By Bob Katzen

“Providing affordable financing to our cities and towns takes the pressure off local budgets and helps our communities move forward with critical infrastructure projects. State Revolving Funds create construction jobs and ensure safer, healthier communities.”
—Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll on the Healey Administration announcing that 70 projects across Massachusetts are eligible to receive over $1 billion in low-interest rate loans to upgrade or replace aging drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and cut treatment plant energy use and costs.
Continue reading THIS WEEK’S QUOTABLE QUOTES ON BEACON HILL →

By Bob Katzen

The Healey Administration announced the distribution of 26,368 Internet-enabled devices to organizations across the state through the Connected and Online Program to improve quality of life for Massachusetts residents by providing access to essential services and resources online. Continue reading DISTRIBUTION OF 26,368 COMPUTERS AND OTHER INTERNET DEVICES →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate sent to a study committee a bill that would regulate alcohol sales at large entertainment venues that seat more than 4,900 people by establishing new restrictions on how alcoholic beverages are sold and served. Under the bill, alcoholic beverages would only be allowed to be sold and served at these large venues directly by employees who are licensed by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC).
Continue reading “GRAB-AND-GO” ALCOHOL SALES (S 225) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate referred to the Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery a late-filed bill that would create a vehicle for the state to raise awareness of the existence of the MassMen Initiative that promotes wellness and empowers working-age men across the Bay State to take action to feel better emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Continue reading MEN’S HEALTH (SD 3556) →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval, on a voice vote without a roll call, to legislation that would remove the term “hearing impaired” from the Massachusetts General Laws and replace it with “deaf or hard of hearing.”

Continue reading HEARING IMPAIRED (S 2120) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 37-0, approved an amendment that would require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in consultation with the Department of Agricultural Resources, to conduct a study and make recommendations on the feasibility of establishing additional county agricultural schools in the Bay State. The bill requires that at least four public hearings be held on the matter and that an initial draft of the results be finished by December 31, 2016; and then following another public hearing on the draft, the final version with recommendations must be filed with the House of Representatives by July 1, 2027.
Continue reading STUDY OPENING MORE AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS (S 3029) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 38-0, approved an amendment that would allow cities and towns to give temporary property tax breaks to farmers for building new buildings and/or renovating structures that are essential to farming – including barns, storage facilities, worker housing structures and structures used as indoor arenas for training and exercising horses that are used to help on the farm. The tax exemption applies only to the added value from new or rebuilt buildings and is valid for five years. If the building is used for non-agricultural purposes prior to the 5-year period, the owner would be required to pay back the taxes that were exempt.
Continue reading TAX EXEMPTIONS (S 3029) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the House a bill titled “Fostering Agricultural Resilience in Massachusetts,” nicknamed the FARM bill, that proponents said will support Massachusetts’ 7,000 farms; make it easier for families to buy fresh and nutritious food; protect the state’s food supply for the future; and continue the state’s response to federal actions that threaten food access.
Continue reading THE FARM BILL (S 3029) →