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H 4547

King George

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 122 co-sponsors

Salem may levy a $2 per parking-space transfer excise during late Sept–Oct to fund Transportation Enhancement programs, with gradual increases and annual reporting.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · H 4547

Summary — H 4547 (House Docket No. 5153): Excise on transfer of parking spaces — City of Salem

Overview

H 4547 is a local-option act that authorizes the City of Salem to impose an excise on the transfer of the right to use parking spaces during a specific October period (the high-demand Halloween/October season). Revenue collected is dedicated to a new city fund for alternative-transportation projects.

Main purpose

Allow Salem to levy a per-parking-space excise during the late-September/October event period to raise funds for “Transportation Enhancement” programs such as rideshare support and bicycle rentals.

Key provisions

  • Imposed excise: $2.00 per registered parking space transferred (i.e., when an operator transfers the right to use a parking space for consideration) for transfers occurring during the period beginning the Friday before October 1 and ending the first Monday after October 31.
  • Automatic increases: After adoption (but not before Jan 1, 2027), the excise rate will increase by $0.25 each January 1 thereafter.
  • Definition / exclusions:
    • “Parking place” includes any place within the city where vehicles are parked/stored for consideration during the covered period.
    • Excludes parking places operated by the U.S. government, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or their instrumentalities.
    • Excludes parking provided/leased to residents of the same or other premises when used solely as accessory to occupancy of a dwelling unit.
  • Payment and deadline: Operators who transferred the right to use a parking space must pay the excise to the City Collector no later than November 30 of each calendar year.
  • Dedicated fund: Revenues go into a designated account, the “Transportation Enhancement Fund,” for alternative-transportation uses (examples listed: rideshare programs, bicycle rentals).
  • Local administration: The City of Salem must adopt an ordinance or regulation to administer the excise.
  • Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Operators registered with the City of Salem who transfer (sell, lease, or otherwise convey for consideration) the right to use parking spaces during the specified October period.
  • Secondary: Visitors and event attendees may face higher parking costs if operators pass the excise through to customers. Residents with accessory off-street parking are generally not affected.
  • Exempt entities: Federal and state government-operated parking facilities.

Fiscal and policy impact

  • Creates a new, locally directed revenue stream timed to a high-demand period (likely tied to Salem’s October events).
  • Funds are restricted to alternative transportation projects, potentially expanding non-auto options during and after the event season.
  • Administrative burden: City must implement collection and oversight mechanisms; operators must report/pay by Nov 30 each year.

Procedural status and notes

  • Filed: House Docket No. 5153 (filed 9/17/2025). Introduced by Rep. Manny Cruz (7th Essex).
  • Local approval: The bill text notes approval by the mayor and city council of Salem.
  • Legislative steps recorded: Referred to House Committee on Revenue (9/22/2025); Senate concurred (9/25/2025). The act is effective upon passage.
  • Related docket: HD 5153 (replaces).
  • Note on source material: The provided packet also included an unrelated South Carolina House resolution (May 8, 2025) titled “King George” honoring a musician; that material is not part of Massachusetts H 4547 and appears to be included in the submission in error. The Massachusetts bill itself concerns the Salem parking-space excise.

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

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