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FREE. Senate President Karen Spilka has long called for investing in public education, and on Wednesday said the passage of a 2019 education funding reform bill often referred to as the Student Opportunity Act in her first year as president was among her "proudest accomplishments in this office." The law committed $1.5 billion in additional funding over a seven-year period toward the state's K-12 public schools. She also proposed making community colleges free to attend.
FRANKLIN WEEK AHEAD
Mon. Jan 9
7:00pm
7:00pm
Tues. Jan 10
10:00am
Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting
10:00am
3:00pm
7:00pm
7:30pm
Weds. Jan 11
7:00pm
Thursday, Jan. 12
Open Space and Recreation Plan Meeting
6:00pm to 7:00pm
Cultural District Committee Meeting
7:00pm
Conservation Commission Meeting
7:00pm
STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
Now that the names and faces of the latest iteration of state government are mostly set, senators and representatives will spend time locking down office space and staff, drafting bills, and angling for favored committee assignments and leadership posts that carry extra pay and influence. Gov. Maura Healey remains on the hunt for Cabinet secretaries as her team continues its transition into the corner office. Early on, it appears she will rely on some officials who remain from the Baker administration and are blending in with Healey's hand-picked Cabinet and senior staff. Lawmakers will also await any word from on high - Senate President Karen Spilka or House Speaker Ron Mariano - about when the branches will debate their rules or any other bills that legislative leaders might want to put on a fast track while the rest of the bills get routed to committees. Getting to work was the catchphrase tossed around liberally this week, but if past is prologue, the Legislature often gets off to a slow start and it also takes time for a new administration to find its rhythm. Here are some dates to remember as the session gets underway:
•Treasurer Deb Goldberg, Secretary of State William Galvin, Auditor-elect Diana DiZoglio and Attorney General-elect Andrea Campbell are all scheduled to be sworn in to four-year terms on Jan. 18. Auditor Suzanne Bump has two weeks remaining on the job, and at the attorney general's office, now that Healey has departed for Room 360 at the State House, Elizabeth Dewar is serving as acting attorney general until Campbell is sworn in. Former First Assistant Attorney General Kate Cook was in line to serve as acting AG but has joined Healey as chief of staff in the governor's office.
•The budget cycle gets pushed back when there is a new governor and one of the first key dates this year is Jan. 31. By that date, the Healey administration and House and Senate leaders are charged with coming up with a revenue estimate to use as the basis of their fiscal 2024 budgets. Given the recent strength of tax collections, it's possible that Healey and her budget chief Matt Gorzkowicz might boost the state's official estimate of money available for fiscal 2023, which ends June 30. There should be news soon about the date for the annual hearing where economists provide testimony to inform state officials as they guess how much tax revenue will be available.
•Newly sworn in lawmakers have two weeks - until Jan. 20 - to pull their bills together and file them with the House and Senate clerks. These bills are often referred to as timely-files, but scores of other bills will be admitted and blended into the mix throughout the two-year session. Those will be known as late-files. The clerks will eventually parcel the bills out to joint committees, and once those panels have chairpeople and members, a long public hearing season will begin. The hearing season runs so long that it's not uncommon for bills to idle for a whole year before receiving public hearings. Over the last 12 years, the Democrats who have controlled the House and Senate have made their committee and leadership assignments in a window ranging from Jan. 21 in 2015 to Feb. 26 in 2011. They often get announced in mid-February and both branches announced their committee structures for the last session on Feb. 12.
•The Mass. Gaming Commission has a litany of meetings scheduled next week (two-a-days planned for Wednesday and Friday) as the gaming regulators continue to work towards a Jan. 31 launch of in-person sports betting and a targeted "early March" start of mobile betting. The commission this week voted to deem Penn Sports Interactive, which is tied in with Barstool Sports and will be connected to the operation at Plainridge Park Casino, preliminarily suitable for a temporary mobile betting license, but commissioners put conditions on the license. For one, the companies are required to fully cooperate with an investigation the commission's Investigations and Enforcement Bureau is conducting of Barstool Sports in connection with the licensee's branding. The company must also "provide material update" to the IEB related to "proceedings" that commissioners discussed during a private session.
Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023
SPILKA SUNDAY SHOWS: Senate President Spilka is the guest on both Sunday morning talk shows -- Channel 4's "Keller At Large" and Channel 5's "On The Record." The Ashland Democrat talks with Jon Keller on 4 about her 2023 agenda and Gov. Healey. Over on 5, she talks with Sharman Sacchetti and Ed Harding about teachers' strikes, her free community college proposal, and housing. After presiding Thursday over the inauguration of the state's first all-women executive team, women in state government is a common theme in both pre-taped Spilka interviews. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m. on WBZ-TV Ch. 4 | 11 a.m. on WCVB-TV Ch. 5)
Monday, Jan. 9, 2023
MOBILE BETTING REVIEW -- DAY TWO: After starting the process on Friday, Mass. Gaming Commission resumes its review of the six applications it received for mobile sports betting licenses that will not be tied to an existing casino or slots parlor. Mobile betting is expected to launch in March. The six applications, which the commission is going through in alphabetical order through Jan. 20, came from Bally's Interactive, Betfair Interactive US (d/b/a FanDuel), Betr Holdings, Crown MA Gaming (DraftKings), Digital Gaming Corporation USA, and PointsBet Massachusetts. (Monday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
FISCAL ALLIANCE POLL: Fiscal Alliance Foundation hosts a virtual press conference with Jim Eltringham of polling company Advantage Inc. to release the results of a statewide poll of likely Massachusetts general election voters. Organizers said the poll takes voters' temperature on presidential approval, new Gov. Maura Healey, and several tax policies. RSVP to pfgangi@fiscalalliancefoundation.org. (Monday, 10:30 a.m.)
