(BOSTON) - This month, State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the State Legislature in a vote to pass an amended $1.1 billion spending bill (H.58) that focuses primarily on supportive housing initiatives. The legislation builds on the supplemental budget originally filed by the Healey-Driscoll administration, with the House and Senate unanimously voting to pass an amended version on Thursday, March 23. The spending budget is in accord with An Act to create and implement a Massachusetts flexible supportive housing subsidy pool program (H.1354), which is a legislative priority bill filed by Representative Meschino. The supplemental budget directly funds $388.6 million in vital services that support vulnerable populations and address food insecurity, housing instability, the state’s long-term COVID-19 response, economic development, essential support services for incoming immigrants and refugees, and more. Notably, the bill extends initiatives first implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as outdoor dining, remote . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) will host two in-person office hours throughout the month of April. Please note cancellations due to state holidays. Please contact Rep. Meschino’s Legislative Aide, Christopher Altizer, by email at christopher.altizer@mahouse.gov or by phone at 617-722-2320 in order to schedule a time slot. Monday, April 3 10:00 am - 11:00 am Linden Ponds, for Linden Ponds residents Monday, April 10 9:00 am - 11:00 am Willcutt Commons 91 Sohier St, Cohasset These sessions are intended to make it easier for residents of Cohasset, Hingham, and Hull to share concerns and access the services Rep. Meschino can offer to residents on the South Shore. All local residents are invited to participate. “I encourage all local residents who need assistance to reach out to our office,” Representative Meschino (D-Hull) said. “Whether it’s to straighten out delays with unemployment, to access health insurance, to ask about housing . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - This week, The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators announced the selection of five legislative priorities for the 2023-2024 legislative session, including H.669 / S.422, An Act supporting parents running for public office, which would allow campaign funds to be used to pay for child care that would not exist but for the campaign. Filed jointly by State Representatives Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and Mike Connolly (D-Cambridge) in the House and in the Senate by State Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville), this legislation promotes equity and leads to a more diverse elected body by supporting a more diverse candidate pool. The childcare funding bill was previously a legislative priority for the Women’s Caucus in the 192nd Legislative Session. Last year, the amended Senate version of the bill was engrossed while the House version was sent to study, thereby tabling the legislation. “I am grateful to the Women’s Caucus for continuing . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) will continue to pursue a robust climate-focused legislative agenda that builds upon the environmental wins of the 192nd Legislative Session. Representative Meschino’s foremost piece of environmental legislation this term is HD.3005, An Act creating a climate bank in Massachusetts. This work builds on Representative Meschino’s signature piece of climate legislation, The 2050 Roadmap, enacted in 2021 as the cornerstone of An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy. A climate bank or “green” bank develops innovative financing to accelerate clean energy adoption and to drive the shift to decarbonize the economy. The bill, which would place the state’s climate bank under the scope of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, has yet to be assigned to a specific committee for review. “The creation of a statewide climate bank aims to provide financial resources to Massachusetts citizens looking to undertake projects designed . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) will host four in-person office hours throughout the month of March. Please contact Rep. Meschino’s Legislative Aide, Christopher Altizer, by email at christopher.altizer@mahouse.gov or by phone at 617-722-2320 in order to schedule a time slot. Monday, March 6 10:00 am - 11:00 am Linden Ponds, for Linden Ponds residents Monday, March 13 9:00 am - 11:00 am Willcutt Commons 91 Sohier St, Cohasset Monday, March 20 10:00 am - 11:00 am Hull Council on Aging 197A Samoset Avenue, Hull Monday, March 27 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Hingham Public Library 66 Leavitt Street, Hingham These sessions are intended to make it easier for residents of Cohasset, Hingham, and Hull to share concerns and access the services Rep. Meschino can offer to residents on the South Shore. All local residents are invited to participate. “I encourage all local residents who need assistance to reach . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and her colleagues in the House of Representatives received official legislative committee assignments for the 193rd General Court on Thursday afternoon. Representative Meschino is assigned to three Joint Committees and one House Committee for the new session. These subject committees continue to position the Representative as an influential voice on a key set of topics that are of importance to the Third Plymouth District and to the larger South Shore region. As a member of each Committee, Representative Meschino will hear testimony on bills and weigh in on legislation relating to each of these subject areas. Representative Meschino will serve on the following committees: Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, Internet and Cybersecurity House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs (new appointment) “I am looking forward to continuing to . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - As state lawmakers prepare to receive committee assignments for the 193rd Legislative Session, State Representatives Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and James Hawkins (D-Attleboro) launched the Caucus to End and Prevent Homelessness, a bipartisan coalition of Massachusetts legislators from across the Commonwealth who will engage to learn and inform others about best practices for reducing and ending homelessness, based on evidence and lived experience. "This caucus adds a new layer to our efforts to address homelessness in the Commonwealth by bringing together elected officials who are committed to the protection of our most vulnerable residents," said State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull). "Thank you to Representative Hawkins for spearheading this caucus with me, and I look forward to increased collaboration to address this critical issue in the Commonwealth." “Representative Meschino and I have been working together on issues surrounding homelessness,” said State Representative James Hawkins (D-Attleboro). “We recognized the need . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) will host three in-person office hours throughout the month of February. Please note the difference in times due to state and federal holidays. Please contact Rep. Meschino’s Legislative Aide, Christopher Altizer, by email at christopher.altizer@mahouse.gov or by phone at 617-722-2320 in order to schedule a time slot. Monday, February 6 10:00 am - 11:00 am Linden Ponds, for Linden Ponds residents Monday, February 13 9:00 am - 11:00 am Willcutt Commons 91 Sohier St, Cohasset Monday, February 27 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Hingham Public Library 66 Leavitt Street, Hingham These sessions are intended to make it easier for residents of Cohasset, Hingham, and Hull to share concerns and access the services Rep. Meschino can offer to residents on the South Shore. All local residents are invited to participate. “I encourage all local residents who need assistance to reach out to our office,” . . . Read More

(BOSTON) – Massachusetts lawmakers kicked off the 193rd Legislative Session with bill filing. As of Friday morning, over 6,000 bills were filed collectively by the 200 lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the Senate. State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) has filed legislation to advance a range of policy initiatives, including bills to drive the transition to clean energy, to secure sustainable revenue for community media centers and local programming, to bolster permanent supportive housing, and to minimize trauma on children in the foster care system, among others. One of Representative Meschino’s three priority pieces of environmental legislation this term is HD.3005, An Act creating a climate bank in Massachusetts, which can be found online at https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/HD3005. This new legislative initiative builds on Representative Meschino’s signature piece of climate legislation, The 2050 Roadmap, enacted in 2021 as the cornerstone of the Next Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy. A . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - This week, the Metropolitan Beaches Commission (MBC) announced the selection of State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) as a House Vice-Chair for the 2023-2024 legislative session. The Metropolitan Beaches Commission was created in 2006 by the Massachusetts Legislature to provide oversight to the Boston area's 15 public beaches, including those in the town of Hull which are managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). "I am pleased to serve as a Vice-Chair in the House of Representatives for the Metropolitan Beaches Commission,” said State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull). “As a legislator for an open-ocean district, I understand that the Commonwealth's waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities depend on the maintenance of our coastline. I look forward to continued collaboration with leaders in this space to identify shared issues and to advocate for both increased resources and public access." The Metropolitan Beaches Commission is comprised of elected officials . . . Read More