For the second time in less than a week, Massachusetts voters have been denied a chance to weigh in on a major ballot question — and both times, the Supreme Judicial Court pointed the finger squarely at Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office. Tuesday’s ruling tossed a proposed statewide rent control measure that would have capped annual rent increases at the lower of 5% or the rate of inflation. The court’s reasoning was almost painful in its simplicity: the petition specifically exempted housing operated by religious institutions, and the state Constitution doesn’t allow ballot questions that touch on matters of religion. The AG’s office certified it anyway.

The stakes here were enormous. Organizers with Homes for All Massachusetts had collected more than 157,000 signatures from residents who are watching rents eat them alive. Real estate industry groups — long the loudest voices against anything resembling rent stabilization — had even begun quietly negotiating, sensing they might be better off cutting a deal than going to war at the ballot box this fall. That conversation is now over. The ruling doesn’t just kill this specific question; it also resets whatever political momentum tenant advocates had been building for a year. They’ll be back, but the calendar is brutal — the next realistic shot is 2028.

Campbell went on GBH’s Boston Public Radio Tuesday and said plainly: “We made a mistake.” That’s a notable admission, and credit where it’s due for owning it. But with a record 47 petitions reviewed this cycle and two high-profile certifications now thrown out by the SJC — including last week’s income tax cut question — critics are asking whether the AG’s office needs a more rigorous process before waving major initiatives through. Expect that question to follow Campbell for a while.

Attorney General Andrea Campbell released a formal statement acknowledging her office erred in certifying the rent control question, noting the legal question had only been addressed twice in over a century of case law. Her office reviewed a record 47 petitions this cycle, certified 44, and saw 3 ultimately struck down. That’s a batting average that will invite scrutiny heading into her next campaign. GBH News →

Two years after Massachusetts voters eliminated MCAS as a graduation requirement, the state has released new proposed graduation standards, giving districts until fall 2027 to align their curricula. Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education are raising real concerns: the timeline is tight, the costs are significant, and the local councils that will design new end-of-year assessments don’t even exist yet. This one will be a slow burn, but it affects every high schooler in the state. GBH News →

Mayor Michelle Wu and Police Commissioner Michael Cox announced a one-year pilot that will allow Boston’s licensed cab drivers to accept rides requested through Uber and Lyft apps — at the rideshare companies’ upfront pricing rather than the traditional metered rate. It’s a pragmatic attempt to stop the slow bleed of the city’s taxi industry while giving passengers more options. Whether drivers actually benefit will depend heavily on how the fare math works out. Universal Hub →

A bipartisan federal housing bill — the 21st Century Road to Housing Act — is headed to President Trump’s desk for a signature today. The legislation reduces federal regulations on construction, speeds up building timelines, and restricts investment firms from bulk-buying single-family homes. Massachusetts, with its brutal housing market, stands to benefit if the supply-side provisions have teeth. Local experts are skeptical that federal action alone closes the gap, but it’s something. WCVB →

A 15-year-old boy from Franklin died Tuesday afternoon after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle near the Route 495 northbound off-ramp on King Street. Neighbors told WCVB that the intersection is notoriously dangerous — drivers come off the highway too fast, and nobody slows down. The driver stayed at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. There are no words for this one. WCVB →

Boston City Councilors Miniard Culpepper of Roxbury and Brian Worrell of Dorchester are pushing the MBTA to extend the Orange Line from Ruggles Station to Mattapan Square via a new tunnel under Warren Street and Blue Hill Avenue. Both councilors are opponents of the T’s existing plan for dedicated bus lanes along that corridor. It’s an ambitious — some would say audacious — proposal for a transit agency still catching up on basic maintenance, but it reflects real frustration with transit equity in those neighborhoods. Universal Hub →

The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education continues deliberations on the new post-MCAS graduation standards framework — districts and parents watching this process should track board meeting agendas at the DESE website, as the fall 2027 implementation clock is already ticking. GBH News →

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s Social Consumption Regulatory Implementation Project continues its multi-phase rollout — cities and towns interested in opting into social consumption establishments should be aware that licensing infrastructure and zoning frameworks are actively being developed now. State House News Service →

Pembroke’s School Committee is finalizing a strict new classroom cell phone policy for the high school — students will be required to place phones in classroom caddies during all instructional periods and study halls — with the updated handbook heading toward a final vote. South Shore News →

Full budget details →

Yesterday's Biggest Contributions

Data from the MA Office of Campaign & Political Finance

Full hearing schedule →

Recent filings with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance:

Ballot Question Committees

• Democratic Socialists For a Fair Massachusetts — N/A, N/A — Filed: 6/23/2026
• Democratic Socialists Against Reactionary Rollbacks — N/A, N/A — Filed: 6/23/2026

OCPF →

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