38 Proposed MA Ballot Measures Range From Psychedelics To MCAS Removal

MASSACHUSETTS — From a law requiring voter identification in Massachusetts to another attempt by gig giants Uber and Lyft to reclassify their employees, the next two state elections could feature some major issues for voters to decide.

Attorney General Andrea Campbell this week reported that 18 different groups had submitted 38 proposed ballot questions for the 2024 election and four proposed state constitutional amendments for 2026.

With the submission deadline in the past, Campbell's office will begin work on figuring out which initiatives meet constitutional requirements to be filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Those decision will likely come by Sept. 6, and will pare down the list to a manageable size.

For example, 31 ballot measures and constitutional amendments were proposed in 2021. Only four actually made it to the 2022 ballot.

Here are some highlights from the proposals:

• Brookline resident Harold Hubschman's attempt to suspend the state's 45-cent gas tax is back in a new form, and now would suspend the gas tax whenever gas goes above $3 per gallon.
• An initiative would increase pay for tipped workers in Massachusetts to the regular minimum wage rather than the current tipped wage of $6.75 per hour — less than half the $15 minimum wage.
• Similar to cannabis, the "Natural Psychedelic Substances Act" would legalize and regulate psychedelic substances that occur naturally, like mushrooms.
• One constitutional amendment seeks to enshrine a right of privacy, which would prevent private companies from collecting data on state residents.
• Lexington parent Shelly Scruggs is seeking to remove MCAS test results as a requirement for high school graduation.
• Gig work companies like Uber and GrubHub have been trying to reclassify their employees in Massachusetts as, well, not employees. In other states, gig workers are self-employed, and thus not eligible for things like health insurance and unemployment benefits. A previous effort was struck down in state court.

Visit the AG's website to see a full list of proposed 2024 and 2026 measures.