(BOSTON) – This week, Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass an economic development bill, which utilizes American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) surplus funds, and bonds to make significant investments across several vital sectors of the economy, and to give back to low and middle-income residents in Massachusetts by providing one-time rebates and significant tax relief beginning in 2023. Funded at $4.2 billion, the legislation addresses disparities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic through one-time investments in health and human services, the environment and climate mitigation, economic development, housing, and food insecurity.

Earlier this session, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a bill appropriating $4 billion in ARPA and FY21 surplus funds. Just over $1 billion remains in ARPA funds, which must be allocated by 2024 and spent by 2026.

“The targeted investments and tax relief included in this legislation will help support our residents as they continue to recover from the pandemic and navigate ongoing economic uncertainty,” said Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull). “I am grateful to Speaker Mariano, Chair Michlewitz, and my colleagues for their work to pass this well-rounded economic development bill.”

The final bill passed by the House includes several of Representative Meschino’s amendments for economic development projects in the 3rd Plymouth District, all of which will be financed by bonds. The allocations for these projects are as follows:

  • $275,000 allocated to Cohasset, Hull, and Scituate for a regional sewer system;
  • $25,960 allocated to Hull for the Waveland Service Station clean up and demolition;
  • $493,580 allocated to Hingham to support local economic recovery;
  • $550,000 allocated to Cohasset for the Elm Street corridor; and
  • $107,000 allocated to Cohasset for the 40 Park Ave retrofit.

Other highlights of the legislation include:

Taxpayer Energy & Economic Relief Fund 

Following $500 million worth of premium pay bonuses for low-income workers that were issued in March and June of 2022 under the Legislature’s Essential Employee Premium Pay Program, the economic development bill passed by the House includes one-time rebates of $250 for a taxpayer who files an individual return, and $500 for married taxpayers who file joint returns that will be issued before September 30, 2022. These rebates are expected to be issued to about two million Massachusetts residents who reported earning between $38,000 and $100,000 for individual filers, and between $38,000 and $150,000 for joint filers in 2021. The one-time rebates will not be subject to state’s personal income tax.

Permanent Tax Changes

The bill passed this week makes significant changes to the Massachusetts tax code to provide structural relief to millions of residents across all income levels. These include:

  • Increasing the Child and Dependent Care Credit from $180 per child to $310 per child, as well as eliminating the current cap of $360 for two or more children. This is expected to impact over 700,000 families;
  • Increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 30 percent to 40 percent of the federal credit. This is expected to impact about 396,000 taxpayers with incomes under $57,000;
  • Increasing the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit from $750 to $1,755. Currently, the Department of Revenue caps this credit at $1,170 due to cost-of-living adjustments over the $750 set in statute. Increasing it to $1,755 in statute is expected to impact over 100,000 taxpayers who own or rent residential property in Massachusetts as their principal residence;
  • Increasing the rental deduction cap from $3,000 to $4,000. This is expected to impact about 881,000 taxpayers; and
  • Increasing the estate tax threshold from $1 million to $2 million and eliminating the “cliff” effect which would tax just the value of the estate that exceeds $2 million, not the entire estate. This is expected to impact about 2,500 taxpayers.

Online Lottery

In an effort to raise revenue for early education and care, Representatives adopted an amendment that would allow the Massachusetts Lottery to sell some of its products online. The new revenue collected from online sales will go to prizes for winners, for the administration and operations of the lottery, and to fund an Early Education and Care Fund. Revenue for the new Early Education and Care Fund would be used to provide long-term stability and develop a sustainable system for high-quality and affordable care for families. This will include significant funding for subsidy reimbursement rates, workforce compensation rate increases, and support for state-wide early education and care initiatives, among others. The amendment requires the Massachusetts Lottery to use age verification measures to ensure that any users are over the age of 18.

One-Time Targeted Investments 

Highlights include:

Health and Human Services 

  • $350 million for financially strained hospitals;
  • $165 million for nursing facilities workforce needs;
  • $100 million for supplemental rates for human services providers;
  • $80 million for community health centers;
  • $30 million to support Rest Homes across the Commonwealth;
  • $25 million to address food insecurity across the Commonwealth;
  • $15 million for grants to reproductive rights providers for security, workforce, and educational needs; and
  • $15 million for grants to non-profits and community-based organizations to address gun violence and gun violence related trauma.

Environment 

  • $175 million for state parks and recreational facilities upgrades, with $25 million for communities of color;
  • $125 million for environmental justice communities;
  • $100 million for marine port development; and
  • $100 million for the Clean Water Trust Fund.

Economic Development 

  • $300 million for the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund;
  • $125 million for small businesses, with $75 million for minority-owned businesses;
  • $50 million for broadband investments in underserved communities; and
  • $75 million in grants to hotels across the Commonwealth who saw financial losses during the pandemic.

Housing 

  • $100 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund; and
  • $75 million for minority-owned housing development.

Bonding 

The House bill includes $1.26 billion in bond allocations to support the economic growth and stability of the Commonwealth. Highlights include:

  • $400 million for the MassWorks Infrastructure Competitive grant program to support municipalities and other public entities support and accelerate housing production;
  • $200 million for the Technology Matching Grants program that supports various organizations to help compete for federal innovation grants;
  • $95 million for ADA compliance projects; and
  • $73 million for the Housing Stabilization and Investment fund.

The bill passed the House of Representatives 154-0 and now goes to the Senate for their consideration.