The Massachusetts State Senate will consider An Act to Build Resilient Infrastructure to Generate Higher-ed Transformation (BRIGHT Act) on Thursday, February 26. If passed, the bond bill will fund $3.28 billion in building and repair projects across the Massachusetts public higher education campus. Governor Maura Healey’s office says the bill will help “modernize and decarbonize” the “aging infrastructure” of state schools.

While the bill is anticipated to pass in the next month, funds will not be accessible until July 2026, the start of the next fiscal year. Once in effect, project proposals must align with a college’s campus master plan to be approved for funding. BSU’s plan was approved last year and outlines the important facilities enhancements up to 2035. President Fred Clark said during a presentation to the Board of Trustees on February 6 that his priorities with using the BRIGHT Act were for improving ADA accessibility, HVAC, and repairs.

Clark said when the bill was announced last January, “State support to modernize campus facilities is absolutely critical to enhance affordability, accessibility, and academic excellence for the students we are privileged to serve.” He also said that the bill would help the college afford its over $200 million in deferred maintenance costs.

Karen Jason, Vice President for Operations, said the funds would be “the institution’s bread and butter” for future construction and could partially support several upcoming capital projects. This included re-organizing multiple residence halls, creating a town-square-like walkway in the center of Park Street, and a modern renovation to the Maxwell Library.

While $1.25 billion of the BRIGHT Act is designated for state universities and community colleges, the exact distribution of these funds is not yet determined. Jason, who previously worked for the state agency overseeing the distribution, said the funds would be awarded based on a weighted calculation. Clark told the Board of Trustees that this amount would not be enough to fix all the college’s problems, “but enough to make a difference for the campus and student affordability.”