(Boston) – The Massachusetts House of Representatives had an active June, working to finalize and pass major legislation. The House passed numerous funding measures focused on transportation, education, road repairs, and relief programs.
A $228 million supplemental budget was passed to address time-sensitive budget deficiencies, including winter storm recovery costs, public safety operations, substance use treatment services, homelessness assistance, and emergency management expenses. The bill passed the House of Representatives 154-2 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Lawmakers also passed a spending package that seeks to ease pressures caused by strained school budget and delivers a massive infusion of cash into the state’s public transportation system. This will help students across Massachusetts gain more access to educational opportunities, and help citizens transport safely and securely to their destinations. Governor Healey signed the bill into law on June 12th.
The Massachusetts Legislature approved over $2.7 billion in bond funding to help municipalities make local road and bridge repairs, invest in public transit infrastructure, and support transit-oriented housing development statewide. The bill also contains $500 million in bonding to target and fast-track repairs to the roads that are in the worst condition, through MassDOT’s Lifecycle Asset Management Program. The bond bill was signed by the Governor earlier this month.
The Massachusetts Legislature designated August 8-9th as a tax-free weekend. During this time, Massachusetts’ 6.25% sales tax will be suspended for most retail items priced under $2,500. This day allows residents to save money on large purchases and drives economic growth towards small businesses.
The House passed a major environmental bond bill on June 17th. The bill will protect Massachusetts’ environment and fight climate change through modernizing environmental laws, strengthening climate resilience, supporting agricultural systems, and improving the management of Massachusetts’s natural resources. After passing the House of Representatives unanimously, S.3064 has been sent back to the Senate for further consideration.
This month, the House has made several moves to ensure education in Massachusetts is held to the highest standard. Bill H.5511, which strengthens early literacy instruction, passed both branches of the legislature and now awaits Governor Healey’s signature. The House also passed a bill guarding against politically motivated book bans, ensuring that knowledge is guaranteed for all residents.
In June, the Legislature took action on several bills related to people with disabilities. Both the House and Senate passed S.2563, which removes outdated and offensive language in the General Laws to describe persons with disabilities. The name change reflects the intention to empower individuals living with disabilities and move away from outdated terminology. The Governor signed the bill into law earlier this month. Massachusetts also has passed S.2348, a bill that will improve communication between officers and autistic drivers. The bill establishes a blue-envelope program, where the use of a blue envelope indicates to police officers that the driver may require a different communication style.