Find quick answers to common questions about the Clean Air CashBack campaign, the 2026 ballot initiative effort, and how to sign or get involved.
About the initiative
What is Clean Air CashBack?
Clean Air CashBack is a proposed policy approach that would place a fee on the carbon content of fossil fuels and return the proceeds directly to residents as monthly payments. This campaign is working to place a non-binding public policy question before voters in Massachusetts House districts in 2026 to show whether residents want their representative to support that kind of legislation.
What does the proposed ballot question say?
The proposed 2026 question asks whether the representative from a district should be instructed to introduce and vote for legislation that places a fee on the carbon content of fossil fuels to compensate for environmental pollution and return the proceeds directly to residents as monthly Clean Air CashBack payments.
Is this ballot question binding?
No. This is a non-binding public policy question, which means it does not automatically create a new law or impose a fee by itself. Instead, it gives voters in a legislative district a chance to advise their state representative about whether they support this policy direction.
Why is the campaign using a non-binding question?
A district public policy question gives voters a way to express their views directly to their elected representative on an issue of public policy. It is meant to show public support, educate voters, and encourage future legislative action.
How is the 2026 effort different from similar efforts in 2022?
The 2026 campaign uses simpler, more contemporary language intended to be easier for voters to understand, including clearer references to pollution, direct payments to residents, and monthly CashBack. The effort is also aiming for a broader volunteer base, more districts, and expanded public education.
Signing the petition
Who can sign the petition?
Only registered voters who live in the relevant legislative district can sign that district’s petition. Because these are district-based public policy questions, signatures must come from voters who are registered in the specific district where the question is being circulated.
Can I sign online?
No. Legally valid signatures for this kind of ballot petition must be collected in person on the official petition forms. The website and social media can help people find signing locations, but they cannot replace a valid in-person signature.
How many signatures are needed?
For a Massachusetts House district public policy question, at least 200 certified signatures are required to place the question on the ballot. In practice, campaigns usually collect more than that to account for signatures that may not be certified.
When do signatures need to be collected?
Official petition blanks are released in April of the election year, and signed petitions must be certified locally before being filed with the Elections Division by the first Wednesday in August.
Where can I sign?
The campaign plans to post signature-gathering events on the website and through community outreach channels such as local events, standouts, and social media. Check back regularly for updated signing opportunities.
Can I sign if I support the idea but live in a different town or district?
You may be able to sign, but only if the petition being circulated is for the legislative district where you are registered to vote. The campaign may ask for your address first to make sure you are signing the correct petition.
Policy and impact
How would Clean Air CashBack work if it ever became law?
If the legislature later acted on this idea, the policy would generally place a fee on the carbon content of fossil fuels and return the proceeds directly to residents as monthly payments. Many implementation details would still need to be worked out through the normal legislative and administrative process.
Would this create a new tax right away?
No. Signing the petition or voting on a non-binding public policy question does not itself create a new tax or fee. It is an advisory measure about future legislation.
Why pair a carbon fee with CashBack payments?
The idea is to reduce pollution while returning money directly to residents. The 2026 language emphasizes monthly payments because that framing is more concrete and easier for voters to connect to everyday household budgets.
Has anything like this been tried before in Massachusetts?
Yes. Similar non-binding carbon fee questions appeared in three Massachusetts House districts in 2022. Those results helped inform the updated language and broader education approach being used in 2026.
Getting involved
How can I help?
You can help by signing the petition if you are eligible, volunteering at a signature-gathering event, hosting a table, sharing campaign updates, and helping connect the campaign with local groups or community events.
Can I help even if I cannot sign?
Yes. People who cannot sign a specific district petition may still be able to volunteer, help promote events, share educational materials, or connect the campaign with supporters in the right district.
How can I stay updated?
The campaign can use the website for event listings, downloadable materials, and volunteer signups, and may also share updates through local Facebook groups and community outreach.