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H 3441MASSACHUSETTSSession 194thState Billin committee
High Impact

Massachusetts Creates Bureau and Funds to Address Pandemic Disparities in Black and Latino Communities

Original title: An Act the Commonwealth housing, economic, education and equity in recovery and reconstruction

Last action · December 18, 2025: Accompanied H3439Sponsor: Bud Williams

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Would Do

The Massachusetts legislature proposed the CHEEERR Act to establish the Bureau on Social and Economic Equity in Recovery and Reconstruction, creating dedicated funds totaling over $1.25 billion to address pandemic-related disparities in Black, Latino, and low-income communities. The measure sets up small business support, entrepreneurship training for s, and a youth service corps. The act takes effect immediately upon passage.

Why it matters

The legislation establishes new state entities with multi-million-dollar funding streams directed at small businesses, educational programs, public health initiatives, and reentry support in communities disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Background
  • The COVID-19 pandemic caused disproportionate economic and public health impacts in minority and low-income communities across Massachusetts in 2020. context
  • Bud L. Williams is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing the 11th Hampden district. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Small business owners in disparately impacted communities

Small businesses owned by Black or Latino individuals with net revenue under $5,000,000 become eligible for grants, forgivable loans, and low-interest loans up to $1,000,000.

Directly affected

Returning citizens

Individuals within six months of release or already released from correctional facilities become eligible for specialized entrepreneurship training, micro-investments up to $50,000, and transitional housing support.

Directly affected

Young residents aged 17 to 26

Individuals within this age bracket residing in disparately impacted communities can participate in the service corps and receive stipends equivalent to $15 per hour.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the newly created Bureau on Social and Economic Equity?
The bureau is tasked with administering recovery funds, evaluating state agency policies regarding disparately impacted communities, and recommending funding sources to improve access to capital, housing, health care, and education.
How much funding is initially transferred into the main recovery fund?
An initial transfer of $850 million is made from the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund into the newly established Commonwealth Covid-19 Health Economic Education Equity in Recovery Fund.
What assistance is available for returning citizens under this bill?
The bill creates an incarceration to incorporation entrepreneurship program that offers business development training, technical assistance, ongoing mentorship, monthly networking meetings, and micro-investment grants of up to $50,000.
Who is eligible to participate in the service corps?
Residents of disparately impacted communities between the ages of 17 and 26 are eligible to serve as corps members, receiving a stipend equivalent to $15 per hour worked.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

5 actions
  1. Dec 18, 2025House
    Accompanied H3439
  2. Oct 6, 2025Joint
    Hearing scheduled for 10/14/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-2
  3. Oct 6, 2025Joint
    Hearing scheduled for 10/14/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-2
  4. Feb 27, 2025Senate
    Senate concurred
  5. Feb 27, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to the committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Bud WilliamsHouse · District 11th HampdenDemocraticPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

financial connection98% confidence

Layered Fund Allocation Structure

The legislation utilizes a cascading funding model where the main $850 million recovery fund transfers hundreds of millions down into specialized subsidiary funds like the small business and incarceration-to-incorporation funds.

Commonwealth Covid-19 Health Economic Education Equity in Recovery FundSmall Business Stabilization and Support FundIncarceration to Incorporation Entrepreneurship Fund

Connected Entities

Commonwealth Housing, Economic, Education and Equity in Recovery and Reconstruction Service Corps, Incarceration to Incorporation Entrepreneurship Fund, Bud Williams and 5 more
OrganizationCommonwealth Housing, Economic, Education and Equity in Recovery and Reconstruction Service Corps“Service corps established to address unmet community needs”Map →
OrganizationIncarceration to Incorporation Entrepreneurship Fund“Fund within the small business fund to support entrepreneurship for returning ci”Map →
PersonBud Williams“Representative who filed the petition for House, No. 3441”Map →
OrganizationSmall Business Stabilization and Support Fund“Fund within the bureau to support small businesses in disparately impacted commu”Map →
OrganizationU.S. Small Business Administration“Federal agency whose topics inform business training”Map →
OrganizationCommonwealth Covid-19 Health Economic Education Equity in Recovery Fund“Fund established to finance activities of the bureau and address disparities”Map →
OrganizationMassachusetts Bureau on Social and Economic Equity in Recovery and Reconstruction“Bureau established by the act to oversee recovery and reconstruction programs”Map →
PersonSecretary of Housing and Urban Development“Official who determines area median income thresholds”Map →

Sources

Open source document

malegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy60
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment15
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz50
    Current news / social attention level

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