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Auditor Diana DiZoglio is pulling Attorney General Andrea Campbell into her escalating effort to audit the Democrat-controlled Legislature where DiZoglio used to serve. SHNS
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
Monday, July 31
Agricultural Commission Meeting
7:00pm
Wed.Aug 2
Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting
7:00pm
Thurs. Aug 3
ZBA Meeting7:30
Friday, Aug 4
Legal Notice Marijuana Establishment Hennep, Inc.
5:00pm
STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
Four weeks into fiscal 2024, House and Senate Democrats on Friday afternoon announced they have an "agreement in principle" on an annual budget and expect it will be ready for votes Monday during formal sessions that were scheduled on Thursday. Negotiators said they plan to file their conference committee report in "the coming days" after they work out details and finalize their agreement. The deal stands to bring closure on one of the few major bills the Legislature has taken up this year. Once the bill reaches Gov. Maura Healey's desk, she will have 10 days to review it and announce amendments and vetoes. The House and Senate this year have so far voted overwhelmingly in favor of, but still have not reconciled, annual budgets in the $56 billion range, roughly $1 billion in tax relief, and supplemental spending totaling about $600 million. The tax relief talks have apparently been placed on the backburner, behind the spending talks. The supplemental spending bills that include financial relief for hospitals and aid to western Massachusetts farmers were only recently approved and have not been sent to conference committee. Ahead of their usual August break, legislative committees have hit pause on public hearings for next month. It's unclear whether House and Senate members may need to be called back to Beacon Hill in August for votes on a tax relief deal, the origins of which predate even last year's budget, or a consensus supplemental budget. There's no requirement that the Legislature take an August break; it's just a tradition. Under legislative rules, the Legislature this year may hold formal sessions through Nov. 15. Informal sessions are planned to close out the final weeks of 2023 before formals may resume again in January. In 2024, formal sessions must end by Wednesday, July 31.
Filing a ballot question by the deadline of Wednesday, Aug. 2 will not guarantee a spot on the 2024 ballot, but not getting initiative petitions filed by the deadline will keep any potential proposals out of the mix. Proposed laws and constitutional amendments filed before the biennial deadline will first be reviewed by the attorney general to see if they are ballot-eligible under the constitution. After that, petition sponsors face significant signature-gathering requirements that, if met, would keep their measures on track for next year's ballot unless the measures are satisfactorily addressed by the Legislature. High stakes MCAS testing, the minimum wage, the gas tax, psychedelic drugs, and the rights and benefits of app-based drivers are some of the issues where people are weighing ballot pushes and the full list of possibilities will be known by end of day on Wednesday.
FORRY ON 5: Former Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry, the operations director for the NAACP National Convention in Boston, is the guest on "On The Record." (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)
CARNEVALE ON 4: Mass. Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale talks with Jon Keller about the push for tax cuts, Auditor DiZoglio's efforts to probe the Legislature, GOP reaction to former President Trump's legal problems, and potential changes to state party delegate selection rules. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
HEALEY AT NAACP CONVENTION: Gov. Healey speaks at the NAACP National Convention. The plenary session also features a moderated conversation on racism, antisemitism and "building bridges to fight all hate." Panelists include NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, criminal justice reform advocate Meek Mill and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who's also founder of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. (Sunday, 3 p.m., Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., Boston)
WU AT GOSPELFEST: Mayor Wu attends GospelFast, with the 23rd annual concert featuring local and national gospel artists. There's a prayer service at 4 p.m. ahead of the concert, which is free and open to the public. (Sunday, 5:15 p.m., Leader Bank Pavilion, 290 Northern Ave., Seaport)
"SAFER COMMUNITIES" GRANTS: Gov. Healey hosts a roundtable to announce $1.5 million in federal grant awards through the Safer Communities Initiative, which her office says "supports violence prevention, response and community engagement efforts through the summer and fall, when violent crime is often at its peak." (Monday, 10:30 a.m., Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, 65 Boys & Girls Club Way, Worcester)
