrigues and Chair Keenan for their work on this bill and applaud Senator DiDomenico for his leadership as the lead sponsor.”

“I am pleased to see this ballot transparency bill passed by the full Senate. It is only fair and proper to require state ballot question committees to abide by the same campaign finance and disclosure requirements that candidates for public office must adhere to,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The bill also mandates the campaign committee’s bank to send donation and expenditure reports directly to OCPF, similar to the procedure for candidates. This commonsense reform legislation will level the playing field and empower voters to make better choices and be more informed on the advocacy groups behind these ballot question referendums. With an increasing proliferation of ballot question initiatives, voters deserve to know the funding source—in real time—of these special interest groups.”

“With the increasing number of ballot questions in each election, the need for transparency has never been greater,” said Senator John F. Keenan (D-Quincy), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Election Laws. “Many of the questions are backed with significant funding and other resources. This important bill will allow voters to see who is supporting or opposing the ballot questions, sponsoring the ads, and paying for mailings. It will help voters make informed decisions at the polls.”

“Statewide ballot questions are a great tool for empowering the public to vote directly on statewide policies, but it is vitally important that our voters know which people and organizations are funding these policy proposals,” said Senator Sal N. DiDomenico (D-Everett), lead sponsor of the bill. “I am proud to pass my legislation through the Senate that will close a loophole in our campaign finance law and ensure our residents have all the information they need to make an educated decision when voting on ballot measures.”

The transparency bill—S.2898, An Act improving campaign finance reporting by state ballot question committees—brings accountability to ballot question campaigns and holds them to the same standard of disclosure already followed by candidates for office. The legislation would remedy a current void of nearly a year leading up to an election during which the ballot question campaigns are not required to report any financial data in a timely manner.

This month marks the start of the current eight-month period when ballot question committees are not required to regularly disclose any financial updates. From now until September, voters will be hit with campaign ads and mail without knowing who is funding them. Today, Senators voted to close that gap, requiring ballot campaigns to report at least monthly on their donors.

The legislation was advanced to the full Senate on January 8, 2026 by a 15-0 vote of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, after a previous draft was reviewed and advanced in November by the Joint Committee on Election Laws. All committee votes are publicly available on the Legislature’s website.

The Senate passed the bill on a bipartisan 38-0 roll call vote, sending it to the House for further consideration.

Special recognition would help immediate family honor their loved ones

(BOSTON—01/15/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today unanimously approved a new special license plate to honor the memories of fallen law enforcement officers by offering a symbol of respect to their surviving spouses, parents, and children.

The bill—S.2903, An Act honoring Blue Star Families—directs the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to create a new Blue Star Families plate to help the family members remember their loved one in a visible way on their car. It would also create a Blue Star Family emblem for motorcycle plates.

“As we mourn Officer Stephen LaPorta, who fell in the line of duty, we are reminded that the freedoms and protections of our Commonwealth would be impossible without the courage and service of Officer LaPorta and all those who have given their lives to protect others,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “His selflessness reflects the very best of public service and stands as a solemn reminder of the profound debt we owe to those who place themselves in harm’s way to keep our communities safe. This legislation represents small but meaningful recognition to honor the memory of the fallen and to affirm our enduring commitment to the families and loved ones they leave behind. With deep gratitude, I thank Chair Rodrigues and Chair Cronin for their work on this legislation, and Senator Mark for his leadership in proposing this bill.”

“It’s especially fitting to bestow this highly visible license plate in recognition for families of law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting their communities,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This distinctive plate will be available to spouses, children, and parents of fallen law enforcement officers all across the Commonwealth at no additional charge from the Registry. It is a small but meaningful token of appreciation that we can do to honor these brave men and women who paid the price when answering the call to duty.”

“Today’s vote affirms the Massachusetts Senate’s commitment to honor those who have given everything in service of our Commonwealth,” said Senator John J. Cronin (D-Fitchburg), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. “This legislation not only recognizes our fallen heroes but also ensures that their service and sacrifice lives on through their loved ones. I’m proud to have voted for this bill and am grateful to Senate President Spilka and my colleagues for their efforts to support Blue Star Families and the law enforcement community.”

Under the legislation, the RMV would be required to make the plates available to Blue Star spouses, parents, and children without charge. The RMV would also be able to offer vanity plate registrations for Blue Star plates up to six characters in length.

The Blue Star Family license plates would join other special recognition plates currently offered by the RMV, including Gold Star Family plates for drivers with close family members who in or as a result of their service in the Armed Forces.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means advanced the legislation to the floor on a 17-0 vote on January 8, 2026, as a partial report on a bill that was advanced in December by the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website.

The Senate passed the bill on a 38-0 roll call vote, sending it to the House for further consideration.

Local option bills empower cities and towns to offer new and enhanced tax relief

(BOSTON—01/15/2026) The Senate took action today to make housing more affordable in Massachusetts, approving new tools that give cities and towns the ability to lower the cost of property taxes and put money directly back in residents’ pockets.

