Ahead of the State of the Commonwealth, Voters Call for Tax Relief

This week, Governor Maura Healey will deliver her 2026 State of the Commonwealth address, laying out her priorities for the year ahead. As Beacon Hill debates what comes next, voters across the Commonwealth are sending a clear message about what they want most: Relief from a growing tax burden.

New MOA polling asked voters to identify the top issues the governor should prioritize in 2026.  Cutting taxes stood above every other issue on voters’ priority list. More than half of respondents (55%) said tax relief should be a major focus in the coming year, reflecting the mounting pressure families face as the cost of living continues to climb.

That demand for tax relief cuts across income levels. A majority of voters earning less than $50,000 (53%) say cutting taxes should be a priority this year, along with 59% of those earning between $50,000 and $100,000 and 52% of those earning more than $100,000. 

These views are shaped by everyday economic realities. Massachusetts remains one of the most expensive states in the country, where residents grapple not only with a high tax burden, but also soaring housing costs, elevated energy prices, and rising everyday expenses that continue to squeeze household budgets. In fact, voters also identified housing affordability (52%) and the state’s economic competitiveness (40%) as key areas they want leaders to focus on. For many, tax relief along with these other concerns are not about getting ahead. It is about staying afloat.

Affordability is expected to feature prominently in the Governor’s State of the Commonwealth address, reflecting an issue her administration has increasingly highlighted. Governor Healey has pursued policies intended to address high costs, from efforts to boost housing supply to the creation of a competitiveness council, but the polling suggests voters see tax cuts as the most effective to strengthen the state’s economic outlook. 

That is why upcoming MOA-inspired ballot initiatives in 2026 are drawing attention. The two measures would lower the state income tax rate and put stronger limits on unchecked state revenue growth, ensuring that excess revenue is returned to taxpayers. Together, these reforms would provide relief to households while adding long-term discipline to state finances in Massachusetts.

Polling suggests voters understand the broader stakes. Nearly 68% of voters agree that a tax cut would benefit the Massachusetts economy, reflecting support for policies that allow taxpayers to keep more of their own money and drive long-term economic growth.

As Governor Healey delivers her State of the Commonwealth this week, voters’ priorities are undeniable. Bay Staters want leaders to focus on affordability, competitiveness, and easing the tax burden that so many families feel every day.