Paris Alston: This is GBH's Morning Edition. Starting this fall, the state is looking to provide free community college to all residents in the Commonwealth. Last week, the Massachusetts Senate unveiled Mass. Educate, a $75 million proposal to cover tuition and fees, as well as a stipend of up to $1,200 for students at a certain income level. To find out more, I recently spoke with State Senator Jo Comerford, who represents parts of Western Mass. She started by telling me who this is intended to help and how.

State Sen. Jo Comerford: As the Senate president says, the Senate is interested in the journey from cradle to career. And the community college initiative that we are leading through this budget is really meant for all people in the Commonwealth who are considering a higher education degree. Community colleges are engines of great equity and they are engines of workforce opportunity. So I believe we are investing because we see this opportunity to break down barriers to community colleges, which disproportionately serve students who are living currently as low income and disproportionately serve students of color. And then I will say they are also driven engines of workforce opportunity. So they are focused on the 21st century jobs that we need most in the Commonwealth, everything from health care to green tech to biotech. And it's the combination of both of those things that make them exceedingly important.

Alston: Now, funding for this will come from the millionaires tax. This is the Fair Share Amendment tax on people with incomes over $1 million. And it also comes as the state is having some fiscal challenges, including a revenue shortfall, as well as Governor Healey's budget cuts earlier this year. Why is this investment needed now?

Comerford: So, you know, I believe, in times of fiscal strife, the government is responsible for generating positive momentum through investments like this. And I should say, in the Senate budget, as you say, bolstered by fair share revenue, we are investing in early child care. We are investing in K-12 education and in community colleges. So from birth to career.

Alston: Now I want to stay on that for a bit, Senator, especially because of how much you've underscored workforce development is a part of this. And earlier this week on the show, we were discussing Governor Healey's bill to make billion dollar, 10-year investments in workforce development, specifically to keep college graduates in the state. Given that recent Boston Indicators report that Massachusetts is losing more working age adults. And the question for me here is: Will people be able to take advantage and stay here to return on that investment that the state is making with this initiative?

Comerford: Yes, absolutely. And that is, of course, the plan. And I want to say that the governor's economic development bond is transformative. It's a real opportunity for us to go big on the sectors that Massachusetts has ID'd as the next areas for significant growth. You know, you make an important connection between that plan and the opportunity to educate the workforce at community colleges. And I want to get to, if we can, to four years as well, if students choose. Of course, nothing exists in a vacuum, which is why the Senate also supports investments in housing, in public transportation, in health care, all of these sectors really join together to make it possible for people not only to survive here, but to thrive here.

Alston: Now, it strikes me that there are no income restrictions for this free community college tuition plan. Could more be done for students with lower means if everyone didn't have access to this benefit?

Comerford: The plan is: Tuition, fees, book supplies and a $1,200 stipend for community college students. For students who are eligible, so they are the lowest-income students, they would be eligible for an additional $1,200 stipend, which would come from the Mass Grant Plus funding. So that would total $2,400. So we're weighting, in a sense, we're weighting the bottom incomes. If we say in Massachusetts, come on in. Come on in. You can come you can start your college career here if you want to in a community college. Or you could go to a four year state school. And if you're, you know, in a lower income bracket, you can go, tuition, fees, book supplies and a modest stipend all available to you. Because we understand that the total cost of going to college is more than tuition, fees, books, supplies, and even a modest stipend. You know, there are barriers still to be broken down if you want to center equity.

Alston: Is the goal for people to go on and earn a bachelor's? Or is this also setting them up to do something else?

Comerford: So we can't, the state can't stipulate the goal for the students. I know, I know, you know that. You know, we are trying to find the right balance, the funding balance and the policy balance, to make sure residents in the Commonwealth have all the choices they need and deserve.

Alston: And are trade schools part of that equation?

