10/30/23 - DOWNTOWN VITALITY ACT HEARING
Picture in the background shows a downtown landscape
BOSTON (10/25/23) - On Monday, October 30th, 2023 at 10 AM, the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses is holding a hybrid hearing at the State House in Room B-2.
One of the bills scheduled for a hearing on Monday is the Downtown Vitality Act.
The Downtown Vitality Act (H.228/S.130) would establish the Downtown Vitality Fund and dedicate 5% of revenues from online sales in Massachusetts to support staffing and operations of cultural districts, business improvement districts, main street associations, and parking benefit districts in Gateway Cities and other low-income communities.
SIGN UP TO TESTIFY!
One of the best things you can do to support this bill is testify in-person or virtually on October 30th. Both in-person and virtual attendees must register to testify by Friday, October 27th at 5 PM. Attendees testifying virtually will be emailed a link the day before the hearing to join via Microsoft Teams.
If you miss the deadline for registering to testify, you can still go to the State House on the 30th and sign up to speak in person. Time permitting, the Chairs will call on individuals who sign up to testify on the day of the hearing.
Whether you’re available to testify or not, we strongly encourage you to submit written testimony to the committee sharing your support. You can submit written testimony by emailing the Committee’s Researcher at jack.mackinnon@mahouse.gov.
Other Things to Consider When Testifying:
Individuals testifying orally will have 3 minutes to speak. Those who will be testifying on more than one bill must adhere to the 3 minute time limit as well.
If you would like to testify as a panel, indicate that in the registration form.
ADA Accommodations:
If you have accessibility needs, please share them with the committee in advance of the hearing.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP!
Our team has put together resources to help you share your support for the Downtown Vitality Act. Here’s a quick list:
Click here for draft testimony and talking points to use for the Downtown Vitality Act
Click here for social media templates for the Downtown Vitality Act
Click here for the Downtown Vitality Act call and email scripts
MASSCreative also put together a guide to help you feel confident in preparing for the hearing and testifying. You can find the guide HERE.
Have questions on whether your nonprofit organization can advocate on bills? We have a guide for that, too! You can find the guide for Nonprofit Organizations & Advocacy HERE.
HOW ELSE CAN YOU SUPPORT THE DOWNTOWN VITALITY ACT?
Here are a few other ways you can support the Downtown Vitality Act:
You can endorse the Downtown Vitality Act and add your name to the growing list of supporting organizations and individuals! You can find the endorsement form for the entire Creative Sector Agenda on our Take Action page.
Make sure to submit written testimony to the Committee!
Contact your state representative and state senator and ask them to co-sponsor H.228/S.130. You can find your elected officials HERE.
Spread the word! Let others know this hearing is happening and encourage them to share with their networks, sign up to testify, send written testimony, and talk with their legislators.
