As the effects of COVID-19 have been felt across Massachusetts, the House of Representatives has worked with our colleagues in the Senate and the Baker-Polito Administration to address the public health and economic impacts of the pandemic, particularly for individuals and small businesses. In April, the Commonwealth implemented administrative tax relief measures for local businesses…
Cape Ann’s survival as a community depends on us to be good stewards of our natural environment. Rising sea levels could submerge homes and prevent public safety officers from responding to emergencies. Increasing water temperatures could inhibit our ability to harvest from the sea. Climbing atmospheric temperatures may increase the likelihood of respiratory issues. Confronting…
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has announced that it will begin offering dedicated service hours for residents who are 75 years of age or older and are required to renew their Massachusetts driver’s license in person, including customers whose licenses/IDs were extended until September (March, April, and May expirations). The new designated service…
During the ongoing Massachusetts 191st General Court’s 2019-2020 session – which has been extended through action taken by the Legislature – the House of Representatives has passed emergency legislation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as major legislation relating to education, transportation, and climate change. Following a decisive vote in July to extend the…
Due to above normal temperatures throughout July and early August and more than three months of below normal rainfall, a Level 2 – Significant Drought has been declared in all seven regions of the Commonwealth – the Western, Connecticut River Valley, Central, Northeast, Southeast, Cape Cod, and Islands regions. The declaration will remain in effect until water levels…
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has announced the first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in the state this year. The individual is a man in his 50s who was likely exposed to the virus in southwestern Essex County or eastern Middlesex County. The risk of human infection with WNV is considered…
A bill passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives this spring which authorizes up to $1.8 billion in capital funding for key investments in public safety, food security, and information technology has now become law. The bill, H.4932 An Act financing the general governmental infrastructure of the Commonwealth, includes programs to enhance the safety and security of the…
The Commonwealth’s Division of Marine Fisheries is distrubuting $27.8 million in federal disaster relief funding to mitigate the financial impacts to the fishing and seafood industries from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) worked with fishing industry stakeholders and legislators to develop a plan to distribute the federal fisheries assistance, which has…
Governor Baker has announced a new set of initiatives aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, especially in higher risk communities that have seen a recent uptick in cases. While Massachusetts has seen a decrease in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations since May, there has been a slight uptick in certain communities in recent days. These…
I am pleased to announce that today the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), in collaboration with the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), has launched the MassGrown Exchange online platform to link food system channels and help facilitate business-to-business connections within the local food system for products and services. When COVID-19 hit in earnest in March of…
