#2021-13 April 30, 2021

House Passes Streamlined $47.7 Billion Budget

Earlier this week, House lawmakers unanimously passed a $47.7 billion budget after adding tens of millions of dollars in spending over three days, largely to support investments to help the state move out of the COVID-19 crisis.  Most of the 1,157 amendments filed ahead of floor deliberations were dispensed with through a consolidated amendment process, where House budget writers and leadership grouped individual amendments together by category for a single up or down vote.  

Another 96 amendment were withdrawn by their sponsors – including a pair of amendments that the Association wrote to legislators about earlier in the week regarding the implementation of a real time sales tax remittance system.  Another amendment of interest, which would have provided additional funds for testing for residents possibly affected by the crumbling concrete foundations problem in the central and southern part of the Commonwealth, was ultimately not included in the final House proposal.  

Speeches to introduce the consolidated amendments, made both over phone by members participating in sessions remotely and by some in chamber, and the roll call votes to adopt those packages, accounted for the bulk of the activity on the House floor.  In all, the seven amendments added almost $59.8 million in spending to what began as a $47.65 billion bill.  They ranged in size from $4.87 million for constitutional officers, state administration and transportation to $11.9 million for labor and economic development.

To read MBA’s letter to the House, click here.  To read more about the House budget debate and amendments, click here. 

Governor Announces Further Reopening Plans; State House Reopening Date Unknown

As we reported earlier this week, Governor Charlie Baker announced a plan on Tuesday to lift all COVID-19 business and capacity restrictions by August 1.  However, there has been no announcement for when residents, employees and others can return to the State House, which has been closed to the public since March 2020.  

According to the Governor’s announcement, starting May 10, large venues like stadiums, arenas, and ballparks can increase capacity limits from 12 to 25 percent and amusement parks, theme parks, and water parks can operate at 50 percent capacity after submitting a safety plan to the Department of Public Health.  Indoor gathering limits are scheduled to increase to 200 starting May 29 and will be fully rescinded starting Aug 1.  The changes are subject to public health and vaccination data and the City of Boston has announced that it will generally lag the state’s reopening timeline by about three weeks.  

While Legislative sessions have continued during the pandemic to be run out of the House and Senate chambers inside the State House, lawmakers have been encouraged to participate remotely to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Several virus cases among State House employees and workers have also been confirmed during the pandemic.