News

We would like to ask for your help by sending written testimony in support of the irrigation contractor bill. Testimony does not need to be long or to detailed. Below is a link to a template that you can use to send the letter to The Honorable Tackey Chan, House Chair and The Honorable Susan Moran, Senate Chair, as well as some talking points if you would like to write your own testimony.

Click here for a sample letter.

Talking points.

All testimony should be sent to jointcmte-consumerprotection@malegislature.onmicrosoft.com by Thursday, July 8 at noon. Please include the bill number (Bill H.468) and “Testimony” in the subject line of the email.

Questions? Contact Nicole Preisner.

We would like to ask for your help by sending an email to your legislators and asking them to co-sponsor the bill Rep. Vieria has filed HD2740, An Act Relative to the Registration of Irrigation Contractors. Below is a link to a template that you can use to send the letter to your local legislator.

Click here for the sample letter. 

If you do not know who your local legislator is you can search by clicking on this link https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator.

On Thursday, February 4, 2020, Governor Baker announced that the state of Massachusetts plans to raise capacity ceilings at restaurants, gyms, arcades and other businesses to 40%. The capacity cap, which had previously been 25%, will be raised to 40% on Monday, February 8. In this new iteration of the capacity limitations, restaurant employees and other close contact personal services will not count towards the state’s 40% limit. Restaurant-specific regulations that restrict parties to a maximum of 6 people per party and a time limit of 90 minutes will remain in place.

The following businesses will be included in this 40% capacity limit:

• Arcades and Recreational Businesses
• Driving and Flight Schools
• Gyms/Health Clubs
• Libraries
• Museums
• Retail
• Offices
• Places of Worship
• Lodging
• Indoor Golf
• Movie Theaters (no more than 50 people per theater)

Private gathering limits that were previously tightened to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors will stay in place. Additionally, a limit of 5 people per 1000 square feet will apply for smaller businesses without an available fire occupancy capacity.

Two weeks ago, the Administration announced a $668 million business relief package to be administered by Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC). The business relief package consists of two programs: (1) a recapitalization of the first small business relief program, which launched in October and (2) additional funding for businesses that fall into specific industry sectors. MGCC is reviewing existing applications from the first small business relief program, and is preparing to post the application for the sector-specific grant program.

• A program overview for the sector-specific program is now online and can be found here.
• The application period for the new program will run from Thursday, Dec. 31 through Friday, Jan. 15.
• Businesses that already applied to MGCC’s first small business relief program from October do not need to reapply to the new program. All applications in the existing program are currently being reviewed.
• Businesses that have already submitted complete and accurate applications to the first program and either (a) meet the demographic preferences from the first program or (b) meet the sector-specific preferences from the new program will receive funding.
• • Demographic preferences: Minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, businesses owned by persons with disabilities, or businesses located in Gateway Cities
  • Sector preferences: Restaurants/Bars, Independent Retailers, Indoor Recreation and Entertainment, Personal Services, Event Support Companies (additional details)

• Businesses that have already applied to MGCC through the first program will be notified of their award status by Jan. 18.
• Businesses that have not already applied to MGCC and choose to apply in the new program will be notified of their award status in February.

This program is intended to assist the hardest hit small businesses. Though many businesses have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, not all needs are equal. An excessive number of applications submitted by businesses with lesser need will delay the awarding of grants to businesses facing extraordinary circumstances. Businesses that are well-positioned to receive newly available PPP funds are encouraged to seek relief from that alternative source.

Governor Baker returned yesterday to announced new COVID-19 restrictions in Massachusetts for at least two weeks starting this Saturday (12/26). The following are new restrictions put forth by the state:

• Capacity Limits in “most” businesses such as retail and restaurants, personal services, casinos and office spaces, gyms, and many others are reduced to 25%
• Outdoor gatherings will be required to be at no more than 25 people
• Indoor gatherings are capped at 10 individuals
• Lt. Governor Polito made clear that workers and staff will not count toward the 25% occupancy limit.

Governor Baker noted that fighting off this surge is extremely important after the surge seen after Thanksgiving as well as the light at the end of the tunnel the state sees in the months ahead due to COVID-19 vaccine deployment. Here are other additional notes from the presser:

• The first Moderna Vaccine shipments were delivered to the state Monday and Tuesday.
• While the recent federal COVID-19 stimulus will help, Governor Baker is also looking forward to putting together a small business relief fund that they will deliver in more detail on 12/23.
• Secretary Sudders announced that effective 12:01am on December 26th, all hospitals are required to postpone or cancel all non-essential inpatient elective or invasive procedures.
• Hospitals are also asked to not schedule any new inpatient non-essential procedures until further notice by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
• Secretary Sudders also announced that Massachusetts is still seeking nurses and other healthcare professionals to work at field hospitals.
• Just as Governor Baker did yesterday, Secretary Kenneally boasted the Economic Development bill currently being debated this session.
• The state will publish its first vaccine dashboard on 12/24.

