People, Power, and Politics

Above, Sen. Cindy Friedman and Rep. John Lawn co-chair a Joint Committee on Health Care Financing hearing on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 in Gardner Auditorium. Advocates and parents who have adult children with autism urged lawmakers Tuesday to extend MassHealth coverage of a behavioral therapy, while a top Senate Democrat raised financial concerns about the proposed mandate. Refiled bills (H 1351 / S 871) would require MassHealth to cover applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy for clients ages 21 and older who have developmental or intellectual disabilities, or are on the autism spectrum. Last session, Beacon Hill passed a law requiring insurance coverage of ABA services for individuals with Down Syndrome, with the aim of mitigating hefty out-of-pocket costs for families. ABA therapy helps individuals regulate themselves and control their behaviors, learn how to talk, and gain independent skills such as using the bathroom, according to Maura Sullivan, CEO of The Arc of Massachusetts advocacy organization. Private insurance already covers ABA, she said.

FRANKLIN

New
Town Website Does Not Support “Cut and Paste” of calendar
entries. Go to https://franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
However, Steve Sherlock from Franklin Matters has compiled and and
shared the below information. Thanks Steve!

"In the summertime when the weather is hot, you can stretch right up and touch the sky.” Mungo Jerry

Very little visibly happening in this the first full week of the new fiscal year. A very short list of meetings are on the calendar, some of which may not happen. Wherever the week finds you, enjoy the moment.

There is business continuing out of sight of most. Financial books close out, accounts get ready for audit. The Beaver Street Interceptor construction project continues, as they make progress out to RT 140 their work will be very visible.

Meeting outlook for week of 0706 - 07/12/25; as of 10:00 AM 07/04/25

Design Review Meeting
Tuesday, July 8, 2025. 7 PM
No agenda available at this time

Historical Commission Meeting
Wednesday, July 9 Time: 6 PM
No agenda available at this time

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meetings
Thursday, July 10 Time: 2 PM
No agenda available at this time

Conservation Commission Meeting
Thursday, July 10 Time: 7 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07102025-1812

—------------
For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events are posted on the top of the page, the TV and radio schedules are on the bottom, and all the other goodness falls in-between.

Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
Community calendar -> https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

Subscribe for the daily dose of information -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

Subscribe for the weekly dose of information -> https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/p/subscribe-for-email.html

MEDWAY

Medway’s
new website, likewise, does not readily support cut and paste. Go to
medwayma.gov.

STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND

The Fourth of July this year is bringing a pair of momentous new laws whose effects will ripple through Massachusetts for years. Only six months into his term, President Donald Trump is putting his signature on sweeping tax, spending and border security legislation that will unleash a torrent of activity to carry out its many edicts and to assess its policy, economic and budgetary impacts on the state. Gov. Maura Healey's signature Friday on a new $60.9 billion annual state budget comes this year with its own twist. In addition to handing down $130 million in vetoes, Healey also filed key amendments eliminating public spending on GLP-1 weight loss drugs when not medically necessary and neutralizing a measure that would give more workers access to retirement savings plans. The governor is also newly asking the Legislature to let her make unilateral spending cuts throughout the entire state budget, if necessary, to adjust to any fallout from the new federal law over the next year. The governor's existing power to manage spending when revenues dip during the budget year is limited to cutting accounts in the executive branch and/or proposing ways to raise new revenue. Healey budget chief Matthew Gorzkowicz said this week that his office will have a better handle on the federal law's impacts later this summer following more research. Major impacts on safety-net programs and publicly funded health care and food benefits are among areas being analyzed. Healey on Thursday again reiterated her opposition to federal policy shifts and said "we want you to have access to health care, to education, transportation. I want you to be able to afford groceries, housing, heat, and electricity." Matching Beacon Hill's desires to deliver and pay for those basics, in the face of less federal support, stands to become an issue leading into 2026, when elections are also on the agenda. Healey's getting a helping hand from lawmakers who built into the new state budget an $800 million cushion, which was not in the governor's January budget filing, to absorb supplemental spending that may be needed to counteract the federal moves.

