Massachusetts Leaders Announce FY24 S.A.F.E. Grant Program Awards

(STOW 6/17/2024) — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced the 214 awardees of the Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) and Senior SAFE Programs FY24 grant program. These programs promote fire and life safety education for children and older adults who are most vulnerable to burns, injury, and death from fire and related hazards.

“Keeping the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable populations safe is critically important, and funding programs like these are an excellent way to raise awareness about what to do in case of a fire,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m pleased to hear that Auburn, Grafton, Shrewsbury, Westborough, and Worcester are among the cities and towns receiving funding for their SAFE programs. I’d like to thank my colleagues for their commitment to funding vital programs like this, as well as the fire departments across the Commonwealth for their diligent work in keeping their communities safe.”

In FY24, 214 municipal fire departments will split $1,138,565.58 in SAFE funding and/or $492,179.29 in Senior SAFE funding. Another 12 departments will share funding for regional SAFE and/or Senior SAFE programs.

The grants awarded to towns within the Second Worcester District can be found below:

Town of Auburn

S.A.F.E Grant: $5,698.84

Senior SAFE Grant: $2,396.61

Town of Grafton

S.A.F.E Grant: $5,699.62

Senior SAFE Grant: $2,399.60

Town of Shrewsbury

S.A.F.E Grant: $7,200

Senior SAFE Grant: $2,600

Town of Westborough

S.A.F.E Grant: $5,700

Senior SAFE Grant: $2,400

City of Worcester

S.A.F.E Grant: $10,200

Senior SAFE Grant: $3,099.71

The S.A.F.E. program was first funded in 1996 and has since correlated with a decline of about 80% in Massachusetts child fire fatalities and the longest period without a child fire death in the history of the Commonwealth. The Senior SAFE program was launched in FY14 to provide Massachusetts’ seniors with the knowledge and tools to live safely.

The S.A.F.E. and Senior SAFE programs are funded through legislative earmarks to the Executive Office of the Public Safety & Security, and they are administered by the Department of Fire Services. For more fire service grant opportunities, visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/grants-for-fire-departments.

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Senate Acts to Boost Benefits, Modernize Services, and Promote Inclusivity for Veterans

(BOSTON 6/14/2024) — Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation to boost support for hundreds of thousands of individuals across the state who have served in the United States military, including nearly 30,000 women Veterans and thousands of LGBTQ+ Veterans.

The comprehensive legislative package, H.4671, An Act Honoring, Empowering and Recognizing Our Servicemembers and Veterans (HERO Act), would increase benefits for disabled Veterans, bolster support for businesses that hire Veterans, update the definition of a Veteran, expand the scope of the Veterans Equality Review Board, and codify medical and dental benefits.

“Those who have made the selfless choice to join the United States Armed Forces deserve the best benefits and services our Commonwealth can offer,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The HERO Act ensures we recognize all types of military service and that the families of servicemembers are supported both while they are deployed and after they return home, just to name a few benefits of this bill. I’m proud of the support the Commonwealth offers our Veterans, and I’m thrilled that this bill will continue to bolster our military community.”

The Senate’s legislation builds on the historic legislative package filed by the Healey-Driscoll Administration by including additional provisions which would:

• Require a public school district to provide support services to a military-connected student when a parent or guardian is called to active duty.

• Create a military spouse liaison to help military spouses with obtaining employment and childcare, and deal with other issues facing military spouses.

• Allow Gold Star Family spouses to remarry without the penalty of losing their annuity benefit.

Highlights of the Senate Bill Include:

Benefit Expansion 

• Expands access to Behavioral Health Treatment: Allows Veterans to be reimbursed for visits to outpatient behavioral health providers. 

• Increases the Disabled Veteran Annuity: Increases the annual annuity for Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability, surviving spouses, or Gold Star Parents from $2,000 to $2,500. 

• Increases the Vet-Hire Tax Credit: Increases to $2,500 a tax credit for small businesses hiring chronically unemployed or low-income Veterans. Eligible Veterans include those receiving SNAP benefits, chronically unemployed Veterans, and unemployed service-connected disabled Veterans. 

• Increases access to the Active-Duty Buyback program: Lengthens the timeframe for Veterans in public service to participate in the Active-Duty Service Buyback program and allows retroactive participation for Veterans who missed the buyback opportunity. This program will enable Veterans to purchase up to four years of active-duty service time toward their state retirement.  

• Prevents the "COLA Cliff": Ensuring that a cost-of-living adjustment in Social Security benefits will not affect Veterans' eligibility for Chapter 115 benefits in the middle of the state fiscal year.   

• Increases Local Flexibility for Veterans Property Tax Exemptions: Creates two separate local options. The first allows municipalities to double the Veteran property tax exemption without doubling all other exemption clauses. The second ties the annual property tax abatement amount to inflation, allowing exempted property tax amounts to increase with inflation. 

• Eliminates the Fee for Specialty License Plates for Veterans: Waives specialty license plate fees on specialty Veteran license plates and creates a new woman Veteran license plate decal.  

• Allows municipalities to increase the property tax obligation of a Veteran in exchange for volunteer services.

Commitment to Inclusivity and Greater Representation 

• Broadens the Chapter 115 Definition of Veteran: Aligns the state Chapter 115 program definition of a Veteran with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs definition. This change allows more Veterans to be eligible for annuity, Chapter 115 benefits, access to the Massachusetts Veterans Homes, and other state-provided benefits. This only applies to EOVS programs and does not affect any other agency or entity.   

• Expands the Scope of the Veterans Equality Review Board (VERB): Expands the scope of the Board beyond ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ discharges to include discharges related to Military Sexual Trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, mental health conditions, or HIV discharges.  

• Expands the definition of a Veteran dependent: Expanding the Chapter 115 definition of "dependent" to support more dependents based on the Family Court definition. 

• Updates Dependent Residency Requirements: Updating dependent residency requirements to align with current practices. 

Modernization of Veterans Services 

• Codifies Dental Assistance Benefits: Ensuring Veterans receive essential dental care by codifying dental benefits for Chapter 115 recipients. 

• Codifies Medical Assistance Benefits: Providing consistent care to Veterans by codifying medical assistance benefits. 

• Codifies Authority for Veterans Cemeteries: Ensuring proper management and care of Veteran’s cemeteries by codifying the authority for EOVS to continue administering and maintaining the state’s two Memorial Veterans Cemeteries. 

• Modernizes statute language for inclusivity and standardization: Revise Chapters 115 and 115A to ensure gender-neutral and inclusive language while removing antiquated references.   

• Allows municipalities to deliver chapter 115 benefits by direct deposit.

• Initiates a Study on the Use of Alternative Therapies for Veteran Mental Health Disorders: Establishing a working group to study the potential benefits of alternative therapies, such as psilocybin, in treating Veterans suffering from mental health disorders. 

Senators who currently serve and who have served their country in the past, lauded the legislation.

“As a Commander in the United States Naval Reserves and an Iraq War Veteran, it is my great privilege to serve in a body that commits itself time and time again to honoring our nations armed service members,” said Senator Michael F. Rush (D-Boston), Senate Majority Whip and Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. This legislation passed by the Senate maintains our state’s promise to our service members and their families that they will be honored as they have done for us.”

“We don't rest on our laurels in Massachusetts. This bill modernizes our laws to ensure that the Commonwealth remains second to none delivering Veterans services and ensures our vets have the supports needed to repatriate into our communities,” said Senator John J. Cronin (D-Fitchburg). “From modernizing how Veterans can apply for and access benefits, to supporting businesses that help former service members reenter the workforce, the HERO Act delivers for all those who served.”

“I am proud to support the HERO Act, a major step towards better services, benefits, and inclusivity for Massachusetts Veterans. This legislation reaffirms our commitment to serving all service members and their families, positively impacting hundreds of thousands of Veterans, including women and LGBTQ+ Veterans,” said Senator Lydia Edwards (D-East Boston). “The HERO Act, inspired by Governor Healey's proposal, expands behavioral health access, increases benefits for disabled Veterans, supports Veteran employment, and updates Veteran definitions. It also ensures stable housing and essential protections, providing the respect, care, and opportunities our Veterans deserve.”

“Very few are brave enough to raise their hand and pledge to defend our nation and the values that we hold dear, no matter the cost. It is on us - as a Commonwealth - to always remember, recognize, and honor that sacrifice however we can. The legislation passed by the Senate today makes comprehensive and critical additions to the HERO Act to ensure that we are not only supporting Massachusetts Veterans but also our active-duty service members and their families as well,” shared Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield), Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. “I am extremely grateful for the dedication of my Senate colleagues, many of whom have filed legislation included in the bill passed today, and most especially for the leadership of Senate President Spilka and Chair Rodrigues in continuing to prioritize legislation that supports all those who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces.”

Separate versions of the bill having been passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, the chambers will now move to reconcile the differences before sending the bill to the Governor’s desk.

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Legislature Acts to Prevent Abuse and Exploitation

(BOSTON 6/14/2024) — Yesterday, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted An Act to prevent abuse and exploitation, bipartisan legislation that criminalizes the sharing of sexually explicit images or videos without an individual’s consent, also known as “revenge porn,” The legislation creates a diversion program for teens who share explicit images, and extends the statute of limitations to pursue criminal charges for certain domestic violence offenses from six years to 15 years. The bill, H.4744, also legally defines “coercive control,” a form of abuse that utilizes threats to control or compel a victim into compliance — language that is based on a bill originally introduced and prioritized by Senator Michael Moore.

The Conference Committee report adopted by the House and the Senate this week maintains language originally adopted via an amendment by Senator Michael Moore to include information on the risks of misusing generative AI technology to create non-consensual pornographic images, often called “deepfakes,” in the educational diversion program called for in the original bill. On the heels of high-profile cases of celebrities such as Taylor Swift falling victim to this type of non-consensual revenge porn, the amendment would educate students on the dangers these types of technologies pose and emphasize that an image is still illegal even if it is not “real.”

