Transportation and family shelter are setting up as issues to watch early in 2025, as well as preparations for impacts of anticipated spending cuts, deportations, and tariffs that are on the horizon sometime after Donald Trump is sworn in as the next president on Monday, Jan. 20. Massachusetts is sitting on $1.32 billion in unallocated surplus income surtax revenue that will eventually be assigned to transportation and education investments. That development coincides with the threat of a budget crisis at the MBTA and Gov. Maura Healey's attempt through a task force to come up with additional new transportation revenues. The task force recommendations were due on Dec. 31. The state is also running out of appropriated money to finance its bulging emergency family shelter system and the governor is readying a supplemental funding request that will trigger more legislative debate on the shelter system, including the duration of benefits. The state budget will be a January focus, with a midyear checkup on fiscal 2025 tax revenues coming Monday when the Department of Revenue reports December collections. Healey's budget office and the Ways and Means Committee chairs have to settle on their consensus revenue estimate for fiscal year 2026 by Wednesday, Jan. 15, with most forecasts projecting total non-surtax revenues of roughly $41 billion which would represent between 2 percent and 3 percent growth. Healey is planning to give her annual State of the Commonwealth address, her second, on Thursday, Jan. 16. That speech, coming days ahead of Trump's inauguration, will likely focus on broad themes and big ideas, and many of the nitty-gritty details will become more clear by the following week. The governor is required to file her fiscal year 2026 budget proposal (H 1) by Wednesday, Jan. 22, and she is also developing her own plan for the surplus income surtax funds currently resting in an Education and Transportation Innovation and Capital Fund. The governor's team is also busy signing dozens of bills that the Legislature dumped on her desk in the final days and hours of the 2023-2024 session. Voters in November approved a state law authorizing the auditor to audit the Legislature, but top Democrats have not opened their doors to Auditor Diana DiZoglio, who may soon seek court relief in her quest to probe her former colleagues.

Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025

MEDIA CRITICISM: Gin Dumcius, reporter for CommonWealth Beacon, talks with Jon Keller on "Keller @ Large" about criticism of the media's coverage of the Legislature by Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano on the opening day of the 194th legislative session. Dumcius and Keller will also preview top stories for 2025, including the fate of the MBTA Communities Act, funding for the T and the Boston mayoral race. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch.4)

SPILKA ON 5: Senate President Spilka is a guest on "On The Record" with Ed Harding and Ben Simmoneau. Democratic political analyst Mary Anne Marsh and Republican political analyst Rob Gray join the roundtable discussion. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)

MUSEUM ACCESS PROGRAM: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu visits the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to highlight the launch of Boston Family Days, "an expansion of the successful BPS Sundays pilot program that allows free access to museums and zoos for Boston’s students and their families." The program now includes the Boston Children’s Museum, Institute of Contemporary Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, Franklin Park Zoo, Museum of African American History, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, and the Gardner Museum. (Sunday, 2 p.m., Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 13 Tetlow St., Fenway, Boston)

Monday, Jan. 6, 2025

SJC SITS IN BOSTON: Supreme Judicial Court hosts oral arguments in five cases. One case deals with trafficking cocaine charges that stemmed from a traffic stop, and another is about whether double jeopardy prevents the state from retrying someone on firearms charges after prosecution failed to prove he lacked a license during a first trial. (Monday, 9 a.m., John Adams Courthouse, Courtroom One, 1 Pemberton Square, Boston | Docket | Livestream)

FIRE TRAINING COUNCIL: Massachusetts Fire Training Council meets. Agenda includes a fiscal affairs report, legislative update, Department of Fire Services update, and a report on Massachusetts Firefighting Academy activities. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., 100 Grochmal Ave., Springfield)

FAMILY STABILIZATION SERVICES: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a public hearing on updating rates for family stabilization services. The Department of Mental Health is boosting flexible support program rates, and two rates are being added for providers. Officials say the rate increase will cost the state about $3.4 million. Written testimony will be accepted through 5 p.m. (Monday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Access)

HOUSE: House meets in an informal session. (Monday, 11 a.m., House Chamber | Livestream)

