The Beacon Hill Report by Stephen A . Boksanski GIA Legislative Agent
History was made on the first Wednesday of January 2023 when Maura Healey took the oath of office to become the first woman and first openly gay Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . After serving eight years as Attorney General , she has broken the decades-old curse of AG ’ s who ran for the Corner Office and failed . In doing so , she has given Democrats control over the Executive and Legislative branches of state government .
Governor Healey will submit her first annual budget proposal on March 1 . This will be her opportunity to demonstrate her administration ’ s priorities . This can come in the form of spending and outside sections that contain policy changes . The budget is the one bill that you know will make it through the process each year so legislators and Governors often use it as vehicle for key policy issues .
Healey is still filling out her extensive team and just recently announced that her Commissioner for the Department of Agricultural Resources will be Ashely Randle . Ms . Randle currently serves as Deputy Commissioner and worked well with outgoing Commissioner , John Lebeaux . She was born and raised on her family ’ s dairy farm in South Deerfield and agriculture has been a major part of her life and career . Ashley is familiar with our issues and has been helpful in numerous ways as industry worked through the fertilizer and plant nutrient regulations , and to maintain essential status during the pandemic . We look forward to continuing our work and know we will have a seat at the table under Commissioner Randle ’ s leadership . the right people . The GIA has done a commendable job of staying engaged and we have developed real credibility in the halls of the statehouse . To keep these relationships going we need your help and every connection matters ,. Please introduce yourselves to your elected officials and make sure they know a little bit about you – where you live and operate a business . They will want to help you , but we must make that ask , so take advantage because they can ’ t understand your perspective if you don ’ t tell them .
The MAA is a proud member of the Green Industry Alliance ( GIA ) along with the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals , Massachusetts Association of Lawn Care Professionals , Irrigation Association of New England , and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England . Russell Holman , MCA , BCMA , CTSP serves as MAA ’ s representative . If you are interested in becoming involved with the GIA ’ s legislative and advocacy activities , please contact the MAA .
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The new Governor and Legislature are getting organized and preparing to start the legislative process , which begins with public hearings . Over 6,000 bills were filed in January and will be shipped out to Committee where they face the first and most critical of step . Our team at BCB has been reviewing all the proposals , categorizing them and developing plans for action . This session will come with many challenges such as attempts to repeal the statewide pre-emption on pesticide and fertilizer rules , as well as some seeking to force a change in equipment , and others .
However , just because these bills get filed doesn ’ t mean they automatically become law , and we are here to make sure your voices are heard loudly and at the right times , by www . cranes101 . com 508-966-4100
SPRING 2023 MAA NEWS 15