“Those who share private photos of another individual without their consent or use threats, monitoring, and isolation to control their victims have escaped accountability in Massachusetts for far too long. With the passage of this bill, survivors will have the legal tools they need to not only end this abuse, but also ensure those responsible face the consequences,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “In addition to establishing penalties for sharing revenge porn, this legislation also adopts language from one of my bills bringing Massachusetts’ laws up to date with the realities of abuse in today’s world by legally defining ‘coercive control,’ two practices that often go hand-in-hand. Private photos shared without one’s consent can lead to life-long consequences, with an individual being re-victimized over and over again each time photos are re-shared. I am hopeful that this legislation will help put a stop to these cycles of pain for victims while educating our youth about responsible practices online.”

To address the nonconsensual distribution of explicit images by adults, the bill establishes a penalty in the existing criminal harassment statute which includes up to two and a half years of prison time and/or a monetary fine of up to $10,000. The bill increases the upper limit of the fine for criminal harassment from $1,000 to $5,000. If signed into law, the bill would also empower victims to petition the court for a harassment prevention order against a person who has violated the new statute.

Under current law, minors who possess, purchase, or share explicit photos of themselves or other minors are charged with violating child pornography laws and are required to register as sex offenders. The legislation passed today directs the Attorney General to establish an educational program to teach minors about the dire consequences and life-altering impacts caused by engaging in this behavior. The bill also allows the Commonwealth’s courts to divert minors to an educational program in lieu of sentencing to criminal punishment while providing district attorneys with the authority to petition the court to bring criminal charges in extreme cases. The educational diversion program would provide teenagers with information about the legal and nonlegal consequences of sexting, which would be made available to school districts.

The bill defines coercive control as a single act or pattern of behavior intended to threaten, intimidate, control, or compel compliance of a family or household member that causes a fear of physical harm or a reduced sense of physical safety or autonomy. It allows an individual to seek an abuse prevention order if the individual is the victim of coercive control by a family or household member, or a person with whom they were in a substantive dating relationship. Critically, the bill also includes important aspects from the House bill which would include protections against coercive control through repeated frivolous litigation and distribution of an individual’s sensitive data. Examples of coercive control include threating to share explicit images, regulating or monitoring a family or household member’s communications and access to services, and isolating a family or household member from friends or relatives.

The legislation passed yesterday also extends the statute of limitations for assault and battery on a family or household member or against someone with an active protective order from six years to 15 years. This change brings the statute of limitations for these domestic violence offenses in line with the statute of limitations for the crimes of rape, assault with intent to commit rape and sex trafficking.

The same version of the bill having been passed by both chambers, the legislation now goes to the Governor’s desk for her signature.

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Senate Acts to Establish New Statewide Licensure of Commercial Interior Design

(BOSTON 6/11/2024) – Last week, the Massachusetts Senate passed An act relative to advancing the profession of commercial interior design. Under this legislation, commercial interior designers would have the opportunity to become registered professionals in the state of Massachusetts. As the law currently stands, with certain state and federal projects requiring licensure, Massachusetts designers often have to contract with larger firms or individuals with architectural licenses in order to be eligible for these projects. This often results in lost revenue for interior designers in this majority-women field.

Creating a licensed profession statewide would enable registered interior designers to bid individually on certain projects currently off-limits, growing small businesses that are often women-led, and incentivizing graduates in the field to stay in Massachusetts to build their careers and not have to go out-of-state to be able to bid on work.

“This bill levels the playing field for independent interior designers and creates more opportunities for those in this majority-women professional field,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “By establishing a Board of Registration to ensure best practices are being adhered to by licensees, we can nurture a profession that helps make our homes and offices more comfortable, accessible, and efficient. I’m pleased to have voted to approve this bill and I am thankful to my colleagues for advancing a common-sense initiative like this.”

This legislation also has strong support from the International Interior Design Association New England Chapter (IIDA NE) which has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts related to this issue.

“I, along with the members of IIDA New England Chapter would like to thank Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues for supporting and advancing this important legislation. We also want to thank Senator Joan Lovely for sponsoring this legislation in the Senate and for her steadfast commitment and support to seeing it pass,” said Krista Easterly, NCIDQ, Vice President of Advocacy IIDA New England. “This bill will provide qualified commercial interior designers with the opportunity to become licensed professionals in the Commonwealth and allow them to sign and seal drawings; a vital requirement for gaining access to project opportunities and business ownership. As an industry predominantly comprised of women and small and minority owned businesses, being recognized as licensed professionals will shatter the glass ceiling and afford new opportunities for them to expand their portfolios and encourage recent graduates of interior design programs in Massachusetts to establish their careers here.”

Licensure would allow interior designers to:

• Obtain building permits independent of a licensed architect;

• Prepare plans and specifications; and

• Supervise new construction, alterations, repair of a building’s interior space within newly constructed or existing buildings when core and shell structural elements are not being changed.

This bill removes the existing structure that requires partners in design-build firms, who are often women, to sell part of their ownership to ensure the firm meets the requirement of being majority-owned by registered professionals to allow bidding on certain state and federal projects. It also expands the Designer Selection Board to include three certified interior designers and creates a board to oversee the registration of interior designers who are qualified and want to practice commercial interior design.

Having been passed by the Senate, the legislation now heads to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration.

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Senate Acts to Invest in Cybersecurity, Online Accessibility, New Technology

(BOSTON 6/7/2024) – Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed the FutureTech Act, taking action on a $1.24 billion bond authorization to modernize the Commonwealth’s digital infrastructure and create safer and more accessible experiences for residents and employees alike.

Funding and projects included in S.2806 – An Act to provide for the future information technology needs of Massachusetts, would allow state agencies to deliver services more efficiently to residents, enhance cybersecurity on statewide platforms, and broaden access to services used by hundreds of thousands of residents statewide. The bill would also invest in emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) and direct $400 million in anticipated federal funding to bolster health and human services-related projects.

“It is difficult to avoid digital systems when interacting with government in the modern era. We owe it to the people of Massachusetts to ensure those systems are easy to navigate while also maintaining the highest levels of security against cybercriminals and other bad actors,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m pleased to see investments be made to update our digital infrastructure like those in the FutureTech Act. As we keep an eye to the future, I am hopeful that we can pair important investments like these with high cybersecurity standards like those established by the Cybersecurity and AI bill my committee advanced late last year.”

During Senate debate, Senator Michael Moore secured two amendments to the FutureTech Act. The first provision authorizes five $50,000 bonds to each of the towns of Auburn, Grafton, Millbury, Shrewsbury, and Westborough to fund information technology infrastructure modernization. The second provision authorizes a $250,000 bond to allow the Worcester Police Department to purchase equipment to access the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). The NIBIN provides law enforcement partners at all levels of government with an automated ballistic imaging network that can match ballistics evidence with other cases across the nation. This process can also help reveal previously hidden connections between violent crimes in different communities and states.

The FutureTech Act lays a foundation for technology innovation in the Commonwealth by implementing transformative projects like the Business Enterprise Systems Transformation (BEST) and the Commonwealth Digital Roadmap, both of which would be targeted at streamlining state operations and making essential government services quicker and more efficient.

It would support a new project to consolidate and modernize the Division Occupational Licensing (DOL)’s licensing database, which currently relies on outdated infrastructure, paper files, and manual data entry. Once full implemented, new systems will accelerate licensing and renewals.

The bill includes authorizations for the Employment Modernization Transformation (EMT) rollout, which will provide employers and those seeking unemployment insurance with a new portal to manage unemployment insurance claims. With phase one already rolled out, future improvements will include easier uploads, a mobile-friendly design, and enhanced accessibility features.

The FutureTech Act builds on Massachusetts’ longstanding leadership in emerging technology by allocating funds for future AI projects and supporting initiatives like the Municipal Fiber Grant Program, which boosts innovation and extends efficiencies to cities and towns.

Additional investments in the bill include:

• $750 million to improve service delivery to the public, including:

  • $120 million for Business Enterprise Systems Transformation (BEST)

  • $100 million for Commonwealth Digital Roadmap

  • $240 million for Health Insurance Exchange

  • $90 million for One Health

• $200 million for technology or telecommunications infrastructure improvements or maintenance, including:

  • $52 million for Employment Modernization Transformation (EMT)

  • $10 million for Integrated Eligibility and Enrollment Program

  • $12 million for Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) Modernization

  • $30 million for Electronic Health Records Modernization

• $200 million to support the security of the Commonwealth’s IT Infrastructure, including:

  • $3 million for Criminal Justice 360 System

  • $5 million DOC Radio Modernization Initiative

  • $17 million Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Technology System

• $250 million for various strategic initiatives, improvements to business intelligence, and modernization of governmental functions, including:

  • $15 million for Integrated Digital Data Services (IDDS)

  • $13 million for Enhanced Student Financial Aid Access

  • $33 million for Licensing Platform modernization

• $25 million for AI projects

• $30 million for Muni Fiber Grants

• $150 million for local and regional IT security improvements

• $25 million for Community Compact IT Grants

• Creation of a new Information Technology Federal Reimbursement Fund to facilitate the use of funds to support health and human services related IT improvements.

A previous version of this bill having passed the House of Representatives, the two branches will now reconcile the differences between the bills before sending it to the Governor’s desk.

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Senate Passes 2025 Budget with Major Investments in Education, Childcare, and Communities

(BOSTON 5/24/2024) – Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate has unanimously approved a $57.999 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). Following robust and spirited debate, the Senate adopted over 400 amendments and took 43 roll call votes, adding $89.6 million in spending for statewide initiatives and local priorities for communities around the Commonwealth.

The budget builds on the Senate’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while delivering historic levels of investment in every level of education, regional equity, and mental health, reflecting the Chamber’s commitment to creating a more affordable, equitable, and competitive Commonwealth.

