Senator Ross Named to 495 MetroWest Special Commission

Senator Richard Ross has been appointed to serve on the 495 MetroWest Suburban Edge Community Commission by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr. The announcement comes after Senator Ross was appointed to three special commissions on domestic violence, autism, and substance abuse.

The 495 MetroWest Suburban Edge Community Commission was established in the FY15 budget to investigate challenges experienced by edge communities, develop policy responses and recommendations as well as cultivate a pilot program to ensure that edge communities can participate in state development initiatives.

Senator Ross is a member of the 495/MetroWest Partnership, a public-private collaboration between businesses and municipalities with the common goal of creating and maintaining a strong sustainable environment.

 

“This year, we as a legislature were able to pass vital legislation on a number of issues that directly impact my constituents,” said Senator Ross. “I was a strong voice on these pieces of legislation, and I look forward to addressing transportation, energy infrastructure, and redevelopment projects in this commission to implement real solutions for the communities I serve.”

Senator Tarr on the Passing of Mayor Menino

 Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement today, following the passing of former Boston Mayor Tom Menino at the age of 71:

“We are all deeply saddened at the loss of such an esteemed and dedicated public servant who always kept the interests of his constituents first and foremost.  Mayor Menino had a distinguished career in public service that spanned more than three decades, from his early days as a Boston City Councilor to his elevation to the most powerful elected office in the City of Boston in 1993.  Throughout his years of public service, he never lost sight of his priorities, which included doing everything he could to improve the lives of others and to make Boston a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.”

Senator Ross Appointed to Special Commission on Substance Abuse and Treatment Options

In light of the recent passage of legislation to provide opportunities for long-term substance abuse recovery, Senator Richard Ross has been appointed to serve on a special commission by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr.

The commission is tasked with investigating the criteria for the treatment and monitoring of nonviolent offenders with substance addictions, and to further expand effective evidence based treatment programs.

“As a member of the Senate Special Committee on Drug Abuse and Treatment Options in the Commonwealth, I have spent the greater part of this year hearing about the devastating effects this disease has had on countless families across Massachusetts,” said Senator Ross. “What we need is effective methods of treatment for these individuals, and I am proud to be able to work with this commission to make this a reality for them.”

The commission was established in the substance abuse recovery bill, signed into law in August. The law was built off of recommendations by the Senate Special Committee on Drug Abuse and Treatment Options, which Senator Ross was appointed to in January. Senator Ross also serves on the Joint Committees on the Judiciary, Public Safety, and Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

Ross Appointed to Autism Special Commission

Senator Richard Ross has been appointed by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr to serve on a special commission created to make recommendations and monitor the implementation of policies impacting individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

The commission will be charged with investigating the range of services and supports necessary for such individuals, so that they may have ready access and availability to these services across their lifespan. The commission was established in the autism assistance bill, signed into law this past August. Governor Deval Patrick held a ceremonial bill signing of the law at Fenway Park last week.

“I have always been a strong advocate for autism awareness and research, and I’m proud to be a part of this commission, to continue the fight for those living with autism spectrum disorders and their families,” said Senator Ross.

The autism assistance bill builds off recommendations of the Governor’s Special Commission Relative to Autism, which Senator Ross was appointed to in 2010.

Senator Richard Ross Appointed to Serve on Domestic Violence Special Commission

Following his work this past session on critical domestic violence legislation, Senator Richard Ross has been appointed to serve on a special commission by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr.

The commission will be tasked with exploring housing and shelter options for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as offering policy recommendations for the expansion of resources for victims.

“Domestic violence and sexual assault are serious issues in Massachusetts, and this session we passed significant legislation to increase penalties for perpetrators to better protect victims,” said Senator Ross. “I’m looking forward to working on this commission to continue this important discussion and ensure that victims of assault have the resources and shelter they need.”

This past legislative session Senator Ross served on the conference committee focused on combating domestic violence and crafting a compromised bill that was later signed into law by the Governor. Additionally, Senator Ross worked on a grant program for public schools to address teen dating violence and develop a curriculum focused on promoting healthy relationships and violence prevention. This was a bipartisan effort, included in the final FY15 budget.

