Bills regarding the Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana

This week the Senate and the House of Representatives will be debating legislation regarding the recreational use, regulation and taxation of marijuana. The House will consider its version of this legislation on Wednesday, June 21 and the Senate will be meeting Thursday, June 22. Given the probability of substantial differences between each chamber’s version of the bill, a conference committee will most likely be needed to reconcile these differences into a final piece of legislation. Such a committee is comprised of three members of the House and three members of the Senate.  

 

Here are some helpful links:

 

Adopted Ballot Question (Chapter 334 Acts of 2016): https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2016/Chapter334

House Bill (H.3786): https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H3768

Senate Bill (S.2090): https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S2090

Groveland Welcomes New Chief of Police

Congratulations to Jeffrey Gillen the new Chief of the Groveland Police Department. I enjoyed attending his swearing in ceremony at the Groveland Fairways early this week. Jeff has been engaged in in law enforcement for more than 30 years with most of that time serving Groveland.

Environmental Initiatives Advance

My office shared this press release today.

Senator Tarr Advances Environmental Initiatives

Tarr Budget Amendments Fund Important Programs

Boston– Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) succeeded in securing several budget provisions that help restore, protect, or advance natural resources in the recent Senate version of the state’s 2018 budget.

Among the amendments Tarr was able to secure in the spending plan are those which provide:

• $75,000 for Coastal and Marsh Revitalization- for coastal and marsh restoration and revitalization- including the treatment of phragmites and other invasive species,

• $12,000 to Protect Local Ponds - for treatment of invasive species at Rock Pond in Georgetown,

• $38,000 for Non-Native Weed Removal- at Johnson's Pond in Groveland,

• $50,000 in State Park Staffing and Operations – at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport,

• $50,000 for staffing and operations - at Berry Pond in the Harold Parker State Forest,

• $50,000 for Green Crab Trapping - for a green crab trapping program to mitigate impacts of this invasive non-native species,

• Revitalization of Natural Resources - requires state environmental agencies to include in their climate change adaptation strategies an effort to improve resiliency by strengthening and revitalizing natural resources such as marshes and wetlands,

• Ensuring Beneficial Reuse of Dredged Sand - requires the office of Coastal Zone Management to identify and seek opportunities to re-use sand from federal and state dredging projects for beach and dune nourishment,

• $20,000 for Groveland’s Veasey Park - for renovations, infrastructure improvements and enhancements to waterway access and recreational areas,

• $50,000 for Pollinator Hive Loss Prevention and Stewardship - to support local commercial farmers and beekeepers through the University of Massachusetts Extension program research on preventing hive loss, and promoting pollinator stewardship efforts.

“These modest targeted investments can make a big difference in strengthening and protecting our natural resources, and making them more friendly to interactions with people,” said Senator Tarr. “Environmental stewardship is a continuing process, and these amendments represent important steps in the process. These steps, in turn, reflect tremendous collaboration between stakeholders ranging from “friends” groups to property owners to municipalities.”

The Senate debated more than 1,000 amendments to the proposed $40.8 billion state funding plan. In April, the House of Representative adopted its version of the budget. Before reaching Governor Baker’s desk, the budget bills will move to a conference committee of House and Senate members who will meet to iron out differences between the two branches. Senator Tarr has appointed one of the three Senate conferees.

MBTA Weekend Rail Service Suspension

In March, the MBTA announced plans to temporarily suspend weekend rail service on several of its lines in order to complete transportation safety projects, known as Positive Train Control (PTC) in compliance with federal requirements. This PTC work will impact commuters on the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Lines; it will take place on weekends from July 8 through September 30.

Clearly, this summer weekend service interruption will have short-term negative impacts for workers, tourists, and others who seek to travel to and from the North Shore. Initial plans did not include bus replacements or alternate modes; not having any service at all is unacceptable. I have expressed my concerns, and those of many others, to T officials. Last month I co-hosted a public input session in Gloucester to give citizens and civic leaders an opportunity to come together and better understand these impacts and discuss some potential remedies.

Last night, the T’s Chief Operating Officer, Jeffrey Gonneville, and several of his colleagues, presented alternate transportation service plans for customers using the line. They have now committed to a bus schedule to accommodate commuters. The MBTA will provide shuttle bus service between North Station and select stations on the Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail lines in order to keep weekend customers moving.

Also, the Beverly Drawbridge replacement project will shut down all train service north of Salem Station from July 17 through August 13. Parking will be free at all stations north of Beverly Depot Station.

I will share future updates on the project, there is also a phone hotline that you can use for the latest information on schedules or trip planning - - 617-222-3200.

Annual Crowning Ceremony

Honored to attend Pentecost Sunday - the Annual Crowning Ceremony, Mass and luncheon at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church in Gloucester.

North Shore MBTA Public Meeting Schedule

MBTA Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Update Public Meeting

Gloucester JROTC Team Visits State House

Boston- On Thursday, June 01 the Gloucester High School Junior Marine Corp JRTOC team visited the Massachusetts State House as the very special guests of State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) and State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester). The legislators invited the team to the capitol to recognize its outstanding achievements and the exemplary way in which these students have represented Massachusetts in national competition.

Among those achievements are winning the National Championship in the Unarmed Exhibition Drill and placing third in the Unarmed Regulation Drill at the National MCJROTC Drill Team Championship in Irving, Texas.

 

Tarr and Ferrante welcomed the team to an informal session of the Massachusetts Senate, where Tarr introduced them to the members, staff and other guests of the Senate. Following the session the group was photographed with the legislators in the well of the Senate chamber and Tarr and Ferrante provided personal tours of both the Senate and House chambers and Memorial Hall, with particular attention paid to the many points of recognition of those who have served in the armed forces throughout history at the State House.

 

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