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Rausch Report: Summer Fun & Session Successes (July 2023)
I am just now back from the Senate floor having voted YES alongside my colleagues to enact the Fiscal Year 2024 budget! I am so very pleased to send this budget to the Governor for her signature, providing essential funding to our towns, community organizations, and constituents, and proud indeed that all of my amendments and contributions to the Senate budget survived the conference process. (Budget highlights below!)
This month's Rausch Report also includes other legislative updates, a roundup of district events, opportunities to join my team, details on upcoming office hours, and more.
For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to call me and my team at (617) 722-1555, email me at becca.rausch@masenate.gov, or attend upcoming office hours. We are here to help.
Yours in service,
Senator Becca Rausch
This month, my colleagues and I passed several bills providing critical funding for our Commonwealth, as well as policy bills related to identification cards in the Commonwealth.
Fiscal Year 2024 Budget
Earlier today, both chambers enacted a compromise FY24 budget, providing $56.2 billion in support to our Commonwealth's families, communities, and economies. In addition to increases in general aid to municipalities, K-12 and early education funding, and environmental protection and preservation, I am proud indeed to share that the full $500,000 in funding I secured for our district survived the conference process, as did all our successful statewide priorities:
$1,800,000 for mental health and suicide prevention services provided by Samaritans, Inc., including $1,000,000 for Hey Sam, a youth mental health support text line
$150,000 for a Green the Garbage composting grant program
$150,000 for Hope & Comfort to address hygiene insecurity in the Commonwealth
$350,000 for the Massachusetts Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee
$2,500,000 total allocation to the Civics Project Trust Fund
The compromise budget also includes permanent universal school meals, $4 million for nonprofit security grants, free community college tuition for nursing students and students ages 25 and up, a free fare pilot program for regional transit, special education funding, and more. The budget now heads to Governor Healey for her signature, which would finalize the budget into law.
Supplemental Fiscal Year 2023 Budget
The Senate passed a $513 million supplemental budget for FY23, which funds relief for hospitals, special education costs, and flexible assistance for farms throughout the Commonwealth impacted by recent severe weather events. As of this writing, the FY23 supplemental budget remains in conference between the Senate and the House.
Transportation Funding
Last week, the Legislature passed a $375 million transportation finance bill, including $200 million for the state's Chapter 90 program, which provides municipalities with a reliable funding source for transportation-related improvements such as road and bridge repairs. The bill now sits with the Governor for her review and signature.
Identification Cards for People Experiencing Homelessness
I voted alongside my Senate colleagues to pass An Act to provide identification to youth and adults experiencing homelessness, which establishes a process for people experiencing homelessness to apply for a free Massachusetts identification card. Identification cards are essential to access basic services in the Commonwealth, including applying for a job, enrolling in school, interacting with law enforcement, accessing government buildings, and opening bank accounts. The bill now sits with the House of Representatives for its consideration.
Gender X
The Senate also unanimously passed An Act relative to gender identity on Massachusetts identification, which would allow an individual to be identified with a non-binary "X" sex designation on their birth certificate and enshrine into law the current practice of allowing an individual to select a non-binary "X" gender designation on their driver's license. This bill also now sits with the House of Representatives.
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In addition to the many pieces of legislation we moved as a body, several of my bills were heard by legislative committees this month:
S.346, An Act ensuring access to mental health supports in K-12 schools (Education)
S.1111, An Act relative to civil asset forfeiture transparency and data reporting (Judiciary)
S.2178, An Act relative to better buildings (Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy)
S.1460, An Act relative to determinations of need (Public Health)
S.1458, An Act promoting community immunity (Public Health)
S.2060, An Act regarding information governance (State Administration)
S.2063, An Act updating the open meeting law to support remote participation (State Administration)
S.2064, An Act extending the public records law to the Governor and the Legislature (State Administration)
S.2065, An Act promoting governmental efficiency (State Administration)
Written testimony on these bills may still be submitted via email to the Committee Co-Chairs.
Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 215 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133
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