“Every budget is an opportunity to direct investments into local priorities, regional initiatives, and statewide programs that will make a material difference in the lives of everyday Bay Staters,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “With an eye toward extending opportunity and improving affordability, the FY25 Senate budget makes historic investments into the Commonwealth’s world-class education system, expands our critical mental health services, advances our affordable housing goals, and more, all while providing local support for cities and towns across Massachusetts. I’m also pleased to share that I secured 16 earmarks, including funds for each and every community in the Second Worcester District. I am proud of the work the Senate has done on this budget, and I look forward to voting to approve the final bill when it comes before us in the coming weeks.”

The Committee’s budget recommends a total of $58 billion in spending, a $1.8 billion increase over the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) General Appropriations Act (GAA). This spending recommendation is based on a tax revenue estimate of $41.5 billion for FY25, which is $208 million less than revenues assumed in the FY24 GAA. This represents nearly flat growth, as agreed upon during the Consensus Revenue process in January, plus $1.3 billion in revenue generated from the Fair Share surtax.

As the Commonwealth adjusts to a changing economic landscape and ongoing tax revenue volatility, the FY25 budget adheres to disciplined and responsible fiscal stewardship. It does not raise taxes, nor does it draw down available reserves from the Stabilization Fund or the Transitional Escrow Fund, while at the same time judicially utilizing one-time resources to maintain balance.

The Senate’s budget continues responsible and sustainable planning for the future by continuing to grow the Rainy Day Fund, already at a historic high of over $8 billion. The Senate’s proposal would build the Commonwealth’s reserves to a healthy balance in excess of $9 billion at the close of FY25.

Amendments and earmarks to the FY25 budget secured by Senator Moore include:

Statewide

• Minimum Per Pupil Aid – increases the minimum per pupil aid provided by the Commonwealth to local school districts from $104 to $110 per pupil. This funding was secured in collaboration with Senator John Cronin (D-Lunenburg).

• Chapter 70 Study – directs the creation of a Chapter 70 task force to study the current formula and make recommendations to improve Chapter 70 by June 1, 2025. This amendment was secured in collaboration with Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester).

• Biodiversity Trust Fund – creates a Biodiversity Trust Fund to support efforts of the Department of Fish and Game to protect biodiversity and natural systems by purchasing land, managing habitats, restoring ecosystems, and more.

• Inland Fisheries and Game Reimbursement – requires that the George L. Darey inland fisheries and game fund be reimbursed for all losses of revenue for any license provided for free or at a discount.

Regional

• $50,000 for Pyrrhotite Testing Reimbursement to cover the costs associated with testing for the presence of pyrrhotite in the foundations of local homes. This funding was secured in collaboration with Senators Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) and Peter Durant (R-Spencer).

• $50,000 for Flint Pond Patrols to increase public safety and reduce public nuisance around the Flint Pond area of Lake Quinsigamond.

• $44,000 to Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School for the purchase and installation of new HVAC units. $20,000 of this funding was provided by Senator Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton).

Auburn

• $44,000 to purchase and install a backup repeater and related equipment to improve emergency communication capabilities in Auburn.

Grafton

• $50,000 for the removal of invasive plants in Grafton to protect local ecosystems.

Millbury

• $32,000 to the Millbury Police for improvements and equipment for the police station.

Shrewsbury

• $25,000 for code reviews and building assessments in the town of Shrewsbury.

• $25,000 for Maple Avenue Park in Shrewsbury for general improvements.

Westborough

• $57,000 for the Westborough Fire Department to purchase updated safety gear and equipment.

Worcester

• $250,000 to EcoTarium Zoological Park in Worcester for the care of its animals, its community education programming, and to support capital improvements to animal habitats.

• $50,000 to CENTRO Food Pantry to support the operation of its food pantry program.

• $50,000 for tree replanting in Worcester to improve streetscapes and reduce heat island effects.

• $50,000 to Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce for the operation of their Worcester Green Corps program.

• $26,000 to Worcester Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to support efforts to provide legal representation for children during legal proceedings.

Fair Share Investments

Consistent with the consensus revenue agreement reached with the Administration and House of Representatives in January, the Senate’s FY25 budget includes $1.3 billion in revenues generated from the Fair Share surtax of 4 per cent on annual income above $1 million. As FY25 represents the second year where this source of revenue is available, the Committee’s budget invests these Fair Share revenues into an array of important initiatives to further strengthen our state’s economy by expanding access to quality public education and improving the state’s transportation infrastructure.

Notable Fair Share education investments include: 

• $170 million for Universal School Meals. 

• $150 million for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) program to provide monthly grants to early education and care programs, which is matched with $325 million in funds from the General Fund and the High-Quality Early Education & Care Affordability Fund for a total investment of $475 million. 

• $117.5 million for MassEducate to provide free community college across the Commonwealth.  

• $105 million to expand financial aid programs for in-state students attending state universities through MASSGrant Plus, which is in addition to the $175.2M for scholarships funded through the General Fund. 

• $80 million for childcare affordability, creating more than 4,000 new subsidized childcare seats and expanding access to subsidized childcare to families making 85 per cent state median income. 

• $65 million for early education and care provider rate increases, to increase salaries for our early educators.

• $15 million for the CPPI Pre-K Initiative, matching $17.5 million in funds from the General Fund, for a total of $32.5M to support the expansion of universal pre-kindergarten, including in Gateway Cities. 

• $10 million for wraparound supports to boost community college and state university student persistence, which is matched with the $18 million in SUCCESS funds from the General Fund, for a total of $28 million. 

• $10 million for early literacy initiatives. 

• $7.5 million for school-based mental health supports and wraparound services. 

• $5 million for Early College and Innovation Pathways.

Notable Fair Share transportation investments include:

• $250 million for the Commonwealth Transportation Fund (CTF), which will leverage additional borrowing capacity of the CTF and increase investments in transportation infrastructure by $1.1 billion over the next 5 years. This $250 million includes: 

  • $127 million to double operating support for the MBTA. 

  • $63 million in debt service to leverage additional borrowing capacity. 

  • $60 million in operating support for MassDOT. 

• $125 million for Roads and Bridges Supplemental Aid for cities and towns, including $62.5 million for local road funds through a formula that recognizes the unique transportation issues faced by rural communities. 

• $120 million for Regional Transit Funding and Grants to support the work of Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) that serve the Commonwealth, which together with General Fund spending funds RTAs at a record $214 million.  Fair Share funding includes: 

• $66 million in direct operating support for the Regional Transit Authorities. 

• $40 million for systemwide implementation of fare-free transit service. 

• $10 million to incentivize connections between regional transit routes. 

• $4 million to support expanded mobility options for the elderly and people with disabilities. 

• $24.5 million for Commuter Rail capital improvements. 

• $23 million to support implementation of a low-income fare relief program at the MBTA.  

• $15 million for municipal small bridges and culverts. 

• $7.5 million for water transportation, funding operational assistance for ferry services.  

Education

The Senate Ways and Means FY25 budget proposal implements the Senate’s Student Opportunity Plan by shaping polices to make high-quality education more accessible and by making significant investments in the education system, from our youngest learners to adults re-entering the higher education system. 

Recognizing that investing in our early education and care system directly supports the underlying economic competitiveness of the Commonwealth, the Senate’s budget makes a $1.58 billion investment in early education and care. The FY25 budget will maintain operational support for providers, support the early education and care workforce, and prioritize accessibility and affordability throughout our early education and care system. Notable funding includes:

• $475 million for a full year of operational grants the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) Grant program, the second fiscal year in a row that a full year of C3 grants have been funded using state dollars in the annual state budget. The Committee’s budget makes the C3 program permanent, while also adding provisions to direct more funds from the C3 program to early education and programs that serve children receiving childcare subsidies from the state and youth with high needs. Currently, more than 92% of early education and care programs in the Commonwealth receive these grants. This program, which has become a model nationwide, has proven successful at increasing the salaries of early educators, reducing tuition costs for families, and expanding the number of available childcare slots beyond pre-pandemic capacity.

• $80 million for childcare affordability, creating more than 4,000 new subsidized childcare seats and expanding eligibility for subsidized childcare to families making 85% of the state median income.

• $65 million for center-based childcare reimbursement rates for subsidized care, including $20 million for a new reimbursement rate increase.

• $53.6 million for quality improvement initiatives at early education and care providers, with $6 million supporting the Summer Step Up program.

• $32.5 million for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative, which empowers school districts to expand prekindergarten and preschool opportunities through public-private partnerships. This is double the amount that was appropriated for this initiative in FY23.

• $20 million for Childcare Resource and Referral Centers to assist parents, childcare providers, employers, and community groups in navigating the state’s early education and care landscape.

• $18.5 million for grants to Head Start programs, which provide crucial early education and childcare services to low-income families.

• $5 million for grants to early education and care providers for childhood mental health consultation services.

• $2.5 million for a new public-private matching pilot program to encourage employers to create and support new childcare slots, with an emphasis on serving children most in-need.

Building off the Senate’s unanimous passage of the comprehensive EARLY ED Act in March, the Committee’s FY25 budget codifies several provisions of the bill, transforming the early education sector by improving affordability and access for families, increasing pay for early educators, and ensuring the sustainability and quality of early education and care programs.

In K-12 education, the Senate follows through on the commitment to fully fund and implement the (SOA) by Fiscal Year 2027, investing $6.9 billion in Chapter 70 funding, an increase of $319 million over FY24, as well as increasing minimum Chapter 70 aid from $30 to $110 per pupil, delivering an additional $40 million in resources to school districts across the state. Originally proposed as $104 per pupil, an amendment proposed by Senator John Cronin was unanimously adopted to increase the aid to $110 per pupil. With these investments, the Senate continues to provide crucial support to school districts confronting the increasing cost pressures that come with delivering high-quality education to all students. In addition, the Senate budget directs the creation of a Chapter 70 task force to study the current formula and make recommendations to improve Chapter 70, the task force will issue recommendations by June 1, 2025.

