On October 26, 2015, the Massachusetts Legislature passed House Bill 3667, which would establish a statewide public art commission. State Senator Eric Lesser (D-Longmeadow), Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Chairman, championed H. 3667 and stated, "It's incredibly important, especially in Western Massachusetts, because we know that investment in arts and culture is also economic development." The bill would expand the proposed public art program’s reach to the entire state and would require every construction or renovation project of any state-owned building or property over $4 million to set aside 0.5% of construction cost (up to $250,000 per project) to invest in public art in or on the site.

Before he left office in December 2014, Governor Deval Patrick issued an executive order establishing the Massachusetts "Percent for Art" program in Boston and Gateway Cities—pre-identified urban centers that could anchor their regional economies—but set aside no funding for it.

The Legislature included the public art program in its 2016 budget, but Governor Charlie Baker vetoed it—citing that the program's administrative structure and costs could become too unwieldy and that the program’s current form did not serve the entire state. The governor's veto galvanized the Legislature to introduce their own bill, H. 3667, which quickly passed in both the House and the Senate.

Governor Baker now has 10 days to either reject or sign the bill into law.