Legislation authorizes $1.26B in bonds, allocates $400M in federal funds
(BOSTON—7/24/2024) Today the Massachusetts Legislature enacted the FutureTech Act, taking action on a $1.26 billion bond authorization to modernize the Commonwealth’s digital infrastructure and create safer and more accessible experiences for residents and employees alike.
Funding and projects included in H.4889, An Act to provide for the future information technology needs of Massachusetts, would allow state agencies to deliver services more efficiently to residents, enhance cybersecurity on statewide platforms, and broaden access to services used by hundreds of thousands of residents statewide. The bill would also invest in emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) and create a fund to secure anticipated federal funding to bolster health and human services-related projects.
“The Legislature’s action on the FutureTech Act puts the Commonwealth in a position to grow technology adoption and ensure our systems will improve user experience and accessibility at the state and municipal levels,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “I am especially excited to see the inclusion of a targeted fund to draw federal investments into our health and human services sector.”
The FutureTech Act lays a foundation for technology innovation in the Commonwealth by implementing transformative projects like the Business Enterprise Systems Transformation (BEST) and the Commonwealth Digital Roadmap, both of which would be targeted at streamlining state operations and making essential government services quicker and more efficient.
It would support a new project to consolidate and modernize the Division of Occupational Licensing’s (DOL) licensing database, which currently relies on outdated infrastructure, paper files, and manual data entry. Once full implemented, new systems will accelerate licensing and renewals.
The bill also includes authorizations to continue investments for the Employment Modernization Transformation (EMT) rollout, which will provide employers and those seeking unemployment insurance with a new portal to manage unemployment insurance claims. With phase one already rolled out, future improvements will include easier uploads, a mobile-friendly design, and enhanced accessibility features.
The FutureTech Act builds on Massachusetts’ longstanding leadership in emerging technology by allocating funds for future AI projects and supporting initiatives like the Municipal Fiber Grant Program, which boosts innovation and extends efficiencies to cities and towns.
Having passed both branches of the Legislature, the legislation will now be sent to the Governor’s desk for her signature.
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