Massachusetts Alter the Process for Municipal Zoning Legislation Initiative (2026)
| Massachusetts Alter the Process for Municipal Zoning Legislation Initiative (2026) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 3, 2026 | |
| Topic Land use and development policy | |
| Status Cleared for signature gathering | |
| Type State statute | Origin Citizens |
The Massachusetts Alter the Process for Municipal Zoning Legislation Initiative may be on the ballot in Massachusetts as an indirect initiated state statute on November 3, 2026.
The ballot initiative would change the process for implementing or changing zoning laws in municipalities, to include the following changes:[1]
- require that planning boards submit a report on their proposals for a new or different zoning law to the town or city council before the governing body votes on the proposed law;
- prohibit votes on the proposals within 21 days of the public hearing;
- extend the time limit for the government to act from 90 days to six months;
- require a two-thirds vote from the town or city council to change or create a new zoning law; and
- restrict reconsideration of a rejected proposal, or similar proposal, for at least three years, absent a few exceptions.
Text of measure
Full text
The full text of the ballot initiative can be read here.
Path to the ballot
Process in Massachusetts
An indirect initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are nine (9) states that allow citizens to initiate indirect state statutes.
While a direct initiative is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiative is first presented to the state legislature. Legislators have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. Should legislators take no action or reject the initiative, the initiative is put on the ballot for voters to decide.
In Massachusetts, the number of signatures required for an indirect initiated state statute is equal to 3% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. Massachusetts also has a distribution requirement that requires no more than 25% of the certified signatures on any petition can come from a single county.
The state Legislature has until the first Wednesday of May in the election year to pass the statute. If the legislature does not pass the proposed statute, proponents must collect a second round of signatures equal to 0.5% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. The Legislature also has the power to place an alternative measure alongside the proposed statute via a simple majority vote of the state legislature.
A simple majority vote is required for voter approval. However, the number of affirmative votes cast for the measure must be greater than 30% of the votes cast in the election.
The requirements to get an initiated state statute certified for the 2026 ballot:
- Signatures (first round): 74,574
- Signatures (second round): 12,429
- Deadline (first round): The deadline to submit the first round of signatures to the secretary of state is December 3, 2025.
- Deadline (second round): The deadline to submit the second round of signatures is July 8, 2026.
Stages of the ballot initiative
The following is the timeline of the initiative:[2]
- August 7, 2025: The Massachusetts Attorney General announced that the initiative had been filed.
- September 3, 2025: The Massachusetts Attorney General announced that the initiative had been cleared and that supporters could begin gathering signatures for the initiative.
External links
See also
View other measures certified for the 2026 ballot across the U.S. and in Massachusetts.
Explore Massachusetts's ballot measure history, including citizen-initiated ballot measures.
Understand how measures are placed on the ballot and the rules that apply.
Footnotes
- ↑ Mass.gov, "An Initiative Petition for An Act Reforming the Zoning Process," accessed September 5, 2025
- ↑ Mass.gov, "Ballot Initiatives Submitted for the 2026 Biennial Statewide Election (proposed laws) and 2028 Biennial Statewide Election (proposed constitutional amendments)," accessed August 6, 2025
