BRIAN PAIGE
BEACON RECEIVES HILL BEACON REPORT AWARD
BRIAN PAIGE
BEACON RECEIVES HILL BEACON REPORT AWARD
By Stephen A . Boksanski , GIA Legislative Agent
We continue to work on supporting legislation ( S . 1221 ) that would bring some balance to the contracts between property owners and snow removal service companies . For the third session in a row , this legislation has received a favorable report by the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development and is pending before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means . We continue to push the Ways and Means Chair , the Senate President ’ s office , and several members to seek approval and can use all the help we can get .
and ends the following June 30 , so we are getting toward the end of FY24 with an eye on FY25 .
Governor Healey filed her budget plan in January and since then it has been under review by the House Committee on Ways and Means . In April the House will debate hundreds of amendments , usually seeking funding for local projects as well as some policy matters , and put their stamp on a budget plan for the upcoming year . The process then moves to the Senate where they will take up their own plan in May . June is when conference committee members will try to reconcile the two budgets with the goal of sending a consensus plan to the Governor prior to July 1 , the first day of FY25 .
However , it has been several years since the budget was sent to the Governor “ on time ”, which is another sign of the frayed relationship between House and Senate leadership . This cycle will also be different in that revenue growth has slowed and have not hit the benchmarks on which the FY25 budget is based for 9 months . The Commonwealth is still seeing growth in its revenues but nothing like the 8 % -10 % it saw from FY21-FY24 . This has led to the Governor trimming about $ 1 billion in spending in the current fiscal year and scrambling to find ways to make ends meet for FY25 .
Nick DiBenedetto , ND Landscaping ; Andy & Doug McDuff , Landscape America ; Brian Paige , Paige Landscaping ; Brian Soldevilla , Soldevilla Lawn & Landscape ; George Heffernan , Lawn Management .
Many thanks to MALP members who took the time to visit with lawmakers during GIA ’ s Day on Beacon Hill held February 29 , 2024 . The face-to-face meetings went a long way toward educating legislators on the challenges faced by the green industry in Massachusetts . We are also grateful to members who have taken the time to contact their state senators in support of S . 1221 .
Please join your fellow members in communicating with lawmakers . Take a minute to find out who represents you at the state level by visiting the Legislature ’ s website ( www . malegislature . gov ). Send them an email asking for their support of S . 1221 , An Act Relative to Snow Removal Service Liability Limitation . An email template is available from the MALP office . As a constituent , these officials will be happy to hear from you and should take action to show their support . We know this situation has led to exorbitant insurance premiums and has been a major drag on profitability . We need to make sure your elected officials understand , so reach out to them today .
Massachusetts runs on a fiscal year that begins on July 1
GIA members meet with Representative Murator to discuss issues of concern to the green industry .
The revenue pinch is new to many in the Legislature who have seen nothing but good times and may be the reason several senator and representatives have decided to not run for re-election this fall , and more announcements could be coming .
MALP is a proud member of the Green Industry Alliance ( GIA ), along with the Massachusetts Arborists Association , Massachusetts Association of Lawn Care Professionals , and the Golf Course Superintendents of New England . Chris Connors , MCLP and Andy McDuff , MCLP serve as MALP ’ s representatives . If you are interested in becoming involved with the GIA ’ s legislative and advocacy activities , please contact MALP .
MALP Newsline | Spring 2024 17