Lawmakers came up with their ideas to help residents with their finances in the wake of the pandemic, including a tax credit for those vaccinated against COVID-19.
They also want to create financial incentives for the film industry, allowing to deduct expenses incurred while learning remotely, working from home, and offering student debt relief.
The bill, introduced by Winchester-based Vincent Lawrence Dixon and introduced by Representative Michael Day, de Stoneham, argues that the immunization tax credit would free the Commonwealth “from the tyranny of COVID-19, in particular; for the betterment of the general health of our people, and the strength of our economy.” It would allow for a tax deduction of at least $100 off state income tax for those who prove they are immune to COVID.
“To successfully combat COVID-19, we must use a range of tools to reach the highest possible level of vaccination in our community, recognizing the distinct economic value of doing so,” Dixon said.
Another bill, proposed by state Senator Jimmy Eldridge, D-Acton, would provide equal stimulus checks to undocumented immigrants and other Massachusetts residents who were ineligible for federal stimulus checks because of their immigration status. Eldridge explained that any undocumented immigrant who files taxes using an individual taxpayer identification number will get a check from the Revenue Service for the same amount as the federal stimulus round.
“(Let’s make sure) we don’t forget our immigrant constituents, who are often on the front lines and do really decisive work,” he said of the bill.
Other parts of the hearing dealt with student loan debt. Although President Joe Biden extended a pandemic-era moratorium on student loan payments last month, some current and former students burdened with interest-bearing debt have said Biden hasn’t gone far enough and should forgo student loans altogether.
One bill, introduced by State Representative Kate Lieber-Garabedian, De Melrose, would encourage employers to help pay off student loan debt. She cited the statistic that 71% of Massachusetts college students graduate with debt, with an average amount of about $31,000.
This law, similar to the law enacted in Connecticut in 2019, would establish an annual tax break of $2,000 per employee for employers to help their employees pay off student loan debt.
Lieber-Garabedian argued in her testimony: “A tool like the Student Employer Student Loan Repayment Program not only helps graduates meet the challenge of college debt, but also supports employers and their hiring and retention efforts that promise additional benefits to the Commonwealth economy.”