SENATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILL AND DOWNTOWN VITALITY ACT OUTCOMES
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SENATE’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILL OUTCOMES
On Thursday, July 11, 2024, the Senate passed their $2.86 billion Economic Development Bond Bill (Mass Leads Act S.2856). The final bill includes $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund. Unlike the House Bill, the Senate did not include a live theater tax credit in their bill.
The 124 page bill includes other bond authorizations and policy sections to strengthen the Commonwealth’s economy, including:
$225 million for the life sciences sector
$400 million in climate tech bonding authorizations and a climate tech tax incentive with a $30 million annual cap
$99 million for advanced manufacturing
$400 million for MassWorks public infrastructure projects
$100 million for the Rural Development Fund
$100 million for an Applied AI Hub
$115 million for the Massachusetts Tech Hub
$100 million for local economic development grants
$150 million for public library capital grants
SENATORS ADVOCATING FOR CREATIVE SECTOR PRIORITIES
Before the Senate took up their Economic Development Bill, MASSCreative encouraged advocates to contact their state senator and urge them to co-sponsor Amendments #114 (Downtown Vitality Act), #146 (Cultural Equity in Tourism Act), and #269 (Creative Space Preservation Act) - all Creative Sector Legislative Agenda priorities.
Sen. Cronin (D-Lunenburg) filed Amendment #114, “Downtown Vitality,” to include the Downtown Vitality Act in the Senate’s Economic Development Bond Bill. The Downtown Vitality Act (H.228/S.130) would establish a grant program for towns and cities to support the vitality of downtowns and main streets for technical assistance, community planning, and to expand entrepreneurship, with a focus on supporting geographic and demographic diversity and social and economic equity.
Sen. Oliveira (D-Ludlow) filed Amendment #146, “Cultural Equity in Tourism Promotion,” to include the Cultural Equity in Tourism Act in the Bond Bill. The Cultural Equity in Tourism Act (H.3244/S.2194) would establish a grant program within the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism to support tourism marketing and promotional expenses for arts and cultural organizations and prioritize amplifying the stories of historically marginalized or underrepresented cultures.
Sen. Miranda (D-Boston) filed Amendment #269, “Stabilizing Space for the Creative Economy,” to include the Creative Space Preservation Act. The Creative Space Preservation Act (H.3241/S.530) would create a defined property restriction for creative maker space and performance or exhibition space and would allow towns and cities to establish trust funds to hold assets and property for the creation and preservation of creative spaces.
Thanks to advocates’ efforts:
8 senators co-sponsored Amendment #114;
5 senators co-sponsored Amendment #146;
2 senators co-sponsored Amendment #269
DOWNTOWN VITALITY ACT INCLUDED!
The Senate voted to include Amendment #114, the Downtown Vitality Amendment, in the final version of their Economic Development Bond Bill! This is a big win for advocates who have organized support for this legislation since January 2023, and this action brings us one step closer to passing the Downtown Vitality Act as law.
We are grateful for Sen. Cronin’s leadership on this amendment and for his behind-the-scenes advocacy to move this bill forward. We are celebrating this victory because of the collaborative work that advocates and elected officials have done over the past 18 months to build cross-sector support for the Downtown Vitality Act.
Unfortunately, the Creative Space Preservation Act and Cultural Equity in Tourism Act amendments were not adopted in the Senate’s final bill. We will continue building public support for these issues.
ADVOCACY UPDATES
Now that the Senate’s done with their Economic Development Bond Bill, there are two things advocates can still do to help the creative sector build greater support for creativity on Beacon Hill and to advance the Downtown Vitality Act.
THANK YOUR SENATOR FOR CO-SPONSORING CREATIVE SECTOR AGENDA AMENDMENTS
Did your state senator co-sponsor Amendments #114, #146, or #269? If you see your state senator’s name on the lists below, consider calling or emailing their office and thanking them for their support!
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In order of co-sponsorship:
*Sponsored by Sen. John Cronin (D-Lunenburg)
Sen. Adam GomezSen. Paul Mark
Sen. Jo Comerford
Sen. John Velis
Sen. Patrick O'Connor
Sen. Pavel Payano
Sen. Nick Collins
Sen. Mark Montigny
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In order of co-sponsorship:
*Sponsored by Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow)
Sen. Paul MarkSen. Jo Comerford
Sen. Jamie Eldridge
Sen. Adam Gomez
Sen. John Velis
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In order of co-sponsorship:
*Sponsored by Sen. Liz Miranda (D-Boston)
Sen. Paul MarkSen. Adam Gomez
SIGN OUR LETTER TO THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF CULTURAL POLICIES IN THE MASS LEADS ACT
Now that the House and Senate have both voted on their own versions of the Mass Leads Act, they’ll appoint a six-person conference committee to negotiate the differences between their economic development proposals.
Although the Senate included the Downtown Vitality Act Amendment, the House did not. Meanwhile, the House approved the Live Theater Tax Credit in their version of the bill, while the Senate did not.
We know that the creative economy is a vital part of Massachusetts’ overall economy and we support the Legislature’s passing an economic development plan which includes as much support as possible for the sector. We are calling on the Economic Development Conference Committee to include $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund, the Live Theater Tax Credit, and the Downtown Vitality Amendment in their final report.
The 2023-2024 legislative session ends after July 31st, giving the Conference Committee just under two weeks to finish their negotiations. It’s critical that we advocate now to pass the Downtown Vitality Act this session.
You can support these policies and investments by adding your signature to our letter to the Conference Committee by Wednesday, July 24th at 5 PM. You can sign on as an individual or organization.
