By Bob Katzen
Senate 37-0, approved a $3.28 billion package, known as the BRIGHT Act, that funds the modernization of Bay State public colleges and universities by using the revenue from the 2022 voter-approved law, known as the Millionaire’s Tax, that imposes an additional 4 percent income tax, in addition to the current flat 5 percent one, on taxpayers’ earnings of more than $1 million annually. The House has already approved its own version of the bill and a House-Senate conference committee will likely hammer out a compromise version.
Provisions include $1.25 billion for the UMass system; $1.25 billion for nine other state university campuses and 15 community college campuses; $275 million for upgrades to MassArt; $100 million for the transition of campus facilities and property into housing and mixed-use developments; $80 million for costs associated with decarbonization and energy efficiency; $120 million for lab modernization, projects at community colleges to support collaboration with vocational technical schools and projects related to student health and well-being; $50 million for a grant program for general improvements and climate-related upgrade; $20 million for enhancing remote or hybrid learning; and $100 million for a grant program for improvements to upgrade and expand career technical education and training programs.
“Today, the Senate advanced urgently needed legislation to transform public higher education infrastructure by leveraging Fair Share dollars to address deferred maintenance, modernize classrooms, and decarbonize campuses,” said Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Senate Chair of the Committee on Higher Education. “With the BRIGHT Act, Massachusetts is choosing not to retreat in the face of federal attacks on higher education, but to build forward—creating healthier, more sustainable campuses that reflect the future we are preparing our students to lead.”
“Massachusetts students deserve campuses that match the quality of their ambition,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “The BRIGHT Act will deliver just that: safe, modern and energy-efficient classrooms that provide a strong foundation for academic and professional success for every student at every public institution in the commonwealth. I applaud the education leaders who helped shape this bill, the faculty and staff who dedicate themselves to educating our residents and the students who choose to pursue a world-class education at Massachusetts’ public colleges and universities.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes