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MassachusettsH 5375194th General Court (2025-2026)House

An Act financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges

Sponsored By: House Committee on Ways and Means

Signed by Governor

House Ways and MeansSenate Ways and Means

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Modernize commuter rail equipment

The law provides $200 million to upgrade commuter rail. Funds can buy new locomotives and vehicles and pay for planning and design. The goal is more reliable and modern trains for riders.

Safer, stronger state parkways

The law invests $200 million to fix and modernize state parkways. Money can pay for planning, design, construction, safety and accessibility, bike and pedestrian paths, lighting and signals, and climate resilience and stormwater. Work should follow historic parkway guidelines when possible. Agencies coordinate on how projects are chosen and built.

Statewide bridge and pavement upgrades

The law invests $500 million to design, repair, and improve bridges and roads. It covers projects without federal aid and the non‑federal share of others. Money can pay for engineering, permits, climate resilience, and bike and pedestrian features. The state can give matching grants to towns for surface repairs. Projects must follow lifecycle and resilient design practices.

Transport projects to unlock housing

The law provides $200 million for transportation work that supports new housing. Funds can pay for planning, design, and construction of roads, bridges, sidewalks, bike paths, culverts, safety upgrades, lighting, and stormwater and climate resilience. The Transportation Secretary may give grants to cities and towns. Project choices must be coordinated with housing and finance leaders.

Bigger 2022 transportation funding totals

The law raises several transportation authorizations from a 2022 law. It boosts Item 6121‑2214 from about $2.81 billion to about $5.11 billion and Item 6121‑2217 from about $1.27 billion to about $2.07 billion. It lifts Section 41 from about $611.8 million to about $1.07 billion and Section 42 from about $1.43 billion to about $2.29 billion. It also raises two other items to $90 million and $22 million and adds $12 million to a section total.

More aid for local road work

The law provides $300 million for cities and towns to build and fix local roads. Up to $100 million is split by local road mileage. By March 1 each year, the state sends each town a notice, and towns can spend up to that amount without another local vote. The state must reimburse towns within 30 days after a request, if funds are available. Towns must certify expenses and that work met the project rules to get paid.

State borrowing for transportation projects

The state can issue up to $1.4 billion in bonds, called the Commonwealth Transportation Improvement Act of 2026. Bonds can run up to 30 years and must be paid by June 30, 2066. Principal and interest are paid from the General Fund or the Commonwealth Transportation Fund. The treasurer can issue them as special obligation bonds at the governor’s request, paid only from the Transportation Fund and excluded from some debt‑limit calculations. The governor considers market conditions, credit ratings, and any trust or credit agreements.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • House Committee on Ways and Means

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Maura T. Healey

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 321 • No: 0

House vote • 6/3/2026

Enacted

Yes: 152 • No: 0

committee vote • 5/18/2026

Committee Favorable: Ought to pass

Yes: 14 • No: 0 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/15/2026

Passed to be engrossed

Yes: 155 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor, Chapter 100 of the Acts of 2026

    6/11/2026

  2. Laid before the Governor

    6/4/2026Senate

  3. Enacted -see Roll Call #191 (Yeas 39 to Nays 0)

    6/4/2026Senate

  4. Enacted - 152 YEAS to 0 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 200)

    6/3/2026House

  5. Emergency preamble adopted

    5/26/2026Senate

  6. Emergency preamble adopted

    5/26/2026House

  7. Read third and passed to be engrossed

    5/21/2026Senate

  8. Read, rules suspended, read second and ordered to a third reading

    5/19/2026Senate

  9. Committee recommended ought to pass

    5/19/2026Senate

  10. Read; and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means

    4/16/2026Senate

  11. Passed to be engrossed - 155 YEAS to 0 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 157)

    4/15/2026House

  12. Read third

    4/15/2026House

  13. Rules suspended

    4/15/2026House

  14. Ordered to a third reading

    4/15/2026House

  15. New draft of H5279

    4/15/2026House

  16. Pending new draft of H5279

    4/15/2026House

  17. Reported from the committee on House Ways and Means

    4/15/2026House

Bill Text

  • Chapter 100 of the Acts of 2026

    6/11/2026

    PDF

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