EVERETT, MASS. (WHDH) – The Kraft family would clear a key hurdle toward building a new professional soccer stadium in Everett under a nearly $4 billion bill on the move this week whose economic impacts reach across nearly every business sector.
Top Democrats on Tuesday evening filed a compromise economic development bill months after their deadline-day talks collapsed, packing the measure with state support for the life sciences and climate technology industries, ticket sales regulations, a new live theater tax credit, educator diversity reforms and more.
The conference committee report (H 5100) needs approval votes in the House and Senate, which are expected Thursday, to reach Gov. Maura Healey’s desk. However, it’s still not clear what parliamentary maneuvers House Democrats will deploy to take the roll call votes needed during a post-election, lame-duck session.
Lawmakers appointed to the conference committee announced an “agreement in principle” Thursday, more than three months after they ended scheduled formal sessions for the term without reaching a deal.
Negotiators filed the accord in the House clerk’s office at 6:01 p.m. Tuesday. Four of the six conference committee members — Reps. Aaron Michlewitz, Jerald Parisella and David Muraidian and Sen. Michael Rodrigues — signed the conference jacket to indicate their support, and Sen. Barry Finegold was expected to add his signature virtually.
Republican Sen. Peter Durant did not sign his support.
In a statement, Finegold called the package “transformational for the future of the Massachusetts economy.”
“Here in Massachusetts, we have enjoyed a successful run. Yet, we do not want to take our economic success for granted. Legendary NFL head coach Bill Parcells used to always keep a pebble in his shoe as a reminder to never get too comfortable. With this Economic Development bill, we are heeding Coach Parcells’ admonition to avoid complacency,” Finegold, the lead Senate…