News
Massachusetts House Passes Legislation to Establish an Effective and Equitable Local Public Health System
BOSTON - This week, State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass legislation designed to strengthen local and regional public health and ensure that every resident has access to foundational public health services, regardless of where they live, through the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) State Action for Public Health Excellence (SAPHE) program established by the Legislature in 2020. Across the Commonwealth, there are hundreds of local public health boards with varying degrees of expertise and bandwidth depending on the . . . Read More
Massachusetts Legislature Passes $52.7 Billion FY23 Budget
Fiscal Year 2023 Budget - Conference Committee Report (BOSTON) - Last week, the Massachusetts Legislature unanimously passed a $52.7 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). This budget upholds fiscal responsibility and makes targeted investments to strengthen the state’s economic foundation, protect the most vulnerable residents and support the everyday needs of communities and families in the Commonwealth. “The budget for the upcoming fiscal year reflects the legislature’s commitment to investments that support and uplift the Commonwealth’s residents,” said Representative Meschino. “I am encouraged to see that my . . . Read More
Massachusetts Legislature Passes Sweeping Clean Energy Legislation
(BOSTON) - This week, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a comprehensive clean energy bill, An Act driving clean energy and offshore wind. The legislation bolsters green transportation, green buildings, and clean power production, including offshore wind, solar, storage and networked geothermal, while creating thousands of new jobs and economic benefits in the process. This bill expands upon the Next Generation Climate Roadmap bill (S.2995,) which contained key provisions from An Act creating a roadmap to a clean and thriving commonwealth, originally filed by Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull.) S.2995 was . . . Read More
Massachusetts House of Representatives Passes $4.2 Billion Economic Development Bill
(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 . . . Read More
Massachusetts House of Representatives Passes Legislation Supporting Military Families, Bolstering Veterans’ Services
(BOSTON) - On Thursday, July 7, State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass H.4978, An Act relative to military spouse-licensure portability, education and enrollment of dependents on a unanimous 154-0 vote. The bill increases support for veterans and military families by reforming licensing requirements and expanding access to information about open burn pit exposure. The legislation also authorizes slot machines at veterans' organizations, honors service members who died as a result of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder or other diseases linked . . . Read More
It’s Time to Build Stable, Supportive Housing in Massachusetts
In Commonwealth Magazine COVID-19 HAS LAID bare the inadequacy of a safety net system here in Massachusetts, from workforce shortages to the lack of a viable public health response for adults, youth, and families experiencing homelessness on a day-to-day basis. The pandemic has pushed our statewide response system to the limit — further straining the state’s critical services and supports that keep low-income households stable. Many people are stretched thin and need help. Now is the time for the Massachusetts Legislature to take coordinated, comprehensive action to ensure . . . Read More