Massachusetts Legislature Passes Bill Authorizing $350 Million in Funding for Transportation Infrastructure

The Massachusetts Legislature on Thursday passed a bill that will invest $350 million in municipal transportation and selected statewide transportation infrastructure projects, including $200 million for municipal roads and bridges through the chapter 90 program and $150 million to support statewide projects to address congestion, support electric vehicle infrastructure, prioritize bus infrastructure, and improve public transit.

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Sarah Blodgett
Massachusetts Legislature Passes FY22 Budget

The Massachusetts State Legislature on Friday unanimously passed a $48.07 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22). This budget maintains fiscal responsibility, does not cut services, and makes targeted investments to address emerging needs, safeguard the health and wellness of the most vulnerable populations and ensure residents will benefit equitably as the state recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Sarah Blodgett
Senate Passes $261.6 Million FY 2021 Supplemental Budget

Today, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a $261.6 million supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) to primarily address time-sensitive deficiencies, cover costs related to implementation of the 2020 landmark police reform law and make investments to support the Commonwealth’s continued recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Sarah Blodgett
Senate Passes Welfare Improvements for Egg-laying Hens

The Massachusetts Senate passed legislation to create a more secure egg supply chain and raise Massachusetts’ farm animal welfare standards to align with other states. The bill would upgrade Massachusetts’ egg production law to create predictability and certainty by mirroring the even stronger national United Egg Producers cage-free guidelines, which have been adopted by leading retailers, producers, and other states.

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Sarah Blodgett
Statement on Sales Tax Holiday

The Legislature today adopted a joint resolution establishing August 14 and 15, 2021 as the state’s sales tax holiday. We invite all residents to go out and benefit from this opportunity as we incentivize investment in our businesses and continue the work of setting our economy on a path to post-pandemic recovery.

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Sarah Blodgett
Senate Votes to Extend Popular State of Emergency Measures

Today, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a bill which would extend a slate of measures instituted in Massachusetts during the State of Emergency stemming from COVID-19. If signed into law, this bill would result in the included measures being temporarily extended beyond the State of Emergency’s expiration on June 15, 2021.

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Sarah Blodgett
Statement on American Rescue Plan Funding

After a long and difficult fifteen months, the Commonwealth is poised to invest over $5.28 billion in American Rescue Plan funding. These funds are designed to address the profound needs of our communities, as well as provide the tools necessary to ensure a steady and equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic repercussions.

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Sarah Blodgett
Senate Passes FY 2022 Budget

Approved with unanimous bipartisan support, the budget maintains fiscal responsibility and recommends targeted investments to address emerging needs, safeguard the health and wellness of the most vulnerable populations and ensure residents will benefit equitably as the state recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Sarah Blodgett
Statement on the Holyoke Soldiers Home

As the daughter of a veteran, I continue to be heartbroken for the families of those who lost their lives to COVID-19 at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. I am grateful to the loved ones who testified so bravely before the Special Joint Committee on the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, even in the midst of their own heartbreak.

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Sarah Blodgett
Massachusetts Senate Gives Final Approval to Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Bond Bill

The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday unanimously gave final legislative approval to a bill authorizing $400 million in bonds for the design and construction of a new soldiers’ home facility in Holyoke. The bill also authorizes the issuance of $200 million in bonds to increase geographic equity and accessibility related to the continuum of long-term care services for veterans across the state.

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Sarah Blodgett
Senate Ways and Means Releases FY 2022 Budget Recommendations

Today, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means announced a $47.6 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22). The Committee’s budget is a forward-looking plan that maintains fiscal responsibility and recommends targeted investments to address emerging needs, safeguard the health and wellness of our most vulnerable populations and ensure our residents can benefit equitably as we recover from the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and build a more inclusive and resilient Commonwealth.

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Sarah Blodgett
Massachusetts Senate Advances Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Bond Bill

The Massachusetts State Senate passed a bill authorizing $400 million in bonds for the design and construction of a new facility for the soldiers’ home in Holyoke. It also authorizes the issuance of $200 million in general obligation bonds to increase geographic equity and accessibility related to the continuum of long-term care services for Massachusetts veterans across the state, with an emphasis on those areas not primarily served by the soldiers’ homes in Chelsea or Holyoke.

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Sarah Blodgett