WU ON RADIO: Boston Mayor Wu makes a monthly appearance on "Radio Boston," where hosts plan to ask her about infighting on the City Council and Boston's hosting of the NAACP National Convention. (Monday, 11 a.m., WBUR-FM 90.9)
HOUSE FORMAL: The House holds a formal session, with votes expected on a fiscal 2024 budget conference committee report. (Monday, 11 a.m., House Chamber | Livestream)
SENATE DEMS CAUCUS: Senate Democrats plan to hold a private caucus meeting ahead of a 12 p.m. formal session. Caucuses give senators a chance to talk openly before sessions, where they often read from prepared remarks. (Monday, 11 a.m., Senate President's Office)
SENATE FORMAL: The Senate holds a formal session without a calendar, with votes expected on a fiscal 2024 budget conference committee report. (Monday, 12 p.m., Senate Chamber | Livestream)
SPANISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING: The Massachusetts Office of Economic Development holds a Spanish-language virtual session as the Healey administration works on developing its economic development strategic plan. Business and community leaders, as well as elected officials and members of the public, are invited to give feedback. (Monday, 5:30 p.m., Virtual | Zoom)
NEWTON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WEBINAR: Newton Mayor Fuller's office hosts a virtual community forum on domestic violence, and participants can join anonymously. It comes after the mid-July killing of Newton mother Nancy Hanson, whose husband is charged with murder and accused of beating her with a baseball bat. Meghan Kennedy, director of social services in Newton's Health and Human Services Department, will introduce experts from two local domestic violence agencies, The Second Step and REACH Beyond Domestic Violence. There will also be a question-and-answer session. (Monday, 6 p.m., Virtual | Zoom)
PRESSLEY AT NAACP CONVENTION GALA: Congresswoman Pressley delivers remarks at the NAACP National Convention's Juanita Jackson Mitchell Youth Awards gala. The theme of the gala is "The Black Met Gala - All Shades of Blackness." (Monday, 7 p.m., Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., Boston)
PENSION INVESTMENT MEETING: Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management, Investment Committee meets. Treasurer Goldberg chairs the meeting. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. | Agenda and Access Info)
TUTWILER VISITS SUMMER CAMP: Education Secretary Tutwiler visits Ashby-based Crossroads Camp Lapham "to celebrate the benefits of Summer Learning for All." Crossroads Camp Lapham is one of the over 250 organizations funded through a partnership between Boston After School & Beyond's 5th Quarter Learning Initiative and the state's department of education. Tutwiler will be joined by Sen. Cronin and Rep. Scarsdale to tour the camp. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Crossroads Camp Lapham, 731 South Rd., Ashby)
HAO AT NAACP CONVENTION: Economic Development Secretary Hao participates in a panel about closing the Black Wealth Gap at the NAACP National Convention. Other panelists include NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, John Rice of the nonprofit Management Leadership for Tomorrow, and Jonathan Lavine of Bain Capital. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., Boston)
SPILKA HOSTS FRAMINGHAM TEACHERS: Senate President Spilka hosts members of the Framingham Teachers' Association for a meeting in her office. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Senate President's Office)
SPILKA IN HOPKINTON: Senate President Spilka gives an "annual legislative update" to the Hopkinton Select Board and other local officials. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Town Hall, 18 Main St., Hopkinton)
HILLARY CLINTON AT NAACP CONVENTION: Former presidential candidate and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at the Spingarn Freedom Fund Awards Dinner on the final day of the NAACP National Convention. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., Boston)
RED LINE PARTIAL CLOSURES: Shuttle buses replace Red Line subway service between North Quincy and JFK/UMass starting around 8:45 p.m. each night from Tuesday through Thursday, then again for the same range next week. The early shutdowns "will allow MBTA crews to perform critical rail and tie replacement work that will alleviate speed restrictions," according to the T. (Tuesday, 8:45 p.m., | More Info on August Disruptions)
PENSION REAL ESTATE MEETING: Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management, Real Estate and Timberland Committee meets. Treasurer Goldberg attends the meeting. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. | Agenda and Access Info)
