Massachusetts Senate Passes $3 Billion Higher Ed Bond Bill Unanimously

BOSTON -- February 26, 2026, Massachusetts Senate passes $3 billion higher education bond bill without a dissenting vote. The chamber voted 38-0 Thursday to engross H. 4769, the BRIGHT Act, which authorizes more than $3 billion in capital investment for community colleges, state universities, and the UMass system, anchored by a dedicated $125 million per year from the millionaire's tax for deferred maintenance projects. Senators adopted dozens of facility-specific amendments, including $20 million each for Springfield Technical Community College, Cape Cod Community College's nursing expansion, UMass Boston's Manning College of Nursing, and Bridgewater State University's Tillinghast Hall. The session's sharpest debate came on a Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr amendment to dedicate $300 million in surtax revenue to K-12 education, which failed 6-31 after Ways and Means Chair Michael J. Rodrigues argued the state already steers $760 million in fair share funds to K-12 in the current fiscal year. The bill now goes to a conference with the House.