House Speaker Ron Mariano, left, and Gov. Charlie Baker, right, look on while Senate President Karen Spilka addresses reporters on May 2, 2022. Photo by Sam Doran | State House News Service

With the annual House budget debate now in the rearview mirror, Speaker Ronald Mariano said Monday that top Democrats are still looking at tax relief options but conceded he is “not sure” when they will be ready to advance a proposal or what it would entail.

The House last week rejected efforts to incorporate a temporary gas tax freeze or Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposed estate, capital gains and senior tax reforms into its fiscal 2023 state budget bill.

Mariano, who spoke with reporters after meeting privately with Baker and Senate President Karen Spilka, said his team “continue[s] to look at a couple of things that we have investigated in the past” and is watching economic trends. The state’s coffers for more than a year have been flooded with surplus tax revenue, but new reports show the state economy contracted in the first quarter.

In response to a question about whether Bay Staters could bet on the House finalizing some form of tax relief, Mariano pointed to another topic in which there’s uncertainty: the still-in-progress legislative discussions about legalizing sports betting.

“Right now, we don’t have a gaming bill, so I’m going to wait before we take bets,” he said before continuing, “I don’t mean to be flip, it’s just I don’t know what’s going to happen. We have a diverse group of 155 members, so we’re going to have to do some homework.”

Baker has made a $700 million package of tax relief a priority during his final year in office, arguing taxpayers deserve to share in the state’s surplus revenues and that his proposed policy changes can make Massachusetts more competitive. His bill (H.4361) is pending before the Revenue Committee, which has until Wednesday to decide its fate. Democrats who control the committee could seek another extension to give themselves more time to work on Mariano’s “homework.”

Asked if the committee would make a decision this week, Mariano replied, “I’m not sure, to be honest with you.”