Senators approved five separate measures to provide meaningful relief to some of the state’s most vulnerable residents and blunt the skyrocketing costs of housing in every part of the state.

If signed into law, the measures together would prevent residents from being blindsided by sharp tax bill spikes, make it easier for seniors to access tax deferral programs, allow cities and towns to implement tax rebates, and create a new program for qualifying seniors to lower their tax bills.

“Today the Senate advanced a comprehensive, statewide slate of tax relief measures to confront one of the greatest drivers of housing costs in our Commonwealth,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “For too many families, sudden tax spikes create uncertainty about whether you can remain in your community or continue raising your family in a home you worked so hard to attain. These proposals will help seniors age in place and give new homeowners the stability to put down roots, regardless of zip code. I thank Chair Rodrigues for his stewardship, and I am grateful to Senators Brownsberger, Collins, Jehlen, Cyr, and Lewis for advancing legislation that delivers real cost relief for families across Massachusetts.”

“The Senate has been laser-focused on affordability, and especially housing affordability for individuals and families in Massachusetts. These property tax relief bills will go a long way towards making home ownership viable for Boston and the Commonwealth at large,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “These four bills give municipalities tools to directly impact and benefit homeowners with municipal tax rebates, expansion of the successful ‘Senior Circuit Breaker’ initiative, providing tax exemption for income and age qualified homeowners, and explicitly identifying high need neighborhood properties. These bills are clear proof that we will continue to prioritize housing affordability for all residents of our state.”

“As the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Revenue, we’ve heard testimony at multiple hearings on the need for property tax relief. Senior citizens, young families and working-class homeowners of all ages are struggling to pay their property taxes,” said Senator James B. Eldridge (D-Marlborough), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Revenue. “The bills that the Senate passed today will give cities and towns important local options to reduce many residents’ property taxes. I’m grateful to the Senate President, the Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, and the bill sponsors for their leadership on this pressing affordability issue.”

Protecting Residents from Property Tax Shocks S.2899, An Act to prevent property tax bill shocks, gives cities and towns the ability to shield their most vulnerable taxpayers from the shock of an extraordinarily high tax bill in a year when the community’s residential property tax levy is rising by more than 10 per cent. Senators passed the bill on a 37-1 roll call.

If they choose to, municipalities could offer a tax credit to gradually phase in the increase for vulnerable households, mitigating the shock felt by taxpayers when they receive third- and fourth-quarter tax bills, which fold in the entire tax increase. Qualifying groups of taxpayers include people aged 65 and older who own and occupy the home, people enrolled in MassHealth, and people living with children under age 6. Senators amended the bill during the course of debate (Amendment 1) to give cities and towns the further option of expanding eligibility to cover people living with children under the age of 18.

“Every year across the state, there are a few communities in which homeowners face unusually large tax increases,” said Senator Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont), lead sponsor of S.2899. “This legislation will give those communities tools to help their most vulnerable taxpayers.”

A New Tax Relief Tool for Residents

Lower- and middle-income taxpayers who already receive a local residential tax exemption would be able to receive enhanced relief in the form of a rebate if cities and towns take advantage of a local option contained in S.2900, An Act relative to municipal tax relief. The bill passed on a 37-1 roll call vote.

If a city or town takes advantage of this tool, the local government would be able to determine their residents’ eligibility and set their own thresholds around assets, income, or other factors. Building on this bill, Senators adopted an amendment (Amendment 9) that boosts the existing senior property tax exemption by giving municipalities the option of further expanding eligibility and raising the limit of possible exemption from $1,000 to $1,500.

“It is critical that we begin this new year by prioritizing municipal property tax relief,” said Senator Nick Collins (D-South Boston), primary sponsor of S.2900. “By advancing these responsible tax relief proposals, we can help ease the burden of rising property tax bills on homeowners without harming small businesses or putting our economy at risk.”

Helping Seniors Age in Place An Act relative to senior property tax deferral, S.2901, would expand eligibility for the Senior Tax Deferral program by lowering eligibility to seven years of state residency, instead of the current ten-year requirement, to keep more money in seniors’ pockets at a time when property values and tax bills are steadily climbing. Senators approved the legislation 37-0.

The bill also gives a respectful amount of time to grieving families of people who have taken advantage of the Senior Tax Deferral, allowing heirs more time to plan for and pay the deferred taxes by delaying an increase in the interest rate for deferred taxes until a year after the taxpayer’s death, and delaying the date on which a foreclosure petition may be filed until 18 months after their death. A successful amendment adopted today (Amendment 1) prioritizes current military servicemembers by ensuring that these interest rate and lien changes are mirrored in an existing property tax deferral for active members of the military.