SENATE: Senate meets without a calendar. (Monday, 11 a.m, Senate Chamber | Livestream)

ORAL HEALTH: Special Commission on Oral Health meets virtually. Members will discuss the plan for developing an oral health needs assessment. (Monday, 11:30 a.m. | More Info and Access)

PEABODY GOVERNMENT: Lt. Gov. Driscoll gives remarks as Peabody holds its midterm inaugural ceremony and organization of city government. LG's office says her remarks are scheduled for 7 p.m. (Monday, 6:30 p.m., Wiggin Auditorium, City Hall, 24 Lowell St., Peabody)

DECEMBER REVENUES: Department of Revenue is due to report on tax collections for the month of December, and in turn a status check on revenues at the midway point of fiscal 2025. The Healey administration is expecting to take in $4.078 billion for the month, which would be $306 million more than what was collected in December 2023. By Dec. 13, DOR had collected $1.456 billion -- $331 million or 29.4% more than what was collected during the same period in December 2023. DOR said all major tax categories showed increases by mid-month, including a 335.2% jump in the "all other tax" category that is driven by the estate tax. Fiscal 2025 tax revenues were running $124 million or 0.8% behind year-to-date benchmarks through the first five months of the budget year, ending with November. But year-to-date receipts were still ahead of actual collections during the same period in fiscal 2024 by $805 million or 5.7%. (Monday)

Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025

POST COMMISSION: POST Commission holds a virtual pre-hearing conference dealing with Robert Devine. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. | More Info and Access)

CHILD CARE PANEL: United Way of Massachusetts Bay and the Massachusetts Early Childhood Funders Collaborative host a panel on "the realities faced by family childcare educators and the broader childcare ecosystem and discuss strategies to grow and sustain family childcare businesses, increasing access to quality childcare for all." Speakers will include Early Education and Care Secretary Amy Kershaw; Undersecretary of Economic Foundations Ashley Stolba; Boston's chief of the Office of Early Childhood, Kristin McSwain; vice president of shared services at United Way, Melinda Weber; and Rosemary Hernandez of Clarendon Early Education and Jock Payton of Nubian Square Investments. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Room 458)

COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND: Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Statutory Advisory Board meets. Agenda includes a report from Commissioner John Oliveira, an update from Deputy Commissioner Justine Muir, and program updates. (Tuesday, 12 p.m. | Agenda and Livestream)

INSURANCE PREMIUMS: Division of Insurance continues its series exploring the factors that are driving up health insurance premiums, ahead of rate increase filings due later this year. This information session is focused on administrative costs. (Tuesday, 1 p.m. | More Info and Access)

PITTSFIELD BRIDGE: MassDOT holds a virtual meeting on a proposed bridge replacement project in Pittsfield, which involves Pontoosuc Avenue over the West Branch Housatonic River Reservoir. Officials say there will be no temporary bridge during construction "given the site characteristics and adjacent properties." (Tuesday, 7 p.m. | More Info and Register)

MASSDEMS POSTMORTEM - NEAL'S DISTRICT: Massachusetts Democratic Party holds a virtual listening session with residents of U.S. Rep. Richard Neal's congressional district, which covers all of Berkshire and Hampden counties, along with parts of Franklin, Hampshire and Worcester counties. The party said the sessions, planned after Democrats lost ground in the November elections, are meant as a time "to review the outcomes of the recent elections, celebrate successes, and identify areas for growth." The day after the election, which saw Republican Donald Trump carry every battleground state en route to a decisive victory over Kamala Harris, MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan said he understood the feelings of "disappointment, uncertainty and deep concern" among Democrats. "Today, it is clear there is much work to do," Kerrigan said in a statement. "That work must be conducted with a touch of humility. While we can be proud of our performance here at home, sending Senator Warren and our Democratic congressional delegation back to Washington and maintaining wide majorities in both houses of the state legislature, it is OK to recognize that we were not prepared for the outcome nationally." Participants will be offered up to two minutes to offer their thoughts, on a first-come, first-served basis. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Register)

Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025

DENTISTRY BOARD: Board of Registration in Dentistry meets virtually. Agenda includes an update on "Patients First" legislation, a monthly probation report, and an update on the Department of Public Health's Unified Recovery and Monitoring Program for health care workers recovering from substance use disorder and other mental health conditions. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)

SJC SITS IN BOSTON: Supreme Judicial Court hosts oral arguments in seven cases, four of which are impounded. One case deals with whether state law allows multiple punishments for involuntary manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide and operating to endanger based on the same criminal act. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., John Adams Courthouse, Courtroom One, 1 Pemberton Square, Boston | Docket | Livestream)

WORKERS COMPENSATION: Workers' Compensation Advisory Council meets. Agenda includes a budget update from Department of Industrial Accidents Director Sheri Bowles, a judicial update, and the council's fiscal 2024 annual report. (Wednesday, 9 a.m. |More Info and Agenda)

OPTICIANS BOARD: Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians meets virtually. Agenda includes application reviews and a discussion on an apprenticeship program. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)

HOME INSPECTORS: Board of Registration of Home Inspectors meets. Agenda includes board elections and an executive director report. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

MEDICARE PROGRAM: Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association holds a webinar about a new Medicare initiative called the Transforming Episode Accountability Model. Nearly 40 hospitals in Massachusetts are required to participate in the five-year "bundled payment" program starting on Jan. 1, 2026. The model will affect payments for five surgical procedures, including lower extremity joint replacements and spinal fusions. MHA says the program looks to "improve the quality of care while reducing Medicare spending for beneficiaries undergoing these high-expenditure, high-volume surgical procedures, which together account for more than 11% of inpatient prospective payment system payments." (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | Register)

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - CONNOR BARUSCH: Governor's Council holds a hearing on Gov. Healey's nomination of Connor Barusch as associate justice of the Boston Municipal Court. Barusch is currently the director of criminal defense training at the Committee of Public Counsel Services. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)

SENATE DEMS CAUCUS: Senate Democrats hold a hybrid caucus privately. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Senate President's ceremonial office)

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT: Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission meets. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., 5 Middlesex Ave., Suite 304, Somerville)

OPEN ENROLLMENT: Massachusetts Health Connector holds a webinar about coverage options available through the state's health insurance marketplace. Open enrollment is underway at the Connector and ends on Jan. 23. Officials will provide an overview of carriers participating in the heavily subsidized ConnectorCare program, plus other savings available through the Connector. (Wednesday, 12 p.m. | Register)

MASSDOT BOARD: MassDOT Board of Directors meets. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., State Transportation Building, Second Floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston | More Info)

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL - DANA PIERCE: Governor's Council holds a hearing on Gov. Healey's nomination of Dana Pierce as associate justice of the Boston Municipal Court. Pierce is the director of externships at Harvard Law School. (Wednesday, 1:15 p.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)

CLEAN WATER TRUST: The Clean Water Trust meets. Treasurer Goldberg chairs the meeting. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Zoom)

GREEN LOAN PROGRAM: Boston Home Center, housed within the Mayor's Office of Housing, announces a new green loan program to help eligible homeowners "green their buildings and reduce their energy use." (Wednesday, 6 p.m. | Zoom)

MASSDEMS POSTMORTEM - McGOVERN'S DISTRICT: Massachusetts Democratic Party holds a virtual listening session with residents of U.S. Rep. James McGovern's congressional district, which covers parts of Franklin, Hampshire, Worcester, Middlesex and Norfolk counties. The party said the sessions are meant as a time "to review the outcomes of the recent elections, celebrate successes, and identify areas for growth." Participants will be offered up to two minutes to offer their thoughts, on a first-come, first-served basis. (Wednesday, 7 p.m., Register)

EARLY ED SCHOLARSHIP: Department of Early Education and Care holds an information session about the Early Childhood Educator Scholarship, which supports early childhood staff enrolled in a higher education certificate or degree program. (Wednesday, 7 p.m. | Register)

