iStock photo

A $1.67 billion midyear spending bill that also extends pandemic-era restaurant reforms and empowers state officials to divest public pension funds from Russian-involved companies landed on Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk Thursday after lawmakers hammered out a behind-closed-doors compromise.

After keeping their sessions open into the evening, the House and Senate both approved an updated version (H.4650) of the fiscal year 2022 supplemental budget that allocates money toward the ongoing COVID-19 response, winter road repair, rental assistance and more.

The legislation’s bottom line grew by tens of millions of dollars in the closed-door talks that led to the final product Thursday. Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Sen. Michael Rodrigues said it would carry a net cost of $883 million to the state, with the remainder covered by federal reimbursement.

In addition to steering $700 million toward COVID-19 efforts, $140 million to private special education schools, $100 million to road repairs and $20 million for low-income home energy assistance, the legislation extends by one year until April 1, 2023 authorization for expanded outdoor dining and to-go cocktails.

It also directs the state’s pension board to divest any holdings in companies that are incorporated in Russia or have been sanctioned by the U.S. government in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The House had rejected a similar proposal while passing its original supplemental budget bill but agreed to the change after the Senate baked it into the legislation.

Legislative leaders often appoint six-lawmaker conference committees to iron out differences in House and Senate spending bills, but in this instance, they opted to resolve the underlying versions (H.4578, S.2776) without tapping negotiators.

Wide-Ranging Spending Bill Reaches Baker’s Desk

by State House News Service time to read: 1 min
0