The Incumbency Protection Act

Mayor Michelle Wu may be looking to celebrate Evacuation Day twice this year: Once on March 17, the holiday recognizing when the British troops abandoned their siege of Boston, and again on Sept. 1, as two senators, who represent the city and clashed with her, expect to face primary challengers.

The first celebration, marking the holiday’s 250th anniversary and a historical highlight in Wu’s inauguration speech last week, will likely be easier to accomplish than the second. In 2026, evacuating an incumbent state senator is a taller task than kicking out the British.

That is the context for the Senate moving to protect its flank this week, with votes planned for Thursday on several “tax shock” measures pushed by Nick Collins and William Brownsberger, a top lieutenant to Senate President Karen Spilka.

After blocking Wu’s proposal for a tax shift, senators are prepared to vote on allowing cities and towns to offer credits and rebates. Those bills put the onus on cities and towns facing tight budgets, while Wu’s proposal temporarily shifts more of the tax burden onto commercial properties to avoid a spike in residential rates.

Sen. Michael Rush, who Wu recently endorsed for reelection as he faces a more liberal challenger, has filed an amendment that tracks closely with the mayor’s proposal. On Beacon Hill, the outcome has already been predicted: The amendment will fall, and senators will clap each other on the back and say well done as they trebuchet their package into House territory, where Wu has top allies. Time of legislative death? Polymarket should allow bets on how soon after arrival.

But the campaign trail is alive. Latoya Gayle, a community activist, is already making the rounds in Collins’ Senate district. Just before Christmas, Gayle was spotted with Wu attending the grand opening of a tea shop in Chinatown. She has pulled in over $14,000, some of it from current and former city employees. (Collins has raised far more in recent months, including donations from Suffolk Construction employees and former mayoral candidate Josh Kraft.)

Daniel Lander, a senior Wu adviser who is running against Brownsberger, fared better, raising just over $51,000 in December, though Brownsberger had $197,000 in cash on hand at the end of that month.

Lander, in a text message, said he backed the Rush amendment, and indicated he still planned to campaign against Brownsberger over the senator’s blockage of Wu’s bill. “I’ve been hearing directly from residents worried about increases in their tax bill,” he said.

Trivia time: What was the name of the location which George Washington fortified with cannons, leading to the eventual evacuation of British forces? Hint: It’s in Sen. Collins’ district. Send me your answers: gin@massterlist.com.

HAPPENING TODAY

10:00 | The Cannabis Control Commission holds a public meeting. The agenda includes discussion, and possible vote, on regulatory amendments related to delivery exclusivity, the secret shopper program and social consumption exclusivity. | Agenda and Access

11:00 | The conference committee tasked with negotiating cannabis reform legislation (H 4206 / S 2749) meets for the first time. | Room B-1, State House, Boston | More Info

12:00 | Gov. Maura Healey holds a press conference to announce action to “make it easier and more affordable for Massachusetts residents to get the health care they need.” Participants include Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Health & Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, Sen. Cindy Friedman, Reps. John Lawn and Thomas Stanley, and health care officials. | Grand Staircase, State House, Boston

12:00 | State Library of Massachusetts hosts an author talk with James O’Connell on his book, “Boston and the Making of a Global City.” He previously spoke at the State Library in 2016 on his book, “Dining Out in Boston: A Culinary History.” | State Library, Room 341, State House, Boston | More Info and Livestream

FROM BEACON HILL

DiZOGLIO VS. CAMPBELL: After Attorney General Andrea Campbell said on GBH Radio that she hopes Auditor Diana DiZoglio “stops the standoff” over the push for an audit of the Legislature, DiZoglio fired back by accusing Campbell of participating in a “cover up.” – State House News Service

PAROLE OPPOSITION: Gov. Maura Healey said she is against the release of the man who murdered a Massachusetts state trooper in 1983. – Boston Herald

BLAIS SEAT: Elections chief Bill Galvin would not support a special election to replace Rep. Natalie Blais, who is resigning to take a UMass Amherst job. A Galvin spokesperson noted it was up to the House, but the costs and strain to the towns in the district lead to Galvin opposing a special election months before voters go to the polls again in September and November. – Western Mass. Politics & Insight

ENERGY MANDATES: An analysis backed by conservative groups says clean energy mandates, hinging on solar, wind and battery storage, will be more expensive than reliance on nuclear and natural gas. – State House News Service

CLEAN HEAT STANDARD: A “clean heat standard,” set to take effect at the start of 2026, has been delayed until 2028, according to the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection. – Boston Herald

NEWS NEXT DOOR

COMMUTER RAIL: The French subsidiary of Keolis once drew a warning from a top state transportation official. Since then, operations have improved and it’s a finalist for the next MBTA commuter rail contract. – CommonWealth Beacon

MBTA COMMUNITIES: A dozen communities remain out of compliance with the MBTA Communities Act, a stance that could prompt legal action from Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who is giving them until the end of January. – WCVB-TV

RARE CONTRITION: Federal authorities apologized for quickly deporting a Babson College freshman in violation of a court order. A federal prosecutor said the court order was misread by an agent for ICE. The agency has lowered standards for recruitment purposes. – Boston Globe

BAD TYPE OF LEAK: Utilities are making some progress in upgrading infrastructure to reduce the amount of potentially dangerous gas leaks, but thousands of leaks remain, according to a new report. – Eagle-Tribune

CHANGE ORDER: The Wu administration is turning away from a plan to turn city-owned land in Roxbury into labs and affordable housing, and instead considering the long-vacant parcel as the location of a new Madison Park vocational high school. – Boston Globe