Feature
Budget Season Opens Long before Governor’s Budget Address
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Governors traditionally gather the requests from department heads for what they say they will need for resources i.e. money over the next two years and blend it into a strange brew.
Business & Economy
Opposition Turns Out for Bill on Expanding Education Trust Fund Uses
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A bill to expand the uses for the state’s Education Trust Fund ran into opposition Friday as opponents said it would give the new Education Freedom Account program a blank check without accountability.
Education
Education Department Would Oversee Education Freedom Accounts in Proposed Bill
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Rep. David Luneau, D-Hopkinton, speaks to the House Education Committee Wednesday about his bill to have the Department of Education take over administration of the Education Freedom Account program.
Feature
State’s Economy Hangs by the Housing Market Thread
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But the recent increase in real estate values has put home ownership out of reach of anyone not earning more than $100,000 annually or more.
Education
More Accountability Needed before Expanding Education Freedom Accounts, Panel Told
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The controversial program, which is one of the most expansive voucher programs in the country, has served about 3,000 students in its first two years, and has cost the state $24 million — well over budget — with a projected cost of $30 million a year for the next biennial budget.
Business & Economy
Towns and Cities Need Help with Rental Crisis, Lawmaker Says
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Some lawmakers want to give local officials tools to address skyrocketing rental rates, but landlords say the solution is to build more apartments not create more regulations.
News
Little Support Indicated for Changing State Primary Date
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A cold shoulder was given to two proposals to change the date of the state primary election to earlier in the year Tuesday at public hearings.
Education
Lawmakers Again Will Grapple with Education Freedom Accounts
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To date about 75 percent of the state funds spent for the freedom account program has subsidized tuition for students who attended private and religious schools before the program was launched in 2021 and not students leaving public schools for private or religious schools as advocates had predicted.
Education
Judge Rejects State’s Motion to Dismiss Divisive Concepts Lawsuit
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A federal judge allowed a lawsuit challenging the state’s divisive concepts law to go forward on the same day a public hearing was held on a bill to repeal the new statute.