Volume 5, Issue 7 | July 28, 2023 | |
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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope this newsletter finds you well after a sunny (and slightly rainy) week! July's newsletter includes today's budget update, highlights from a selection of recent events and announcements relevant to the district, and more news on legislation.
As always, serving our constituents is our top priority. In August, I will host four in-person office hours. If you cannot attend scheduled office hours, you are welcome to contact my staff to schedule a meeting.
As a reminder, my staff and I have recently moved offices within the State House—please see below for our office’s updated contact information.
State Representative Joan Meschino
State House, Room 162, 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133
Updated phone number: 617-722-2092
Very truly yours, Joan
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FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE | |
BREAKING NEWS: Legislature's FY24 Budget Conference Committee Strikes Budget Deal, Report Expected Soon | As of the afternoon of Friday, July 28, The House and Senate Conference Committee have announced an agreement for a final FY24 budget, which will likely be taken up for a final vote before August. The conference committee's report has yet to be released but will be filed at https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2024/ConferenceCommittee. | |
Both Chambers of Legislature Pass Chapter 90 Funding for Transportation in Formal Session | |
The Massachusetts Legislature on Thursday passed H.4013, An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges, a bill that includes $375 million in bond authorizations for transportation needs across the state, including $200 million for the state’s Chapter 90 program, which provides municipalities with a reliable funding source for transportation-related improvements, including road and bridge repairs. These funds will be used across transportation programs that impact every community in the Commonwealth.
The bill now goes to the Governor for her consideration and signature.
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Rep. Meschino Provides Testimony for Unemployment Waiver Bill, Attends First Hearings for AITIC Committee And For Priority Bill H.74 | |
In July, I testified on H.1922 / S.1162, An Act relative to non-fault unemployment insurance overpayments, in front of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. This common-sense legislation protects workers and their families from carrying the burden of unemployment costs incurred through no fault of their own. Thank you to my Senate colleague Senator Lydia Edwards for continuing to jointly pursue this effort.
I also attended the first official Advanced IT, Internet, and Cybersecurity (AITIC) hearing that took place on July 17, where the Joint Committee considered my priority bill H.74/S.34, An Act to modernize funding for community media programming, which I filed with Rep. Mat Muratore from Plymouth and Senator Jason Lewis. Thank you to my legislative colleagues and Mass Access for their continued advocacy in this space so that we can support our local media centers--photos from that hearing are included below.
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Left: Rep. Meschino joins bill co-sponsors Rep. Mat Muratore (R-Plymouth) and Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester) at the Joint Committee on Advanced IT, Internet, and Cybersecurity hearing.
Right: Representative Meschino (left) thanks her legislative colleagues for their testimony and discusses the content of H.74.
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Rep. Meschino Attends Clean Energy Caucus to Discuss Climate Bank Priority Bill | |
On July 20, I spoke about my priority bill H.3774 / S.675, An Act creating a climate bank in Massachusetts, to the Legislature’s Clean Energy Caucus. Grateful to Representative Steve Owens and Senator Jamie Eldridge for organizing, and thank you to special guest CERES for your continued expert leadership in this space. I’m looking forward to collaborating further with the Governor’s office to shape our vision for a climate bank. | |
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Left: Rep. Meschino speaks on the climate bank bill at the briefing.
Right: Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton), Rep. Margaret Scarsdale (D-Pepperell), colleagues from CERES, Rep. Steven Owens (D-Watertown), and Rep. Meschino pose for a photo.
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Rep. Meschino Celebrates Student Interns For 2023 National Intern Day | In honor of National Intern Day this month, I wanted to take a moment to thank my 2023 spring and summer interns! Thank you to Turner, Amelia, and Chris for your tireless research efforts and for your commitment to serving the Third Plymouth District. Their research projects have built on our office's work toward gender equity, climate resilience through buildings, and a variety of other issues. | |
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Top left: Representative Meschino (right) presents an honorary citation to spring intern Turner.
Top right: Representative Meschino (left) presents honorary citations to summer interns Amelia and Chris.
Bottom: Summer interns Amelia and Chris outside the State House.
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STATE AND FEDERAL HIGHLIGHTS | |
MassDOT Sumner Tunnel Construction Project Begins, Limiting Access From Airport To South Shore; Weekend MBTA Ferry Service Schedule to Boston Continues for Hingham and Hull | |
The MassDOT Sumner Tunnel project, which will provide structural upgrades to the century-old southbound tunnel, is now underway. The Tunnel will be closed until August 31. To learn more about the MassDOT Sumner Tunnel project, please visit https://www.mass.gov/sumner-tunnel. Please consider taking alternate modes of transit to Logan Airport this summer to avoid travel disruptions.
All ferries are back to full pre-COVID service levels and will maintain regular service schedules (including summer weekends) in light of MassDOT's current construction project on East Boston's Sumner Tunnel. To learn more and to view schedules, please visit https://www.mbta.com/schedules/ferry.
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Hingham Youth Joins Rep. Meschino and Colleagues to Continue to Advocate for Youth Voter Engagement at Legislative Briefing | |
After I testified at a June hearing held by the Joint Committee on Election Laws in support of my bill H.705/S.431, An Act relative to youth voter engagement, Hingham's Sam Bevins joined me, Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis, and Senator O’Connor for a legislative briefing on the bill with a full room of elected officials, staff, and interns in attendance.
As previously mentioned, the bill would allow seventeen-year-olds who will be eighteen by the general election to vote in the preceding primary, giving impacted young people the opportunity for full enfranchisement in the election process.
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Left: Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis (D-Framingham), Senator O'Connor, Rep. Meschino, Sam Bevins, and a student speaker pose at the podium in the briefing room.
Right: Rep. Meschino speaks before a full house of briefing attendees to discuss H.705 / S. 431.
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Cohasset's Holly Hill Farm Awarded Food Security Infrastructure Grant by Healey-Driscoll Administration | |
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Last week, the Friends of Holly Hill Farm were awarded $31,976.64 by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. This award will be used to install a new irrigation system, a transport vehicle, and other equipment to protect against extreme weather and expand distribution efforts. Congratulations to Holly Hill Farm!
Below are some photos from my team's recent site visit to Holly Hill to learn more about their current work:
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Rep. Meschino joins Meredith, Jon, and Jean at Holly Hill Farm for a tour of the grounds! | |
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Announcing Office Hours for August
Constituent services are our top priority. We continue to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, a staff member will be present in the State House. On Mondays, I host in-person office hours in the district.
If you would like to reserve a time slot for virtual office hours or outside of the times listed, please call the office at our new phone number 617-722-2092 or email my Legislative Aide.
- Monday, August 7, 10:00 am - 11:00 am, Linden Ponds, for Linden Ponds residents
- Monday, August 14, 9:00 am - 10:30 am, Willcutt Commons, 91 Sohier Street, Cohasset
- Monday, August 21, 10:00 am - 11:00 am, Hull Council on Aging, 197A Samoset Avenue, Hull
- Monday, August 28, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Hingham Public Library, Hingham
To learn more about our constituent services, please visit our website.
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General Resources
COVID-19 Vaccines
- Schedule a COVID-19 Vaccination appointment using the Vaccine Finder
- COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-6:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 9 AM-2 PM) is available by calling 2-1-1 and following the prompts for assistance / translation services.
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Homebound Vaccination Program information
- COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard
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MyVaxRecords.Mass.Gov allows residents to access their COVID-19 digital vaccine card and vaccination history
COVID-19 Tests, Cases & Treatment
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