1-12-2025 4:19am

Beacon Hill Roll Call

Alan Earls Editor

If you have any questions about this week's report, e-mail us at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com or call us at (617) 720-1562.

Volume 50 - Report No. 2

January 6-10, 2025

By Bob Katzen

GOVERNOR SIGNS SEVERAL BILLS - Gov. Maura Healey signed several bills into law last week including:

DRUG COSTS AND INDUSTRY TRANSPARENCY – Gov. Maura Healey signed into law legislation (S 3012) that supporters say would lower the cost of prescription drugs.

Provisions include requiring insurers to eliminate cost-sharing requirements for one generic drug and to cap co-payments on one brand-name drug at $25 per 30-day supply for diabetes, asthma and certain heart conditions. It also ensures that consumers are not charged a co-pay if it would be cheaper for them to purchase a drug without using their insurance. Another provision requires insurers to provide continuity of coverage for new members' existing prescriptions when they switch to a new plan.

She also signed into law another bill (H 5159) that that supporters say will enhance the market review process and close loopholes in the health care market regulatory process, including gaps in oversight that were exploited for years by Steward Health Care and Ralph de la Torre.

This measure expands the scope of data collection and public review of health care and health care transactions by the Health Policy Commission (HPC) and the Center for Health Analysis and Information with the goal of increasing visibility and accountability for transactions involving private owners of health care resources.

It also includes a provision establishing a primary care task force, co-chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh and the Executive Director of the HPC. The task force will study primary care access, delivery and payment, develop recommendations to stabilize and strengthen the primary care system, increase recruitment and increase financial investment and patient access.

“We know that one of the biggest strains on Massachusetts family's budgets is the high health care costs,” said Gov. Healey. “These new laws will lower out-of-pocket costs by capping copays at $25 for lifesaving prescription medications and increasing transparency in the industry. They also close loopholes in our regulatory processes so that for-profit providers like Steward Health Care are subject to the same transparency rules as non-profit providers. As attorney general, I spent years in court trying to hold Steward to this standard, and I’m glad that our laws will no longer be exploited in this way.”

“The bills signed by Gov. Healey today represent the Legislature’s enduring commitment to protecting patients, bringing down cost growth and to fostering greater stability and accountability within the health care system,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “Before Steward Health Care ultimately collapsed, executives spent years hiding their financial information from state regulators, putting patients and our health care system at risk. That’s why ensuring that our institutions are equipped to monitor the health care landscape, and to guard against trends and transactions that drive up costs without improving patient outcomes, is so important.”

“These laws are an important step toward transparency and accountability for our health care system, and making medications more affordable,” said Secretary Kate Walsh. “We know primary care access is a critical component of health equity, so I’m especially looking forward to the commitment of strengthening our primary care system to help more people in Massachusetts live healthy lives.”

ROSA PARKS DAY (H 3075) – Gov. Healey signed into law a bill establishing February 4 as Rosa Parks in recognition of the historic civil rights leader.

Co-sponsor Rep. Mike Kushmerek (D-Fitchburg) said the measure will bring awareness and representation to the heroic actions of Rosa Parks during the Civil Rights Movement. “February 4th is the birthday of Rosa Parks, so it will be a great reminder to all those within the commonwealth to reflect on the role she played in raising international awareness of the struggles for civil rights,” said Kushmerek.

PROHIBIT REVOCATION OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES (H 4937) – Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that would repeal a current state law which creates professional licensure consequences for anyone who defaults on their student loan. Under current law, a borrower’s state-issued professional or occupational certificate, registration or license can be suspended, revoked or canceled if the borrower is in default on an education loan.

“Current laws are potentially harmful to the more than one million student loan borrowers in the commonwealth,” said sponsor Rep. Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster). “With all of the uncertainty around the federal student loan forgiveness and repayment plans, now more than ever, we need to protect student loan borrowers and ensure they can continue their work and have the ability to repay their student loan debt.”

ID FOR LIQUOR PURCHASES (H 4131) – Gov. Healey signed into law a measure that would allow alcohol-serving establishments to accept all out-of-state motor vehicle licenses and Global Entry cards issued by the United States Customs and Border Protection.

“Massachusetts has been the only state in the entire United States that did not permit retailers of alcohol beverages to rely on a valid out-of-state ID for the purchase of alcoholic beverages,” said a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Package Stores Association (MASSPACK), a non-profit trade organization representing locally owned retailers of beer, wine and spirits headquartered in Massachusetts. “This regulation was archaic and irrational. It also impeded commerce across the state.”

“This vitally important economic measure will support our restaurants, bars and other entertainment venues as they continue to fully recover from losses experienced during the pandemic and allow our out-of-state visitors to enjoy a drink, if they choose,” said House sponsor Rep. Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham).

DECLAWING OF CATS (S 2552) – Gov. Healey signed into law a measure that would ban cat declawing and tendonectomy unless it is done for the medical need of the feline. The measure imposes a fine on offenders of up to $1,000 for a first offense, $1,500 for a second offense and $2,500 for a third or subsequent offense.

Supporters said that declawing a cat involves amputating the last bone of each toe, which if performed on a human would be equivalent to cutting off each finger at the last knuckle. They noted that according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the physical side effects from declawing include both acute and chronic pain, improperly healed wounds, sudden loss of blood, impaired immune response and behavioral side effects include biting.

“Declawing is an abhorrent practice that most veterinarians view as inhumane,” said sponsor Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford). “This is another step in my commitment to protect animals in the commonwealth. As a state we have done far too little to punish heartless abusers and to push back against a weak court system that has too often failed to hold them accountable.”

PROTECT CATS AND DOGS (S 2908) – Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that would prohibit the sale or transfer of any puppies and kittens under eight weeks old. Violators would be fined $100 per animal.

