News
Legislature Approves Supplementary Budget, Including Language from Representative Joan Meschino’s Transportation Governance Bill
(BOSTON) – Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the House and Senate in a vote to approve the final conference committee report on the FY21 Supplemental Budget: H.3973, An Act making appropriations for fiscal year 2021 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects. In addition to certain budget appropriations, the conference committee report revives the pandemic state of emergency measures for both mail-in voting and early voting in person through December 15, 2021. The conference committee report also includes . . . Read More
3rd Plymouth District Set to Receive Record Local Aid Through FY22 State Budget
(BOSTON) – On Friday, July 9, 2021, Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) budget, which invests in programs and services across the Commonwealth. Funded at nearly $48.1 billion, the budget makes major investments in education, housing, substance use disorder services, health care, the environment, and other areas as the state pursues an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Though initial plans were made to withdraw more than $1.5 billion from the state’s Stabilization Fund, . . . Read More
Bill Introduced by Hingham Youth Gets Broad Support at Hearing
(BOSTON) – At a hearing held last week by the Joint Committee on Election Laws, legislators and advocates testified on behalf of H.815/S.483, An Act relative to youth voter engagement filed by Representatives Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). The legislation would allow seventeen year olds who will be eighteen by the general election to vote in the preceding primary, encouraging young people to develop strong voting habits early. These companion bills are refiles and were supported by dozens of letters by young people from a . . . Read More
Representative Meschino Leads National Briefing on Environmental Justice, State Climate Action
(BOSTON) — Today Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) led a special briefing of over 150 state lawmakers from across the country, focusing on Massachusetts’ progress in establishing climate change goals and promoting environmental justice. “It's important to take the next step on environmental justice, both in Massachusetts and beyond,” said Representative Joan Meschino. “We must ensure that all overburdened and underserved communities have real access to justice.” The event was organized by the State Climate Policy Network (SCPN), a project of Climate XChange that includes more than 15,000 advocates . . . Read More
Legislators and Advocates hold Briefing for Legislation that Supports Community Media
(BOSTON) – Last week, legislators, advocates, and Massachusetts residents attended a legislative briefing for H.130/S.2200, An Act relative to a streaming entertainment operator’s use of the public rights-of-way/An Act relative to digital entertainment on public rights of way, jointly filed in the House by Representatives Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and Paul Tucker (D-Salem) and in the Senate by Senator Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester). The bill would use funding from a new fee to support community media. In the 3rd Plymouth District, our community media centers are vibrant hubs of . . . Read More
Bill Providing Resources to State Community Colleges to Tackle Student Food Insecurity Gets Broad Support at Hearing
(BOSTON) – At a hearing held this week by the Joint Committee on Higher Education, legislators and advocates testified on behalf of H.1350/S.847, An Act establishing a community college campus hunger pilot program filed by Representatives Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and Senator Joan Lovely (D-Salem). The legislation would create a $2.7 million noncompetitive grant program administered by the Department of Higher Education (DHE) to fund state community colleges’ pilot initiatives to tackle hunger on campuses. These companion bills are refiles and were reported favorably by the committee last session. . . . Read More