Budget and Grants

Prioritizes relief to vulnerable populations, provisions to boost economic recovery and support for students Fiscal Year 2021 Budget – Conference Committee Report (BOSTON) – Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and her colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature passed the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) budget, which invests in programs and services across the Commonwealth. Funded at $46.2 billion, the budget aims to address the sweeping effects of the global pandemic by making targeted investments in housing, food security, and substance use addiction services, as well as domestic violence, sexual assault treatment and prevention programs. The budget also invests in programs that provide COVID-related supports for students and increases funding for developmental services, early education and childcare, and public health. “While the pandemic has caused great uncertainty, this budget has restored some stability to our Commonwealth,” said Representative Meschino. “I am happy to report level funding for local aid from FY 20 and . . . Read More

Invests in food security, education, and public safety accountability (BOSTON) – State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the House and Senate to pass legislation authorizing up to $1.8 billion in spending for the improvement of information technology equipment and other capital projects in Massachusetts. The legislation also authorizes funding for food security, law enforcement body cameras, and investments in educational technologies in Massachusetts schools. “At the core of these investments is a deep understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the Commonwealth,” said Representative Meschino. “It is time to be proactive to ensure that the needs of all are being met. This bill meets the challenges of the moment to bring support to our constituents, especially our most vulnerable.” The capital plan, which includes $794 million for state and local general technology and physical infrastructure, features the following targeted investments. $110 million in public safety infrastructure . . . Read More

Bold Bill Will Invest in Housing and Legalize Sports Betting (BOSTON) – Faced with an economy buffeted by COVID-19, State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined Speaker DeLeo and their colleagues in the House to pass a bill to give a shot in the arm to the state’s economy by legalizing sports gaming, facilitating housing development and providing more than $450 million in state funding to spur growth. “Important sectors of our Main Street economies, such as the restaurant, arts, culture and tourism industries, have been the most adversely affected by the pandemic,” said Representative Joan Meschino. “This bill provides needed relief and investments to overcome massive challenges posed by the pandemic, get people back to their work, and place the Commonwealth on a longer-term path toward an economically sustainable future.” The bill pairs initiatives to improve the housing market for buyers while providing protections for tenants. It authorizes the Housing . . . Read More

BOSTON – During its historic first remote voting formal session today, State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) along with her colleagues in the House of Representatives passed legislation to authorize necessary state borrowing during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The legislation, An Act to Facilitate the Delay of the Income Tax Filing Deadline, authorizes the State Treasurer to borrow in anticipation of tax receipts by the end of Fiscal Year 2020 and to repay those sums by June 30, 2021. This action is necessary due to the delay in tax revenue as a result of the extended deadlines of income tax filings and payments to July 15, 2020, which were extended because of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The session, which included remote voting, was the first held following the passage of Emergency Rules enabling Members to vote and debate safely in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill will now . . . Read More

BOSTON – This week, Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and her colleagues in both chambers of the Massachusetts Legislature voted unanimously to enact The Student Opportunity Act. This legislation, providing an unprecedented $1.5 billion new investment in Massachusetts K-12 public education system, ensures public schools have the resources to provide high-quality education to students across the state, regardless of zip code or income level. Assuming inflation, over the seven-year implementation timeline the bill will provide an estimated $2.2 billion in support of public schools. The Student Opportunity Act provides significant support to school districts that serve English learners and high concentrations of low-income students. At the same time, all school districts across the Commonwealth will benefit from updates to the existing funding formula, along with increased state investments in vital education aid programs such as special education transportation, school construction and renovation, and the 21st Century Education Program.  “The Student Opportunity . . . Read More

BOSTON – This week, Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives unanimously passed historic legislation to invest $1.5 billion in the Commonwealth’s public education system.  Known as The Student Opportunity Act, the legislation invests funding to support the needs of English learners and school districts that serve high concentrations of low-income students in order to help school districts address persistent disparities in student achievement.  In addition, school districts across the Commonwealth will benefit from updates to the existing funding formula, along with increased state investment in other vital education aid programs such as transportation, guidance and psychological services, school buildings and special education.   “The Student Opportunity Act will be a transformative investment in public education, in particular, for children living in poverty,” said Representative Meschino. “The legislation takes the first steps towards building equity in our K-12 education system and commits the Commonwealth’s support . . . Read More

(BOSTON) – Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass a supplemental budget which addresses multiple areas including heating assistance, enhanced support for victims of sexual assault, and programs to help those battling homelessness. The spending bill, approximately $135 million, highlights the House’s ongoing commitment in support of critical social service investments while balancing fiscal prudence; this practice has resulted in Massachusetts prioritizing its most vulnerable residents while maintaining a strong and diverse economy. “With state residents still facing winter weather, this supplemental budget provides vital funds for heating assistance,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop).“I thank Chairman Michlewitz and the members of the House for passing this legislation which provides funding for a number of important areas.” “Legislators are making meaningful investments in much needed services for residents in the Commonwealth, setting a good tone for this year’s budget process,” said . . . Read More