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SD 301

An Act establishing a legislative fiscal office

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jamie Eldridge

Massachusetts bill creates independent Legislative Fiscal Office to provide nonpartisan budget analysis and cost assessments for state lawmakers on proposed legislation.

House concurred
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 301

Legislative bill overview

SD 301 establishes a new Legislative Fiscal Office in Massachusetts to provide independent fiscal analysis and budgetary expertise to the state legislature. The office would serve as a dedicated resource for lawmakers to evaluate the financial implications of proposed legislation and budget proposals, similar to fiscal offices in other state legislatures and the Congressional Budget Office at the federal level.

Why is this important

Creating an independent fiscal analysis capacity strengthens legislative oversight of the state budget and reduces reliance on executive branch fiscal projections. This can improve the quality of legislative decision-making by providing lawmakers with nonpartisan, detailed information about the costs and fiscal impacts of bills before votes occur, potentially leading to more fiscally sustainable policy choices.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and staffing: Establishing a new state office requires funding and personnel; critics may question whether this represents efficient use of existing legislative resources or constitutes unnecessary government expansion
  • Scope of authority: Unclear boundaries regarding what analyses the office would conduct, who can request them, and whether all requests would be fulfilled could create disputes about its actual utility
  • Political neutrality concerns: Questions may arise about whether a legislatively-created office can maintain true independence from legislative pressures to reach particular fiscal conclusions that favor certain policy outcomes

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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