When the animal is more than eight weeks old, the outright ban is lifted and replaced with a section that would prohibit the sale or transfer of any dogs or cats at specified outdoor locations, such as flea markets and roadsides. This prohibition would not apply to the transfer of a dog or cat by, or to, a shelter, animal control or animal rescue; or to the display of a dog or cat as part of a state or county fair exhibition, a 4-H program or similar exhibition or educational program. Violators would be fined $50 per animal for a first offense, $100 for a second offense and $300 for a third and subsequent offense.

"Early separation of puppies and kittens from their mother, and the unregulated roadside sale of dogs and cats, are practices that often lead to serious health or behavioral problems for the animal and no recourse for the new owner,” said sponsor Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield). “I was proud to file this legislation in the Senate this session and am glad that it is one step closer to becoming law and establishing new protections for animals throughout the commonwealth."

RENAME THE OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS (S 3006) – Gov. Healey signed into law a bill that would change the name of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to the Executive Office of Aging and Independence. The proposal also replaces outdated language in the state’s lawbooks, including changing “elderly persons,” to “older adults” and “handicapped” to “adults with a disability.” The new legislation also incorporates gender-neutral language into current law. The original version of the bill was filed by Gov. Healey in May.

“Our population of adults aged 60+ continues to grow, and it is essential that we evolve to meet the changing needs of this group,” said Gov. Healey. “We want residents to feel reflected in our agencies and to know where to turn when they need support. I look forward to seeing the work that our incredible team at the Executive Office of Aging and Independence will do for the people of Massachusetts.”

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

$5 MILLION FOR ENHANCED SECURITY – The Healey Administration announced nearly $5 million in grants to support more than 100 nonprofit organizations ,at high risk of hate crimes or terror attacks, by enhancing their security.

The announcement follows the release of the 2023 Hate Crime Report for Massachusetts by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The report documented 557 hate crime reports statewide —a 26.6 percent increase from 440 in 2022. As in previous years, the most common bias motivation in 2023 was based on race, ethnicity or national origin, accounting for 45.1 percent of all incidents. Anti-Jewish offenses which rose from 70 in 2022 to 119 in 2023 saw the sharpest increase.

“These organizations offer comfort, services, community and support to those they serve. Our administration is committed to ensuring nonprofits and all who gather in these spaces are protected from hate and extremist violence,” said Gov. Healey. “Everyone deserves to safely practice their chosen faith, access health care, seek services and gather in community spaces free from the threat of harm.”

ADOPT EMERGENCY REGULATIONS TO PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Board of Registration in Nursing approved emergency amendments to regulations that will protect nurses from disqualification from licensure and from board discipline for providing, or assisting in providing, reproductive health care services in the Bay State.

“When Roe was overturned, we worked with the Legislature to take immediate action to protect providers and patients from liability for providing or receiving an abortion,” said Gov. Healey. “Today, with attacks on reproductive health care and providers escalating across the country, we’re proud to take action to further strengthen those protections. We’re always going to protect people’s rights and freedoms, and we’re going to make sure that everyone can access the high-quality health care they need.”

“Our nurses and other providers should not fear discipline or legal action for providing essential health care,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “Approving these emergency regulations … will further ensure that Massachusetts remains a place that everyone can access comprehensive reproductive health care services, including abortion care.”

AGREEMENT ON $43.613 BILLIOM IN REVENUE IN FISCAL YEAR 2006 - Gov. Healey’s Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz, House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz and Senate Ways and Means Chair Mike Rodrigues agreed on a consensus revenue forecast for fiscal year 2026 of $43.613 billion.

“This consensus revenue estimate for fiscal year 2026 responsibly reflects our current economic environment,” said Gorzkowicz. “While our economy and revenues over the past couple years have continued to grow, the post-pandemic rate of growth has slowed and our budgeting must adjust accordingly budgeting process.”

“This fiscal year 2026 consensus revenue figure will allow the Legislature and the Healey-Driscoll administration to collectively construct a reasonable and suitable budget for the upcoming fiscal year,” said Michlewitz. “By being ever watchful of the commonwealth's finances and basing the budget on a judicious consensus revenue figure, we will be able to make fiscally sound decisions over the next few months as we work to make the critical investments that our constituents deserve.”

“Rooted in sound fiscal decision making, the fiscal year 2026 consensus revenue estimate reflects our ongoing efforts to tighten our belts and further align state spending growth with tax revenue growth in response to increasing post-pandemic spending obligations and the challenges ahead,” said Rodrigues. “With this agreement, we are laying the groundwork for a balanced fiscal year 2026 budget that prioritizes our state’s economic health, promotes stability and continues to shape a more affordable and sustainable path for the commonwealth.”

BEWARE OF EZDRIVEMA SCAM –The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is once again reminding customers to be mindful of text message-based scams, also known as smishing. The scammers are claiming to represent the tolling agency and requesting payment for unpaid tolls.

MassDOT urges customers to be cautious about email, text and phone scams demanding payment of outstanding toll balances. Some attempts have been made to trick customers into sharing credit card numbers and other sensitive information by directing them to a website to pay their outstanding balances. MassDOT strongly encourages customers not to click the link contained in those messages.

HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION?

Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session.

During the week of Jan. 6-10, the House a met for a total of ten minutes while the Senate met for a total of 25 minutes.

Mon. Jan. 6 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:08 a.m.

Senate 11:06 a.m. to 11:29 a.m.

Tues. Jan. 7 No House session

No Senate session

Wed. Jan. 8 No House session

No Senate session

Thurs. Jan. 9 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:05 a.m.

Senate 11:07 a.m. to 11:09 a.m.

Fri. Jan. 10 No House session

No Senate session

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com