Reading Delegation Supports $3.96B Bond Bill

Promotes Economic Development and Jobs Creation Across the State

BOSTON – House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading), State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn) and State Senator Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester) joined with their colleagues to support the passage of a $3.96 billion bond bill that is designed to promote economic development and jobs creation across the Commonwealth through major investments in local and regional capital projects, the life sciences, and other industries.

The Reading legislative delegation noted that An Act relative to strengthening Massachusetts’ economic leadership, which was signed into law on November 20, will position Massachusetts for continued economic growth in the life sciences and biotech, offshore wind energy development, climatetech, artificial intelligence, and other sectors of the economy. The bill also contains a series of policy initiatives to support small businesses, alleviate workforce challenges in the healthcare sector, and strengthen local and regional public health systems.

“This is a wide-ranging bond bill that implements major policy initiatives while making critical funding investments in multiple areas to better position all regions of the Commonwealth for economic growth and expanded employment opportunities,” said Representative Jones. “I’m happy the House and Senate were able to reach an agreement on this comprehensive legislation that will help to bolster the state’s competitiveness.”

“This comprehensive economic development package continues our commitment to building a stronger, more innovative Massachusetts economy that works for everyone,” said Representative Haggerty. “The strategic investments in life sciences, climatetech, and small business will create jobs and promote economic growth across the Commonwealth, while policy reforms like the nurse licensure compact and educator diversity initiatives help address critical workforce challenges. I’m pleased to see the importance given to regional equity and support for our Main Street businesses that drive our local economies.”

“This major economic development bill provides significant new investments in our state’s economy and will advance Massachusetts’ global leadership and competitiveness,” said Senator Lewis. “I’m also very pleased that two pieces of legislation that I’ve been championing for several years were included in this package: the Educator Diversity Act to strengthen our K-12 teacher workforce, and a bill that strengthens our healthcare workforce by providing a pathway for foreign-trained physicians to become fully licensed and practice in Massachusetts.”

The bond bill invests $500 million in the life sciences sector over the next 10 years while increasing the annual tax credit authorization for the industry from $30 million to $40 million. It also provides $200 million over 10 years to support innovation and deployment of climatetech technologies and an additional $200 million over 10 years to support the state’s offshore wind industry.

To assist small businesses, the bond bill creates a 5-year Surety Bond Assistance Pilot Program within the Executive Office of Economic Development to encourage economically and socially disadvantaged businesses to bid for contracts for capital projects. The bill also establishes a refundable Internship Tax Credit for Massachusetts employers of up to $5,000 or 50% of wages per new intern, capped at $10 million annually and $100,000 per employer.

In addition to these statewide funding and policy initiatives, the economic development bond bill includes $864.5 million in local earmarks for municipal infrastructure projects, including two Reading priorities the delegation advocated for: $5 million for the construction of a new senior center facility to replace the existing Pleasant Street Center, and $125,000 to provide proper recognition for former Reading resident, civil rights leader, and Boston Celtics’ great Bill Russell.

Reading’s State House delegation cautioned that this local funding is not guaranteed and is still very preliminary, as it represents only the first step in what will likely be a multi-year approval process. Because these projects are supported through bond appropriations, each earmark must be worked under the state’s annual borrowing cap and will be subject to the approval of the executive branch before any actual funding can be released to the town.

Reading’s legislative delegation highlighted several other key provisions contained in the bond bill, including:

• $400 million for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program to support local public infrastructure projects and create jobs;
• $103 million to advance the development of artificial intelligence solutions in Massachusetts;
• $25 million for competitive grants and financial assistance to support the research and development of robotics technology;
• $150 million in municipal grants to support library construction projects;
• $9.5 million for a municipal grant program to support the vitality of downtowns and main streets;
• $8 million for units of municipal government and nonprofit organizations for the preservation of historic properties, landscapes and sites;
• $50 million to address the capital needs of nursing facilities;
• authorizing Massachusetts to join the national Nurse Licensure Compact to help alleviate the nursing workforce challenges facing the state’s healthcare sector;
• creating a pathway to licensure for foreign-trained physicians authorized to practice medicine outside of the United States so they can be licensed to practice in Massachusetts, which is based on legislation sponsored by Senator Lewis;
• developing an alternative certification process for teachers to create a more diverse K-12 educator workforce, which is also based on legislation sponsored by Senator Lewis;
• establishing a State Action for Public Health Excellence (SAPHE) program within the Department of Public Health to promote equity and improve municipal and regional public health systems;
• $50 million for the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund;
• $21 million for capital grants and other financial assistance to promote and support the growth and economic competitiveness of the state’s agricultural, commercial fishing and cranberry-growing sectors;
• $100 million in grants for coastal communities to repair and protect coastal assets;
• $30 million for the Brownfields Development Fund;
• $90 million to rehabilitate abandoned, vacant or underutilized properties to increase housing production, support economic development projects, and increase accessibility for persons with disabilities;
• $25 million to provide grants or other financial assistance to private businesses that are constructing or expanding commercial, industrial or manufacturing facilities in the Commonwealth, including projects that minimize or eliminate the use of fossil-fuel heating and cooling equipment;
• $85 million for the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) to help provide students and their families with access to affordable higher education opportunities;
• requiring all school districts to notify high school students prior to graduation of the availability of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other financial aid options for higher education;
• permitting locally-produced craft beer to be sold at farmers markets, which is already allowed for wine and cider; and
• modernizing the state’s civil service laws to provide municipalities with more flexibility in filling job vacancies and giving qualified job seekers more opportunities to find a match.