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BOSTON – On April 17, Representative Joan Meschino and her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and State Senate passed legislation to provide a critical safety net for renters, homeowners, and small businesses grappling with the economic fallout of the coronavirus public health emergency.  The bill, H.4647, prohibits all non-essential evictions and foreclosures and provides mortgage borrowers with forbearance options and protects tenants from late fees as well as other protections.   To address the COVID-19 public health crisis and its adverse impacts on renters, homeowners and small businesses, the bill includes the following components: A moratorium on all stages of the eviction and foreclosure processes for 120 days from the enactment of the legislation or 45 days after the State of Emergency has been lifted, whichever period of time is shorter.  Prohibits all non-essential evictions for residential properties and small businesses. Prohibits residential landlords from terminating tenancy and sending . . . Read More

BOSTON – This week, Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and her colleagues in the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation to create a registry of care providers who have harmed a person or persons with an intellectual or developmental disability. The bill’s purpose is to prevent those providers from being hired for programs funded or operated by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). The legislation, An Act to Protect Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities from Abuse, creates a registry of care providers against whom the Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DCCP) has made a final decision regarding “substantiated findings” of acts resulting in serious physical or emotional injury of a person with an intellectual or developmental disability. “I was proud to vote in support of this bill to promote the safety and wellbeing of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Representative Meschino. “This legislation was thoughtfully developed to combat abuse, . . . Read More

During a constitutional convention this week, Representative Joan Meschino and her colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature voted to move forward an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution to generate revenues for transportation and educational investments, by placing an additional 4 percent tax on annual taxable income in excess of $1 million.  The revenue generated – estimated by the Department of Revenue at as much as $2.2 billion annually – would fund repair and maintenance projects for roads, bridges or public transportation as well as funding for public education.  “Investments of this scale in transportation infrastructure and education would deeply benefit the communities of the 3rd Plymouth District,”said Representative Meschino. “This initiative began as a ballot measure, making it worthwhile to take this step to give voters an opportunity to make a decision on this issue.” The income level would be adjusted annually to reflect any increases in the cost of living . . . Read More

Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) along with her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives this week passed legislation to protect public sector employees’ rights following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Janus v. American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) ruling. An Act relative to collective bargaining dues (H.3854) enables Massachusetts employee organizations to charge a non-member for the reasonable costs associated with legal representation in a grievance procedure. “This legislation – which builds on the House’s long-standing support of labor – sends a clear message that Massachusetts will work to secure protections for the working men and women of the Commonwealth,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “This bill represents a consensus position not realized from last session, and I thank Chair Brodeur for his hard work to move this issue forward.” “I’m proud of the House for coming together this week to support laborers across the Commonwealth,” . . . Read More

BOSTON - May 17, 2019 - Legislators, advocates, and candidates for elected office testified yesterday at the State House on behalf of S.408/H.639, An Act supporting parents running for public office, filed by Representatives Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and Mike Connolly (D-Cambridge), and Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville).  The bill would update state campaign finance laws to allow candidates running for public office to use campaign funds for childcare expenses incurred on the campaign trail. Segments of our population continue to experience barriers to candidacy for public office which leads to a less diverse representation in the Commonwealth.  Current state campaign finance laws allow candidates to use campaign funds for a wide variety of expenses, including meals with constituents and lodging accommodations.  Yet campaign finance laws do not include an expense as basic as childcare services. Campaigning is time-consuming. At the hearing, supporters argued that the absence of childcare on the list of . . . Read More

BOSTON – Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives this week to pass its budget for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20), which invests in programs and services across the Commonwealth. Funded at $42.7 billion, the House budget makes major investments in education, housing, substance use disorder services, health care, and other areas while projecting a more than $200 million deposit into the Stabilization Fund – bringing the fund’s balance to more than $2.5 billion to safeguard the future of vital programs and services. “This fiscally responsible budget balances the needs of communities, families, and individuals across the Commonwealth with smart investments that boost local aid, support our healthcare system, strengthen education, and protect the environment,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “I am proud of the work we have done to further our ongoing efforts to combat the opioid crisis and invest in high-quality . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - With the start of the new legislative session on January 2nd, state lawmakers spent the first two full weeks of January filing new bills which will be taken up during the 191st Legislative Session. Nearly 6,000 bills were filed collectively by the 200 lawmakers.   State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) filed legislation advancing a wide range of policy initiatives advancing the interests of the district, including sea level rise and climate change, environmental justice, the care and protection of children in foster care, and food insecurity among college students, among others. Representative Meschino filed a signature piece of legislation, An Act to create a 2050 Roadmap to a clean and thriving Commonwealth. The bill seeks to align the Commonwealth’s existing commitment to reduce carbon emissions goals pursuant to the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008 (GWSA) with the most updated climate research.  The 2050 Roadmap would reset the . . . Read More

(BOSTON) – Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the House of Representatives this session to pass An Act relative to minimum wage, paid family medical leave and the sales tax holiday.  The new law raises the minimum wage, creates a framework for paid family and medical leave for most workers, and establishes a permanent sales tax holiday.  Referred to as the “Grand Bargain”, the new law reflects significant collaboration and compromise by the key economic stakeholders to achieve the shared goal of economic prosperity and to support our local economic centers. “Raising the minimum wage and establish paid family medical leave are two key decisions that will lift up our hardworking local families and help us retain good workers for our local businesses,” said Representative Meschino.  “At the same time, the legislation balances the concerns of employers, particularly the small businesses that are the core of our local town . . . Read More