2-01-2026 4:10am

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 51 - Report No. 5

January 26-30, 2026

By Bob Katzen

GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 30,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday and Saturday mornings with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications.

MASSterList will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Saturday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: www.massterlist.com

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives' and senators' votes on roll calls from the week of January 26-30.

DOMESTIC WORKERS’ RIGHTS DAY (H 3417)

House 156-0, approved a bill that would annually establish June 16 as Domestic Workers’ Rights Day to honor all domestic workers who work in private homes and in recognition of Massachusetts’ historic enactment of basic labor standards in the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights.

“Domestic workers are more likely to experience wage theft, outright exploitation and unsafe working conditions precisely because their labor happens out of public view and outside traditional workplace structures and this bill was filed in an effort to bring visibility to this vital industry,” said sponsor Rep. Priscila Sousa (D-Framingham). “Providing visibility — intentionally and publicly — is not just symbolic. Awareness is safety. Awareness is survival. When domestic workers are counted, acknowledged and celebrated, we make it easier for them to know their rights, to assert those rights and to seek help when their rights are violated.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)

Rep. Jeffrey Roy Yes

REQUIRE APPRENTICESHIPS IN PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION (H 5032)

House 154-1, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that seeks to increase the state’s trades’ workforce by requiring the hiring of apprentices for all contracts awarded for public works projects over $10 million. One year after the bill becomes law, it would require projects to hire apprentices to work 5 percent of the total amount of hours worked, 10 percent in three years and 15 percent in four years.

Under the bill, public agencies must require, as a condition of awarding a construction contract over $10 million for any public works project, that all construction managers, general contractors and subcontractors maintain or participate in an apprentice program, approved by the Division of Apprentice Standards, for each apprenticeable occupation represented in their workforce.

“From the time I assumed the role of Chair of Labor and Workforce Development, I have heard a consistent message: 'We need clear, reliable pathways to good-paying jobs that allow people to build careers, raise families, own homes and remain here in the commonwealth,'" said Rep. Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham). “This bill does exactly that by expanding access to high-quality apprenticeship programs that provide critical on-the-job training and a direct path into higher-paying careers. And when the commonwealth invests in major construction projects, it will also be investing in a well-trained, resilient and highly skilled workforce prepared to meet the demands of the future.”

“Investing in the trades’ workforce will bolster workforce development, ensuring that the commonwealth is able to meet the growing demands for new infrastructure projects,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “Apprenticeships can also lead to the creation of more union jobs and help to replace highly skilled workers who are aging out of the workforce.”

“This bill was developed with union representatives and is an example of union representatives not having the political will to tell their members to give apprentices more time in order to gain experience faster,” said Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver), the only member to vote against the measure. “Vocational school enrollment is at an all-time high and demand is increasing. Unions should be writing this into their contracts. The state should not be mandating labor force makeup.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Jeffrey Roy Yes

REQUIRE DEFIBRILLATORS AT SPORTING EVENTS (H 4993)

House 154-1, approved legislation that would require an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to be present at all public stadiums, sports centers, gymnasiums or other facilities hosting or providing athletic or sporting events. The measure does not apply to a school-sponsored athletic event at a school gymnasium.

The measure also would require the presence of at least one employee of the facility or a volunteer that has completed a training course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and in the use of an AED; or a volunteer that has completed a training course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation that meets the standards established by the American Heart Association or the American National Red Cross.

If no employee or volunteer is available, the venue operator, or their designee would be required to make best efforts to identify readily available volunteers, trained in the use of an AED, present at the facility. The request for volunteers may be made through a public announcement.

Another provision requires that a placard be installed at each public entrance to the facility with a map of the location of any AED at the facility.

"With this bill, everyone has the chance to be a lifesaver and not a bystander,” said sponsor Rep. Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge).

Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver), the only member to vote against the bill, said he voted no “because it’s more evidence of the state trying to legislate safety.” Gaskey continued, “As stated, there are groups raising money to provide AEDs. Instead of mandating they be installed, forcing future costs onto struggling communities, we should be encouraging their adoption and helping these groups find more ways to make AEDs available at sporting events.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Jeffrey Roy Yes

ESTABLISH FUND TO HELP COMMUNITIES PAY FOR DEFIBRILLATORS (H 4993)

House 26-130, rejected an amendment that would create a Massachusetts AED Communities Fund to help cities and towns pay for AEDs at public stadiums, sports centers, gymnasiums or other facilities hosting or providing athletic or sporting events, and also pay for any necessary equipment and infrastructure to properly hold and charge the devices.

Amendment supporters said that without this amendment, the bill is an unfunded state mandate forced on already financially struggling cities and towns. They noted that the total cost of acquiring an AEDs and housing it outside at sporting events is between $10,000 and $25,000 each.

“Automated External Defibrillators are essential because they can be used to provide immediate treatment to someone who has suffered a heart attack and help to stabilize them until first responders arrive,” said House Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “However, there are costs associated with maintaining and storing AEDs to ensure they are always fully charged and ready to use. I supported the creation of a Massachusetts AED Communities Fund as a vehicle to help cities and towns offset the costs associated with the purchase and upkeep of these life-saving devices and related infrastructure.”

Rep. Paul Frost (R-Auburn), the sponsor of the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on the passage of the proposal.

Reps. Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge) and Russell Holmes (D-Boston), the co-sponsors of an earlier version of the legislation, and supporters of this new version, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them to comment on the amendment.

