THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 Page 21 THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. This week Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on some of the bills that were approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker so far in the 2021 session. Of the more than 7,000 bills that have been filed for consideration, only 47 have been approved by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor. And only 20 of those were bills that affect the entire state while the other 27 were either sick leave banks or other local-related measures applying to just one city or town. Sick leave banks allow public employees to voluntarily donate sick, personal or vacation days to a sick leave bank for use by a fellow worker so he or she can get paid while on medical leave. Here are six of the 20 important statewide-related bills signed into law including comments from legislators at the time the bill was approved. CLIMATE CHANGE (S 9) House 145-14, Senate 391, approved and Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a lengthy climate change bill. A key section makes the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal net zero by 2050. Other provisions in the measure codify environmental justice provisions into Massachusetts law by defining environmental justice populations and providing new tools and protections for affected neighborhoods; provide $12 million in annual funding for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to create a pathway to the clean energy industry for environmental justice populations and minority-owned and women-owned businesses; require an additional 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind and increase the state’s total authorization to 5,600 megawatts; set appliance energy efficiency standards for a variety of common appliances including plumbing, faucets, computers and commercial appliances and set benchmarks for the adoption of clean energy technologies including electric vehicles, charging stations, solar technology, energy storage and heat pumps. “History has been made … with the passage of the Next-Generation Roadmap bill,” said Rep. Tom Golden (D-Lowell). “The roadmap sets us on a strong course to net zero by 2050 and significantly advances offshore wind, truly representing the best ideas from both chambers. Hats off to the House and the Senate for holding firm on ambitious emissions targets.” “Massachusetts leads the nation in reducing carbon emissions, of which there are some measures that I have supported,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman who was the only senator who voted against the measure. “However, this legislation, often described as ‘far reaching’ by the media and economic experts, will ensure the costs of building homes and commercial economic developBeacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen ment dramatically increase, making us the most expensive state in the nation to live and do business. In this time of economic recovery from COVID-19, this is not only inadvisable; it is detrimental to the long-term interests of keeping Massachusetts affordable and prosperous.” “Today, the Legislature will take an important step toward a cleaner, healthier future by putting the climate bill back on the governor's desk,” said Ben Hellerstein, State Director for Environment Massachusetts. “I applaud House and Senate leaders for preserving the key elements of last session’s bill, including energy efficiency standards for appliances, expanded offshore wind procurements, and a requirement for at least 40 percent of Massachusetts’ electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030.” “There is little doubt the legislation … will cost taxpayers and businesses greatly in the future,” said Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance Executive Director Paul Craney. “The only questions that remain are just how much it will cost them and how ordinary, working-class families will be able to pay for it moving forward. Today’s legislation puts ideology ahead of common sense. It asks nearly every resident to make economic sacrifices in order to achieve unrealistic and ideologically driven climate goals.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes HELP BUSINESSES AND WORKERS (H 90) House 157-0, Senate 400, approved and Gov. Baker signed into law a bill that supporters said will stabilize the state’s unemployment system and provide targeted tax relief to employers and workers. Provisions exclude Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from being taxed by the state in 2020; exclude $10,200 of unemployment compensation received by an individual with a household income of less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level from gross income for tax purposes; and create a mechanism ensuring all employees will be able to access 40 hours of paid sick time for any COVID-related issues, including testing positive, needing to quarantine or caring for a loved one. Other provisions waive penalties on unemployment insurance taxes; freeze unemployment insurance rates paid by employers and extend the state’s tax filing deadline from April 15, 2021 to May 17, 2021. Businesses would also face a new surcharge, in the form of an excise tax on employee wages, through December 2022 to help repay interest due in September on the federal loans. “The House and Senate enacted legislation to make important updates to our state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which has provided an economic lifeline for so many families in need,” said Rep. Josh Cutler (D-Duxbury), House chair of the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. “Our actions today will prevent a sharp increase in rates on our businesses, help stabilize the fund over the longer term, provide tax relief to lower income jobseekers and ensure that needed jobless benefits continue to flow.” “Massachusetts employers faced a significant increase in their unemployment insurance costs, with employers’ experience rates scheduled to jump from $539 to $858 per worker this year,” said Republican House Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “This legislation mitigates that increase by freezing the rate schedule. Restaurants and small businesses, already struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic, secured federal Paycheck Protection Program loans to keep their businesses afloat and save employees’ jobs during the pandemic faced a collective tax bill of $150 million. This legislation will make sure their forgiven loans will not be subject to state taxes.” BHRC | SEE PAGE 22
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