Monday, April 4, 2022
The Senate completed work on a supplemental budget with $1.67 billion in gross spending, $883 million in net spending which prioritizes immediate, time-sensitive spending needs. A portion of the spending is to be backed by federal reimbursement. Here are the major components of the bill:
- The single largest component is $700 million for COVID-19 response including a reserve to support testing, vaccine access, and health care workforce needs. This spending will likely receive full federal participation,
- There's $147 million for private special education schools, these Chapter 766 schools support our state’s guarantee that all children have the right to a free appropriate public education,
- $20 million for additional low-income home energy assistance program,
- $10 million for the office of immigrants and refugees to support the resettlement of individuals and families from Ukraine,
- $5 million for the secretary of state to cover the costs of paper and printing for elections,
- Outdoor dining was adopted in time to end the sunset date and allow for restraints to continue to offer guests extend outdoor dining. In addition, we also extended alcohol to-go provisions. We ensured that our National Guard members will receive their COVID0-19 bonuses. Another important priority of this Senate was the so-called Russian divestment. We were able to ensure that the language that we included in the Senate bill last week relative to divesting from Russian assets was included,
- $100 million in this document for winter roadway recovery, to deal with filling potholes and the like.
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H4650
