Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey backing proposal to allow municipalities to raise taxes on meals and hotels, penalize “excessive drug pricing”

• Sam Drysdale

[Coverage Developing] Gov. Maura Healey is sponsoring a new plan to deploy camera enforcement of traffic violations and also wants to apply tobacco taxes to popular synthetic nicotine products.

The governor attached the policy plans to her annual budget filing, and also signaled plans to refile a proposal to allow municipalities to raise taxes on meals and hotels. The local option tax plan hit a dead-end last year.

Healey on Wednesday also backed a penalty that drug manufacturers would pay for “excessive drug pricing,” or if the cost of certain medicines exceeded the rate of inflation.

In a major health policy bid, Healey also wants to extend the state’s two-year ConnectorCare pilot — allowing low- and middle-income Bay Staters to continue to receive health insurance with heavy public subsidies.

The penalty for excessive drug pricing would generate $60 million, according to state budget officials, who believe the plan will incentivize fair drug prices and enable individuals to access life-saving medications.