State Rep. Gregoire Supports MA Tech Upgrade Bill

Press release from the Office of State Representative Danielle W. Gregoire:

May 22, 2020

House Passes Bond Bill to Strengthen State’s IT Infrastructure

Gregoire Secures Funding for Local Projects

BOSTON – State Representative Danielle W. Gregoire (D-Marlborough) along with her colleagues in the House of Representatives passed legislation this week authorizing up to $1.7 billion in spending for the improvement of information technology equipment and related projects in the Commonwealth. The House voted for the IT financing package – which also contains key funding for food security -- using its remote voting procedures for the COVID-19 emergency.

“Now, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, more than ever, everyone realizes the importance of our information technology infrastructure,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop) said. “These investments will strengthen the resilience of our state and help provide more equitable access to key services for our residents. I thank Chairs Michlewitz, Gregoire and Cabral and my colleagues in the House for their work on this important bill.”

House Bill 4708, An Act Financing the General Governmental Infrastructure of the Commonwealth, includes $650 million in IT needs, including $40 million in education grants to public schools to enhance remote learning environments and services. It also includes $30 million in municipal grants for proper safety equipment for first responders; $10 million for software/hardware upgrades at community health centers; and grants to cities and towns for a number of needs, including expanded access to broadband, ADA compliance, and other generic capital needs our municipalities might have, to name a few of the investments.

Additionally, Representative Gregoire was able to secure almost $200,000 for local projects that have been brought to her attention in the last year. This funding includes $110,000 for upgrades and repairs to the Northborough Free Library, $50,000 for a lighting project for the Marlborough District Court House Clock Tower and $30,400 for access and technology advances at the Westborough Public Library.

“This legislation began over a year ago as a vehicle to assist the Commonwealth with its IT infrastructure needs,” said Representative Danielle Gregoire, (D-Marlboro), House Chair of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. “Since that time, our state has been working to overcome the worst pandemic in modern time, and we have learned first hand just how essential updated and properly functioning IT infrastructure can be to the productivity of an economy. I am proud to have worked with the Speaker, Chairman Michlewitz, Chairman Cabral and my colleagues in the House to bring this ever critical legislation forward to assist our municipalities, residents and business partners during this time.”

"The IT Bond bill contains numerous and necessary upgrades to services that our constituents rely on each and every day and today,” said Representative Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). "By passing this legislation, the House is taking an important step in helping our Commonwealth provide those services in the world of COVID-19."

This legislation now moves to the Senate.

This press release was produced by the Office of State Representative Danielle W. Gregoire. The views expressed here are the author's own.