The Legislature, especially in 2025, has made budgeting a year-round practice, which has effectively crowded out some of the bandwidth to deal with policy bills. Healey's vetoes, budget amendments and yet another brand new supplemental budget filing containing the governor's federal-response plans will ensure that trend holds. Lawmakers still have an unfinished supplemental budget that cleared both branches in different forms (H 4151 / S 2540) but was backburnered while lawmakers this week passed an interim state budget and the annual state budget. Top Democrats haven't said when they'll wrap up that supplemental budget bill. Whether it's that bill or the new supp from the governor, the next spending bill will be the seventh of the calendar year, and that's before emergence of the fiscal 2025 closeout budget expected in the fall and perhaps any others. House Democrats have also not pinpointed plans to take up their own version of a Senate-approved bill aimed at further protecting patients and health care providers in Massachusetts from potential legal ramifications stemming from widening out-of-state opposition to the delivery of reproductive and gender-identity health care. Senators attached some urgency to their bill, citing the evolving national political climate.

Legislative committees continue marching through public hearings and hearing from people and special interest group pushing non-budgetary proposals. In the week ahead, bills affecting driver's licenses, alcohol laws and election security are among those that will be up for discussion in State House hearing rooms and online livestreams. In another wrinkle, under new legislative rules, committee verdicts will be coming due in July and August on hundreds of House bills that were the subject of public hearings in May and June. Senate Democrats plan a pair of public informal sessions next week but will also gather for a private caucus Wednesday. Democrats are making some legislative business more transparent, but declined to comment Friday on the purpose of the caucus. The Legislature's schedule was released before Healey acted on the budget and the business of unwinding the knot of newly intertwined state and federal laws could be a conversation starter.

Sunday, July 6, 2025

HEALEY ON KELLER: Gov. Maura Healey is the guest on "Keller at Large" for a second consecutive week. She will respond to her Republican critics on issues including the migrant crisis, economic development and law enforcement. The first half of the interview aired last Sunday. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV)

FINEGOLD "ON THE RECORD" | Sen. Finegold joins WCVB's weekly show "On The Record." (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV)

Monday, July 7, 2025

CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure holds a hearing on bills related to alcohol licensing, sales and consumption at bars, restaurants and events. The agenda includes bills making happy hour legal (H 443 / S 217 / H 349), requiring bars and restaurants to have lids available for alcoholic beverages (S 293), and authorizing the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission to obtain national criminal background checks for certain felons applying for alcoholic beverage licenses (H 411). (Monday, 10 a.m., Room A-2 | Agenda & Virtual Access)

WESTON & SAMPSON IN LOWELL: Design and engineering firm Weston & Sampson expands into the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor, a mixed-use development project meant to accelerate environmental projects. The expansion is a collaboration with UMass Lowell. Congresswoman Trahan, UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen, Weston & Sampson CEO Frank Ricciardi and city and state officials plan to speak. (Monday, 10 a.m. 201 Cabot St., Lowell)

USS CONSTITUTION CONCERT: The 215th Army Band's musical ensemble, Revolution — an eight-piece fife and drum unit — plays a free concert on the USS Constitution. All guests aged 18 and older must present a valid state- or federally-issued photo ID or passport to board the ship. (Monday, 10 a.m., USS Constitution, Charlestown)

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

SENATE INFORMAL: Senate meets in an informal session. (Monday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber | Livestream)

BOSTON AFTER SCHOOL: Boston Mayor Wu and education leaders celebrate the 5th Quarter of Learning, a summer program that will provide more than 18,000 students with the chance to develop academic and workforce skills. The program is a collaboration between the city, district and Boston After School & Beyond. (Monday, 1 p.m., Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts, Fields Corner, 1490 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester | RSVP to efleming@melwoodglobal.com)

DEM PLATFORM MEETING - SCITUATE: Democratic State Committee members from the First Plymouth and Norfolk Senate District host the first of two meetings to discuss the Massachusetts Democratic Party platform. About 2,500 delegates are expected to gather at the MassMutual Center in Springfield on Saturday, Sept. 13 to adopt an updated party platform. (Monday, 7 p.m., Scituate Public Library, 85 Branch St., Scituate)

