The Massachusetts House and Senate have approved a $58 billion state budget deal that includes provisions for free community college and online lottery sales. The budget sets aside more than $117 million for the free community college program, covering tuition and fees for students. To be eligible, students must be pursuing a degree at a public community college in Massachusetts, attend school at least part-time, and not already have a bachelor’s degree. The budget also allows online lottery sales, with a minimum age of 21 for purchasers and a prohibition on predatory advertising to minors.
The goal of the budget is to create a new funding source for early education and care initiatives, with a portion of the revenue from online lottery sales going towards grants for affordable care for families. The budget also allocates funds for universal school meals and emergency food assistance programs. Additionally, the budget includes $1.3 billion in revenues generated from a 4% surtax on annual incomes above $1 million, with the majority of the funds going towards education and transportation sectors.
Democratic House Speaker Ronald Mariano praised the budget as a vote of confidence in Massachusetts residents, highlighting its focus on equity and opportunity for all regions and residents of the state. The budget must still be signed by Gov. Maura Healey before taking effect.
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