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Lawmakers sat into the early hours of Monday morning. BANNER FILE PHOTO
After a marathon legislative session over the weekend, Massachusetts lawmakers have a stack of bills headed to the governor’s desk for final approval. However, while members of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus scored some victories, some legislation supported by the caucus failed to make it to the finish line before the sessions of both bodies ended on July 31.
In the win column is the climate and energy bill, which seeks to increase the use of electric power and offshore wind power and has strong equity components championed by Congresswoman Liz Miranda, a member of the panel.
According to Miranda, her proposed amendment requires the approval of plans for diversity and inclusion projects; promotes coordination among state agencies, including the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO); and increases accountability for diversity, equity and inclusion goals by establishing a system for measuring and reporting progress.
“This amendment was shaped by people in the community, such as Reclaim Roxbury, Greater Grove Hall Main Streets and ACE [Alternatives for Communities and Environment]because our community and all communities of color can generate opportunities for wealth in this industry, we can generate opportunities for future entrepreneurs and workforce development to create a new sector in the workforce,” she said in a statement.
The legislation is now in the hands of Baker, who added his own amendments, including removing the price cap on offshore wind in Massachusetts.
Additionally, a bill to enact cannabis reforms passed the governor’s office, including reducing fees charged to cannabis sellers, channeling tax funds to disenfranchised cannabis entrepreneurs, language to expunge old marijuana convictions, and a pilot program for cannabis cafes.
Recreational marijuana use was legalized by the Commonwealth in 2016, and while businesses selling cannabis have sprung up across the state, few are owned by people of color. According to the Cannabis Control Commission, only 8% of businesses with approved licenses are minority-owned.
In addition, a Boston Globe investigation conducted last year found that thousands may still be serving sentences for marijuana-related convictions despite efforts to have them exonerated.
The cannabis bill was co-sponsored by caucus member Sonia Chang-Dias, who tweeted: “This bill will change the rules for racial equity in the industry.”
Other legislation that moved forward over the weekend included an $11.3 billion infrastructure bill that includes money to improve the MBTA, a bill to legalize sports betting in the Bay State and a bill that would increase access to mental health services. health in the British Commonwealth.
The Legislature also voted early Monday morning in favor of legislation to fight a Supreme Court ruling that made it harder for states to enforce gun control. The Massachusetts bill allows lawmakers to set up in-person interviews for firearms licenses and prohibits those with pending protection orders from obtaining firearms.
One of the biggest pieces of legislation that failed over the weekend was a tax bill that would have returned nearly $2 billion in direct relief to residents. Lawmakers opposed the bill after Baker cited a 1986 ballot measure that would have automatically triggered $3 billion in tax credits.
Some parts of the aid package went through committee discussion, such as money earmarked for hospitals, environmental infrastructure, economic development and housing. For now, however, incentive checks are suspended.
Also, legislation pushed hard by several members of the Black and Hispanic Legislative Caucus that would have allowed free phone calls for Massachusetts inmates failed in the statehouse over the weekend. After legislation supporting free calls was passed earlier in the budget process and sent back to the governor’s desk, Baker added an amendment adding the so-called “danger law” and threatened to veto the legislation without that rider.
The Baker Dangerousness Act would make it easier for courts to hold defendants in pretrial detention if they are considered a danger to the public, and would expand the list of crimes that are considered dangerous.
Members of the Black and Latino Caucus held a news conference Friday criticizing the governor’s move and the impact it would have on people of color.
“It’s disgusting and disgusting that he’s even trying to link this to free calls when that’s the lifeline our families can connect to those outside, and the data and statistics and study after study show that when there are family contacts , it reduces recidivism,” Congresswoman Brandi Fluker Oakley said Friday.
In an emailed statement, Miranda also criticized Baker, saying, “I’m proud that the House rejected the governor’s amendment to expand the dangerousness laws, but I’m shocked that the Senate passed the amendment. You can’t say we’re against a racist criminal justice system if you vote to strengthen the power of that systemic racism.
Lawmakers will have the opportunity to continue to chip away at some legislation as informal sessions continue in January.
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