I am pleased to report that this week, after two full days of debate, the House of Representatives passed the Economic Development Bill by a vote of 156 to 3.  As the House Chair of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, it was my responsibility to draft the Economic Development Bill in committee for my colleagues.

The Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies is one of the largest in the Legislature, and as such addresses some of the largest challenges facing our state. This bill proved it with the substance of the legislation including zoning and housing reform, sports betting, and economic and workforce development programs within the tenets of equity and economic empowerment for minority businesses and communities. 

This legislation makes key investments across the Commonwealth to promote economic recovery and resiliency during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic development moving forward, especially here on Cape Ann, over the next five years. This bill has now moved to the Massachusetts Senate.

As this debate continues, I look forward to working with my Senate counterpart, Senator Eric Lesser, and our senator, Senator Bruce Tarr, to bring legislation to the governor’s desk that addresses the economic development and housing needs of Cape Ann and the four corners of the Commonwealth. I will be providing more information once the final agreement is reached between the House and the Senate and moves to the governor’s desk.