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

MUNI POLICE HEARINGS: Police Standards Subcommittee of the Municipal Police Training Committee holds appeals hearings on the dismissals of Gerry Pelegrini from the Northeastern University Police Academy and Nadia Hunt from the Boylston Police Academy. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., 42 Thomas Patten Dr., Randolph | More Info and Livestream)

NALOXONE TRAINING: Rep. Donaghue hosts a Brian Donaghue Simpson naloxone training session, named in honor of her son who died from an overdose. Naloxone can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Great Hall)

VETERAN TRAINING: Executive Office of Veterans Services holds a workshop focused on strategies to reduce suicide risk. Participants will receive cable locks, trigger locks and gun safes. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., VFW Post 8006, 18 Meadow St., Florence | More Info)

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Transportation holds a hearing on bills related to licensing and driver's education. The agenda includes a Rep. Fluker-Reid and Sen. Cyr bill which "aims to reform the punitive measures associated with non-payment of vehicle-related taxes and fines in Massachusetts" through eliminating the suspension or revocation of driver's licenses and vehicle registrations as penalties for non-payment of vehicle excise taxes, state taxes, and Department of Transportation fines, according to a summary from Cyr's office. A Rep. Viera bill would suspend or revoke licenses for the failure to pay municipal fines (H 3803). Other bills have to do with including information about driving under the influence of marijuana in driver's education (H 3710), and creating a task force to improve the enforcement of existing laws governing motorized bicycles, scooters and mopeds (S 2347). (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Room A-1 | Agenda & Virtual Access)

MUNI POLICE HEARING: Police Standards Subcommittee of the Municipal Police Training Committee holds an appeals hearing for Christopher Avey on the revocation of his instructor certification. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., 42 Thomas Patten Dr., Randolph | More Info)

MASSHOUSING RETIREMENT BOARD: Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency Employees' Retirement Board meets. (Tuesday, 12 p.m., Zoom | Agenda)

CHILDREN & FAMILIES COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities holds a hearing on bills related to the Department of Children and Families. Rep. Finn and Sen. Comerford propose establishing a bill of rights for children in foster care (H 235 / S 107) and Rep. Fiola and Sen. Feeney have a bill to require mandated reporters complete training at least every two years to recognize and report suspected child abuse or neglect (H 236 / S 129). Auditor DiZoglio, Rep. LeBoeuf and Sen. Fattman propose creating an "electronic backpack" for foster children's educational records, to keep in one place the child's transcript, attendance records, the name and contact information of their educational decision makers and DCF case worker, and other information (H 8 / H 258 / S 125). (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room A-1 | Agenda & Virtual Access)

ELECTION LAWS COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Election Laws holds a hearing on bills related to election security and local elections. Sen. Durant and Rep. Berthiaume have bills to require voters to show photo ID at polling places (S 510 / H 802). Other bills have to do with enhancing disclosure requirements for political phone calls, and the use of artificial intelligence in political advertising. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room B-1 | Agenda & Virtual Access)

EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Education holds a hybrid public hearing on student issues and student discipline. The so-called RAISE act (H 731 / S 380) gets its hearing, meant to address disparities in school discipline such as suspensions and expulsions. Districts would be required to report data regarding discipline rates and the demographics of those disciplined, including race, gender and socioeconomic information. A number of other bills on the docket also aim to address or reduce out-of-school suspensions. A Rep. Fluker-Reid and Sen. Gómez bill would prohibit schools from suspending a student solely based on violating the dress code (H 576). (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room B-2 | Agenda & Virtual Access)

EMBODIED CARBON: Embodied Carbon Intergovernmental Coordinating Council holds its first public hearing. It's co-chaired by Adam Baacke, commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, and Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer; both will give presentations. Attendees are encouraged to give feedback, including on the possibility of requiring environmental product declarations tied to the state procurement of certain materials, setting guidance for Global Warming Potential limit, encouraging building deconstruction and re-use, and strategies to incorporate embodied carbon into building codes. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., Lexington Community Center, 39 Marrett Road, Lexington | More Info)

