Bill > H5034

This bill: Provides $2.8 billion in funding for a variety of economic development, job creation, housing, and climate resiliency initiatives across the Commonwealth. Key provisions include: - $350 million in funding for fiscally strained hospitals to address increased costs and workforce shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. - $175 million for investments in publicly-owned lands and waters for public access and recreation, with a focus on environmental justice communities. - $100 million for the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust to reduce principal and interest costs of water quality improvement projects, with 25% of funding for minority and environmental justice communities. - $80 million for community health centers to address deferred care and make capital improvements. - $75 million for an equitable developers' financing program to support projects in gateway cities, qualified census tracts, and communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. - $50 million for a program to improve, rehabilitate or redevelop blighted, abandoned, vacant or underutilized properties. - Creates a Massachusetts Center for Employee Ownership to promote and support employee ownership models. - Amends the Smart Growth Zoning Districts law to streamline and expand the program. - Provides tax credits for eligible theater productions and data centers. - Establishes a Taxpayer Energy and Economic Relief Rebate program to provide one-time $250-$500 payments to eligible taxpayers. - Requires public school districts and charter schools to develop and implement educator diversity plans and appoint diversity, equity and inclusion officers or teams. The bill aims to spur economic growth, support community development, expand affordable housing, and address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation across the Commonwealth.

Budget and Finance

House Committee on Ways and Means (H)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H5034