Please contact the office of Senator Ross with any questions or concerns at (617) 722-1555 or Richard.Ross@masenate.gov.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.  Sadly, a 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) found that approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men in Massachusetts have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner.  As a state, we must do better to combat domestic violence.

In July of this year, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a bill to do just that.  The bill, S.2334, An Act Relative to Domestic Violence, creates new criminal offenses, increases penalties, protects and empowers victims, and creates new employment rights within the workplace.  Specifically, the act, which was signed into law by Governor Patrick on August 8, 2014, includes:

· The creation of a first offense domestic assault and battery charge on a family or household member punishable by imprisonment in a house of corrections for up to 2 ½ years and a fine of $5,000;

· The creation of a felony charge of strangulation and suffocation punishable by imprisonment in a state prison by 5 years, or 2 ½ years in a house of corrections, and a fine of $5,000;
 
· The standardization of records to be shared by law enforcement and the judicial system;

· The further training of domestic violence programs for police, district attorneys, court, and medical personnel;

· The delaying of bail for offenders by 6 hours to provide the victim with adequate time to relocate safely; and

· The establishing of fees for domestic violence offenses, which will fund a newly created Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance account.

Additionally, the bill now requires places of business with 50 or more employees to allow up to 15 days of leave (paid or unpaid), to any employee who is a victim of domestic violence.  Employees can use that time to obtain medical attention, counseling, housing, protection orders, or legal assistance.

It is important that we continue to bring awareness to prevent these kinds of acts from happening, and to support those who may need help in addressing domestic violence.  To read more about the NISVS report, please click here.  To read the text of S.2334 in its entirety, please click here.

Senate Republican Caucus Seeks Answers from National Grid on Electric Rate Increases

Today the Senate Republican Caucus, led by Senator Richard Ross, distributed the following press release regarding a letter the caucus sent to Attorney General Martha Coakley and others seeking further review concerning National Grid receiving approval from the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to raise electric rates for customers. National Grid estimates that rates could jump as high as 37% this upcoming winter due to an elevation in power supply prices.

Following National Grid’s recent announcement that customers will see a substantial increase in their winter electric rates, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), along with fellow Republican Senators Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth), and Donald Humason (R-Westfield), submitted a letter to the office of Attorney General Martha Coakley, for further clarification of this decision and its implications for Massachusetts home and business owners.

On Wednesday, September 24th, National Grid issued a press release stating that they recently filed with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to adjust electric and gas rates for the winter. National Grid projects that electric bills for customers will be 37% higher than last winter, citing higher power supply prices as a cause.

In the October 7th letter authored by Senator Ross, which was also sent to Governor Deval Patrick, Chair of the Department of Public Utilities Ann Berwick, and Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Maeve Vallely Bartlett, the Caucus wrote, “As Massachusetts families struggle to meet their financial needs during the costly demands of winter, the cost of this rate increase will present a serious burden. Massachusetts businesses will face yet another financial obstacle to remaining competitive in a challenging economy.”

The Senate Republican Caucus requests:

• A full review and examination of Department of Public Utilities’ approval of National Grid’s proposed rate increase to ensure that it is in full compliance with Massachusetts law and represents the least burdensome course of action.

• The office of the Attorney General determines whether any options are available to alleviate the burden that the proposed rate increase will present.

 According to National Grid, the increase in electricity costs will take effect on November 1, 2014.

“With NSTAR and Western Massachusetts Electric Company expected to file their rates in November, it is important that we confront this serious issue early,” the Caucus wrote.

Posted below is a signed copy of the letter to the AG from the Senate Republican Caucus:

Senate Republican Caucus Letter RE Electric Rates 10.7.2014

Sen. Humason Announces Newest Cable Show

Senator Don Humason (2^nd Hampden & Hampshire) announced that the newest installment of his cable show, “From the State House to Your House” is now on air. His guests this month is Representative Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick).

Representative Boldyga’s district includes Agawam, Southwick and Granville. He and Senator Humason jointly represent those three communities. On the show, they give a wrap up of the formal legislative session that concluded July 31^st. They also discuss the upcoming session which begins in January, 2015.

