(BOSTON) – State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) continues to promote H.1677, An Act to create access to justice, which would restore the right of an individual to bring a claim in state court against a government agency in cases of disparate impact. Rep. Meschino testified in support of the bill alongside proponents of the bill at the Judiciary Committee hearing on December 5th in the State House. H.1677 would aim to provide access to justice for a number of constituencies, including those seeking environmental justice, language access, fair housing, equitable healthcare, and access to high-quality education.
As of the Judiciary Committee hearing on December 5th, all of Rep. Meschino’s sponsored bills have been heard in front of their respective committees.
“I am encouraged by the Joint Committees’ support and interest in the legislation I have filed this session,” said Representative Meschino (D-Hull). “The bills I have filed aim to advance equity and uplift communities and their work. I look forward to continued partnerships with advocates as we engage in further work to advance these bills, and I thank them for their testimony.”
Rep. Meschino continues to track her priority legislation, which includes An Act creating a climate bank in Massachusetts (H.3774), An Act to modernize funding for community media programming (H.74), and An Act to create and implement a Massachusetts flexible supportive housing subsidy pool program (H.1354). These three bills await a final report from the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, the Committee on Advanced IT, the Internet, and Cyber Security, and the Committee on Housing, respectively.
All committees must provide reports on their respective bills by February 7th, which is the Joint Rule 10 deadline set between the House of Representatives and the Senate. For more information on the status of Representative Meschino’s legislative agenda, please visit malegislature.gov.