CHELMSFORD ROUTE 3A MEETING: MassDOT holds an in-person meeting to discuss planned improvements for Route 3A through Chelmsford. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Chelmsford Police Station, Conference Room, 2 Olde North Rd., Chelmsford | More Info)

DEM PLATFORM MEETING - BEVERLY: Democratic State Committee member Rani Jacobson and the Beverly Dems host a meeting to discuss the Massachusetts Democratic Party platform and potential changes. About 2,500 delegates are expected to gather at the MassMutual Center in Springfield on Saturday, Sept. 13 to adopt an updated party platform. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex St., Beverly)

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

MASSDOT FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE: MassDOT Finance and Audit Committee meets. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., State Transportation Building, Second Floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston | More Info)

PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL: Public Heath Council meets. (Wednesday, 9 a.m. | More Info)

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL HEARING: Governor's Council holds a hearing on Gov. Healey's nomination of Andrew Don as associate justice of the Juvenile Court. Don has served as trial panel director for CPCS's Children and Family Law Division since 2021, where he oversees 750 private attorneys. He previously had a solo practice in Scituate. (Wednesday, 9:45 a.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Executive Committee of the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council meets. Agenda includes an update from the Department of Energy Resources, a presentation from the Massachusetts Technology Assessment Committee about new technologies, and a Mass Save quarterly performance report. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)

DOR HEARING: Department of Revenue holds a remote public hearing to update a regulation tied to smoking bar permits. It would update the age a person is allowed to enter a smoking bar from 18 to 21. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Zoom)

MASSDOT CAPITAL PROGRAMS COMMITTEE: MassDOT Capital Programs Committee meets. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., State Transportation Building, Second Floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston | More Info)

SICKLE CELL ADVOCACY DAY: Massachusetts Sickle Cell Association hosts a lobbying day. The organization pushed last year for a multi-pronged sickle cell bill that would require MassHealth and commercial insurers to cover fertility preservation services for individuals undergoing medical treatment that impairs their fertility. Other sections of that bill would have set up a statewide steering committee on sickle cell matters and required the Department of Public Health to collect data on the disease. That bill received a favorable recommendation from the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, but died in the House Ways and Means Committee. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Great Hall)

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL HEARING: Governor's Council holds a hearing on Gov. Healey's nomination of Nibal Raheb as associate justice of the Juvenile Court. Raheb has practiced law for 26 years, including as a bar advocate in Worcester County Juvenile Court and Westborough District Court. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)

SENATE DEM CAUCUS: Senate Democrats caucus. There's no formal sessions planned for Wednesday or Thursday. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Senate President's office and virtual)

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Public Service holds a hearing on pension and Retirement Board legislation. Among the bills on the docket is S 1848 from Sen. Feeney, which would amend the municipal insurance law so that future increases in the premium contribution by local retirees are applied only to those who retire after the implementation date. S 1840 from Sen. Fattman would limit the accrual of unused sick time to 1,000 hours for state employees and employees of public institutions of higher education, and S 1796 from Sen. Brady would require pension trustees to consider worker and contribution interests in making investment choices. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Hearing Room B-1 | Agenda and Access Info)

AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries holds a hearing on bills related to land use, sustainable agriculture and fisheries. The agenda includes a handful of bills related to "cottage food entrepreneurs," people who run small-scale food businesses from their homes. One bill (S 69) would allow cottage food makers to make and sell foods from home kitchens and would charge the Department of Public Health to create uniform standards for cottage food operations and the sale of cottage foods. Sen. O'Connor has a bill (S 68) that seeks to address the impacts of lobster fishery closures by creating a fund administered by the Department of Unemployment Assistance to provide lobstermen with $1 per trap tag per week while state waters are closed from January through June, to end after three years. Rep. Elliott has a bill (H 122) to authorize the Division of Animal Health to regulate the preservation of existing pet cemeteries. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Hearing Room A-1 | Agenda and Access Info)