In addition to the record levels of investment in early education and K-12, the Committee’s budget removes barriers to accessing public higher education by codifying into law MassEducate, a $117.5 million investment in universal free community college program that covers tuition and fees for residents, aimed at supporting economic opportunity, workforce development, and opening the door to higher education for people who may never have had access. The FY25 budget permanently enshrines free community college into law in an affordable, sustainable, and prudent manner across the Commonwealth, while leaving no federal dollars on the table.

Other education investments include:

• $492.2 million for the special education circuit breaker.

• $198.9 million for charter school reimbursements.

• $99.4 million to reimburse school districts for regional school transportation costs.

• $28.3 million for higher education wraparound services, including $18.3 million in General Fund resources, to support wraparound supports to the influx of new students coming to community colleges campuses because of MassEducate.  During debate, the Senate added an amendment to fund $500,000for the Hunger Free Initiative.

• $17.5 million for Rural School Aid supports.

• $15 million for Early College programs and $13.1 million for the state’s Dual Enrollment initiative, both of which provide high school students with increased opportunities for post-graduate success.

• $5 million to support continued implementation of the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Higher Education law, including $3 million for grants offered through the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment initiative to help high school students with intellectual disabilities ages 18–22 access higher education opportunities; and $2 million for the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Trust Fund.

• $3 million for the Genocide Education Trust Fund, continuing our commitment to educate middle and high school students on the history of genocide.

• $1 million for Hate Crimes Prevention Grants to support education and prevention of hate crimes and incidences of bias in public schools. 

Community Support

The Committee’s budget – in addition to funding traditional accounts like Chapter 70 education aid – further demonstrates the Senate’s commitment to partnerships between the state and municipalities, dedicating meaningful resources that touch all regions and meet the needs of communities across the Commonwealth. This includes $1.3 billion in funding for Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), an increase of $38 million over FY24, to support additional resources for cities and towns.

In addition to traditional sources of local aid, the Committee’s budget increases payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for state-owned land to $53 million, an increase of $1.5 million over FY24. PILOT funding is an additional source of supplemental local aid for cities and towns working to protect and improve access to essential services and programs during recovery from the pandemic. Other local investments include:

• $214 million for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to support regional public transportation systems, including $120 million from Fair Share funds to support our RTAs that help to connect all regions of our Commonwealth.

• $51.3 million for libraries, including $19 million for regional library local aid, $20 million for municipal libraries and $6.2 million for technology and automated resource networks.

• $25.6 million for the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support local arts, culture, and creative economic initiatives.

Health, Mental Health & Family Care

The Senate budget funds MassHealth at a total of $20.33 billion, providing more than two million people with continued access to affordable, accessible, and comprehensive health care services. Other health investments include:

• $3 billion for a range of services and focused supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• Nearly $2 billion to protect and deliver a wide range of mental health services and programs, including $622.3 million for Department of Mental Health adult support services, including assisted outpatient programming and comprehensive care coordination among health care providers.

• $582.1 million for nursing facility Medicaid rates, including $112 million in additional base rate payments to maintain competitive wages in the Commonwealth’s nursing facility workforce.

• $390 million for Chapter 257 rates to support direct-care providers across the continuum of care.

• $198.9 million for a complete range of substance use disorder treatment and intervention services to support these individuals and their families.

• $131 million for children’s mental health services.

• $113 million for the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program to prevent service reductions and maintain accessible eligibility thresholds.

• $75.8 million for domestic violence prevention services.

• $30.9 million for Early Intervention services, ensuring supports remain accessible and available to infants and young toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities.

• $33.8 million for Family Resource Centers to grow and improve the mental health resources and programming available to families.

• $28.5 million for grants to local Councils on Aging to increase assistance per elder to $15 from $14 in FY 2024.

• $26.7 million for student behavioral health services across the University of Massachusetts, state universities, community colleges, K-12 schools, and early education centers.

• $25 million for emergency department diversion initiatives for children, adolescents, and adults.

• $25.1 million for family and adolescent health, including $9.2 million for comprehensive family planning services and $6.7 million to enhance federal Title X family planning funding.

• $20 million to recapitalize the Behavioral Health, Access, Outreach and Support Trust Fund to support targeted behavioral health initiatives.

• $14.2 million for suicide prevention and intervention, with an additional $1.4 million for Samaritans Inc. and $1.1 million for the Call-2-Talk suicide prevention hotline. This investment will fully fund 988, the 24/7 suicide and crisis lifeline.

• $14.5 million for maternal and child health, including $10.4 million for pediatric palliative care services for terminally ill children and a policy adjustment to ensure that children up to age 22 can continue to be served through the program.

• $12.5 million for grants to support local and regional boards of health, continuing our efforts to build upon the successful State Action for Public Health Excellence (SAPHE) Program.

• $6 million for Social Emotional Learning Grants to help K-12 schools continue to bolster social emotional learning supports for students, including $1 million to provide mental health screenings for K-12 students.

• $5.5 million for Children Advocacy Centers to improve the critical supports available to children that have been neglected or sexually abused.

• $3.9 million for the Office of the Child Advocate.

• $3.75 million for the Massachusetts Center on Child Wellbeing & Trauma.

• $2 million for grants for improvements in reproductive health access, infrastructure, and safety.

Expanding & Protecting Opportunities

The Senate remains committed to continuing an equitable recovery, expanding opportunity, and supporting the state’s long-term economic health. To that end, the Senate’s budget increases the annual child’s clothing allowance, providing a historic $500 per child for eligible families to buy clothes for the upcoming school year. The budget also includes a 10 per cent increase to Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) benefit levels compared to June 2024 to help families move out of deep poverty.

In addition, the budget provides $87 million in critical funding to support a host of food security initiatives including $42 million for Emergency Food Assistance to assist residents in navigating the historical levels in food insecurity, and $20 million for the Health Incentives Program (HIP) to ensure full operation of the program to maintain access to healthy food options for SNAP households. 

Economic opportunity investments include:

• $499.7 million for Transitional Assistance to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and $179 million for Emergency Aid to Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) to provide the necessary support as caseloads increase, and continue the Deep Poverty increases.

• $59.7 million for adult basic education services to improve access to skills necessary to join the workforce.

• $42 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program.

• $20 million in Healthy Incentives Programs to maintain access to healthy food options for households in need.

• $15.5 million for the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program.

• $10.4 million for Career Technical Institutes to increase our skilled worker population and provide residents access to career technical training opportunities, which will combine with $12.3 million in remaining American Rescue Plan funding for the program.

• $10 million for the Food Security Infrastructure Grant program.

• $10 million for a Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant Program to provide economic support to communities disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system.

• $5.4 million for the Innovation Pathways program to continue to connect students to trainings and post-secondary opportunities in the industry sector with a focus on STEM fields.

• $5 million for Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, which will pair with $12.8 million in remaining American Rescue Plan funding for the program.

• $5 million for the Secure Jobs Connect Program, providing job placement resources and assistance for homeless individuals.

• $2.5 million for the Massachusetts Cybersecurity Innovation Fund, including $1.5 million to further partnerships with community colleges and state universities to provide cybersecurity workforce training to students and cybersecurity services to municipalities, non-profits, and small businesses.

Housing

As the Senate moves forward to shape a more fiscally sustainable path for the Commonwealth, affordable housing opportunities remain out of reach for too many. Longstanding housing challenges are being exacerbated by the influx of individuals and families migrating to Massachusetts, and a lack of federal financial assistance and immigration reform. To that end, the Committee’s budget invests $1.14 billion in housing, dedicating resources for housing stability, residential assistance, emergency shelter services, and homelessness assistance programs, ensuring the state deploys a humane, responsible, and sustainable approach to providing families and individuals in need with an access point to secure housing.

The budget prioritizes relief for families and individuals who continue to face challenges brought on by the pandemic and financial insecurity, including $325.3 million for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters, in addition to the $175 million in resources passed in the recent supplemental budget, to place the Commonwealth’s shelter system on a fiscal glidepath into FY25, in addition to $197.4 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT).

Other housing investments include:

• $231.5 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), including $12.5 million in funds carried forward from FY24. 

• $115 million for assistance to local housing authorities.

• $110.8 million for assistance for homeless individuals.

• $57.3 million for the HomeBASE diversion and rapid re-housing programs.

• $27 million for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), including $10.7 million in funds carried forward from FY24, to provide rental assistance to people with disabilities.

• $10.5 million for assistance for unaccompanied homeless youth.

• $9 million for the Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs).

• $8.9 million for sponsored-based supportive permanent housing.

• $8.9 million for the Home and Healthy for Good re-housing and supportive services program, including funding to support homeless LGBTQ youth

The full FY25 Senate budget is available on the Senate budget website.

A conference committee will now be appointed to reconcile differences between the versions of the budget passed by the Senate and House of Representatives.

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Executive Office of Veterans Services Announces $356,000 Grant for Veterans Inc

(BOSTON – 5/22/2023) The Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS) last week announced the 15 recipients of funding through the Veterans Community Initiative (VCI) Grant program, one of which is Worcester-based Veterans Inc. This $356,170 grant was awarded to support the organization’s mobile outreach centers, programs which advance Veteran suicide prevention efforts in Central and Western Massachusetts.

The VCI grant program is awarding $2 million in funding to organizations across the Commonwealth this year. Following recommendations from the Veterans Reintegration Advisory Committee (VRAC) report, this funding will broadly support informal and formal peer support efforts as well as fund innovative programming to address suicide prevention in the Veteran and servicemember community in Massachusetts.

“Veterans are at a significantly higher risk of suicide compared to the general population, and those who have served have unique needs when it comes to prevention,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Veterans Inc. has served those who have served us for over 20 years and know what it takes to bring comprehensive and high-quality mental health services to Veterans who need them. I am thrilled the Healey Administration and Secretary Jon Santiago have selected this organization to receive funding for mobile suicide prevention outreach centers – these dollars will save countless lives in Worcester and throughout Central Massachusetts.”

