#2022-12 May 27, 2022

Senate Passes FY’23 Budget, Next Stop Conference Committee

On Thursday, the Senate unanimously approved a nearly $50 billion state budget, after adopting more than 500 amendments over three days of floor debate.

According to the Senate budget chief Michael Rodrigues (D – Westport), the Senate’s budget bill makes investments in K-12 and higher education, health care, workforce accounts, and housing aid.  While Senate President Spilka ( D- Ashland)  said the bill fully funds the state’s obligation under the Student Opportunity Act, a landmark education bill that seeks to plug gaps in local education budgets over a seven-year stretch.

A Senate Ways and Means spokesman said senators added more than $93 million to the budget through amendments, raising the bill's bottom line to $49.78 billion, which is in the same ballpark as the bill that cleared the House in April.  The bill is now off to conference committee where both the House and Senate bills will be reconciled into one final bill before being sent to Governor Baker’s desk.  Senator Rodrigues and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz (D- Boston) will lead budget negotiations in conference, with the two branches naming six conferees, three each, in total.

As previously reported, House and Senate Democrats over the years have often been unable to agree on a consensus budget by the July 1 start of the fiscal year.  Failing to reach a timely agreement this year, in particular, could be consequential since legislative leaders are trying to find common ground on other major bills and formal sessions for the year, under legislative rules, end on Sunday, July 31.

House conferees will be presented with a pair of major Senate policy measures to consider in conference as the Senate agreed to a ban on non-disclosure agreements across state government and licensing protections for doctors and other professionals involved with the provision of reproductive care through amendments over their three-day debate.  The Association was pleased that the Senate adopted both Association-backed crumbling foundation geared amendments offered by Senator Anne Gobi (D- Spencer), one (#188) that would boost funding for homeowners testing and the other (#3) which would implement testing for the troublesome element, pyrrhotite, at quarries throughout Massachuetts.  The Association was also pleased that a troubling amendment (#208) that would have broadly expanded the powers of nonprofits to directly purchase homes out of receivership – without having to go through the traditional foreclosure process - was not adopted by the Senate.

To read the final Senate FY’22 Budget bill, click here. To read the Association’s letter to the Senate, click here.

Division of Banks Files Final Amendments to Licensing of Mortgage Lenders and Mortgage Bankers

The Division of Banks (Division) has filed the final amendments to 209 CMR 42.00: The Licensing of Mortgage Lenders and Mortgage Brokers, which can be accessed by clicking here.  This filing completes the regulatory process for the amendments to this regulation.

The final amendments will be effective on May 27, 2022, and copies of the amendments are also posted on the Division’s website at www.mass.gov/dob. 

Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development Holding Workforce Roadshows

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including MassHire Career Centers and Workforce Boards and the Commonwealth Corporation, continues to host a series of 10 regional employer road shows through the beginning of June, with the goal of connecting employers to new and existing workforce supports from the Commonwealth.  

The roadshows will be a unique opportunity to hear from MA workforce leaders and to share your perspective with them.  Attendance will vary by event, but speakers may include Lieutenant Governor Polito, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Michael Kennealy, Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Acosta, and Education Secretary Peyser, among others.  

The roadshows will be hosted by workforce partners, including community colleges and vocational training institutes.  Each event will be approximately 1.5 hours and will have roughly the same agenda, which is detailed below:

Agenda

• Opening remarks by host and special guest
• Overview of Commonwealth workforce resources for employers
• Introduction to Market Makers and Business Service Representative
• Breakout Sessions
  • Market Maker / MassHire Engagement Session.
    Learn about how the MassHire system can help your company build a pipeline of skilled employees.  Meet your new Market Maker and hear how you can access more than $200M in workforce funding.
  • HireNow Workshop. 
    Learn more about the new HireNow program - you can receive $4,000 per new hire to support hiring, training and retention.
  • Workforce Development Roundtable. 
    Sit down with MA workforce leaders to share your perspective and discuss broader workforce trends in the state.
• (Optional) Tour of the facilities / meet the students

To learn more and register for the events, click here.