CORE QUARTERLY MEETING: Treasurer Goldberg attends a virtual quarterly meeting of the CORE Plan Statutory Committee. (Monday, 10:45 a.m., Zoom)
HOUSE SESSION: House meets in an informal session, the first true business session of the new General Court. The House is not yet fully organized and it often takes several weeks until representatives get their committee assignments and can truly get to work vetting bills, which representatives are in the process of drafting and filing. (Monday, 11 a.m., House Chamber | Livestream)
SENATE SESSION: Senate meets in an informal session, the first session of the new General Court that is not expected to feature ceremonial pomp. It will likely be several weeks before senators get their committee assignments. (Monday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber | Livestream)
MLK MURAL: MFA hosts the first of several mural pop-ups ahead of MLK Day throughout Boston. Sen. Miranda and Rep. Holmes participate in a kick-off event for the mural series, in which community members are invited to add to two paintings made by teens from Artists for Humanity. The collaborative murals are intended to celebrate themes of social justice, equality and unity, and were inspired by the statue honoring MLK and his wife Coretta Scott King currently under construction in the Boston Common. The murals will travel throughout Boston during the month of January, and will be completed during the MFA's annual MLK Day Open House. (Monday, 1 p.m., Citizens Uphams Corner Branch, 580 Columbia Rd., Boston)
DA HAYDEN INAUGURATION: Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden is inaugurated for his first full term. Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Budd administers the oath of office, former Gov. Baker will speak and former Suffolk DA Ralph Martin emcees. Baker picked Hayden in January 2022 to finish the rest of Rachael Rollins's term as DA once she became U.S. attorney, and Hayden won reelection to a full term. (Monday, 4:30 p.m., Roxbury Community College Media Arts Center, 1234 Columbus Ave., Boston)
Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023
MOBILE BETTING REVIEW -- DAY THREE: Mass. Gaming Commission continues its review of the six applications it received for mobile sports betting licenses that will not be tied to an existing casino or slots parlor. Mobile betting is expected to launch in March. The six applications, which the commission is going through in alphabetical order through Jan. 20, came from Bally's Interactive, Betfair Interactive US (d/b/a FanDuel), Betr Holdings, Crown MA Gaming (DraftKings), Digital Gaming Corporation USA, and PointsBet Massachusetts. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
MASS FREIGHT PLAN: MassDOT hosts a virtual public meeting to discuss the planning process for the 2023 Massachusetts Freight Plan, which will lay out next steps for rail, air, truck, maritime and freight transportation. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., More Info)
NEW BEDFORD CPA PROJECTS: New Bedford's Community Preservation Committee hosts the first of three virtual community meetings to allow residents to review and offer feedback on project applications seeking Community Preservation Act dollars. Communities that adopt the CPA, like New Bedford, can levy a surcharge on property taxes to preserve open space, renovate historic structures or build new athletic fields, among other things. It also unlocks additional state funds for those projects. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Zoom)
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023
SPORTS BETTING - FANATICS: Mass. Gaming Commission resumes its review and consideration of the mobile sports betting license application from Fanatics, which would be tethered to the operation at Plainridge Park Casino. The commission has scheduled two-hour blocks for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings for its members to continue to consider the application, which first came before commissioners on Jan. 5. (Wednesday, 8 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
UNDERSTANDING SUBSTANCE USE: Metropolitan Area Planning Council hosts the first event in a series designed to look at regional solutions for prevention of and recovery from substance use disorder in Massachusetts. The first of three events planned for this winter will include subject matter experts providing "foundational knowledge about the substance use crisis in Massachusetts," organizers said. The rate of opioid-related overdose fatalities in Massachusetts increased 11 percent between 2020 and 2021. The first nine months of 2022 showed an estimated 1.5 percent decrease compared with the same time period in 2021, according to the state's most recent report. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Register)
MOBILE BETTING REVIEW -- DAY FOUR: Mass. Gaming Commission continues its review of the six applications it received for mobile sports betting licenses that will not be tied to an existing casino or slots parlor. Mobile betting is expected to launch in March. The six applications, which the commission is going through in alphabetical order through Jan. 20, came from Bally's Interactive, Betfair Interactive US (d/b/a FanDuel), Betr Holdings, Crown MA Gaming (DraftKings), Digital Gaming Corporation USA, and PointsBet Massachusetts. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
CLEAN WATER TRUST BOARD: Mass. Clean Water Board of Trustees meets remotely, according to Treasurer Goldberg. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Virtual)
K-12 EDU POLL: MassINC Polling Group and The Education Trust in Massachusetts hold a webinar to release results of a poll of more than 1,200 parents who have children in elementary or secondary school in Massachusetts and to host a panel of parents to discuss the findings. MassINC Polling Group President Steve Koczela will "share insight into Massachusetts parents' perspectives on their children's educational experiences this school year." Organizers said topics of discussion will include "how parents think students are doing academically and emotionally at this point in the school year, school safety, available resources, and how well schools are doing at meeting students' overall needs." (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Register)
