Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
After a close call last year, legislation to allow casinos and slot machines in Massachusetts began a new legislative process on May 4 when the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies held a hearing on several bills, including ones supported by the House and Senate last session.
No bill is expected to emerge for legislative debate, however, until the governor and House and Senate leaders reach agreement on the main points of a bill, including the sticking point from last year: how to treat the state’s horse and dog tracks.
Last July, on the final day of the legislative session, the House and Senate sent the governor a bill that would have authorized three resort-type casinos as well as slot machines at two of the state’s tracks. The governor rejected the legislative compromise based on his opposition to slot machines at more than one track and to the lack of an open and competitive bidding process for the slot licenses.
In written testimony, the MMA reminded legislators of the various studies that project an adverse impact on Lottery revenue if gaming is expanded, and the MMA asked lawmakers to protect local aid payments that are funded through the Lottery. The MMA also asked that revenue from the expansion of gaming be used to help fund a new and sustainable municipal aid program.
The MMA reiterated the long-time local government position that gaming legislation must provide strong mitigation measures to protect the host and neighboring communities from the impact of gaming facilities and operations on public infrastructure and municipal services, mainly public safety.
Both the House and Senate bills include municipal revenue sharing components, in response to MMA testimony in prior years, and mitigation measures. The main bills before the committee are House 1905, filed by Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein of Revere, and Senate 155, filed by Sen. Jennifer Flanagan of Leominster. The governor has not filed legislation for the current session.