“Property tax deferral is an important program that can help older adults stay in their homes,” said Senator Patricia D. Jehlen (D-Somerville), primary sponsor of S.2901. “It allows older adult homeowners to defer all or part of their property tax bill, which is paid back to the municipality with interest when the property is sold. It can be a better alternative to reverse mortgages, especially if the municipality sets the interest rate lower than the 8 per cent cap. It is under-utilized, and this legislation will remove one barrier by extending the time a municipality can reduce the interest rate, and the time before foreclosure is allowed. Many cities and towns can do more to inform older homeowners of this option, and this is a chance to do that.”

Means-Tested Senior Property Tax Exemption S.2902, An Act authorizing the establishment of a means tested senior citizen property tax exemption, would make it easier for municipalities to offer local property tax exemptions to seniors. It builds on the success of the recently-increased Senior Circuit Breaker. Departing from a piecemeal system of towns and cities petitioning to offer their own senior tax exemption, the bill creates a statewide opt-in program that prioritizes longtime residents and gives controls to local authorities. The Senate passed the bill on a 37-0 roll call.

“Rising property taxes have created serious financial burdens for many elderly residents across Massachusetts. I filed legislation to provide an option for municipalities to opt in to establishing a senior citizen property tax exemption to allow them to ease the burden for struggling income-eligible seniors and allow many aging residents the ability to continue to live in their communities and not be driven out due to increasing tax burdens,” said Senator Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester), lead sponsor of S.2902. “I appreciate the hard work of Senator Eldridge, Senator Rodrigues, and Senate President Spilka to champion these local affordability bills to give communities more options to support seniors and lower- and middle-income residents.”

Giving Back to Armed Forces Veterans S.1948, An Act relative to veteran property tax work-off, bolsters the targeted tax relief offered to veterans and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans. Continuing their career of service or honoring their spouse’s sacrifice, they would be able to reduce their property taxes by up to $2,000 per year in exchange for providing volunteer services to their municipality, an increase from the current $1,500 cap, under a provision that local governments can choose to adopt. Senators approved the bill, 38-0.

“Our veterans have already given so much in service to our nation, and they deserve to be able to remain in the communities they call home,” said Senator Julian A. Cyr (D-Provincetown), primary sponsor of S.1948. “For many veterans on Cape Cod, the Islands, and across Massachusetts, rising property taxes are putting undue pressure on household budgets that are already razor thin. This bill gives communities a meaningful property tax relief tool while recognizing the service veterans have already given so they may live with the dignity they have earned. I’m grateful to Senate President Spilka, municipal leaders, and advocates who helped move this legislation forward, and to our veterans for their continued contributions to civic life.”

The first four bills were advanced to the Senate floor by unanimous votes of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on January 8, 2026. The tax shock and municipal relief bills were subject to an 18-day public comment period held by the Ways and Means Committee in December. The Joint Committee on Revenue advanced the senior deferral and senior exemption bills on November 7, 2025 after soliciting public testimony in June.

The veterans’ housing relief bill was advanced by the Senate Committee on Rules with a unanimous poll of January 12, 2026. The Joint Committee on Revenue solicited public testimony at a hearing in June and gave the legislation a favorable report on November 7, 2025. All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website.

Now that they have been passed by the Senate, all five bills head to the House for further consideration.

Hello Everyone,

We hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing week spent with friends and family!

This week, the Hampden and Hampshire District was full of holiday cheer as several organizations and municipalities received grant funding! This includes grants from MassDOT’s Municipal Pavement Program for the Town of Agawam and the City of Westfield to improve Routes 10, 57, 75, and 202. West Springfield was also awarded $850,000 in funding from the Community Development Block Grant to help with a water main replacement on West School Street and Willard Avenue.

In Holyoke and Chicopee, two organizations were each awarded grant funding from the Inclusive and Accessible Outdoor Recreation Grant program! Western Mass Wheelers will be expanding their program to the Chicopee Memorial State Park to provide local seniors in assisted living and adult day programs the opportunity to safely enjoy the outdoors. This winter and spring, eight special event days will be held for Holyoke residents to explore hiking trails throughout the Pioneer Valley, with costs for transportation and hiking gear covered by this grant!

Team Velis is always happy to provide support to local organizations and municipalities in the grant application process. Please never hesitate to reach out to our office if we can provide assistance to your organization by gathering information about our state’s many different grant opportunities!

Speaking of holiday cheer, this week Team Velis was able to send thoughtful holiday cards made by local youth to Senator Velis. As the Senator and other members of the Massachusetts National Guard spend the holidays away from home due to their deployment these holiday cards absolutely brought them all some joy, reminding them of the unwavering support and gratitude back here at home!

This week Team Velis took some time to celebrate the holidays with our families. Whether you celebrated the final night of Hannukah, Christmas Day, or the beginning of Kwanza this week, we hope you all had a wonderful and joyous holiday!

As a reminder some of our regularly scheduled office hours were moved around this month to accommodate the holidays, as a result there will be no office hours next week.  If you are in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our office by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, or you can find us online at senatorjohnvelis.com.

Happy New Year!

Team Velis