The Nature for MA Campaign Moves Forward!

Everyone in Massachusetts deserves clean drinking water and access to nature. This is the goal of the Nature for Massachusetts Campaign, to protect the places we love — clean water, healthy forests, more trails and parks, and access to the outdoors and nature for everyone in Massachusetts. The idea is simple: set aside revenue from the existing state sales tax on sporting goods to raise $100 million every year for protecting and conserving water and nature—without raising taxes. 

We are pursuing this campaign in two ways: urging the State Legislature to pass the Nature for All bill (H.901/S.2571) and collecting signatures to advance the campaign as the ‘Protect Water and Nature’ ballot initiative. 

Nature for MA coalition members delivering signatures to the Secretary of State courtesy of Patrick Herron

This month, we completed the first phase of the ballot initiative, collecting significantly more than the required 75,000 signatures to advance the ‘Protect Water and Nature’ Initiative in its journey toward the 2026 statewide ballot. 

Alongside over 60 partners, Mass Rivers and our member organizations collected thousands of signatures at farmers’ markets, T stops, trailheads, and wildlife sanctuaries. We saw ample excitement reflecting the growing public support across the state for this initiative.

Concurrently, we will continue to urge the state legislature to pass the Nature for All bill (H.901/S.2571). This bill, and the ballot initiative, would complement the goals promoted by the state and provide the funding necessary to make real progress. 

If the legislature does not enact the bill, we will continue with a second round of signatures to collect at least 12,429 more by Mid-July, for the measure will be placed on the 2026 ballot to be voted on by Massachusetts residents. 

We will continue to pursue all available pathways to success for this campaign. One of the best things we can do for rivers and clean water sources is to protect the land around them. The Nature for MA campaign will ensure a dedicated fund for land and water conservation year after year. 

Learn more about the campaign and how you can be involved here.