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Bill

S 2119

Directs the commissioner of motor vehicles to conduct a study on the distribution of traffic fines

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pat Fahy

Create and maintain a public, downloadable dashboard showing all state grant data to analyze geographic equity and trends.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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Bill Summary · S 2119

Summary — S.2119 (Senate Docket No. 854)

Title in bill text: An Act providing for transparency and geographic equity in all state grant funding

Note: The metadata supplied with this request contains several inconsistencies (different titles, committees, sponsors and dates). This summary is based on the bill text included in the docket (Senate No. 2119 / S.D. 854, filed 1/14/2025). Confirm procedural status on the official state legislative website for the authoritative record.

Main purpose

Require the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (the “office”) to build and maintain a public, interactive dashboard that publishes comprehensive, machine-downloadable data on all state grant awards. The goal is to increase transparency and enable analysis of geographic equity in state grant funding.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new Section 4T to Chapter 7 of the General Laws.
  • Definitions: “executive agencies” (all entities in the executive branch) and “the office” (EOAF).
  • Dashboard requirements:
    • EOAF must establish and update a public, interactive dashboard at least annually (or more frequently as the Secretary determines).
    • Executive agencies and all quasi-public agencies must furnish the office with data necessary to populate the dashboard.
    • Dashboard must be hosted on EOAF’s website and allow public downloading of the data.
    • Data must be sortable and enable analysis of geographic equity and trends.
  • Minimum data categories required (examples listed in the bill):
    • Year-over-year changes in specific grant programs
    • Total and per-capita grant awards by municipality
    • Total and per-capita grant awards by county
    • Administering executive or quasi-public agency
    • Grant topic (education, agriculture, health, environment, etc.)
    • Total grant funding available for the fiscal year vs. total appropriated
  • Annual report:
    • EOAF must submit an annual report (by October 31) to the House and Senate Ways & Means committees, the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, and legislative clerks.
    • The report must summarize the prior fiscal year’s awards (including the categories above) and recommend steps to increase geographic equity.
  • Implementation timeline:
    • The dashboard must be established on EOAF’s website no later than one year after the act’s effective date.

Who is affected

  • Executive branch departments and agencies and quasi‑public agencies — required to provide data and may need new reporting processes.
  • Municipalities and counties — their grant receipt data will be published and analyzable.
  • State legislature and oversight committees — will receive annual analytic reports.
  • General public, researchers, media, and advocacy groups — will gain access to downloadable, sortable statewide grant data.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Benefits: greater transparency, better capacity to identify geographic disparities in grant distribution, improved oversight and policy-making.
  • Administrative effects: agencies may incur costs/time to standardize and submit data; EOAF will need resources to build/maintain the dashboard and produce reports.
  • Data quality & privacy: implementation will require agreed data standards and controls to protect sensitive information where required.

Procedural status (from provided record — verify official source)

  • Docket/File date in bill text: 1/14/2025 (Senate Docket No. 854).
  • Referred previously to State Administration and Regulatory Oversight; hearing scheduled 09/09/2025 per provided actions.
  • Metadata also shows various other referrals and dates; consult the official legislative site for current status.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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