“This funding for mobile suicide prevention outreach is a step in the right direction in supporting our veterans,” said Senator Robyn Kennedy (D-Worcester). “Organizations like Veteran’s Inc are doing critical work each day to address the unique needs of our veterans. Continuing to keep mental health on the forefront of conversations and funding innovative strategies to address this crisis will continue to save lives.”

“I am happy to see Veterans Inc. receive this crucial funding for our communities’ veterans. Veterans Inc.’s work is essential to ensure that our Veterans are getting the care, services, and resources that they need to thrive when they come home,” said Senator Peter Durant (R-Spencer).

“Veterans Inc. wholeheartedly thanks Governor Healey and Secretary Santiago for recognizing the critical importance of behavioral health care for veterans in all of our Massachusetts communities, but particularly those in rural areas which lack access to desperately needed community assistance resources. There is no better day than today to extend life-saving suicide prevention resources to those who have courageously raised their hand in defense of our nation,” said Lt. Col. Vincent J. Perrone, President & CEO, Veterans Inc. “Thanks to Governor Healey, Secretary Santiago, and our elected officials who advocate for our veterans, Massachusetts is, and will continue to be, the greatest state in the nation in which to be a veteran.”

The Veterans Reintegration Advisory Committee (VRAC), established through a legislative mandate, consists of private and nonprofit stakeholders addressing Veterans' mental health and suicide. In January 2024, VRAC released the report, “An Examination of Suicide Among Veterans and Their Reintegration into Society,” outlining a framework to reduce veteran suicide.

The committee found that in Massachusetts, 1 in 9 suicides involved current or former military personnel, often impacted by mental health or substance use disorders, and more likely to attempt suicide by lethal means. Key strategies include systematic data collection, rapid access to treatment, investment in peer services, and comprehensive training for healthcare providers in military culture and suicide prevention. These VCI grants aim to connect and support these efforts.

For more information about the Veterans Community Initiative (VCI) Grant and the projects it supports, please contact (857)-303-6051.

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Landmark Massachusetts Data Privacy Act Approved by Legislative Committee

(BOSTON 5/6/2024) Today, Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet, and Cybersecurity chairs Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Senator Michael Moore announced that a wide-ranging bill which grants consumers new rights over their personal data has been reported favorably out of Committee. The Massachusetts Data Privacy Act (MDPA) establishes baseline data minimization standards by restricting data holders to only collect and process what is reasonably necessary and proportional to their lawful purpose. The MDPA will ensure greater accountability of companies and grant user data privacy protections to those present in Massachusetts and residents of the state. Highlighted in this bill are strong protections for children, defined as anyone under 18 years, from targeted advertising and transferring of their data without expressed consent. 

“With so much of our lives happening online, it can be hard to know who is collecting your data, how much they know about you, and what they’re doing with that information,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The Massachusetts Data Privacy Act gives everyday Bay Staters the right to better control their data and grants them the ability to simply say no when it comes to invasive data collection practices. Further, it protects users’ most sensitive data from being used for targeted advertising, including information on race, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and whether one has been a victim of a crime. I’m proud to have collaborated with my co-chair Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier and thank her for her leadership on this critical topic. This bill will bring accountability to invasive tech companies, and I look forward to continuing the conversation about digital consumer protections as this legislation makes its way through the State House.”

“We rely on technology daily, but these companies are collecting more of our data than ever before and then legally selling this information, rarely with the consumer’s knowledge,” said House Chair Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfield).  “At a juncture where the collection and sale of what should be private data is a matter of public safety and security, the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act is a critical step to hold companies accountable and establish consumer protection in Massachusetts. We must take action to protect the people of the Commonwealth, especially children, and their private data.”

The MDPA reflects efforts to keep the Commonwealth up to date with the bipartisan federal consensus model for data privacy in three ways; establishing baseline data minimization standards by restricting data holders to only collect and process data that is reasonably necessary and proportional to their purpose; recognizing and reflecting their role in collecting, processing, and transferring data; and banning the commercial sale of geolocation information and targeted advertising to minors.

As proposed in the MDPA, important data subject rights extend to all individuals located in Massachusetts such as, the right to access their personal information, the right to opt out of certain processes such as targeted advertising, and the right to delete certain information.

The MDPA would also provide a variety of meaningful enforcement mechanisms.  The Attorney General is empowered to enforce the MDPA under its own terms and as a violation of the Commonwealth’s consumer protection law, Chapter 93A. Consumers are also able to bring claims on their own behalf through a private right of action.

More Restrictive Standards for Sensitive Covered Data

The bill specifies that sensitive data, as defined below, cannot be processed for the purposes of targeted advertising. Covered entities cannot engage in targeted advertising to minors, nor can covered entities transfer an individual’s sensitive covered data to a third party without the affirmative express consent of the individual.

Sensitive data includes information such as precise geolocation information, biometric or genetic information, the data of a minor (anyone under 18), government-issued identifiers, and data that reveals an individual’s:

• race, color, ethnicity, or national origin

• sex or gender identity and sexual orientation

• religious beliefs

• citizenship or immigration status

• military service

• status as a victim of a crime

Outlines Acceptable Consent Practices

The legislation states that covered entities must issue clear and conspicuous requests for consent to collect and process information with reasonably understandable language, and explain an individual's applicable rights. Requests for consent must be displayed at or before the point of collection of information, and need to include a description of what information will be collected and the purpose for collection.

Covered entities cannot infer that an individual has provided consent via their inaction (e.g. clicking out of the consent request without confirming choices does not equate consent.)

Privacy by Design

Bill language states that covered entities are required to establish, implement, and maintain reasonable policies, practices, and other procedures that reflect their role in collecting, processing, and transferring data. These policies and practices should identify, assess, and mitigate privacy risks as a whole and implement reasonable training and safeguards to promote compliance with all privacy laws applicable to covered data the covered entity collects, processes, or transfers.

Additional Provisions of the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act include:

• Privacy Policy Notice Requirements

• Data Broker Registration with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation

• Attorney General Regulatory Authority

• Bans the Commercial Sale of Location Information

The Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet, and Cybersecurity’s action comes two months following President Biden’s Executive Order to Protect Americans’ Sensitive Personal Data. Additionally, this action comes in the wake of Senator Wyden’s Letter to the FTC and SEC after a broker sold phone location data to target visitors at hundreds of reproductive health clinics and Senator Markey’s letter to car makers regarding the advancement in car technology and consumer data privacy. These increasing calls for company accountability and enhanced data privacy for consumers reflect a lack of comprehensive federal action and showcases the urgency to act to protect Massachusetts consumers.

Having been approved by the Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet, and Cybersecurity, the bill now will move forward to the Senate and House Committee on Ways and Means for further review.

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Governor Signs FY24 Supplemental Budget

(BOSTON 5/3/2024) – On Tuesday, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a supplemental budget into law that funds the state’s emergency shelter system for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024 and provides a glide path into Fiscal Year 2025 while instituting reforms to ensure the integrity and financial stability of the program. The bill further extends certain COVID-era flexibilities, most notably allowing for permanent outdoor dining options and restaurants to sell cocktails to-go, as well as expanding nursing eligibility to graduate students and certain staff in assisted living facilities. The legislation was approved by the full Legislature last week.

The bill includes targeted funding to support families exiting the shelter system, puts reasonable limitations on the length of time families can remain in the program, creates a recurrent certification requirement to ensure program participants are complying with eligibility requirements, and establishes a commission to study the future of the shelter program.

“Nothing Massachusetts can do will make up for Washington, D.C.’s inaction on our broken immigration system, but I believe this supplemental budget bill represents a first step in getting the crisis facing our emergency shelter system under control,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Coming to a yes vote was not easy for me – voting no would mean letting funding run out for our emergency housing system which would lead to pain and suffering for migrants and Bay State residents alike, while voting yes would mean continuing to let Massachusetts taxpayers bear the burden of a failing federal immigration system. I believe voting yes was the right thing to do for Massachusetts, but with that being said, it is absolutely imperative that our representatives on Capitol Hill step up to do their jobs and pass the recently negotiated bipartisan Senate immigration bill.”

The legislation allocates $251 million for Fiscal Year 2024 shelter costs, which includes $10 million for approved workforce training programs; $10 million for a tax credit for companies that provide job training to Emergency Assistance (EA) participants; $3 million for family welcome centers; $1 million for supplemental staffing at emergency housing assistance program shelters, and $7 million for resettlement agencies and shelter providers to assist families with rehousing, work authorization, and English language learning.

Addressing the long-term needs of the shelter system, the supplemental budget additionally authorizes up to $175 million in funds from the transitional escrow fund to place the shelter system on a fiscally sustainable glide path into FY 2025.

The legislation requires the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to create a rehousing plan and provide case management for all individuals in shelters to help them successfully exit the program, and requires recertification every 60 days for families to remain eligible. Beginning June 1, 2024, the total length of stay would be limited to nine months, at the end of which families would be eligible for up to two 90-day extensions.

Extensions would be based on circumstances that include employment or participation in a workforce training program, veteran status, imminent placement in housing, avoiding educational interruptions for children in public school, pregnancy or having recently given birth, diagnosed disability or medical condition, a single parent caring for disabled child or family member, a single parent without adequate childcare, and risk of harm due to domestic violence.

Families who face the end of their shelter time limit may be granted a hardship waiver from the Administration, and all families would need to be provided with 90 days' notice before terminating benefits.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of the shelter system, the legislation establishes a commission to study the future of the shelter program. It creates a tax credit for employers to provide workforce training to families in shelter and includes robust reporting to ensure close monitoring of how the administration is managing the shelter program.

The legislation also requires the Governor to seek federal approvals for a waiver from the federal Department of Homeland Security to permit expedited, temporary, and provisional work authorizations for newly arriving migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. These authorizations are key to creating pathways to work to ultimately alleviate the shelter capacity crisis.

