Beacon Hill News

Diggs and Payano Chair Public Hearing on Healey’s $62 billion Budget Plan; Receive Pleas for Aid

By |

By Chris Lisinski

The Joint Ways and Means Committee Tuesday heard please from the public as it wrapped up its review of Gov. Maura T. Healey’s $62 billion budget plan for the year that begins July 1. Rep. Kip A. Diggs and Sen. Pavel M. Payano, who represents Lawrence, Methuen and Haverhill, chaired the more than five hours of public comments, during which more than 150 people were signed up to testify, comes at a time budget writers are building a fiscal 2026 proposal that takes into account economic volatility, uncertainty about federal supports and funding demands from myriad special interest groups. Programs like the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program, which distributes produce to community food providers, are at risk of losing $3.5 million in federal funding for food purchasing, along with cuts to other federal nutrition programs that critics say will put “unprecedented strain” on people. With food pantry use up 80% between 2020 and 2023, Kate Adams, senior public policy manager at the Greater Boston Food Bank, requested $55.5 million in support for the food assistance program in the state budget, a roughly $10 million increase over last fiscal year. “We measured on a monthly basis how many individuals are coming to our network of 600 community food providers, and that number is 600,000 every month,” Adams said.

Beacon Hill News

Massachusetts Cabinet Secretary Warns of ‘Enormous’ MassHealth Cuts

By |

By Colin A. Young

Having spent her roughly 100-mile drive listening to the national news Monday morning and then hearing her colleagues at a budget hearing dig into the policy and finance specifics of crucial state programs, Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa got a sinking feeling. “I feel like we’re trying to budget on quicksand at the moment,” the Northampton Democrat said as she and the rest of the Joint Ways and Means Committee gathered to review Gov. Maura Healey’s fiscal year 2026 budget plan with the part of state government that could face the deepest and most immediate consequences of looming federal shifts, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. While Beacon Hill continues its usual budget process, President Donald Trump has been moving to reshape the federal government and its spending, with all signs pointing to disruptions in the relationship between D.C. and states like Massachusetts. Medicaid is in the crosshairs of a pursuit for trillions of dollars in tax cuts and federal spending reductions over the next decade, and that could have massive impacts on MassHealth. The state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program system affords health care coverage to about two million Bay Staters and brings about $15 billion of federal revenue to Massachusetts.

Beacon Hill News

Healey Awards State Farm Food Grants to Haverhill Agency, Others; Draws Comparison to Trump Cuts

By |

Gov. Maura T. Healey’s administration said Monday it awarded state farm food grants to a Haverhill-based agency and others following cuts in a similar federal program by the Trump administration. The competitive Massachusetts Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health—or FRESH—grants went to 26 school districts and 11 early education and care programs, including $28,053 to Community Action and $20,785 to the Merrimack Valley Young YMCA. “While the Trump administration continues to take away food from children and families, and hurt local businesses and farmers, Massachusetts is continuing to prioritize programs like these,” said Healey in a statement. “We know that our students succeed when they have access to healthy food, and we can create partnerships that support local businesses and farms in the process.”

As WHAV reported March 10, the feds cancelled nationwide this year’s allocation from the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program. Healey said the state money supports the National School Lunch Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program sponsors to start or expand their capacity to grow or procure local food and educate students, teachers, school nutrition professionals and staff about the local food system.

Beacon Hill News

Inspector General Says Regulators Failed to Collect Cannabis License Fees Owed to State

By |

Haverhill isn’t the only one wrestling with fees related to cannabis retailers. State Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro Wednesday called on the Cannabis Control Commission to conduct an audit to confirm stores are paying all state fees following an investigation that found that the agency did not collect about $550,000 in prorated license fees and up to $1.2 million in potential provisional licensing fees from for the two years ending August 2024. Writing to Commission Executive Director Travis Ahern and Acting Chair Bruce Stebbins, Shapiro said it originally got involved after receiving a complaint. “Our investigation did not find any suggestion of fraud, but it did reveal an egregious operational breakdown that underscores the need for statutory reform. We are pleased to learn that the CCC has recently worked to update the agency’s payment systems and has begun to recoup previously uncollected fees.

Beacon Hill News

Black and Latino Legislative Caucus Elects Haverhill’s Rep. Vargas Chair

By |

Haverhill state Rep. Andy X. Vargas is assuming the chair of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus during the 194th two-year legislative session. Members of the Caucus elected Vargas last week and he will be joined by Vice-Chair Liz Miranda, Treasurer Adam Gomez, Secretary Kip Diggs and newly appointed Executive Director Tomás O’Brien. “This is both a challenging and exciting time for this Caucus. Challenging due to the headwinds of a federal administration that promises to cut vital programs and initiatives that disproportionately affect our communities. Exciting, in part, thanks to the historic size this caucus has reached and the leadership appointments gained this session,” said Vargas.

Beacon Hill News

Finegold, Payano, Vargas Keep or Assume New Leadership Roles Following Session Reorg

By |

During the biennial session reorganization Wednesday of Massachusetts House and Senate committees, a number of area legislators either held their committee leadership seats or took on new roles. Among joint committees of both houses of the legislature, Sen. Barry R. Finegold returns as the Senate chair of Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, serving alongside Rep. Carole A. Fiola. Finegold helped shepherd a $4 billion economic development bill through the legislature last fall. Rep. Andy X. Vargas becomes the House chairperson of Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses and will serve with Senate Chairperson Adam Gomez. Sen. Pavel M. Payano formally held the Senate chair, but now moves on as chairperson of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

Beacon Hill News

Tarr and Jones Push State Migrant Shelter Changes in Filing and Letter to Healey

By |

Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr, of Gloucester, and House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr., of North Reading, said Tuesday they are following through on two promises made last month to address safety and sustainability of the state’s migrant shelter system. They sent a letter to Gov. Maura T. Healey and filed legislation on behalf of the House and Senate Republican Caucus. “House and Senate Republicans are advocating for a multi-faceted approach to address the many problems plaguing the state’s emergency shelter system,” said Jones. “The reforms we are calling for are long overdue, and will help to enhance transparency, accountability, public safety and fiscal responsibility within the program.”

An Act relative to public safety, fiscal responsibility and emergency assistance was filed Jan. 17 in the Senate.

Beacon Hill News

Sen. Payano Leads Trade Mission to Dominican Republic Tuesday; Could Attract Physicians

By |

State Senators, led by area Sen. Pavel M. Payano and Sen. President Karen E. Spilka, plan to visit the Dominican Republic Tuesday as part of a four-day trade mission. The delegation, which also includes of other senators, “will focus on strengthening economic relationships, with planned meetings with industry and government leaders across various sectors to explore trade, investment, and workforce development opportunities,” Spilka’s office said in a release. Specifically, her office said, among areas of focus is the new licensure pathway for internationally trained doctors to practice in Massachusetts, which became law as part of last year’s economic development package. “The visit will also celebrate the deep cultural ties between the Commonwealth and its Dominican community, one of the largest and most vibrant immigrant groups in the state. The Senate’s visit will build on cultural connections and explore ways to deepen the partnership between Massachusetts and the Dominican Republic,” the release added.