Unprecedented Mass Ruling Halts Income Tax Rollback

Top politicians are celebrating an unprecedented ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that blocks a voter initiative petition from appearing on the November 3, 2026 state ballot. State Senate President Karen Spilka, a New York native, said she is "ecstatic."

Unprecedented Legal Ruling Sidelined Over 100,000 Signatures

Over 100,000 voters signed petitions to secure a spot on the ballot for the initiative to roll back the Massachusetts state income tax from five percent to four percent over three years.

A recent Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll continues to show strong voter support for the initiative, with 65.6 percent in favor of the rollback, 20.6 percent opposed, and 13.8 percent undecided.

Massachusetts Senate President — Ella Adams/State House News Service

Botched AG Summary Leads to Historic Rejection

In its decision, the SJC cited what it called a "significantly misleading" summary of the ballot initiative prepared by Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office. It is the first time a ballot question has been rejected due to a botched summary description.

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State Leaders React to Ballot Initiative Dismissal

State House News Service quoted Spilka as saying, "There is so much else going on. I understand many people are happy, some might be bummed. But I – we – can deal with that later."

"Personally, as a resident of the Commonwealth, I am ecstatic," Spilka said. "That ballot initiative would have devastated Massachusetts, simply put," she added, before bashing the Trump Administration for Massachusetts' financial woes.

SHNS reported House Speaker Ron Mariano said he is "grateful that this irresponsible initiative petition won't appear on the ballot in November."

Spilka and Mariano argued that if voters approved the income tax initiative in the fall, other taxes would need to be raised to offset the resulting revenue losses.

Just as with the voter-approved audit, the voice of the Massachusetts electorate is being ignored.

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Gallery Credit: Emma Madden