Previously, during Senate debate, Senator Moore voted to support a number of amendments, including Amendment 26 which would direct resettlement agencies to work more closely with the Healey Administration to help better forecast its shelter capacity and ensure the Commonwealth always has space for those who need it, as well as Amendment 49 which would have allowed officials to take into account an individual’s length of residency in Massachusetts when determining priority for emergency shelter. These amendments did not win approval into the final bill.

Conversely, Senator Moore did secure an amendment that reallocates funds that were previously earmarked for the Worcester Fire Department in the FY24 budget, allowing the dollars to be broadly used to purchase equipment for the department. The funding was originally meant to purchase “a self-contained breathing apparatus vehicle,” but due to the Governor’s 9C cuts, the original $350,000 earmark was cut in half and could no longer cover the entire cost of the vehicle.

Pandemic era policies made permanent in the legislation include allowing outdoor dining and craft-made mixed drinks to-go, allowing 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; and permitting remote reverse mortgage counseling. It extends for one year 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.

Having been passed by the House of Representatives and Senate and received the signature of the Governor, the bill now becomes law.

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Governor Signs $375 Million for Local Transportation Infrastructure

(MELROSE 5/3/2024) – Today, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed sweeping Chapter 90 transportation infrastructure legislation into law, giving municipalities around the Commonwealth a critical tool to make investments in local roads, bridges, public transit, and more. This comes days after the Legislature gave the bill final approval.

The legislation includes a total of $375 million in bond authorization. Every city and town in the Commonwealth would receive a share of $200 million in funding to be used on maintenance and construction of roads and bridges. Separately, $150 million would be allocated equally to six programs targeting specific transportation infrastructure, including $25 million for roads and bridges to cities and towns through the rural roads program.

“Good transportation infrastructure is going to be key to Massachusetts’ continued growth and success,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This funding will go toward fixing sidewalks, building bridges, filling potholes, expanding public transit, and improving road safety for users of all transportation types. I’m pleased to have joined my colleagues in unanimous support for this bill and I look forward to seeing these dollars going toward infrastructure improvements in each of our communities.”

Of the $375 million in total authorizations, the legislation would allocate $25 million to each of the following programs that target specific infrastructure areas:

• Municipal Pavement Program, which focuses on the improvement of municipally owned state numbered routes.

• Municipal Small Bridge Program, which provides financial support to cities and towns for small bridge replacement, preservation, and rehabilitation projects.

• Complete Streets Funding Program, which provides funding to municipalities for streets that provide safe and accessible options for all travel modes such as walking, biking, transit, and vehicles.

• Municipal Bus Enhancement Program, which provides grant funding to build out infrastructure related to mass transit by bus.

• Mass Transit Access Grant Program, which provides grants for design and construction improvements to access commuter rail stations or other mass transit stations, such as parking lots, drop-off and pick-up zones, bike storage infrastructure, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

• Municipal/RTA EV Grant Program, which provides grants to Regional Transit Authorities and municipalities for the purchase of electric vehicles and related charging equipment.

Having passed both branches of the Legislature and having been signed by the Governor, the bill is now law.

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Governor Signs Westborough Town Charter Amendment

(BOSTON – 5/2/2023) On Tuesday, Governor Maura Healey signed a bill amending Westborough’s town charter to promote affordable housing production by opening the door for the Westborough Affordable Housing Trust to make appointments to the Housing Partnership Committee. This authority, if granted by the Select Board, would allow the Trust the flexibility to function as the Housing Partnership Committee or restructure the body to include both members of the Trust and members of the public. This effort hopes to keep the Housing Partnership Committee fully staffed and able to assist private developers who wish to build affordable housing projects as they work through local permitting processes.

The charter amendment hopes to revitalize the Housing Partnership Committee, which has recently suffered from numerous vacant seats, denying the body a quorum to meet or act. Currently, Committee members are appointed by the Select Board. The enactment of this bill allows the Westborough Affordable Housing Trust to act as an appointing or reforming agency for the Committee if the Select Board grants them the authority to do so, an authority it can reclaim at any time.

This bill, H.4202 – An Act amending the Charter of the Town of Westborough, was championed in the Massachusetts Legislature by Senator Michael Moore and Representatives Kate Donaghue and Hannah Kane. Its passage comes as a result of a home rule petition submitted by the Town of Westborough, which approved the language during the community’s October 2023 Town Meeting under Articles 16 and 17.

“This bill will allow Westborough to continue to pursue its affordable housing goals by allowing those who already intimately know the scope of the area’s housing crisis to lead the committee whose task it is to promote real, concrete solutions,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues Representative Donaghue and Representative Kane to move this bill through the Legislature and onto Governor Healey’s desk. I look forward to seeing this action take effect and help bring housing to Westborough for those who feel increasingly squeezed out by rising rent and home prices.”

“Thank you to Senator Moore and Representative Kane for their efforts with this legislation,” said Representative Kate Donaghue (D-Westborough). “I appreciate their partnership and am thankful to Governor Healey for signing this bill which will help the Affordable Housing Trust and the Housing Partnership Committee as we look to support affordable housing in Westborough.”

“By providing the Westborough Affordable Housing Trust with more flexibility, H4202 will put Westborough in a better position to achieve the town's housing goals,” said Representative Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury).  “I am glad that this bill has been signed into law, and was pleased to work with Representative Donaghue and Senator Moore to expedite passage through the Legislature.”

“This legislation will allow the Westborough Affordable Housing Trust to address the housing needs within Westborough by providing a more effective and efficient structure for supporting developers who are creating properties that include affordable residential units. The Trust is extremely grateful for the support of Senator Moore, and Representatives Donaghue and Kane in ushering this Home Rule Petition through the General Court and for the support of Governor Healey,” said Edward Behn, Westborough Affordable Housing Trust Chair.

The Housing Partnership Committee was established to encourage the development of well-designed and well-built affordable homes in Westborough. By helping private developers utilize the Local Initiative Program and navigate the town’s permitting processes, the Committee is intended to ease the process of affordable home development and make Westborough more attractive to developers who are seeking to build these types of homes.

The mission of the Westborough Affordable Housing Trust is to create and preserve public affordable housing units in Westborough and to improve broad housing affordability in the community. The Trust generally does this work through partnerships with local and state government officials.

Having passed both Legislative chambers and having been signed by the Governor, the bill is enacted into law and Westborough’s town charter is amended.

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Senate Approves Consumer Protection Package

(BOSTON 4/26/2024) – Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate took action to protect residents and consumers from predatory tactics and promote fairer interactions with businesses in the Commonwealth, passing bills that would ban third-party residential electric suppliers and enhance the state’s Lemon Law for car buyers. The Senate also passed legislation mandating home insurers cover residential oil spill damages – a bill originally introduced by Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) and now co-sponsored by Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury).

“Massachusetts has a long legacy of strong consumer protections, and action in the Senate this week brings us further into the corner of everyday working people,” said Senator Michael Moore. “These three bills, including one I’ve co-sponsored since Senator Anne Gobi’s retirement, will ensure homeowners will have insurance policies that cover costly accidents, consumers will pay fair rates for electricity, and drivers will be able to buy a car with confidence. I’d like to thank my colleagues in the Senate for their commitment to protecting individuals and families across the state from predatory companies, and would encourage the House to promptly pass these bills so we can get them to Governor Healey’s desk.”

S.2737: An Act relative to the remediation of home heating oil releases. This bill, co-sponsored by Senator Michael Moore, mandates that insurers in Massachusetts provide residential homeowners with insurance that covers damage to home and property caused by a leak in a residential liquid fuel tank or home fuel supply lines, as well as cover fees related to litigation. Approximately 100 homeowners experience an oil leak in Massachusetts every year, according to MassDEP. Leaks can incur costly damage to the residence itself, but under Massachusetts law, owners are responsible for environmental cleanup – which can rise to $100,000 or more – to dispose of contaminated soil and mitigate the spread in surrounding areas.

Current state law says that companies “shall make coverage available” for owners. While coverage is available, there are many documented cases of companies not making owners aware that the provision is available. This often results in homeowners being unaware they do not have insurance coverage until after they experience a liquid fuel tank leak.

S.2738: An Act relative to electric ratepayer protections. This bill bars electric suppliers from enrolling new individual residential customers in contracts and protect residents from unfair and deceptive practices in the competitive electric supply market. According to the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Public Utilities, data analysis show that consumers lost more than $577 million to competitive electric suppliers between July 2015 and June 2023.

The AG’s Office has issued three reports on the impact of the market in Massachusetts, which together with additional analysis found that low-income residents and residents of color are disproportionately affected by the industry by being more likely to sign up, and subsequently being charged higher rates.

S.2736: An Act modernizing protections for consumers in automobile transactions. This bill adds legal safeguards for residents who purchase used and leased cars in Massachusetts by creating four new consumer protections in the car buying process. If passed, the legislation would expand the rights of car buyers who expect a purchased vehicle to be in a state of good repair and free of problems. It would also boost the dollar amounts for current consumer protections to reflect vehicles and repairs that are more expensive.

Provisions of the bill include:

• Expanding the Lemon Aid Law by providing consumers seven days from the date of delivery to inspect their vehicle and obtain a full refund if the vehicle fails inspection. Current law provides seven days from the date of sale.

• Increasing the surety bond amounts for used car dealers from $25,000 to $50,000, permitting the Attorney General to file claims against surety bonds for consumers, and removing the requirement for a court judgement for recovery against a bond.

• Ensuring those who lease a vehicle have the same rights to repossession notice and right to cure as those who finance a vehicle.

• Increasing the used vehicle warranty from 125,000 miles to 150,000 miles, thereby protecting consumers who purchase more affordable vehicles with higher mileage.