The half hour program airs on Westfield’s Community Programming Channel, Channel 15, on Sundays at 4:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m., Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m., and Fridays at 2:30 p.m. 

Senator Humason may be reached at his Westfield District office at 64 Noble Street and by calling 413-568-1366.  His website is www.DonHumason.org.

Senator Humason Appointed to MA Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) has appointed Senator Don Humason (R-2^nd Hampden & Hampshire District) to the Massachusetts Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force (MASS-TF), pursuant to Section 3 of Chapter 48 of the Acts of 2014, An Act Encouraging the Improvement, Expansion, and Development of Military Installations in the Commonwealth.

“Senator Humason approached me and requested that I name him to the Task Force,” Senator Tarr stated.  “Having spoken with Don numerous times about military and veterans issues in our state, and knowing of his strong support for both Barnes Air National Guard Base and Westover Air Reserve Base which are in the cities of Westfield and Chicopee that he represents, I thought he would be the perfect member of our caucus to serve in this capacity. Furthermore, he already serves on the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs so Senator Humason is a good fit for the Task Force.”

The MASS-TF was created by the Patrick-Murray Administration to begin a long term initiative to support all military installations in Massachusetts in order to both collaborate with them and explore opportunities to bring new missions.  The Military Bond Bill, passed by the Legislature and supported by Senator Humason, put the Task Force’s structure into law to ensure continuity of Executive Branch, National Guard, Mass Development, Congressional, State Legislature, industry, and academic collaborations.

The six military installations in Massachusetts include Barnes Air National Guard Base, Fort Devens, the US Army’s Natick Soldier Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Joint Base Cape Cod, and Westover Air Reserve Base.

“I have long been a great admirer of the men and women of our nation’s armed services and have tried to support them however I could, personally, professionally, and politically,” Senator Humason said.  “I jumped at the chance to be named to the Task Force with the hope I could better serve and protect Barnes and Westover but also do anything possible to position the Commonwealth’s military installations in a favorable way for whatever the future may hold.”

Senator Humason is the State Senator for the 2^nd Hampden & Hampshire District and represents the communities of Agawam, Chicopee (7, 8A, 9A), Easthampton, Holyoke, Westfield, Southwick, Granville, Tolland, Russell, Montgomery, and Southampton.  He maintains a district office for the convenience of his constituents at 64 Noble Street, Westfield, 01085, and can be reached at 413-568-1366 or by e-mailing Donald.Humason@MASenate.gov.  His official website is www.DonHumason.org.

Remembering 9/11-A Message from Senator Tarr

May we all join today in the focused and solemn remembrance of that tragic day 13 years ago when terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners and attacked our nation and the ideals we stand for, killing 3,000 victims and leaving many others with lasting health issues that continue. May we also remember that the horrific acts perpetrated by al-Qaeda and orchestrated by Osama Bin Laden did not achieve their goal of crippling the American people, but rather united us and strengthened the resolve of this great nation to face terror with hope, unity, courage and commitment to justice, freedom and liberty for all.

In that spirit, my hope is that we will also take a few moments to remember not only those lost on that infamous day, but also U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, Winchester native Glen Anthony Doherty and others lost during an assault on a diplomatic compound in Benghazi, the many military and civilian personnel currently overseas continuing to protect this great nation from terrorism and making strides in advancing the ideals of democracy, and to recommit ourselves to the defense of liberty throughout this world as a measure of dedication to all those who have sacrificed for that noble cause.

There are several charitable organizations that have resulted from the September 11th attack that provide financial assistance to those struggling with illnesses and injuries from the attack, scholarship funds for children who lost parents, and memorial sites that mark that fateful day.  Click here to read a Huffington Post report of several of those charitable organizations.

Get Out and Vote!

Today is Primary Day in Massachusetts, with several contested races taking place for Constitutional Officers including Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and Treasurer, and seats in the Massachusetts Legislature, both the House and Senate, Congress, Governors Council, and county seats.