IrriTech Training is now an approved training provider for the Massachusetts Workforce Development Express Program. This is the initial program IrriTech has been approved for and it reimburses the participating company 50% of the training cost. IrriTech plans on applying for 100% reimbursement as soon as the application period opens for the upcoming year. We will keep you posted. 

Learn more about the approved courses and the program here. Registration is available online at www.irritechtraining.com/events. 

If you have any questions, please contact Olga Shvayko (508.564.4465). 

workforce flyer_irritech.pdf

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito Administration today announced that the annual sales tax-free weekend will take place the weekend of August 29-30. This marks the second sales tax holiday held under the new law signed by Governor Baker in 2018 that made the weekend an annual occurrence.

“The annual sales tax holiday is an opportunity for us to support small businesses and consumers, and this year, it’s a great way to support our economy that’s been impacted by COVID-19,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This pandemic has created enormous challenges for the Commonwealth’s small businesses, and the sales tax-free weekend is one way that we can encourage more economic activity to help Main Street businesses and local economies.”

“As the Commonwealth continues its phased reopening process, we recognize that many small businesses continue to face difficulties,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “We are proud that our Administration worked with the Legislature to enact legislation making the sales tax holiday permanent and look forward to this year’s tax free weekend and the economic activity that will come with it.”

“We are proud to continue supporting local businesses and consumers as we work with our colleagues in the Legislature to navigate the evolving COVID-19 environment while adhering to public health guidelines,” said Secretary for Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “The upcoming sales tax holiday will be an opportunity for people throughout Massachusetts to help support local companies and generate much needed economic activity.”

In 2018, Governor Baker signed legislation that makes the annual sales tax holiday permanent. The Department of Revenue today is designating August 29-30 as the sales tax holiday under M.G.L. Chapter 64H, Section 6A.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about this year’s annual sales tax holiday.

We wanted to let our members know about two upcoming Irritech industry training events. 

• Commercial Irrigation Installation, Tuesday, July 23, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. To view the program flyer, click here. 
• Hands-on Landscape Lighting, Thursday, July 18, 2:30 p.m.-Sunset. To view the program flyer, click here. 

To register online, visit www.irritechtraining.com/events/. If you have any questions regarding the training events, please contact info@irritechtraining.com. 

As you know the deadline for budget amendments was yesterday at 5PM. We went through the list and identified the list below. Happy to answer any questions or discuss in greater detail. The budget debate will begin on Monday, April 22 so we have this week to let our legislators know how we feel about these. 

Thanks to those of you who reached out to their State reps asking for their co-sponsorship on #1298 by Rep. Mark relative to funding for the soil testing equipment. Please touch base with them again, or for the first time, asking for their support for that one as well as #1197 by Rep. Finn and in opposition to #1339 by Rep. Dykema.

These two (1197, 1339) are relative to neonics. The Dykema amendment is the same as her legislation and we asked Rep. Michael Finn to file a modified study amendment as an alternative. This is a similar scenario to last year and we hope to keep her legislation out of the budget once again. She filed her bill and the committee should handle this rather than it being added to the budget. 

Happy to discuss in greater detail or answer any questions. 

Stephen A. Boksanski, Principal 

BCB Government Relations, Inc. 

617-423-6600  |  617-835-6394 (m)

Please find a brief update on our state government affairs activity.

WRC
I attended the Water Resource Commission meeting yesterday where a majority of their time was spent on discussing the draft Drought Management Plan.  The commented period remains open until February 25th.  We developed the attached comments working primarily with the IANE and want to share that – click here to view.  I made some brief comments at the meeting, highlighting the inconsistency in terminology etc between the DMP, the MGL, the WCS and the DEP Model Bylaw.  I expect there will be some follow up on this.

I saw Lexi Dewey there, who runs the Water Supply Citizens Advisory Committee to the MWRA. Chris Pine and I attended one of their meetings last May and presented on irrigation technology and policy.  She remains supportive of our legislative and regulatory efforts and hopes her group will lend us their voice this session.  She also sent this asking for our thoughts: http://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/Landscape-Transformation-Infographic.aspx

I also had the opportunity to speak with Jennifer Pederson with the Massachusetts Water Works Association about our frustrations with the DEP and the lack of movement on the regulatory front.  She offered to meet with us and maybe one of the municipal stakeholders to see if we can discuss how to get the process moving.

DAR
We have requested a meeting with the Commissioner and they agreed to set something up.  I will let you know when we get some dates but timing should be mid to late March.  This will be a good opportunity to catch up on some issues and explore ways to work together.

Committee Assignments
Sen. Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) and Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli (D-Lenox) will returning as Chairs of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.  Old friend Sen. Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) is the new Chair of the Senate Ways and means Committee and Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston) will helm the House Ways and Means Committee.  

Click here for Senate Committee Assignments

Click here for House Committee Assignments

As always, please do not hesitate to reply of call me directly with any questions or comments.

Stephen A. Boksanski, Principal
BCB Government Relations, Inc.
44 School Street, Suite 710
Boston, MA 02108
617-423-6600 | 617-835-6394 (m)