#2023-9, March 31, 2023

Governor Healey Signs $1.1 Billion Proposal; Association-supported Remote Online Notarization Language Becomes Law

On Wednesday, Governor Maura Healey’s (D- Cambridge) signed, H. 58, featuring $388 million in spending directed at what the Senate’s budget chief called “time-sensitive, urgent” needs; along with $740 million in borrowing plans, into law.

As previously reported, the new law, Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, contains $740 million in borrowing authorizations, including $400 million to recapitalize the MassWorks infrastructure grant program, $104 million for the Clean Water Trust Fund, and $125 million “to ensure that the state has matching funds for us to compete with federal grants that have been recently passed by Congress,” according to Senator Rodrigues upon its enactment in the Senate.  It also includes $400 million in bonds for the MassWorks grant program, which is effectively out of money following the last round of annual awards announced in October, plus $125 million to put state dollars on the table for competitive federal grant applications.  There is also $85 million for emergency family shelters, $130 million to provide enhanced nutrition assistance benefits for three months, and $65 million to cover school breakfast programs through the rest of the fiscal year.

Other sections of the bill would keep several pandemic-era policies in place, many of which have proven successful or popular over the past three years and were poised to expire at the end of the month.  Municipal governments and other public entities would be able to continue holding meetings remotely and in hybrid formats until March 31, 2025.  Expanded outdoor dining options could remain in place through April 1, 2024, as could the ability of restaurants to offer beer, wine and cocktails for takeout.

Of particular note, the new law also creates the permanent ability to perform remote online notarization (RON) services – a provision the Association has supported and pushed for several years.  These RON provisions pick up and expand the electronic notarization capabilities that were temporarily allowed during the COVID-19 public health emergency.  Massachusetts becomes the 45th state to approve RON with its provisions officially going into effect on June 27, 2023.

The Association would like to extend a note of thanks to Governor Healey as well as both the House and Senate for acting on this important piece of legislation so early in the legislative session.

MassSaves to Host Financial Health & Wellness Summit on April 21

The MassSaves Financial Health and Wellness Summit is an annual event for teachers, financial educators, community practitioners and supporters from all backgrounds to network, share and learn to improve financial education.  This year’s summit will be held on April 21 from 10:00AM – 6:00PM at North Shore Community College’s Lynn Campus.

MassSaves is a broad network of public and private stakeholders including financial educators, providers, community organizations and advocates.  Participants work with youth and adults with a vision to make Massachusetts a national model for financial confidence and empowerment, creating a stronger financial future for the entire Commonwealth.

To find out more about the event and to register, click here.