Polls are open across the state until 8 p.m., so if you haven’t done so already, please be sure to exercise your Constitutional right to cast a ballot for the candidates of your choice. If you’re not sure where to vote, please click here to find your polling place, along with the names of the candidates appearing on the Democratic and Republican ballots.

Ross Pushes for Educational Mandate Task Force

Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham) submitted a letter to the House Committee on Ways and Means yesterday asking for its immediate consideration of House Bill 3722, An Act establishing an educational mandate task force, which is intended to provide much needed relief to towns struggling to fund their schools and educational programs.

House Bill 3722 would establish a task force charged with reviewing all mandates on public schools and districts and assessing the feasibility of implementing a master reporting form.

“At a time when our school districts are struggling to meet all of the needs of their students, it is important that we take the time to assess the requirements we, as a legislature, are placing on schools to determine that resources are being used as efficiently and constructively as possible,” said Senator Ross.

As a member of the Joint Committee on Education, regulating these mandates has been a major priority for Senator Ross. In January 2013, Senator Ross sponsored a bill aimed at reducing paperwork and waste within the department of elementary and secondary education. The bill called for the elimination of wasteful publications by utilizing information technology in order to increase efficiency and responsiveness in the Massachusetts school system.

A new draft of this legislation was written in October, accompanying H3722. The legislation is now before the House Committee on Ways and Means.

“I am pushing for this legislation today in response to extensive feedback I have received throughout my district,” said Senator Ross. “With the new school year beginning for many this week, it is my hope that the committee will consider this soon to better serve our administrators, teachers, and students.” 

Please contact the office of Senator Ross with any questions or concerns at (617) 722-1555 or Richard.Ross@masenate.gov.

Senator Tarr’s Statement on the PAWS Act Being Signed into Law by Governor Patrick

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) released the following statement today regarding Governor Patrick signing S.2345, An Act protecting animal welfare and safety, AKA the PAWS Act, into law.  The bill was filed by Senator Tarr following several cases of animal abuse including the tragic death of Puppy Doe:

“The signing of the PAWS Act represents a victory for everyone who cares about animals in our state, and those who have worked tirelessly to champion this legislation. Now we have stronger penalties and a clear message that if you abuse an animal there will be serious consequences.

Puppy Doe and others have suffered from unthinkable brutality that never should have happened. Yet now, motivated by those cases, we have taken strong and continuing steps to prevent it from happening again.”

Tarr, Colleagues Secure Passage of the PAWS Act

The House and Senate today enacted Senate Bill 2345, An Act Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety, which includes many of the provisions of the original PAWS Act filed by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) in October of 2013. The legislation was initially drafted last year in honor of Puppy Doe, a female pit bull who was euthanized on August 31, 2013 because of the extensive injuries she suffered from long term, irreversible damage to her body, which included a stab wound to her eye; the splitting of her tongue to look like a serpent; a dislocated shoulder, elbow, wrist, and ankle; burns; and signs of starvation.

“Animal abuse in our Commonwealth is simply unacceptable, and legislation to confront it has been a major priority in this session,” said Senator Tarr. “Now we have acted to increase penalties to send a clear and immediate message, and to create a task force that will build a foundation for further action.”

“Animals are defenseless and we must do everything within our means to protect them from senseless assault and mistreatment by some of the cruelest members of our society,” said Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), a Senate lead co-sponsor. “We must be vigilant to ensure that those serious offenders are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Representative Louis Kafka (D-Stoughton) and Representative Bruce Ayers (D-Quincy) have also been championing legislation to strengthen the state’s animal abuse laws. A total of 76 legislators from both the House and Senate signed on to the original PAWS Act, including the entire Senate Republican Caucus.

“We’re very pleased that this crucial legislation has passed, and we extend our thanks to Senator Tarr and all of the bill’s supporters who championed these reforms,”said Kara Holmquist, director of advocacy for the MSPCA-Angell. “Animal lovers around the state can today celebrate these efforts and hopefully can find some peace knowing that from such tragic incidents, like Puppy Doe and others, awareness has been generated that will now prevent harm to other helpless animals.”

