Members of the House Ways and Means Committee over the holiday weekend were advancing land bills affecting Revere, South Boston and Chicopee as well as a major economic development bill and legislation dealing with older adults, regional public health and simulcasting.
In addition to its funding provisions, including $500 million for the MassWorks infrastructure program, the economic development bill (H 4413) includes a rider creating a commission to study all aspects of fantasy contests, including taxation and implications for existing gaming; sections dealing with on-site sales at farmer-breweries; sections affecting smart growth and starter home zoning; lengthy sections affecting the Economic Development Incentive Program, and a $107.5 million item to “mitigate or contribute toward any costs associated with or arising out or improvements to the Conley Terminal in South Boston, including, but not limited to, berth construction and crane procurement.”
Committee members on Friday were advised to vote by Tuesday at 10 a.m. on the bills, which were being teed up for possible advancement during a formal session planned for Thursday afternoon.
In addition to the downsized version of Gov. Charlie Baker’s economic development bill, panel members were voting on bills pertaining to a land conveyance on East First Street in South Boston (H 4293) in connection with the Thomas J. Butler Freight Corridor, land conveyances for redevelopment in Revere (S 2353) and an easement in Chicopee (H 4441) for a water transmission system.
Committee chairman Rep. Brian Dempsey was also ready to release a resolve establishing a special commission to strengthen local and regional public health systems (S 2296), a bill creating a task force on adults age 60 and over all incomes (H 4155), and a simulcasting bill extending a July 1, 2016 deadline for one year (report in part on H 154).
(Wikipedia) 
