Find out what is happening on Beacon Hill, the South Shore, and the Cape & Islands.

End of Year Economic Development Package Includes District Priorities

In November, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted a $3.76 billion wide-ranging relief package that supports the state’s long-term economic health, our residents and our communities, while preparing us to meet new challenges facing our Commonwealth’s economy.

The final bill, agreed upon by both the House and Senate, continues the state’s pandemic recovery and closes the books on fiscal year 2022, investing nearly $4 billion to help families, individuals and sectors strained by the pandemic, including direct investments to support fiscally distressed hospitals, human service workers, and early education and childcare providers, while providing relief to families facing rising energy costs.

I was proud to secure $3.5 million in funding to benefit the Plymouth & Barnstable District through investments that will strengthen municipal infrastructure and support the everyday needs of communities and families in the district including;

• $155,000 for the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce to fund housing coordination for seasonal workers.

   

• $25,000 for the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce for improvements to the visitor information center in Buzzards Bay.

   

•  $1 million for the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole to repair a seawall integral to the critical research of the Laboratory
   

• $100,000 to furnish and for equipment for the council on aging in the town of Pembroke. 
   

As the Commonwealth works to pivot out of this inflationary period, I also advocated for funding to facilitate the expansion of local industry and workforce training that will establish paths for quality career development for scores of residents entering and re-entering the job market.  
 

• $85,000 for the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce to offset the costs of childcare for women returning to work and who are actively participating in skill development or educational courses
   

• $85,000 for the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce for matching funds for businesses to offset childcare costs or support on-site childcare

   

• $2 million investment to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Falmouth to develop a state-of-the-art marine research complex and study the Commonwealth’s blue economy.
   

Finally, for residents of the communities that surround Cape Cod Bay, the decommissioning of the Pilgrim Nuclear Station by Holtec International has raised significant concerns relative to the potential impacts on the region’s public health, economy, and ecology; specifically those of the company’s plan to dump 1 million gallons of radioactive wastewater into the bay.  

I filed an amendment that would require: (1) the provision of a sample and the manner of discharge of radioactive water proposed, (2) review of potential economic and environmental impacts, (3) an opportunity for public input, and (4) no discharge of radioactive water into Cape Cod Bay takes place until 90 days after all disclosure and investigation has concluded in November of 2024.

Though the amendment was ultimately vetoed by the governor, it coincides with my office's ongoing efforts to facilitate discussions between Holtec and local stakeholders, and increase transparency in the decommissioning process. I am looking forward to refiling this language as soon as possible.

Senator Moran Issues Statement on Ongoing Migrant Situation on the South Shore and Cape Cod

FY23 State Budget Signed Into Law

The finalized $52.7 billion budget passed by the Legislature in July provides significant funds to invest in the Commonwealth’s long-term obligations and reflected the Legislature’s commitment to ensuring that communities can provide essential services to the public while rebuilding from a once-in-a-generation pandemic.

Taking into consideration historic tax revenue performance in Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22), the FY23 conference report increased revenue projections by $2.66 billion to $39.575 billion. The FY23 budget transfers funds into the Stabilization Fund, projecting an estimated historic balance of approximately $7.35 billion for this crucial ‘rainy day’ fund at the end of the fiscal year.

I was so encouraged to be able to secure $1.6 million in funding that will directly go back to the Plymouth & Barnstable District; addressing food security for veterans and seniors, law enforcement mental health response, emergency preparedness, housing costs, tourism, workforce training, and nuclear safety.

Prioritizing funding for education, this budget invests $6 billion in Chapter 70 funding (an increase of $495 million over FY22), allocates $250 million to continue stabilization grants for early education and care providers, sets aside $150 million for the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) Investment fund, provides $110 million for the continuation of universal school meals, and includes $175 million for a new High-Quality Early Education and Care Affordability Trust Fund to support the implementation of the recommendations made by the Early Education and Care Economic Review Commission, of which I was a member.

Other spending highlights include $19.48 billion in MassHealth, $1.231 billion in Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), $219.4 million for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters, and more than $200 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT).

Senator Moran Secures $2.9 million for Plymouth & Barnstable Counties in General Bond Bill

In August, the Legislature passed a $5.07 billion general government bond bill to fund maintenance and improvements for the Commonwealth's public institutions, including those of higher education, healthcare, and public safety. Through this funding initiative, I was able to secure $2.5 million for the Plymouth and Barnstable counties to address the following critical municipal infrastructure and climate resiliency needs:

• $1 million for the development of municipal broadband in the Upper Cape Cod region

• $1 million for water and sewer infrastructure to facilitate additional workforce and affordable housing capacity in the towns of Plymouth, Pembroke, Kingston, and Plympton

• $500,000 for boardwalk repair and climate resilient infrastructure in the town of Sandwich

In addition, I was proud to co-sponsor an amendment along with my Cape Cod colleague, Senator Julian Cyr, to secure $400,000 for Cape Arts & Entertainment, also known as the Cape Symphony, to cover the costs of renovations at the West Barnstable and Falmouth Conservatories. 

These earmarks were the result of extensive stakeholder feedback and collaboration with municipal officials to identify local priorities that ensure the accessibility and stability of our public utilities for residents. These investments will also contribute to ongoing efforts to facilitate community development in a sustainable manner while promoting long-term economic growth and addressing regional housing needs.

The bond bill reinforces these investments on a broader scale, outlining expenditures to bolster a multitude of state-allocated programs.

Senate Addresses Transportation Needs Through Ch. 90 Funding

The Legislature approved the authorization of $350 million towards transportation needs in the Commonwealth for the coming fiscal year, including $200 million for Chapter 90 funds, which provides cities and towns with a funding source for investments in local infrastructure-related projects. The funding is a critical source for municipalities looking to improve the quality of roads, increase access to public transit and enhance pedestrian safety.

The communities listed below are eligible for reimbursements for projects  through the Department of Transportation upon request from local officials:

• Kingston - $415,373

• Pembroke - $559,487

• Plymouth - $1,596,234

• Bourne - $599,819

• Falmouth - $1,255,681

• Sandwich - $770,252

This legislation also allocates $150 million for grant-based programs that will assist municipalities with projects related to small bridge repair, bus-service expansion, increased access to mass transit and commuter rail stations, and pavement and surface area improvements to non-federally aided roadways.

Consumer Protection Committee Takes Action On Licensing

As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee On Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure I was thrilled that An Act relative to licensing accountability and modernization in the Commonwealth was passed in November. The bill, originally filed by Governor Baker and reported favorably by the Committee, is an overhaul of the state’s professional licensing operations meant to improve the flow of the licensing process and encourage the growth of small business.

Most significantly, the bill removes automatic statutory barriers to licensure for individuals who have defaulted on student loans repayments, removing a major hurdle for entrepreneurs and small business owners in the state. The legislation also seeks to establish parity in debt collection licensure by classifying entities that purchase charged off debt for collection purposes as debt collectors. These enhancements, as well as provisions to require license exams to be offered in multiple languages and allow for the Division of Occupational Licensure to contract out its examination process to third-party vendors, expand accessibility to the licensing process for economically vulnerable communities and will lead to new opportunities for business development locally. 
 

The legislation also takes steps to increase oversight authority for certain Occupational Licensing-related boards through the Department of Public Health, granting them investigatory abilities in regards to immediate public health threats and increasing penalties for licensee violations. The bill would also prohibit registered Level 3 Sex Offenders from obtaining a professional license, subject to applicable board review.

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