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The Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies held a multi‑hour hearing on House Bill 4375 (the DRIVE Act), a proposal to direct roughly $400 million in state resources to shore up Massachusetts research and innovation in response to recent federal grant cancellations and proposed cuts. Governor Healey and administration officials presented the bill’s structure — $200 million for public higher education bridge funding, $200 million for a research funding pool and a research catalyst fund to leverage private/philanthropic contributions — and defended using Fair Share and stabilization‑fund interest as sources. University presidents, medical school leaders, researchers, union representatives and trade groups described canceled grants, layoffs and program pauses across disciplines (biomedicine, climate adaptation, clean energy, fisheries, and student support programs), urged passage, and pressed for clear selection criteria and accountability mechanisms.
