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3-23-2025 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.12

March 17-21, 2025

By Bob Katzen

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THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives' votes on roll calls from recent debate on the House rules. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.

MORE TIME TO READ BILLS (H 2024)

House 23-128, rejected a House rules amendment that would require bills be made available to House members and the public no later than noon two days prior to consideration and also sets an amendment deadline of 5 p.m. the day after the bill is released, or one day prior to consideration. For example, a bill released on a Monday by noon would have an amendment deadline of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, and the House would debate and vote on the amendments and the bill on Wednesday.

“Under current House rules, there is a same day amendment filing deadline of 5 p.m. for bills that are released by noon,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “This gives members very little time to review legislation, draft amendments and file those amendments. The House and joint rules offer a perfect example of why this rule should be changed, as members essentially had about five hours to review more than 200 pages of documents, try to understand what was and wasn’t in either rules proposal, and then draft amendments before the 5 p.m. filing deadline. The current process simply doesn’t provide enough time for members to review legislation and offer amendments.”

Rep. Jessica Giannino (D-Revere) said that extending the bill distribution timeline to two days can and will slow down the entire legislative process. She argued that this introduces unnecessary delays, especially in situations that demand swift action, such as emergencies or rapidly developing circumstances in need of legislative action. She noted that the current one-day rule strikes a better balance between maintaining transparency and allowing efficiency and noted the House must ensure our legislative operations remain agile.

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment requiring that members have two days to read legislation before voting on it. A “No” vote is against the amendment.)

Rep. Jeffrey Roy No

KEEP COMMITTEE POLLS OPEN FOR TWO HOURS (H 2026)

House 23-128, rejected a House rules amendment that would require House committee polls to be open for at least two hours or until all committee members have voted. Committee polls are used to record which members favor or oppose a bill that was heard by the committee.

“When voting to advance legislation, it is important that the members understand the bill they’re voting on so they can make an informed decision,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “That is not always possible with the short turnaround time required of some polls, especially when the bills under consideration have been redrafted, are lengthy or are technical in nature. Providing a two-hour window to respond to a poll is a reasonable compromise that will help to ensure that each member feels comfortable with their vote without hampering the committee’s ability to move legislation in a timely fashion.”

Amendment opponents offered no arguments. But earlier that day, the House voted against a similar amendment to the joint House-Senate rules. At that time, Rep. Kathy LaNatra (D-Kingston) said, "In Massachusetts, we have a full-time, professional Legislature, which requires preparation and preparedness. When a poll is released by a committee chair, that should not be the first time we are reading a piece of legislation. Committee polls should remain at the chair's discretion, ensuring decisions reflect urgency rather than arbitrary deadlines. Committees I have been on have provided days to review language. We must, however, always maintain our ability to act for our constituents when the time arises."

Rep. Mike Moran (D-Brighton), a member of the House Rules Committee who helped write the House rules package, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to explain why he and the Democrat House leadership voted against the amendment.

(A “Yes” vote is for the two-hour minimum. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Jeffrey Roy No

NOTIFY REPRESENTATIVES OF COMMITTEE POLLS AT LEAST 12 HOURS IN ADVANCE (H 2024)

House 23-128, rejected a House rules amendment that would require all House committee members to be notified at least 12 hours in advance if the committee is going to poll members electronically.

“When a poll is released with a tight deadline to respond, there is always a danger that a committee member may not see it until after the poll has closed because they may be tied up in a constituent meeting, attending a municipal event in their district or driving to the Statehouse and unable to review their e-mails,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “This amendment simply provides members with advance notice of an upcoming poll so they can plan their schedule accordingly and provide a timely response.”

Amendment opponents offered no arguments. But earlier that day, the House voted against a similar amendment to the joint House-Senate rules. At that time, Rep. Christine Barber (D-Somerville) said, "As full-time legislators, committee work and committee votes are a major part of our role. Requiring a 12-hour notice for an electronic poll would not increase the efficiency of our legislative process and [would] only slow down our work to address critical issues."

Rep. Mike Moran (D-Brighton), a member of the House Rules Committee who helped write the rules package, once again, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to explain why he and the Democrat House leadership voted against the amendment.

(A “Yes” vote is for the 12-hour minimum. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Jeffrey Roy No

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

ALLOW REMOTE ACCESS TO PUBLIC MEETINGS (H 62) - The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey legislation that would extend, until June 2027, the current law that allows cities and to offer remote participation at public meetings through June 2027. The option, first adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent state of emergency, was due to expire on March 31. The extension applies to public bodies and representative town meetings.

“I voted for this legislation because it has substantially increased resident participation and engagement in local government and has made it easier for public bodies to manage their meetings with both equity and transparency,” said Sen, Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “It’s been clear from municipalities across the commonwealth that they want to continue to offer this expanded access.”

“I have heard loud and clear from my colleagues, and the communities we represent, that hybrid meetings have increased access, engagement and transparency in local government,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “There is no reason that a family obligation, a car breakdown, a disability or any other life circumstance should get in the way of making your voice heard on an issue you care about in your community.”

“One of the lessons we learned from the pandemic was that using technology for public meetings expands access and civic participation across government,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “With this extension, we are removing barriers to participation and residents will continue to be able to be active participants in governmental decisions remotely.”

$10.4 MILLION FOR INTERNET UPGRADES FOR PUBLIC HOUSING – The Healey Administration announced $10.4 million in grants to upgrade Internet access in some 8,000 public and affordable housing across 26 Massachusetts communities.

