Senate Passes Comprehensive Rules Package
The Massachusetts State Senate passed a comprehensive rules package updating the Senate and joint rules to incorporate the best practices learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. This package reflects the societal shift toward hybrid operations while building on the Senate’s commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and equity.
To maintain accessibility to state government, the Senate voted to include language in both the Senate and joint rules codifying the use of hybrid hearings by joint and Senate committees. This change will allow increased public participation and ensure that those who cannot be present in the State House can still participate in the legislative process.
Keeping in line with the emergency remote voting procedures adopted during the pandemic, the Senate also voted to continue the option of remote participation, which will allow members to take part in Senate sessions even when they have extenuating circumstances. These changes build on the best practices that were developed during the pandemic, and they also promote greater inclusivity.
The Senate’s rules package also includes robust transparency and diversity measures related to committee proceedings. Under the Senate’s joint rules package, joint committee votes will be required to be posted on the Legislature’s website, as is currently the practice with Senate committee votes. In addition, joint committees will be required to make testimony publicly available upon request, while allowing for the redaction of sensitive information. In addition, committees soliciting expert testimony will be required to make every effort to ensure that such testimony comes from a diverse group of individuals.
The Senate rules adopted today are now in effect for the remainder of the 193rd legislative session. The joint rules passed by the Senate will be reconciled with a proposal by the House of Representatives.
Massachusetts Legislature Passes $388.6 Million Supplemental Budget
Bill Funds Economic Development Initiatives
The Massachusetts Legislature passed a $388.6 million supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23). The legislation funds vital services that support vulnerable populations and address food insecurity, housing instability, the state’s long-term COVID-19 response, economic development, essential support services for incoming immigrants and refugees, and more.
Notably, the bill extends initiatives first implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as outdoor dining, remote public meeting access, and support for assisted living residences. The bill further authorizes $740.3 million in bonding to bolster the Commonwealth’s clean water and other public works projects for cities and towns, as well as to support the Commonwealth’s ability to compete for competitive federal grant funds.
The bill invests $388.6 million to address several time-sensitive needs for an array of programs relied on by some of the most vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth, including $130 million for SNAP food assistance benefits to provide a path for families who were receiving enhanced SNAP benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, $68 million for the Early Education C3 stabilization grant program, $65 million for the continuation of free school meals, $45 million for emergency shelter assistance, and over $40 million to support affordable housing for immigrants and refugees.
Other measures funded in the bill include:
- $8.3 million for judgments, settlements, and legal fees
- $7 million for coordinated wraparound services for incoming immigrants and refugees
- $2 million for the reimbursement of SNAP benefits for victims of benefit theft
- $2 million for the preparation and execution of the 114th National NAACP conference, which is taking place in Massachusetts in 2023
- $1 million for a public awareness campaign to educate the public about the misleading tactics of so-called crisis pregnancy centers and their lack of medical services
- $250,000 for Reproductive Equity Now’s free abortion-related legal hotline
The bill also authorizes $740.3 million in capital expenditures to support economic development projects. Notably, these include $400 million for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program, which provides grants to cities, towns, and other public entities for infrastructure projects, and $125 million for state matching funds to compete for federal grant opportunities, including those funded through the CHIPS and Science Act, which encourage innovation in Massachusetts.
Other bonding items authorized by the bill include:
- $104 million for the Clean Water Trust Fund
- $34 million for a program to revitalize underutilized properties
- $30 million for state matching funds to compete for federal broadband expansion grants and improve state broadband infrastructure
- $15 million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative, which supports innovation within the state’s manufacturing industry, including by offering technical assistance to manufacturers and attracting talent from outside of the state
- $14 million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerate Program
- $9.3 million for broadband middle mile supports
- $8 million for the Smart Growth Housing Trust Fund
Recognizing the societal shifts that have taken place during the pandemic, the bill also addresses several pandemic-era related measures, including:
- Permanently allowing public corporations and nonprofits to hold certain meetings by means of remote communication
- Permanently allowing notaries public to conduct remote online notarization using communication technology
- Extending the ability of graduates and students in their last semester of nursing education programs to practice nursing in accordance with guidance from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing
- Extending popular pandemic-related provisions including outdoor dining services, and beer, wine and cocktails to-go for a year
- Extending the ability of public bodies to allow remote participation by members in public meetings
- Extending flexibilities given to municipalities to allow for representative town meetings to be held in hybrid or fully remote capacities and that authorize reduced in-person quorum requirements
- Extending the ability of nurses employed by assisted living residences to provide skilled nursing care in accordance with valid medical orders, provided the nurse holds a valid license to provide such care
The supplemental budget includes the following provisions related to the end of the public health emergency on May 11, 2023:
- Temporarily extending flexibility on ambulance staffing
- Temporarily extending the ability of staff of a community program to administer prepackaged medications if in compliance with DPH guidance
- Temporarily extending staffing flexibilities related to dialysis providers