12-14-2025 4:48am

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.50

December 8-12, 2025

By Bob Katzen

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THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll call votes in the House or Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call reports local representatives’ roll call attendance records for the 2025 session through December 12.

The House has held 116 roll calls in the 2025 session. Beacon Hill Roll Call tabulates the number of roll calls on which each representative voted and then calculates that number as a percentage of the total roll call votes held. That percentage is the number referred to as the roll call attendance record.

Oftentimes a representative is not able to attend only one or two sessions during which roll calls are held, but since there are sometimes multiple roll calls on each one of those days, the number of roll calls they missed can be high even though they only missed one or two sessions.

Eighty-eight (55.3 percent) out of 159 representatives did not miss any roll call votes and had a 100 precent roll call attendance record.

Seventy-one (44.7 percent) out of 159 representatives missed one or more roll call votes.

The representatives who missed the most roll calls are Reps. John Lawn (D-Watertown) and Marcus Vaughn (R-Wrentham) who each missed 22 roll calls (81.0 percent roll call attendance record).

Rounding out the top 15 representatives who missed the most roll call votes are:

Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick) who missed 20 roll calls (82.7 percent roll call attendance record); Christopher Flanagan (D-Dennis); Judith Garcia (D-Chelsea); Richard Haggerty (D-Woburn); Mary Keefe (D-Worcester); Chynah Tyler (D-Roxbury; and Thomas Walsh (D-Peabody) who each missed 19 roll calls (83.6 percent roll call attendance record.)

Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge) and John Gaskey (R-Carver) who each missed 18 roll calls (84.4 percent roll call attendance record.)

Patrick Kearney (D-Scituate) who missed 16 roll calls (86.2 percent roll call attendance record); Tram Nguyen (D-Andover); and Joseph McKenna (R-Sutton) who each missed 15 roll calls (87.0 percent roll call attendance record).

Lisa Field (D-Taunton) who missed 15 roll calls (72.2 percent roll call attendance record). Rep. Field won a special election to fill a vacant House seat. She has only been a representative for 54 roll calls, not all 116 roll calls, and therefore her percentage of roll calls attended is different from Reps. Nguyen and McKenna who both also missed 15 roll calls but have been in office for all 116 roll calls.

Beacon Hill Roll Call contacted all 15 representatives and asked them why they missed some roll calls:

Eight representatives did not respond last week to repeated requests asking them to explain their absences. They are Reps. John Lawn, Marcus Vaughan, Christopher Flanagan, Mary Keefe, Chynah Tyler, Tom Walsh, Patrick Kearney and Tram Nguyen.

Seven representatives responded either last week and/or when they were asked the same questions in August, when they were also among the representatives who missed the most roll calls.

Nicholas Boldyga did not respond last week but responded in August: "A couple of days were missed due to health-related issues in my immediate family. My responsibilities as a father of three young children came first on those days. Unfortunately, unlike the Senate that allows for fully remote participation on all levels, House rules make it difficult to even vote remotely."

Judith Garcia responded in August and last week with the same statement: "I missed two days due to illness and two days on official business with the Chelsea delegation, participating in the National All-America City competition in Denver, Colorado, which Chelsea won. One of those four days included 13 roll calls, so it’s important for readers to know that multiple roll calls in a single day do not equal multiple absences."

Richard Haggerty responded in August and last week:

In August, he responded, “I missed a single day of voting this session on February 6, 2025, when I was unfortunately not able to attend a session due to a family commitment.” Last week he responded: “I have submitted statements of support for each piece of legislation the House passed to the House Clerk’s Office after missing four engrossment votes this session due to a family commitment.”

Marjorie Decker responded last week: “The votes I missed were due to family emergencies, and I sent a letter to the House Clerk’s stating how I would have voted for each of the two formal sessions I was not able to attend.”

John Gaskey responded in August and last week:

In August, he responded: “[Thirteen roll calls] were on the same day. I was out of town and unavailable. [Three more roll calls] were on the same day [that I was] involved with a delicate constituent issue and chose not to attend, determining it was more important to assist constituents in need than to throw a ‘No’ vote at something I don’t think should be legal.”

Last week he responded, “The question has no context and is without merit. The way voting happens, as you know, missing one day has the potential to make it look like a legislator … has missed 20 percent of votes taken. That being said, I answered this question earlier in the year and since, not sure if I missed anything or not. If I did, it’s likely because of personal reasons.”

Joseph McKenna responded last week: “I missed a formal session due to a long-scheduled family trip where I visited immediate family from across the country who I see very infrequently. Though I only missed one day of session, it unfortunately was budget veto override voting, so [it] was a day with the highest number of actual individual votes. Unfortunately, leadership's ongoing strategy of not scheduling formal sessions until late the Friday before, and further in holding the session agenda until the day before, makes it impossible to avoid such unfortunate occurrences.”