COPPINGER INAUGURAL: Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll will administer the oath of office for Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger as he begins his second term. Coppinger's office said he will outline his goals for the next six years, "with a focus on re-entry, substance use disorder, mental health, and officer safety." A reception follows. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Lynn Classical High School, 235 O'Callaghan Way, Lynn)
WEST ROXBURY BRIDGE MEETING: MassDOT hosts a virtual public meeting to discuss a proposed replacement of a West Roxbury Parkway bridge over MBTA infrastructure. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., More Info)
NORTHERN TIER RAIL STUDY: MassDOT hosts a virtual public meeting to discuss a study of launching passenger rail service between North Adams, Greenfield and Boston. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., More Info)
Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS BREAKFAST: Springfield Regional Chamber hosts its first Rise & Shine Business Breakfast of 2023, featuring speeches from 12 local non-profit leaders who will "shine a light on local non-profits and the significant economic impact they have on Western Massachusetts," organizers said. More Info (Thursday, 7:30 a.m., Blake Student Commons, Bay Path University, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow)
MBTA AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE: MBTA Board of Directors Audit and Finance Subcommittee meets virtually. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
MBTA WORKFORCE COMMITTEE: MBTA Board of Directors Workforce, Development and Compensation Subcommittee meets virtually. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
SENATE: Senate meets in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)
MBTA SAFETY COMMITTEE: MBTA Board of Directors Safety, Health and Environment Subcommittee meets virtually. Officials could address a new federal report that appears to reflect another delay, this one for two years, in the agency's adoption of train safety technology. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
ANTI-BIAS TASK FORCE: Middlesex DA Ryan hosts a virtual meeting of the Anti-Hate Anti-Bias Task Force, which brings together lawmakers, faith leaders, educators, youth leaders, community advocates and law enforcement to engage the community in addressing an increase in incidents of hate and bias to establish solutions and best practices. Contact Sarah.Lamson@mass.gov for access info. (Thursday, 10 a.m.)
CANNABIS COMMISSION: Cannabis Control Commission holds its January business meeting. No agenda was available as of Friday, but the commission generally fields dozens of license renewals, changes of ownership, provisional license approvals and final license awards at each month's meeting. Commissioners are also likely to dive into a few policy areas in addition to hearing an update on commission operations and the cannabis industry from Executive Director Shawn Collins. The commissioners are expected to meet in person, but Chairwoman Shannon O'Brien said that a livestream of the meeting would remain available to the public. (Thursday, 10 a.m., More Info TBA)
MASS FREIGHT PLAN: MassDOT hosts a virtual public meeting to discuss the planning process for the 2023 Massachusetts Freight Plan, which will lay out next steps for rail, air, truck, maritime and freight transportation. (Thursday, 11 a.m., More Info)
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING MEETING: MassDOT holds a virtual public hearing to provide an opportunity for public feedback and questions on recent outdoor advertising applications. (Thursday, 11 a.m., More Info)
DRUG PROGRAM WEBSITE: Pioneer Life Sciences Initiative, an effort of the Pioneer Institute, hosts a virtual demonstration of its new website that will track the impact of the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. Pioneer said the program provides access to discounted medicines and community care programs, and has seen "explosive growth in recent years, emerging as the second largest federal drug program behind only Medicare." The new website will allow users to search contract pharmacies by zip code, by state, and by hospital or clinic. (Thursday, 3 p.m., Register)
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP: Middlesex DA Ryan hosts her office's Digital Citizenship Academy, which teaches middle schoolers to think critically and decipher misinformation from truth online, her office said. (Thursday, 3:30 p.m., Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham & Wakefield15 Dale Court, Stoneham)
STRATTON SCHOOL MEETING: MassDOT hosts a virtual public meeting to present the design for a proposed sidewalk and roadway improvement project in Arlington near the Stratton School. (Thursday, 7 p.m., More Info)
CANTON BRIDGE MEETING: MassDOT hosts a virtual public meeting to present the design for a proposed Revere Court bridge replacement over the Neponset River in Canton. (Thursday, 7 p.m., More Info)
Friday, Jan. 13, 2023
MOBILE BETTING REVIEW -- DAY FIVE: Mass. Gaming Commission continues its review of the six applications it received for mobile sports betting licenses that will not be tied to an existing casino or slots parlor. Mobile betting is expected to launch in March. The six applications, which the commission is going through in alphabetical order through Jan. 20, came from Bally's Interactive, Betfair Interactive US (d/b/a FanDuel), Betr Holdings, Crown MA Gaming (DraftKings), Digital Gaming Corporation USA, and PointsBet Massachusetts. (Friday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
