Massachusetts would fund health care, child care, and snow removal

Massachusetts would set aside money for MassHealth payments, snow removal, and subsidized child care provider payment rates. MassHealth funding covers payments for individual services. Snow removal covers the transportation and conservation departments. Child care funding supports higher payment rates for subsidized centers and family child care providers. These amounts would remain available through June 30, 2027. The child care rate funding would cover the fiscal year ending that day.

Covered payers would place AI notices at the beginning and end of messages and throughout video portions containing AI-generated content. This covers audio and video substantially produced by generative AI and intended to influence votes for or against candidates or ballot measures in elections or primaries. The exception covers broadcasters and media services paid to carry materially deceptive recordings or election messages.

The Massachusetts school building authority would use a $1.4 billion grant limit. The limit concerns state grants for school building projects. Before voting for additional grants, the authority would review its financial health and audited financial statements. Additional grants would not affect the calculation of later years’ limits. The option to approve grants above the annual limit would begin in fiscal year 2027.

The cannabis commission could issue medical marijuana cards using VA diagnosis records without separate certification from a health professional. This route covers veterans receiving care at a federal Veterans Administration facility. Eligible conditions include post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition causing chronic pain, and opioid use disorder. Veterans would need official VA documentation showing an eligible medical condition. The cannabis commission would decide whether to issue a card.

The insurance commissioner could charge licensed companies that manage prescription drug benefits to pay for state oversight. The money would cover regulation and oversight of these companies, including staff and consultants. If charged, the fees would total at least $1 million annually and be divided among licensed companies on a fair and reasonable basis. Companies would have to pay within 30 days after the commissioner’s fee notice.