DRIVERS' BALLOT QUESTION: Drivers for app-based rideshare and delivery platforms plan a press conference to announce a 2024 ballot initiative campaign that organizers said "would secure the flexibility drivers want as independent contractors and add new benefits and protections." The rights and benefits of drivers has been a point of contention in recent years with the Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work -- funded by Uber, Lyft and Instacart -- pushing back against labor union efforts to install employee protections in favor of allowing drivers to maintain their independent contractor status. The advisory for Wednesday's press conference cited a Massachusetts Coalition for Independent Work survey that in March found that 76 percent of drivers polled would prefer to be independent contractors. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Brewer Fountain, Boston Common)
SPILKA AT YMCA DAY: Senate President Spilka speaks to campers, local officials, and lawmakers at the annual MetroWest YMCA Advocacy Day. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., MetroWest Outdoor Center, 45 East St., Hopkinton)
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - SUFFOLK PROBATE REGISTER: Governor's Council interviews Stephanie Everett, Gov. Healey's pick to fill the vacant Suffolk County register of probate's seat. The probate register is an elected position last held by Felix Arroyo, who retired in March. If confirmed by the council, Everett would serve out the remainder of Arroyo's term, which according to Mass. Lawyers Weekly runs until Jan. 6, 2027. Lawyers Weekly reported in April that Vincent Procopio, who has been serving as interim register, hoped to be Healey's selection and had support from members of the legal community such as Martin Healy of the Mass. Bar Association. Everett, a former sole practitioner specializing in a range of areas from criminal law to residential real estate, has served since 2021 as inaugural executive director of the City of Boston's police accountability office. Earlier in her career, she spent three years as a public safety manager for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, two years as deputy chief of staff to Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, and a year as the Department of Transitional Assistance's chief of staff. Everett earned her juris doctor from Suffolk Law's Evening Division in 2008 and holds a bachelor's in criminal justice from Northeastern. According to state campaign finance records, her most recent political donations date to 2022, when she gave money to Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, Nichole Mossalam's campaign against incumbent Rep. Paul Donato, Rahsaan Hall's campaign against incumbent Plymouth County DA Tim Cruz, and to Chang-Diaz, who was running against Healey for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
CLEAN WATER BOARD: Massachusetts Clean Water Trust Board of Trustees meets. Agenda not yet public. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. | Teams)
PENSION ADMIN AND AUDIT MEETING: Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management, Administration and Audit Committee meets. Treasurer Goldberg attends. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Access Info)
WATER QUALITY REPORT CARDS: Press conference to announce the 2022 Water Quality Report Card grades for the Neponset, Charles and Mystic rivers that flow into Boston Harbor. Sen Markey attends along with Cambridge Mayor Siddiqui, DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo representatives of the Charles River Watershed Association, Mystic River Watershed Association and Neponset River Watershed Association. The theme of the report is "Working Together for Water Quality." Speakers will discuss how extreme weather events -- including drought, heat and increased precipitation -- over the last three years have affected "river health, safe recreation, and enjoyment of these rivers," according to organizers. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Patio of Mass Audubon Magazine Beach Park Nature Center, 668 Memorial Drive, Cambridge)
DCR CHARLES RIVER WORK: Department of Conservation and Recreation conducts invasive aquatic species control work in the Charles River from the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge in Newton to the Moody Street Dam in Waltham. The river will remain open to the public, but DCR recommends that those on the river avoid the treatment area. (Thursday)
CANCER CARE INNOVATIONS: American Society of Clinical Oncology gathers oncology professionals from around the world in Japan for a three-day "breakthrough meeting" from Thursday through Saturday. The group plans to host presentations of more than 160 research abstracts and organizers say presentations will feature "novel advances in cancer detection, new findings on sexual health in patients with prostate cancer." (Thursday, Yokohama, Japan | More Info)
...No public events scheduled...