BOSTON – Faced with an economy buffeted by COVID-19 State Representative Marc Lombardo joined his colleagues in the House to pass a bill to give a shot in the arm to the state’s economy by legalizing sports gaming, facilitating housing development and providing more than $450 million in state funding to spur growth.

BOSTON – The House of Representatives has given initial approval to a bill that would allow restaurants to begin offering mixed drinks with food takeout orders, and to provide expanded outdoor table service with alcohol, subject to local approval.

State Representative Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) said House Bill 4767, An Act addressing challenges faced by food and beverage establishments resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, would also allow restaurants to delay the filing of meals tax payments collected this year, while capping the fees charged by third-party delivery service companies for online food orders. 

BOSTON – The House of Representatives and the Senate have approved legislation calling for the Department of Public Health to expand the amount of data it makes available to the public on the impacts of COVID-19, including the number of residents and staff affected by the novel coronavirus at the state’s nursing homes and the Holyoke and Chelsea Soldiers Homes.

House Bill 4672, An Act addressing COVID-19 data collection and disparities in treatment, also establishes a task force to investigate ways to address health disparities for underserved and underrepresented populations during the global pandemic. The bill was enacted by both legislative branches on May 28.

BOSTON – The House of Representatives and the Senate have agreed to changes in the state’s unemployment insurance program to assist Massachusetts residents and employers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

State Representative Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) said Senate Bill 2618 contains provisions extending unemployment benefits by an additional four weeks in certain circumstances, while also protecting employers from rate increases if they are forced to lay off workers due to the 2019 novel coronavirus or the State of Emergency declared on March 10. The bill was enacted in both legislative branches on May 21.

BOSTON – On April 23, 2020, the House of Representatives and the Senate have approved legislation authorizing notaries public to conduct electronic notarization of documents during the ongoing novel coronavirus State of Emergency.

State Representative Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) said Senate Bill 2645 will allow Massachusetts residents to obtain notarization services for executing wills, real estate title transfers, guardianships, health care proxies, and other essential documents while using real-time video conferencing to help maintain proper social distancing.  

BOSTON – On April 17, Representative Lombardo along with his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and State Senate passed legislation to shield those providing critical health care services from legal liability for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency.

Representative Lombardo said “It was important, while our healthcare workers are on the front lines saving lives, that the legislature acted to ensure workers had the protections they needed so they can do their jobs to the best of their abilities with one less worry. I’m so grateful to all our healthcare professionals and everyone who is working so hard to serve the public during these difficult times.“

November 19, 2019

House passes distracted driving bill

BOSTON – The House of Representatives has approved legislation that will soon mandate hands-free cell phone use while driving in Massachusetts.

House Bill 4203, An Act requiring the hands-free use of mobile telephones while driving, will extend the currant ban on cell phone use by drivers under the age of 18 to include all Massachusetts drivers, following a 90-day phase in period.  The bill- which represents a compromise negotiated by a six-member House and Senate Conference Committee- passed the House on a vote of 154-1 on November 19, the Senate passed the bill on November 20. 

June 12, 2019

BOSTON – State Representative Marc T Lombardo, R-Billerica, today opposed a renewed effort to amend the state Constitution by creating a graduated income tax.  Representative Lombardo said the 80% tax increase– which is being billed by proponents as an opportunity to boost spending on education and transportation – does not include sufficient safeguards to ensure the money raised will actually result in any significant funding increases in these two areas.  He also expressed concerns about creating a two-tiered tax system in the Commonwealth.