COMBATING ANTISEMITISM: Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism meets. Agenda calls for discussion of draft preliminary K-12 education findings and recommendations. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Hearing Room B-1 | Agenda and Virtual Access)

PITTSFIELD BRIDGE REPLACEMENT: MassDOT holds an in-person public hearing on the proposed design for the replacement of the Pontoosuc Avenue Bridge in Pittsfield. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Council Chambers at City Hall, 70 Allen St., Pittsfield | More Info)

DEM PLATFORM MEETING - WEYMOUTH: Democratic State Committee members from the First Plymouth and Norfolk Senate District host the second of two meetings to discuss the Massachusetts Democratic Party platform. About 2,500 delegates are expected to gather at the MassMutual Center in Springfield on Saturday, Sept. 13 to adopt an updated party platform. (Wednesday, 7 p.m., Tufts Public Library, 6 Broad St., Weymouth)

Thursday, July 10, 2025

PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Public Health holds a hearing on bills concerning health equity, vital records, reproductive health, screening and treatment, disease prevention and more. S 1595 from Sen. O'Connor would allow school personnel to administer epinephrine to students in emergency situations, S 1520 from Sen. Durant would allow a patient to have a support person 24/7 in medical situations when allowed by the medical institution, and H 2363 from Rep. Ayers would direct the Department of Public Health to study the feasibility of incentivizing inpatient psychiatric hospitals to admit patients directly from community behavioral health centers. Agenda also includes S 1563 from Sen. R. Kennedy, which the senator's office said would ensure access to reproductive care "at the discretion of a patient and their medical provider." (Thursday, 9 a.m., Hearing Room A-1 | Agenda and Access Info)

CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION: Cannabis Control Commission meets. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | More Info)

SENATE SESSION: Senate meets in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)

DALAI LAMA TRIBUTE: Sen. Comerford and Rep. Domb host Year of Compassion: A Tribute to the Dalai Lama. In celebration of the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday, the Central Tibetan Administration declared a "Year of Compassion" starting July 6. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Great Hall)

PRIMARY CARE WORKGROUP: Data and Research Workgroup of the Primary Care Access, Delivery, and Payment Task Force meets. HPC said the meeting will include discussion of proposals to define and measure primary care spending and utilization. (Thursday, 11 a.m. | More Info)

CYBERSECURITY COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity holds a hearing on bills dealing with social media, cryptocurrency, internet access and broadband, community media funding, and cybersecurity. Bills on the agenda include S 31 relative to the modernization of state agency information technology systems, H 88 establishing a special commission on blockchain and cryptocurrency, H 101 establishing free broadband internet access in public housing, and S 41 to modernize funding for community media programming. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Hearing Room A-2 | Agenda and Access Info)

Friday, July 11, 2025

SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a remote public hearing on increasing rates for supported employment services. The services are purchased by the Department of Developmental Services, the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind and MassAbility. The total annualized cost is $9.1 million, and the increase in fiscal 2026 will be covered through the Chapter 257 reserve, according to officials. (Friday, 9 a.m. | More Info and Access)

HEARING SERVICES: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a remote public hearing to set fixed rates for hearing services. Officials say there's "no estimated aggregate annual fiscal impact of the proposed amendments, as there is no current utilization of the two codes for which EOHHS proposes to establish fixed rates." Officials say the change will not impose new costs on small businesses. (Friday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Access)

SUBSTANCE-RELATED, ADDICTIVE DISORDERS: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a remote public hearing dealing with rates for certain substance-related and addictive disorders programs, including residential rehabilitation programs. The proposed changes incorporate rates for opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and include a new rate aimed at improving access to medications for opioid use disorders for nursing facility residents. "The purpose of the rate is to incentivize OTPs to work more closely with nursing facilities to deliver medications directly to residents and reduces the need for daily resident transportation to OTPs, thereby generating savings from reduced transportation costs," the hearing notice says. (Friday, 11 a.m. | More Info and Access)

JUSTICE-INVOLVED WOMEN: Panel on Justice-Involved Women meets. (Friday, 1 p.m. | Agenda and Livestream)