The bill placing a ban on third-party residential electric suppliers, S.2738, passed by a vote of 34 to 4. The bill protecting consumers in auto sales, S.2736, and the bill mandating insurance coverage for residential oil spills, S.2737, were passed without objection. Having been approved in the Senate, the three bills now head to the House of Representatives for their consideration.

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Senate Commends National Safety Council for Lifesaving Work During Distracted Driving Awareness Month

(BOSTON 4/18/2024) – Early this week, the Massachusetts Senate approved a resolution praising the work of the National Safety Council (NSC) in preventing roadway deaths and recognizing the month of April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The resolution, introduced by Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore, specifically identifies the high monetary and human cost of distracted driving, killing over 3,000 Americans every year and costing almost $500 billion annually in motor vehicle crashes.

“Every year, distracted driving injures and kills countless pedestrians, drivers, and passengers in every corner of America. It is so important to raise awareness about how dangerous it is to look away from the road to respond to a text, adjust the radio, or make a phone call, even if it’s for just a moment,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m thrilled that the National Safety Council is taking the lead to draw Americans’ attention to this issue during Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and I’m proud to support them as they work to create safer roads for all users. Everyone deserves to get where they’re going safely – that text can wait.”

“NSC is thrilled with the Massachusetts Senate’s passage of a resolution recognizing Distracted Driving Awareness Month,” said Mark Chung, executive vice president of roadway practice at the National Safety Council. “Each year, distracted driving takes thousands of lives and leaves even more seriously injured on our country’s roads. By raising awareness of the serious threat this issue poses to all road users by observing Distracted Driving Awareness Month, we are one step closer to preventing crashes and saving lives, in the Commonwealth and beyond.”

Distracted Driving Awareness Month is annually recognized in April with the primary purpose of bringing attention to the increasing dangers drivers and pedestrians face on the roads. Nationally, roadway injuries and deaths have been on the rise for over a decade. While many think of distracted driving as texting or using a phone while behind the wheel, anything that draws your attention away from the road can be dangerous, including adjusting the vehicle’s climate control, eating, applying makeup, and more.

The National Safety Council is an organization with a mission to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death in America, with specific focuses on roadways and in the workplace. Learn more about the NSC on their website here.

The full resolution can be found online here.

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Senate Authorizes $375 Million for Local Transportation Infrastructure

(BOSTON 4/12/2024) – Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously approved $375 million in bond authorizations for statewide transportation projects, including the state’s Chapter 90 program, which would create a reliable funding source for local infrastructure investments like roads, bridges, regional transit equipment and infrastructure, bicycle infrastructure, and electric vehicle infrastructure, among other things.

Every city and town in the Commonwealth would receive a share of $200 million in funding to be used on maintenance and construction of roads and bridges. $150 million would be allocated equally to six programs targeting specific transportation infrastructure, and $25 million would be allocated to cities and towns through the rural roads program. Many projects funded by this annual legislation play a role in environmental mitigation.

“Good transportation infrastructure is going to be key to Massachusetts’ continued growth and success,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This funding will go toward fixing sidewalks, building bridges, filling potholes, expanding public transit, and improving road safety for users of all transportation types. I’m pleased to have joined my colleagues in unanimous support for this bill and I look forward to seeing these dollars going toward infrastructure improvements in each of our communities.”

Of the $375 million in total authorizations, the legislation would allocate $25 million to each of the following programs that target specific infrastructure areas:

• Municipal Pavement Program, which focuses on the improvement of municipally owned state numbered routes.

• Municipal Small Bridge Program, which provides financial support to cities and towns for small bridge replacement, preservation, and rehabilitation projects.

• Complete Streets Funding Program, which provides funding to municipalities for streets that provide safe and accessible options for all travel modes such as walking, biking, transit, and vehicles.

• Municipal Bus Enhancement Program, which provides grant funding to build out infrastructure related to mass transit by bus.

• Mass Transit Access Grant Program, which provides grants for design and construction improvements to access commuter rail stations or other mass transit stations, such as parking lots, drop-off and pick-up zones, bike storage infrastructure, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

• Municipal/RTA EV Grant Program, which provides grants to Regional Transit Authorities and municipalities for the purchase of electric vehicles and related charging equipment.

A previous version having been passed by the House of Representatives, the legislation now awaits final enactment in each branch, before being sent to Governor Healey’s desk for her signature.

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MassDEP Announces Drinking Water and Wastewater System Funding

(BOSTON 4/9/2024) – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) recently announced this year’s Intended Use Plan, awarding over $500 million to finance drinking water projects across the Commonwealth through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program and over $930 million to finance wastewater projects in MA through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program. Amongst the 48 projects funded by the DWSRF, five are located in the Second Worcester District, including in the Towns of Auburn, Grafton, Millbury, and Shrewsbury. Of the 50 projects funded by the CWSRF, two are located in the Second Worcester District, including in the Town of Shrewsbury and the City of Worcester.

The programs, financed through joint federal-state initiatives including President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provide subsidized loans and grants to protect the health of the public by improving drinking water infrastructure, updating wastewater infrastructure, and protecting drinking water supplies.

“The safety and security of our drinking water supply and wastewater treatment systems are essential to maintaining the health of our communities,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m pleased that MassDEP has selected several towns and cities in my district to receive generous funding that will allow local officials to make vital upgrades to their systems. Filtering out toxic PFAS chemicals, expanding treatment capacity, and replacing outdated equipment are important projects that will pay dividends long into the future as our communities continue to grow – I’d like to thank the Healey Administration and MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple for moving these initiatives forward.”

The five projects receiving funding through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program include:

Auburn Water District

Arsenic and PFAS removal WTP for South Street Well

$12,240,000

Grafton Water District

East St. and Worcester St. PFAS Treatment Upgrades

$15,000,000

South Grafton Water District

PFAS Treatment Plant for Wells #2 and #3

$4,200,000

Aquarion Water Company of Massachusetts – Millbury

Jacques Wells Water Treatment Facility

$7,775,000

The two projects receiving funding through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program include:

Shrewsbury

Walnut St PS upgrade & FM/sewer replacement

$5,040,200

Worcester

Holden Street Pump Station rehabilitation project

$6,511,000

This round of funding supports 49 clean water construction projects totaling approximately $932 million and 50 drinking water construction projects totaling approximately $503 million. An additional $8 million will be offered as grants for 69 Asset Management Planning projects. These initiatives will help address issues increasingly confronting municipalities, including PFAS contamination, elevated lead levels in drinking water, and failed septic systems.

MassDEP will open the next State Revolving Fund solicitation for proposals by May 15, 2024.

More information on the State Revolving Fund programs can be found on MassDEP’s website.

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Senate Acts to Protect Firefighters, Increase “Hot Work” Safety

(BOSTON 4/1/2024) – Last week, the Senate unanimously passed legislation to boost safety for people conducting “hot work” – welding, plasma cutting, and spark-producing construction – by requiring the state to create a public database of violations of the fire prevention statute, and a public notification system to alert workers of violations.

The passage of S.1485 – An Act relative to violation of regulation regarding hot work processes – comes in the days following the ten year anniversary of the tragic nine alarm fire in the Back Bay, started by welders working on a nearby iron railing, that resulted in the deaths of two Boston firefighters.

The Senate bill would work to prevent such tragedies by promoting transparency and prioritizing safety for Massachusetts firefighters.

“I’m pleased that the Senate is acting to protect our firefighters. By creating a database of fire prevention statute violations, we are promoting transparency and accountability for those who do hot work and for firefighters across the Commonwealth,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I am hopeful that we can keep this momentum going and pass my bill banning the use of toxic PFAS chemicals in firefighter turnout gear, something that poisons them each and every time they respond to a call. Firefighting is a dangerous job as it is – we need to be doing everything we can to protect those who protect us.”

“This legislation represents historic regulatory reforms that the Walsh-Kennedy Commission helped institute across the hot works and welding industry in Massachusetts. Passing this legislation will ensure that the critical reforms, training, oversight, and accountability needed to prevent tragedies like the Back Bay fire, will be the law of the land. We do this in honor law of Boston Fire Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy so that their sacrifices are not in vain,” said Senator Nick Collins (D-Boston), primary sponsor of the bill.

Having been passed by the Senate, the bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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Senate Acts to Make Debt Collections Fairer

(BOSTON 3/29/2024) – Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation to protect consumers and help keep people from being pushed into financial ruin if they are sued for financial debt. The new law would make debt collection practices fairer, protect wages, and make clear that no person can go to prison for their debt.

The Debt Collection Fairness Act – S.2713 – would protect thousands of families across the state, including many in communities of color, by reducing the interest rate from 12% to 3% on judgments on consumer debt, which is often old debt that has been bought by debt collection companies for pennies on the dollar.

It would also protect at least $975 in wages per week from a person subject to wage garnishment because of a debt and ensure that no one in the Commonwealth is imprisoned for failure to pay a consumer debt. Currently only $750 per week in wages is protected from garnishment. The bill would also reduce, from 6 years to 5 years, the time in which a company can bring suit to collect a consumer debt.

“Debt sent to collections typically ends up in the hands of predatory collectors who make a living squeezing lower- and middle-class families for dollars they can’t afford to pay toward often years-old debt,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Hardworking Bay Staters shouldn’t have to choose between feeding their families and making a minimum payment on debt that was likely purchased by the collector for pennies on the dollar. This legislation makes reasonable changes to our system to allow creditors the tools to be made whole while ensuring indebted individuals still have the ability to get ahead of their financial past.”

This is the third time a version of the bill has passed the Senate. It now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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Senate Acts to Prevent Abuse and Exploitation Online

(BOSTON 3/26/2024) — Last week, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed An Act to prevent abuse and exploitation, bipartisan legislation that would criminalize the sharing of sexually explicit images or videos without an individual’s consent, also known as “revenge porn,” and implement a comprehensive educational diversion program designed for adolescents on the consequences of posting indecent visual depictions online. The bill, S.2703, increases the allowable fine for unlawful distribution of indecent images. It also legally defines “coercive control,” a form of abuse that utilizes threats to control or compel a victim into compliance ­— language that is based on a bill originally introduced and prioritized by Senator Michael Moore.

