The coronavirus pandemic and vaccine rollout continue to command much of state lawmakersâ attention, but the budget process will pick up pace this month as the Legislature prepares to set funding priorities.
The House Ways and Means Committee typically releases its budget proposal in mid-April, and a Tuesday budget hearing considered health and human services expenditures, which account for the majority of spending.
A report last week detailing âmulti-system failuresâ in the death of a Fall River teen has also captured the attention of several lawmakers who want to reform the stateâs child welfare systems. And Gov. Charlie Bakerâs Friday amendments to a COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave proposal have worried advocates over the amendmentsâ exclusion of municipal employees.