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025

BUILDING CODE APPEALS: Building Code Appeals Board holds virtual hearings. Dockets include properties in Chelmsford, West Yarmouth, Marshfield and Andover. (Thursday, 9 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)

POST COMMISSION: POST Commission holds a virtual pre-hearing conference dealing with Omar Connor. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m. | More Info and Access)

REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS: Board of Registration of Real Estate Appraisers meets. Agenda includes a report on the Division of Occupational Licensure moving its office in downtown Boston in March, board elections, and an executive session. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

CANNABIS COMMISSION: Cannabis Control Commission holds a business meeting, which is likely to feature licensing decisions and an update from the acting executive director. (Thursday, 10 a.m., More Info TBA)

SENATE: Senate plans to meet in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)

CLEAN ENERGY LAW WEBINAR: The Nature Conservancy holds a webinar on the 2024 clean energy law, which reforms the state's siting and permitting processes, expands access to electric vehicles, and views fusion as a possible renewable energy source. Speakers include Undersecretary of Energy Michael Judge, Rep. Blais and Sen. Comerford. The conversation will explore next steps for the law, the benefits of nature-based systems for climate resiliency, the potential of "innovative" insurance products and sustainable investment strategies. (Thursday, 12 p.m. | Register)

INSURANCE PREMIUMS: Division of Insurance concludes its series of information sessions that examined the health factors causing rising insurance premiums, including hospital and provider reimbursements, pharmaceutical utilization, and administrative costs. The final session features a discussion of policy options. (Thursday, 1 p.m. | More Info and Access)

IMMIGRANT WORKERS: Boston Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement and Pathway for Immigrant Workers hold an information session on green card sponsorship. Local employers can learn how they may be eligible to sponsor lower-wage immigrant workers. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Civic Pavilion, 5 Congress St., Boston | Register)

Friday, Jan. 10, 2025

NORTH CENTRAL CHAMBER: North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce holds its "Good Morning North Central" breakfast program, with speakers Doug Howgate of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and pro football Hall of Fame inductee Andre Reed, the current commissioner of the Entertainment Football League Association. (Friday, 7:15 a.m., Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg)

SJC SITS IN BOSTON: Supreme Judicial Court hosts oral arguments in two cases, both of which are first-degree murder appeals. (Friday, 9 a.m., John Adams Courthouse, Courtroom One, 1 Pemberton Square, Boston | Docket | Livestream)

CIGARETTE REGS: Department of Fire Services holds a public hearing on proposed changes to the regulation dealing with the testing, certification, making and enforcement of "Massachusetts' fire standard compliant cigarettes." Officials say they're pursuing several administrative updates and improvements to DFS' Fire Standard Cigarette program, including requiring manufacturers to submit lab results "no more than 365 days old." (Friday, 10 a.m., DFS Stow Campus, 1 State Road, Stow | More Info)

MASSDOT CONCRETE HEARING: MassDOT holds a hybrid public hearing on a regulation to establish a licensing program for the production of cement concrete, which is in response to a 2023 law. MassDOT's Highway Division is tasked with creating a licensing program for individuals "seeking to mine, expand, excavate or otherwise operate a quarry, sand and gravel operation or any other aggregate source for the purpose of producing concrete aggregate for sale or use in foundations, structural elements or infrastructure" like roads and bridges. Written public comment will be accepted through 5 p.m. (Friday, 10 a.m., State Transportation Building, Second Floor, 10 Park Plaza | More Info)

IMMIGRANT RIGHTS WEBINAR: Public Health Institute of Western Mass. hosts a webinar titled "Know Your Rights: Information for Immigrant Community Members and Programs Who Serve Them." Panelists include Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, and Ilana Steinhauer, executive director of Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires. (Friday, 12 p.m., Register)

HAITIAN ARTISTS: A reception is held for the annual Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts exhibit at the Boston City Hall Galleries. The organization, founded in January 1995, has held more than 100 arts exhibitions. (Friday, 4 p.m., 1 City Hall Square, Scollay Square Gallery, Boston)

I'm interested

I disagree with this

This is unverified

Spam

Offensive