During Senate debate, Senator Michael Moore garnered support for his amendment to include information on the risks of misusing generative AI technology to create non-consensual pornographic images, often called “deepfakes,” in the educational diversion program called for in the original bill. On the heels of high-profile cases of celebrities such as Taylor Swift falling victim to this type of non-consensual revenge porn, the amendment would educate students on the dangers these types of technologies pose and emphasize that an image is still illegal even if it is not “real.”

“I’m pleased that the Massachusetts Senate is once again taking action to protect Bay Staters from the devastating consequences of revenge porn, coercive control, and other forms of online exploitation,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “In addition for establishing penalties for sharing revenge porn, this legislation also adopts language from one of my bills bringing Massachusetts’ laws up to date with the realities of abuse in today’s world by legally defining ‘coercive control,’ two practices that often goes hand-in-hand. Private photos shared without one’s consent can lead to life-long consequences, with an individual being re-victimized over and over again each time photos are re-shared. I am hopeful that this legislation will help put a stop to these cycles of pain for victims while educating our youth about responsible practices online.”

The bill requires the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) to develop and implement a comprehensive educational diversion program designed for adolescents on the consequences of sexting and posting indecent visuals online. It also requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to encourage school districts to implement instruction on age-appropriate media literacy skills and to use this content from the Office of the Child Advocate’s comprehensive educational diversion program.

The bill defines coercive control as a single act or pattern of behavior intended to threaten, intimidate, control, or compel compliance of a family or household member that causes a fear of physical harm or a reduced sense of physical safety. It allows an individual to seek an abuse prevention order if the individual is the victim of coercive control by a family or household member or a person with whom they were in a substantive dating relationship. An amendment was adopted to allow a victim of coercive control to seek a harassment prevention order. Defining coercive control would raise awareness among the public and professionals, facilitating early intervention and prevention efforts to support victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

The legislation also requires the diversion of a child alleged to be a juvenile delinquent for violating laws prohibiting the possession or dissemination of certain explicit visual material unless the court finds that failure to proceed with the arraignment would result in the substantial likelihood of serious harm to a member of the community.

The allowable fine for criminal harassment would increase from $1,000 to $5,000, and a new criminal offense would be established for the unlawful distribution of certain visual material depicting another person who is nude, partially nude or engaged in sexual conduct without their consent. The bill also establishes a new juvenile offense for the unlawful possession or dissemination of certain explicit visual material. An amendment was adopted that would create a commission to examine and investigate the potential impacts and legal implications of advances in technology and the internet on the protection of individuals from harm, abuse and exploitation.

The legislation has garnered support from advocates statewide.

“The passing of this legislation by the Senate today is an important milestone for all victims of online image-based sexual exploitation in Massachusetts. This bill cannot come soon enough,” said Deb Mann Schmill, Founder and President of the Becca Schmill Foundation. “While younger and younger children have been accessing the internet, and sexting has become normalized, online sexual exploitation has skyrocketed. The bill passed today, along with a commitment by our schools to provide digital and media literacy, will go a long way toward protecting children, and adults, from the devastating experience of online image-based sexual exploitation.”

“After many years of survivor testimonies, the Senate's historic vote today led by Quincy's Senator John Keenan, sends a clear message that survivors and victims of revenge porn deserve justice under the law to hold their abusers accountable. As a survivor of revenge porn, today I can breathe a little better knowing that Massachusetts is one major step closer to protecting victims of this heinous crime. To all my fellow survivors, your life matters. People love you. Your abuser will not determine your future. You control your own destiny. Every day is a chance for something great,” said Alex Hagerty, former Abington Selectman. “I am grateful I was able to be in the Senate chamber today with my dad, my hero, who saved my life when I fell victim, and witness the Senate vote to criminalize revenge porn in Massachusetts. Thank you to Senator Keenan for lifting up your voice to help raise the voices of victims of revenge porn. Massachusetts is one giant step closer to signing revenge porn laws into law.”

This is the second time the Senate has passed a version of this legislation. A previous version of this bill having passed the House of Representatives, the two branches will now reconcile the differences between the bills before sending it to the Governor for her consideration.

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Senate Passes Supplemental Budget, Creates Roadmap for Emergency Shelter System

(BOSTON 3/25/2024) — Last week, after extensive debate, the Massachusetts Senate passed S.2708, a supplemental budget which would make additional appropriations to the emergency shelter system while taking proactive and fiscally responsible steps to ensure its long term effectiveness. It also supports workforce training programs for families who have recently migrated to Massachusetts.

The bill requires each sheltered family in to receive an individualized rehousing plan; eligibility for shelter after nine months would be contingent upon compliance with the rehousing plan, with certain categorical exemptions. The bill comes on the heels of Congress torpedoing bipartisan, commonsense federal immigration reforms which would have brought assistance to the Commonwealth.

Separately, the legislation permanently codifies outdoor dining flexibility made popular during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nothing Massachusetts can do will make up for Washington, D.C.’s inaction on our broken immigration system, but I believe this supplemental budget bill represents a first step in getting the crisis facing our emergency shelter system under control,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Coming to a yes vote was not easy for me – voting no would mean letting funding run out for our emergency housing system which would lead to pain and suffering for migrants and Bay State residents alike, while voting yes would mean continuing to let Massachusetts taxpayers bear the burden of a failing federal immigration system. I believe voting yes was the right thing to do for Massachusetts, but with that being said, it is absolutely imperative that our representatives on Capitol Hill step up to do their jobs and pass the recently negotiated bipartisan Senate immigration bill.”

The legislation authorizes the Office of Administration and Finance to spend $75 million per month for the remaining few months of Fiscal Year 2024 from the Transitional Escrow Fund to help shelter families and promote self-sufficiency, and thereafter in FY25 articulates clear, decreasing amounts that the Office of Administration and Finance can spend per month from the Traditional Escrow Fund for this purpose. It also appropriates an additional $10 million in funds for housing intervention services and workforce supports in the emergency shelter program and provides $15 million to fund settlement obligations and judgements.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of the state’s shelter system, the legislation authorizes a family to remain eligible for emergency housing assistance benefits for nine months, with the possibility of 90-day extensions if the emergency housing recipient family is complying with their rehousing plan or meets certain circumstances.

The bill further creates a special commission to study and make recommendations on the sustainability, efficiency and effectiveness of the emergency housing assistance program. The commission would also be tasked with studying how to best support and ensure the long-term sufficiency of those seeking shelter while also helping to shore up regional based responses concerning the support of families in need of shelter. The supplemental budget continues to require the Executive Office for Administration and Finance to submit biweekly reports regarding certain metrics of the Emergency Housing Assistance program.

During Senate debate, Senator Moore voted to support a number of amendments, including Amendment 26 which would direct resettlement agencies to work more closely with the Healey Administration to help better forecast its shelter capacity and ensure the Commonwealth always has space for those who need it, as well as Amendment 49 which would have allowed officials to take into account an individual’s length of residency in Massachusetts when determining priority for emergency shelter. These amendments did not win approval into the final bill.

Conversely, Senator Moore did secure an amendment that reallocates funds that were previously earmarked for the Worcester Fire Department in the FY24 budget, allowing the dollars to be broadly used to purchase equipment for the department. The funding was originally meant to purchase “a self-contained breathing apparatus vehicle,” but due to the Governor’s 9C cuts, the original $350,000 earmark was cut in half and could no longer cover the entire cost of the vehicle.

The bill also contains an array of other measures to support the Commonwealth’s businesses, students, and residents, including:

• Allowing a city or town to approve requests for expansion of outdoor restaurant service.

• Allowing graduates and students in their last semester of nursing education programs to the practice nursing, in accordance with guidance from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.

• Extends 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.

• Makes technical changes to certain line items from the fiscal year 2024 budget.

A version of this supplemental budget recently passed the House, the differences will now need to be resolved between the House and Senate.  

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Shrewsbury Receives $35,000 Municipal ADA Grant

Shrewsbury Receives $35,000 Municipal ADA Grant

(BOSTON – 3/20/2023) Last week, the Massachusetts Office on Disability announced that 63 projects in 57 cities and towns had been selected to receive grants through the FY24 Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act Grant program, including a project in Shrewsbury. The grant, totaling $35,000, will fund the purchase and installation of assistive listening systems in town building assembly areas, improving access and removing barriers to government participation for those with a reduced ability to hear.

“Government works best when everyone gets involved in the process and makes their voices heard – that’s why it is so critical that our systems are able to accommodate those who are differently abled,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The installation of assistive listening systems in Shrewsbury will allow those who are hard of hearing to seamlessly participate in town meetings, hearings, and other events with devices that can amplify what is being said into microphones to a volume that is clear and comfortable for the user. I’d like to thank the Massachusetts Office on Disability for their commitment to accessibility and for recognizing the importance of bringing this technology to the people of Shrewsbury through this generous grant.”

“Making municipal facilities more accessible helps people with disabilities fully participate in the community and ensures that local government can effectively serve all residents,” said Representative Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury). “I am pleased to see that the Massachusetts Office on Disability has awarded Shrewsbury $35,000 from the Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act Grant to install assistive listening systems in assembly areas in town buildings, and thankful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for supporting accessibility in Shrewsbury.”

In fiscal year 2024, the Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act Grant program awarded $3,932,321.07 worth of grants to 63 projects in 57 municipalities. Grant applications are submitted to fund specific projects or pay for planning expenses for projects that will expand government accessibility to differently abled individuals.

The Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act Grant program is a yearly grant run through the Massachusetts Office on Disability. The program, funded by the Legislature, is located within the Commonwealth’s yearly capital budget. A full list of FY24 awardees can be found online here. More information about the grant program can be found online here.

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