Massachusetts House Passes Higher Education Bond Bill

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BOSTON – Wednesday November 19th, 2025 – The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the BRIGHT Act, authorizing approximately $3.65 billion in capital investment to modernize Massachusetts’ public colleges and universities and support the state’s academic, research, workforce and climate goals. Originally filed by Governor Healey, the bill is financed by 10-year special obligation bonds that are backed by Fair Share surtax revenue. These funds will be used to address deferred maintenance, modernization projects, and decarbonization across higher education institutions.

“The BRIGHT Act will ensure that students across the state learn and train in modern, high-quality campus facilities, while strengthening Massachusetts’ competitiveness in research and innovation,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “Building on the Commonwealth’s increases in student financial aid, and on our commitment to making higher education more accessible and affordable, especially for low-income students, Massachusetts is undertaking a generational reinvestment in educating our residents and strengthening our higher education system. I would like to thank Representatives Michlewitz, Rogers and Finn for their work on this bill, my colleagues for supporting it, and Governor Healey for her commitment to this effort.”  

“The commonwealth's higher education facilities need to meet 21st century standards,” said Representative Tackey Chan (D-Quincy). “This bond bill will help alleviate pressure from our state colleges and universities on capital project debt. Students, professors and faculty deserve the latest classroom technology and equipment.” 

“The BRIGHT Act strengthens our higher education system, drives economic development through thousands of capital improvement jobs, and ensures that students across the Commonwealth, regardless of background have access to modern, safe, and sustainable learning environments,” said Representative Bruce J. Ayers (D-Quincy). “I am proud to support this legislation, which invests in our public colleges and universities and reaffirms the Legislature’s commitment to keeping Massachusetts a global leader in higher education.”

The investments included in the bill create a long-term, statewide strategy for addressing aging facilities while aligning campuses with the state’s workforce, economic development, and climate goals. The bill also streamlines capital project delivery, expands the role of the Massachusetts State College Building Authority (MSCBA), and increases flexibility for campuses to manage facilities and property. The BRIGHT Act is estimated to create roughly 20,000 construction-related jobs across the Commonwealth as campuses undergo major capital improvements.  

Specifically, the bill:  

Invests $3.65 Billion in Core Campus Infrastructure 

Authorizes approximately $3.65 billion in bond authorizations for investment in public higher education campuses. The Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) will manage most of these investments. Of the approximately $3.65 billion, about $3.1 billion will support higher education capital projects related to deferred maintenance, decarbonization, modernization, and planning. The investments at public institutions of higher education are broken down as follows: 

  • $1.25 billion for the University of Massachusetts (UMass) System; 

  • $1.25 billion for state universities (9 campuses) and community colleges (15 campuses); 

  • $275 million for upgrades at 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; and 

  • $30 million for costs associated with developing required campus master plans. 

The remaining $170 million is authorized for several separate items as follows:  

  • $50 million for a grant program administered through the Executive Office of Administration and Finance (A&F) for general improvements and climate-related upgrades at public institutions of higher education; 

  • $20 million to the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) for costs associated with facilitating or enhancing remote or hybrid learning at public institutions of higher education; and 

  • $100 million for a grant program administered by the Executive Office of Education (EOE) for improvements to upgrade and expand career technical education and training programs (Skills Capital Grants). 

Improve Education and Transportation Fund Capital Financing 

  • To support investments, the bill authorizes the State Treasurer to issue special obligation bonds backed by the Education and Transportation Fund, strengthening long-term funding capacity for capital projects.  

  • Education and Transportation Fund revenues pledged for debt services are protected from diversion, and Fair Share surtax rate cannot be reduced while those revenues are needed for repayment. 

  • Clarifies and expands allowable uses for the Education and Transportation Innovation and Capital Account to include public education, affordable higher education, transportation infrastructure, and related capital needs, such as rail, bridges, bicycle pathways, and other public transportation assets.  

Bond Issuance & Debt Structure 

  • To finance capital improvements, the bill authorizes the State Treasurer to issue up to approximately $3.1 billion in bonds for campus upgrades and $170 million for grants and technology services.  

  • Bonds are backed by Education and Transportation Fund revenues, not the state’s general obligation capacity, and are therefore exempt from statutory debt limits.  

Enhances Reporting, Oversight & Accountability 

  • Requires annual reporting from Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, Executive office of Administration and Finance, Executive office of Education, UMass, the state universities, and the community colleges detailing project status, expenditures, emissions reductions, deferred maintenance addressed, square footage impacted, and alignment with campus master plans. 

  • Requires additional reporting for all deferred maintenance projects over $50 million within 90 days of the bill’s passage.  

Increases Access to Higher Education Opportunities 

  • Provides private nonprofit institutions of higher education who are designated as federal minority serving institutions, or as municipally owned colleges, access to grant programs that are currently available to community colleges.  

  • Programs include MassReconnect, the SUCCESS program, and other grant programs that are run by the Department of Higher Education.  

  • Directs DHE to promulgate regulations accordingly. 

The bill passed the House of Representatives 148-5. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.