The Senate had initially approved the PAWS Act by a vote of 40-0 on July 31, the last day of formal sessions. The House subsequently adopted some minor technical amendments before passing the bill on a voice vote. The modified bill, which will give public safety officials the tools to meaningfully punish those who commit heinous acts of cruelty against animals, calls for:

• Increasing the possible fine for committing animal abuse from $2,500 to $5,000 for a first offense, and up to $10,000 for a second and any subsequent offenses;

• Raising the maximum time in prison from 5 years to 7 years for a first offense and up to 10 years for a second and any subsequent offenses;

• Requiring veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse (similar to the requirement for medical staff who suspect child abuse); and

• Creating a special task force of experts in law enforcement, animal protection, veterinary practice, legal professionals, and industry professionals to review methods to prevent animal abuse and punish those who commit animal abuse.

The bill now heads to Governor Patrick’s desk for his signature.

Animal Abuse Bill on the Move

Senate Bill 2345, An Act ProtectingAnimal Welfare and Safety, moved one step closer to final passage today, as the Senate concurred with a technical amendment the House made to the bill on the last day of formal sessions July 31^st.

The latest bill reflects many of the elements contained in the original PAWS Act (Senate Bill 1914), which Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr and the Senate Republican Caucus filed in October of 2013 with the support of 75 legislative co-sponsors. Passage of this animal protection bill has been one of Senator Tarr’s top priorities for the 2013-2014 legislative session.

Like the original PAWS Act, Senate Bill 2345 provides for increased fines and jail time for individuals who maim, injure or kill an animal, and carries additional penalties for repeat offenders.  It also requires veterinarians to report suspected cases of animal cruelty, while creating a special taskforce of experts in law enforcement, animal protection, veterinary, legal professionals, and industry professionals to review methods to prevent animal abuse and punish those who commit these crimes.

If the House and Senate enact the bill on Thursday, Senate Bill 2345 could be on the Governor’s desk before the end of the week.

Media Alert: Senator Tarr On the Air with WBZ-TV’s Jon Keller Sunday Morning

Recently, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr was interviewed by WBZ-TV’s Political Reporter Jon Keller for his Sunday segment Keller@Large Report.  Jon and I discussed various political topics regarding the Commonwealth, including the situation the nation faces with the influx of immigrant children currently crossing the border and what that potentially means for Massachusetts, and Thursday’s Probation Department trial verdicts, where three former officials were found guilty of fostering a job-rigging scheme.

Please tune in to WBZ-TV on Sunday at approximately 8:30 a.m. to watch our lively discussion.

Media Alert: Sen. Tarr on “Broadside” Tonight

Please tune in to tonight’s “Broadside” at 6:00 p.m. on New England Cable News (NECN), where Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr will be discussing with host Jim Braude and State Senator Brian Joyce the potential political consequences of yesterday’s Probation Department verdicts, Governor Patrick’s plan to house border-crossing children in Massachusetts, and the recent Market Basket dispute.

“Broadside” re-airs at 7:30 p.m., 2:30 a.m., and again at 4:00 a.m.

Senator Richard Ross Secures Multiple Amendments to Housing Authority Legislation

Senator Richard J. Ross today successfully passed three amendments to the housing authority reform bill that will increase oversight of director salaries and enhance transparency in the application process.

Senator Ross spoke in support of his amendment that will require housing authorities to consult the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Database when evaluating applications in order to protect the safety of their tenants. Ross filed the amendment in response to reports that Tamerlan Tsarnaev was listed on the terror watch list, and had been receiving public benefits. Ross was pleased to see the amendment passed.

“This is a commonsense amendment that will increase transparency within the housing authority application process, while protecting the public safety,” said Senator Ross. “We need to give housing authorities the tools they need to protect their residents. This additional information will put them in a better position when making application decisions.”

The Senate passed two additional amendments filed by Senator Ross. One amendment mandates that housing authorities give preference to residents of the town, as well as applicants who have lived in the town for at least twenty-five years, but not at the time of the application. This language was included in a further amendment, filed by Senator Robert Hedlund, to prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving priority status over legal housing authority applicants.