Lisa Field responded last week: "In 2024, I committed to a trip to Rome and the Vatican to celebrate the Jubilee Year 2025. The House scheduled a formal session while I was traveling. I missed one day of formal session, but the House took up several votes that day."

REPRESENTATIVES' 2025 ROLL CALL ATTENDANCE RECORDS THROUGH DECEMBER 12, 2025

Here are the 2025 roll call attendance records of local representatives through December 12. The attendance records are based on 116 roll calls.

The percentage listed next to the representative’s name is the percentage of roll call votes on which the senator voted. The number in parentheses represents the number of roll calls that he or she missed.

Rep. Jeffrey Roy 100 percent (0)

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

BAN SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS ON DEATH CERTIFICATES (H 2383) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that would eliminate the current requirement that death certificates list the social security number of the deceased.

“The idea for this bill was brought to me by a constituent who read about this issue and expressed concern,” said sponsor Rep. Rob Consalvo (D-Hyde Park). “Although death certificates are not publicly available to everyone, removing social security numbers from them is a simple step the commonwealth can take to prevent any potential fraud.”

Reps. Sean Garballey (D-Arlington) and Ken Gordon (D-Bedford) co-sponsored a similar bill that was also given initial approval by the House. Neither Garballey nor Gordon responded to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they filed the bill and how they feel about its approval.

ALLOW MBTA RIDERS TO PAY ONSITE FOR PARKING WITHOUT A MOBILE PHONE (H 3664) – The House gave initial approval to a proposal that would establish an 18-month pilot program requiring that three MBTA parking lots install automated payment machines that allow customers to make in-person payment for daily parking fees by cash or credit card, without the use of a mobile telephone or any other portable electronic device. The MBTA would file a report on the efficacy of the program.

The proposal was given initial approval by the House in 2020 but died when the House let it sit in a committee for ten months.

Supporters say that people who don’t use a mobile phone or other portable electronic device are billed for parking at MBTA lots through the mail at a higher rate than riders who use the app. They argue this is unfair to those without the means to purchase a mobile phone or who have trouble using their phone.

Rep. Bill Galvin (D-Canton), the sponsor of the legislation, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him why he filed the bill and if he expects the bill to receive additional approval in the House and then approval in the Senate.

Opponents of the bill say the measure is unnecessary because drivers can already currently pay the fee with a landline phone at the same rate that mobile phone users pay.

. SCHOOLS MUST PROVIDE TYPE 1 DIABETES INFORMATION TO PARENTS (H 586) – The Public Health Committee held a hearing on a bill that would require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in coordination with the Department of Public Health, to develop Type 1 diabetes informational materials for the parents and guardians of public school pupils when the student is first enrolled in elementary school and again upon his or her entry into 6th grade. The materials would be required to undergo periodic updates as necessary and be made available to each school district, county office of education and charter school through the DESE's website. Schools would be required to provide the information to parents and guardians by January 1, 2026.

The materials would be required to include a description of Type 1 diabetes; a description of the risk factors and warning signs associated with Type 1 diabetes; a recommendation regarding those students displaying warning signs associated with Type 1 diabetes that the parents or guardians of those students should immediately consult with the student’s primary care provider to determine if immediate screening for Type 1 diabetes is appropriate; and a recommendation that, following a Type 1 diagnosis, parents or guardians should consult with the student’s primary care provider to develop an appropriate treatment plan, which may include consultation with and examination by a specialty care provider, including a properly qualified endocrinologist.

Supporters say that the bill would help identify students with Type 1 diabetes earlier and begin early and appropriate treatment for this disease that affects so many children.

Rep. Jessica Giannino (D-Revere), the sponsor of the legislation, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking her why she filed the bill and why she thinks it is important for the Legislature to approve the measure.

AGENT ORANGE (H 4688 and H 4691) – The Committee on Transportation held a hearing on legislation that would create a special Agent Orange license plate that would be made available, at no cost, to car owners who served in Vietnam and have suffered from exposure to Agent Orange. The plate would bear the Orange Star distinctive emblem that identifies Vietnam veterans exposed to the agent.

Meanwhile, the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight held a hearing on legislation that would establish August 10th as Agent Orange Awareness Day.

Both bills were co-sponsored by Reps. Jim Hawkins (D-Attleboro) and Kelly Pease (R-Westfield).

Supporters said that Agent Orange was widely used in Vietnam by the United States Armed Forces as part of the herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, from 1961 until 1971. They noted that nearly 20 million gallons of the orange powder were sprayed over the land from helicopters or low-flying aircraft, destroying vegetation and crops to deprive enemy guerrillas of food and cover for their activities. Supporters noted that at the same time, this exposed 2.6 million American soldiers to the herbicide and defoliant chemical, which causes a number of serious illnesses, including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, ischemic heart disease, soft tissue sarcoma, amyloidosis, diabetes and cancers of the throat, prostate, lung and colon.