The projects will install modern cabling in each unit, increasing residents’ access to high-quality, reliable and affordable broadband service. The Residential Retrofit Program prioritizes ISPs that offer affordable quality service to decrease the cost of access.

"When residents are better connected, it opens a world of new possibilities in both their professional and private lives," said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. "The Residential Retrofit Program is a transformative investment in communities across the state and demonstrates Massachusetts’ commitment to advancing the Internet for everyone."

STATE’S FIRST POET LAUREATE – Gov. Healey and the Mass Cultural Council announced that the Bay State is now accepting applications to fill the new role of Poet Laureate of Massachusetts.

Gov. Healey created the new position in February when she signed an executive order establishing the position. This honorary position is designed to promote poetry and creative expression across the state, serve as the governor’s ambassador of the arts and inspire the next generation of writers. The poet laureate will be eligible for an honorarium provided by the Mass Cultural Council.

The Poet Laureate will be charged with encouraging the appreciation of poetry and creative expression across Massachusetts, participating in public readings and other statewide literary and cultural events, composing poetry for ceremonial occasions and advising the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on an outreach program for schools focused on the celebration and advancement of poetry.

“I was proud to sign an executive order establishing our first-ever state Poet Laureate,” said Healey. “We’re excited to be opening the application so that local poets from across the state can apply for this historic position. This is an opportunity to spread the gift of poetry, celebrate the talent in our state, stoke the fires of imagination and tell our stories.”

“The Mass Cultural Council, the commonwealth’s state arts agency, believes in the Power of Culture and recognizes poetry as a strong and vital art form that inspires connection, fosters empathy and gives voice to diverse experiences,” said Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael Bobbitt. “Poetry has the unique ability to capture the essence of human emotion, challenge perspective and build bridges between communities. This new voice will help to enrich our cultural landscape, remind us of our rich legacy of profound writers and strengthen the creative spirit of the commonwealth.”

To apply for the position or for more information go to: https://massculturalcouncil.org/artists-art/poet-laureate/application-p…

$5.7 MILLION FOR FARMLAND PRESERVATION - Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper announced the granting of $5.7 million in funding for farmland preservation. The funding is aimed at protecting 400 acres of farmland through the state’s Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) Program. Another $500,000 will be granted to help existing Massachusetts APR farmers restore land that was previously unsuitable for farming.

“Massachusetts farmers are some of the strongest and most resilient people I’ve met,” said Tepper. “Between extreme weather, high costs and now a tariff war, our farmers deserve our support more than ever. Our programs are designed to keep existing farms strong and revive unused land for farming. This means better food security and a healthier environment for everyone in Massachusetts.”

DIRECTOR OF FAIR HOUSING - Whitney Demetrius joined the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities as the state’s first Director of Fair Housing. The position was established by the Healey Administration’s Affordable Homes Act to support fair housing initiatives, including enforcement, testing, outreach and education, as well as collaborating with other state agencies to advance fair housing policies and programs.

“A crucial part of ensuring our commonwealth is truly livable is addressing the barriers to fair housing and housing choice,” said Demetrius. “I am eager to work collaboratively in this role to carry out the vision of this administration, putting fair housing at the forefront of our path forward.”

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“Hundreds of people proudly took to Beacon Hill today in a display of support and solidarity at this pivotal moment when the immigrant community is under constant attack. We are incredibly proud of this year’s Immigrants Day at the Statehouse, and for the policymakers, immigrants and advocates who inspired attendees. We must use this momentum to show the nation that Massachusetts will firmly oppose hate and tirelessly fight for immigrant rights.”

---Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition criticizing the Trump Administration’s immigration policies and calling on state leaders to pass essential reforms to protect immigrants who call Massachusetts home.

“Edith Nourse Rogers was ahead of her time. She saw a future where women could serve their country and receive the benefits they earned—and she made it happen. Her legacy is all around us, in the women who wear the uniform today and in the veterans who continue to serve their communities. Massachusetts is proud to recognize her contributions and to honor the women who followed in her footsteps.”

---Gov. Healey declaring March 19 as Edith Nourse Rogers Day honoring the life and legacy of the former Massachusetts Congresswoman who transformed opportunities for women in the military.

“Energy efficiency is one of the most important tools we have for lowering costs. Our energy efficiency programs empower residents to bring down their bills and help them afford the latest appliances for their homes. And over 76,000 high-quality jobs are supported through this industry in Massachusetts. We’re proud of our top spot and will continue to make strides to support more renters and low- and moderate-income households get assistance through Mass Save.”

---Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper on the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy naming Massachusetts the second most energy efficient states in the nation.

“Protecting manufacturers from cybersecurity threats will ensure the Massachusetts manufacturing ecosystem remains safe, secure and competitive. The Manufacturing Cybersecurity Program will empower manufacturers to grow and provide opportunities to access new markets while remaining protected from threats to their operations.”

---Massachusetts Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao on the awarding of $540,473 to Massachusetts-based manufacturers to upgrade their cybersecurity infrastructure.

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 March 17-21, the House met for a total of one hour and 18 minutes while the Senate met for a total of one hour and 14 minutes.

Mon. March 17 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:19 a.m.

Senate 11:26 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.

Tues. March 18 No House session

No Senate session

Wed. March 19 No House session

No Senate session

Thurs. March 20 House 11:01 a.m. to 12:01 p.m.

Senate 11:04 a.m. to 12:04 p.m.

Fri. March 21 No House session

No Senate session

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com