Why you might not get to vote on these ballot questions

Legislative gridlock on Beacon Hill is a big reason why voters could face a record-breaking 11-question ballot in November.

• Years of inaction from lawmakers have led activists to ask voters directly. But the powerful Democrats running Beacon Hill still have a chance to resolve some issues before they reach Joe Q. Public.

Why it matters: Several high-stakes issues — most notably rent control — are prime candidates for the "grand bargain" style legislative deals Democrats sometimes manage to pull off.

• The Legislature faces a May 5 deadline to act on the proposals approved to become ballot questions. If they manage to pass laws addressing the issue, the ballot question goes away.

Some advocates are using the rent control question to force a conversation Beacon Hill has avoided for decades.

• The proposed measure would be a radical change, limiting annual rent increases statewide to 5% or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.

Between the lines: Advocate groups like Homes for All Massachusetts admit they would prefer a legislative solution over the ballot.

• But they argue that only the threat of a mandate from a frustrated public will move Democratic leadership to act.
• Gov. Maura Healey and House Speaker Ron Mariano are concerned that such a strict cap would stifle housing production.

Lawmakers, including Cambridge Rep. Mike Connolly, are floating a middle-ground compromise to let municipalities set their own rent caps.

• If the Legislature reaches a compromise, it'll avoid a bruising multimillion-dollar campaign fight between real estate groups, unions, activists and developers.

Other Questions Ripe for Deals

Tax reform and government transparency are also at the top of the list for potential pre-ballot resolution.

• Business groups are pushing a ballot question to lower the state income tax from 5% to 4%.
• Organizers have signaled openness to striking a deal to pull the question if lawmakers commit to policies to help businesses and investors make more money.

Multiple questions aim to subject the Legislature and the governor's office to public records laws. Bundling them into something lawmakers can swallow seems like a no-brainer way to sidestep the ballot questions.

• Given that a similar transparency measure to audit the Legislature passed with 71.5% support in 2024, it would be in lawmakers' best interest to write their own rules while they still can.

What we're watching: Proposals for same-day voter registration and all-party primaries could also see legislative action if leadership decides they'd rather not let voters make the laws for them.