Today, Governor Charlie Baker released his Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2023) budget recommendations. This is the unofficial start of “budget season” in Massachusetts that will culminate with a legislative conference committee...more
Congress has passed another coronavirus relief package, the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which allocates significant funding to states to address shortfalls experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these dollars are...more
During his annual State of the Commonwealth address, Governor Charlie Baker highlighted the heroic work of frontline workers and first responders throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, while reminding the Commonwealth that though...more
Governor Charlie Baker just announced he is extending COVID-19 Order No. 13 that mandates the closure of non-essential businesses. This order, initially set to expire on April 7th, was extended to Monday, May 4th. This...more
On Monday, March 23rd, the Baker Administration issued a stay at home advisory, along with an order (COVID-19 Order No. 13) requiring businesses and organizations that do not provide “COVID-19 Essential Services” to close...more
On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, Governor Charlie Baker released a $40.9 billion budget proposal for FY2019. The plan, commonly referred to as House 2, is the fourth Baker has proposed since assuming office and increases...more
Massachusetts lawmakers have returned from summer recess and are preparing to tackle a robust legislative agenda this fall. Legislators will meet formally through the third Wednesday in November, at which point formal...more
9/15/2017
/ Clean Energy ,
Criminal Justice Reform ,
Department of Revenue ,
Governor Baker ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Healthcare Costs ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Renewable Energy ,
Sales Tax ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Wage and Hour
On Monday, July 17th, Governor Charlie Baker signed a budget for FY2018 that includes $39.4 billion in spending. This comes ten days after the Legislature approved a state budget with a $40.2 billion bottom line. The Senate...more
On Tuesday June 20, the Baker Administration submitted to the legislature a package of insurance reforms and assessments for inclusion in the FY2018 budget. The proposal represents the most recent plan aimed at curbing rising...more
On April 25, 2017, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a $40.829 billion FY2018 budget by vote of 159-1. Over two days of debate, the House considered 1,210 amendments to pass a final budget that spends...more
With the unveiling of Governor Charlie Baker’s FY2018 budget, the commencement of the 2017-2018 legislative session on Beacon Hill, and a new presidential administration underway in Washington D.C., the Massachusetts health...more
On Wednesday, January 25th, Governor Charlie Baker announced a $40.508 billion budget for FY2018 that increases state spending by a projected $1.65 billion, or 4.3 percent, over FY2017 levels. The budget proposal, Baker’s...more
On Tuesday, December 6, Governor Charlie Baker, under his Section 9C authority, ordered $98 million in mid-year cuts from the $39.25 billion FY17 state budget. The administration has warned of budget imbalances for months and...more
In the final weeks before the end of the legislative session, the Massachusetts House and State both addressed major pieces of labor and employment legislation. However, although the legislature passed S.2119, an Act to...more
8/11/2016
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Credit Checks ,
Equal Pay ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
Gender-Based Pay Discrimination ,
Governor Baker ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Pay Equity Act (PEA) ,
State and Local Government ,
Transgender ,
Wage and Hour ,
Wage Theft
After a mad scramble to take action before their midnight deadline, Massachusetts lawmakers closed the 20152016 legislative session by passing five of the “Big Six” bills on their agenda. Beacon Hill saw a flurry of activity...more
8/9/2016
/ Background Checks ,
Economic Development ,
EHealth ,
Equal Pay ,
Fantasy Sports ,
Garden Leave ,
Gender-Based Pay Discrimination ,
Governor Baker ,
Infrastructure ,
Innovation ,
Job Creation ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Manufacturing Hubs ,
Municipalities ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Offshore Wind ,
Renewable Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Uber ,
Wage and Hour ,
Wind Power
Governor Charlie Baker signed a budget for FY17 on Friday, July 8, after vetoing $256 million in spending included in the plan approved by the legislature. The budget, which represents the second annual spending plan signed...more
On March 14, 2016, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill that offers long-awaited measures aimed at tackling the state’s growing opioid abuse crisis. After receiving House and Senate approval last week and...more
With Beacon Hill off and running in the new year, Governor Charlie Baker and House Speaker Robert DeLeo this week unveiled key parts of their policy agendas for 2016. As part of his second budget proposal since assuming...more
On Friday, January 8, Governor Charlie Baker ordered $49 million in emergency spending cuts aimed at erasing a projected state budget shortfall. In a letter to state lawmakers, Baker said his administration had identified a...more