Comerford: Really good question. So I am a huge fan of vocational schools. I have two in my district: Franklin Tech and Smith Vocational. I think they are exceedingly important in this ecosystem of opportunity and workforce needs. And certainly we should and can strengthen the pathways between vocational schools and colleges and universities. I will say that also in the funding array for public higher education is a real dedication to early college and dual enrollment, with the Senate making some record investments there. And that's really important. Again, you know, these community college investments are coming in a much bigger ecosystem. I think of it as the long continuum from vocational school or high school into college, absolutely.

Alston: Now, of course, this is just a proposal. It still has a way to go before it is enacted. And the House didn't include this in their budget. So how is the Senate preparing to negotiate?

Comerford: Well, I trust our Senate president and I trust our chair of ways and means, both of whom have looked at this in every dimension. Certainly the House's budget had its own priorities, and together, I believe, we'll be stronger.

Alston: Well, that is state Senator Jo Comerford. Thank you so very much.

Comerford: Well, it was a pleasure to join you.

Alston: You are listening to GBH News.

Starting this fall, the state is looking to provide free community college to all residents in the commonwealth.

Last week, the Massachusetts Senate unveiled MassEducate, a $75.5 million proposal to cover tuition and fees, as well as a stipend of up to $1,200 for students at a certain income level.

State Senator Jo Comerford, who represents parts of Western Massachusetts, spoke with GBH’s Morning Edition co-host Paris Alston about the bill and its chances of becoming law.

What’s in the bill: Tuition, fees and stipends

If the bill becomes law, Massachusetts would put $75.5 million towards covering tuition and fees for all residents who want to attend community college. That would be on top of existing legislation, which covers some community college tuition for all residents over the age of 25 without a college degree.

It would also offer a $1,200 stipend to any student who makes less than 125% of their area’s median income. In Boston, single people making less than about $130,000 would be eligible.

Anyone eligible for a Pell Grant would be eligible for another $1,200 stipend.

If the proposal passes, students would be eligible for the funds starting this fall.

“We understand that the total cost of going to college is more than tuition, fees, books, supplies and even a modest stipend,” Comerford said. “There are barriers still to be broken down if you want to center equity.”

Senate leaders are focusing on community colleges as ‘engines of workforce’

Comerford said she and Senate leaders want to hone in on community colleges for their potential in making education and workforce training more accessible.

She’s particularly interested, she said, in training people for jobs in health care, green tech and biotech.

“Community colleges are engines of great equity and they are engines of workforce opportunity,” she said. “So I believe we are investing because we see this opportunity to break down barriers to community colleges, which disproportionately serve students who are living currently as low income and disproportionately serve students of color.”

Funding will come from the millionaires’ tax

Funding for the proposal will come from the Fair Share Amendment, also sometimes called the millionaires' tax, an added 4 percent tax on income over $1 million that passed in 2022.

The new funding stream comes at a time when Massachusetts is facing budget issues in other areas: State leaders have announced revenue shortfalls, and Governor Maura Healey put budget cuts into place.

“I believe, in times of fiscal strife, the government is responsible for generating positive momentum through investments like this,” Comerford said.

It’s part of a larger initiative aimed at keeping people in Massachusetts

Healey has introduced her own legislation, a $3.5 billion economic development bill with workforce and housing components aimed at Massachusetts residents who are considering leaving the state because of high costs of living and more appealing opportunities elsewhere.

More access to community college could be part of that initiative, Comerford said.

“It's a real opportunity for us to go big on the sectors that Massachusetts has ID'd as the next areas for significant growth,” Comerford said. “Of course, nothing exists in a vacuum, which is why the Senate also supports investments in housing, in public transportation, in health care, all of these sectors really join together to make it possible for people not only to survive here, but to thrive here.”

What’s next: Negotiations with the State House

The Massachusetts State House does not have such legislation in its budget. That means the two legislative branches will now have to come together and work out a deal.

“I trust our Senate president and I trust our chair of ways and means, both of whom have looked at this in every dimension,” Comerford said. “Certainly the House's budget had its own priorities, and together, I believe, we'll be stronger.”