Massachusetts lawmakers on Monday launched the process of reconciling separate supplemental budget proposals filed last month, with the House proposing $245 million to fund the emergency shelter system through the end of June, while the Senate proposes $825 million to fund the system through the middle of next year.

Both proposals would limit the amount of time families are allowed to stay in the shelters to nine months, with extensions under certain circumstances.

The House proposal would also extend certain pandemic-era provisions, such as allowing bars and restaurants to continue selling "to-go" cocktails and streamlining the application process for seasonal outdoor dining. While the Senate included changes to outdoor dining applications, the provision allowing the continued sale of cocktails "to-go" was missing from its version.

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