Another successful Ross amendment will require the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to review any housing authority executive director’s contract that is worth more than $100,000 per year.

The bill was unanimously passed by the Senate. A conference committee will now be appointed to resolve differences between the bills that were passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Nearing the End of Formal Sessions

With July 31st nearing quickly, signifying the end of formal sessions, there is a great amount of work still to be completed by the legislature. Currently, there are several bills within conference committees, which are committees of six members (three from the House and three from the Senate) that are formed after the House and Senate engross their own respective versions of a particular bill and work together to produce a final version of the legislation.  Those bills in conference committee include:

•  An Act promoting economic growth across the Commonwealth;

•  An Act relative to the reduction of gun violence;

•  An Act enhancing protection for victims of domestic violence;

•  An Act financing information technology equipment and related projects; and

•  An Act providing for the preservation and improvement of lands, parks and clean energy in the Commonwealth.

Recently, the House and Senate also passed their own versions of a capital bond bill; however, a conference committee has yet to even be appointed.  Including today, there are only 8 days left of formal sessions for the conference committees to file their reports on the various bills in order for the legislature to have the opportunity to debate and possibly enact them.

Also of concern, there are several important measures still awaiting committee action before the legislation can be brought to the floors for a vote.  Those bills include:

•  An Act relative to the penalty for killing, maiming or poisoning of animals;

•  An Act establishing a Massachusetts seafood marketing program;

•  An Act relative to the expansion of the state DNA database; and

•  An Act relative to local housing authorities.

With time running out, the legislature needs to act swiftly to ensure these matters get the attention they deserve.  Keep checking back to read updates on these measures and others as the legislature continues to progress towards the July 31st deadline.

Tarr Amendment Increases Conservation Land Tax Credit in Environmental Bond Bill

On Thursday, July 10th, the Massachusetts State Senate passed its version of a $1.9 billion environmental bond bill, and a major amendment secured by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) seeks to expand the Conservation Land Tax Credit (CLTC) program.  Currently, the CLTC program provides a refundable tax credit of 50% of the appraised donation value, with a maximum cap of $50,000.  The Tarr amendment, which was co-sponsored by the Senate Republican Caucus and passed unanimously by a roll call vote of 38-0, would raise the max to $75,000 allowing for greater land conservation investments at a fraction of the cost, while benefiting both the general public and private land owners.

“Conserving and preserving open space is important for our environment, our quality of life and the character of our state,” said Senator Tarr.  “This tax credit has a proven track record of success, and strengthening it in the environmental bond bill will make a good tool even more powerful and effective.”

The Conservation Land Tax Credit was first signed into law in 2008; however, the application did not become available to the public until 2011.  Since then the program has conserved land for an average cost at just under $1,000 per acre, and for every $1 in tax credit provided by the Commonwealth, $5.60 has been generated for the state in land value. To date Massachusetts has conserved over 5,100 acres of land valued at over $21.3 million, while only costing the Commonwealth $3.8 million to purchase. 

The CLTC program has a $2 million cap limit for each calendar year, even though the tax credit has gained in popularity since becoming first available.  During the 2013 calendar year the program exhausted its cap limit from just 44 approved requests, and thus far, 2014 has at least 24 requests totaling $1.15 million, more than half of the program’s cap limit.  In July of 2011, the Massachusetts Commission on Financing Forest Conservation, which was also established by the legislature, recommended increasing the program’s cap to $20 million per calendar year.  With the vast benefits gained by the state, Senator Tarr is committed to increasing the CLTC program’s cap limit for future years to increase conservation land investments.

“Bonding and spending state money isn’t the only way to conserve land, we can also provide incentives that are equally or more effective.  By increasing this modest tax credit we can partner with private land owners to create a win-win situation that is extremely cost effective in promoting open space acquisition in our state,” said Senator Tarr.

The Senate passed the environmental bond bill by a vote of 38-0.  The House of Representatives previously passed its version of the bond bill on June 4th by a vote of 138-5; however, because the Conservation Land Tax Credit program was not included in the House version of the environmental bond bill, the amendment is subject to negotiation in an upcoming House-Senate conference committee.