Pease said he co-sponsored these two bills to recognize the lasting sacrifices made by Vietnam War veterans and their families. “These bills ensure continued awareness of the health impacts of Agent Orange exposure while paying tribute to the courage and service of those who endured it. It's important that Massachusetts never forgets the cost of their service and continues to support those still living with its consequences.”

“We filed [those bills] since there are still so many Vietnam veterans around who are still suffering from the severe health consequences of exposure to Agent Orange and to honor their service and sacrifice,” said Hawkins.

SAFETY OF CANDIDATES (S 2742) – The Election Laws Committee held a hearing on legislation designed to enhance the safety and security of candidates for public office by removing home addresses from ballots, nomination papers and other materials. The measure also would protect from disclosure of personal contact information maintained by government entities on elected officials, judges, judicial officers, law enforcement personnel, public prosecutors, public defenders and state licensed professionals whose work subjects them to an elevated safety risk.

Supporters said that Massachusetts is the only state in the nation that unnecessarily puts people at risk by requiring candidates to put their street addresses on nomination papers and ballots.

“Amid harassment, intimidation, assault and cold-blooded murder of elected officials and their families, as well as health care professionals, law enforcement officers and others, we must do everything we possibly can to protect our existing public servants and make it safe for anyone to run for and serve in office,” said sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “Notably, this is not a partisan issue, as figures spanning the political spectrum have faced terrible violence.”

REPARATIVE JUSTICE FOR DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES (H 1696 and H 1753) – The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a measure (H 1696) that would establish a 15-member commission to study and develop proposals for reparative justice and other potential remedies to redress harm resulting from the institution of slavery and systemic racism in the Bay State. The commission would produce a report documenting the effects of slavery and its legacy on the American Freedman class – which it defines as “descendants of formerly enslaved persons emancipated in the United States via the 13th Amendment in 1865 or earlier.”

“Rep Fluker-Reid filed the bill to address the longstanding social, political and economic disenfranchisement faced by American Freedmen,” said Camille Mula, a spokesperson for Fluker-Reid. “American Freedmen in Massachusetts on average face dramatically higher rates of incarceration, extreme poverty, maternal mortality and other health disparities … compared to other racial groups as well as other Black people who fall outside of the category of Freedmen.”

A similar bill (H 1753) that would also establish a special commission to study reparation, was also on the committee’s agenda. Its sponsor, Rep. Russell Holmes (D-Boston), did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him why he filed his version of the bill.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“With President Trump repeatedly attacking the programs that help Massachusetts families afford food, programs like these will increase the supply of locally grown healthy, affordable food. These awards are supporting local jobs, farmers and small food businesses that keep money circulating in our local economy and provide essential food for the people of Massachusetts.”

---Gov. Maura Healey announcing $779,458 in funding to improve food access in underserved communities throughout Massachusetts, by increasing local food production which will support the growth of urban farms, community gardens and food business operations, targeting areas that struggle with food insecurity.

“Today's court order will undoubtedly save lives by preventing the federal government from terminating funding that helps communities prepare for and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters. This decision sends a clear message that the Trump Administration must not abandon state and local communities, and I won’t stop fighting to protect our residents from the federal government’s abuses of power.”

---Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell announcing that a coalition of 20 states, including Massachusetts, won their lawsuit against the Trump Administration over its unlawful attempt to shut down the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) bipartisan Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, designed to protect communities from natural disasters before they strike.

“Massachusetts is not competing against states like New Hampshire, instead New Hampshire is competing against states like Texas, Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina. In this recent case, New Hampshire won, but in every case Massachusetts loses. When employers are choosing to cross the border because they can’t keep up with our taxes, energy cost and mandates, that should be a wake-up call for every policymaker on Beacon Hill.”

---Paul Craney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, on the widening competitiveness gap between Massachusetts and New Hampshire as a series of high-profile employers have announced relocations from Massachusetts to the largely tax-free Granite State, an exodus Craney says is increasingly driven by Massachusetts’ rising taxes, energy costs and regulatory mandates.

“By empowering homeowners and local municipalities with clear rules and practical support, we’re making it easier for accessory dwelling units to become part of the solution to our housing challenges. These new tools will give families more options to stay in their communities, live near loved ones and create opportunities for extra income and increased independence.”

---Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announcing a new campaign to make it easier and cheaper for people across Massachusetts to build accessory dwelling units -- also known as granny flats or in-law apartments – which are small residential living spaces that are located on the same lot as another home.

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 December 8-12, the House met for a total of 16 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 39 minutes.

Mon. Dec. 8 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:06 a.m.

Senate 11:21 a.m. to 11:49 a.m.

Tues. Dec. 9 No House session.

No Senate session.

Wed. Dec. 10 No House session.

No Senate session.

Thurs. Dec. 11 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.

Senate 11:28 a.m. to 11:39 a.m.

Fri. Dec. 12 No House session.

No Senate session.

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com