Amendment opponents said that amendment supporters are using the term “unfunded mandate” loosely, acting as if the Legislature has never required cities and towns to do something that will save lives. They noted that existing fire codes and food safety codes are “unfunded mandates” but they are important enough for the state to require communities to follow them.

They also noted there are several nonprofit organizations, including the Preston Settles Memorial Fund (PSMF), that are helping and will continue to help cities and towns pay for the AEDs. PSMF was founded in memory of Preston Blair Settles, who passed away at just 15 years old due to a sudden cardiac arrest caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy while playing basketball. Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death among young athletes, representing nearly one-third of all athletic field deaths in the U.S.

(A “Yes” vote is for creating the Massachusetts AED Communities Fund to help cities and towns pay for AEDs. A “No” vote is against creating it.)

Rep. Jeffrey Roy No

LITERACY EDUCATION STANDARDS (S 2924)

Senate 38-0, approved a bill that would require Massachusetts school districts to select kindergarten through 3rd grade reading curricula that meet guidelines set by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) based upon evidence-based literacy instruction and featuring phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and phonemic awareness. School districts would have until the start of the 2027-2028 school year to adopt a K-3 literacy curriculum that meets the new framework, or to secure approval from DESE for a waiver.

The House has already approved its own version of the measure and the Senate version now goes to the House for consideration. A House-Senate conference committee will likely hammer out a compromise version of the legislation.

Supporters said that schools would have three DESE-approved options to implement the new curriculum requirement: utilize a complete curriculum that is made available for free by DESE; use a curriculum from a list that meets evidence-based criteria; or receive a waiver authorizing the use of another curriculum that meets the same standards but had not been previously reviewed and approved by DESE.

They noted that the bill makes sure parents and schools engage in constructive communication about student progress. They said it requires twice-yearly assessments to gauge every young learner’s reading progress and to screen for dyslexia and requires schools to contact a parent or guardian within 30 days if a student has fallen significantly behind and propose a response if that is the case.

“Today is a monumental moment for children across our state because we are passing my bill through the Senate to ensure all our students learn essential literacy skills,” said sponsor Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “We can all agree that teaching our kids to read and write is one of the most important skills we can instill in them, but far too many children in our schools are not meeting basic literacy benchmarks. Working with our teachers and administrators, this legislation will institute evidence-based curriculum to ensure all our students’ success in early literacy and give them the bright futures they deserve.”

“It is unacceptable that less than half of young students in Massachusetts are proficient in reading at their grade level,” said Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), Senate Chair of the Committee on Education. “This important legislation ensures that educators use evidence-based early literacy curricula that are backed by science while leaving schools the option to decide what curriculum is best for their students and teachers. Strengthening student literacy through evidence-based instruction is a bipartisan issue with decades of scientific research backing it up. With the passage of this bill, the Massachusetts Senate continues its commitment to providing a high-quality education for all students across the commonwealth.”

Although no senators voted against the bill, it was not without its critics. “Curriculum mandates are an oversimplified response to a complex problem,” Massachusetts Teachers President Max Page said. “There is no proof that such mandates yield sustained success in any of the states that have passed so-called literacy laws. Massachusetts has always been a leader in education, and we should not follow misguided national trends. Having more trained reading specialists in public schools, adequate funds for school libraries and trained library staff, and high-quality professional development for educators who are given the autonomy to engage in best practices — these are the keys to success, not scripted curriculum packages.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)

Sen. Rebecca Rausch Yes Sen. Karen Spilka Yes

JAPANSESE INTERNMENT CAMPS (S 2132)

Senate 37-0, approved and sent to the House a proposal that would designate January 30 of each year as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution in Massachusetts, in recognition of the birthday of Fred Korematsu and to educate about and honor his life, his perseverance, and his determination to advocate for the civil liberties of all Americans.

Unfortunately, the Senate approved the bill on January 29 and the bill must be approved by the House and signed by Gov. Healey in order to take effect. Neither of those will occur by January 30 so the actual celebration on January 30 will not take place until 2027.

"During WW II, Fred Korematsu had the courage to challenge the federal government after a military order forced hundreds of thousands of Americans of Japanese descent into internment camps,” said sponsor Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough). “His stand became a landmark moment in the fight for due process, confronting racial prejudice and the wrongful incarceration of people based on their race and ethnicity. Korematsu’s resistance struck a lasting blow against discrimination and reaffirmed the principle that no American should be denied their civil rights. I am grateful to the incredible advocacy by so many Asian American civic, political action and coalition groups to fight to create Fred Korematsu Day, and to the Fred T. Korematsu Institute for its vision to use Korematsu's legal battle as a tool to educate all Americans about history, the U.S. Constitution, and the need to expand and protect legal rights."

“Fred Korematsu's story is one of strength and perseverance in the face of discrimination,” said Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem). “By marking Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution on January 30 each year, we highlight the historical struggle Asian American and Pacific Islander communities face against discrimination across this country and across the world. I was proud to join my colleagues on the Senate Committee on Rules in advancing this legislation to the floor to honor a man whose conviction, courage and resiliency represent one of the most profound struggles for civil rights in American history.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)

Sen. Rebecca Rausch Yes Sen. Karen Spilka President rarely votes

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

GOVERNOR PROPOSES $62.8 BILLION FISCAL 2027 STATE BUDGET (H 2) – Gov. Maura Healey filed a $62.8 billion fiscal 2027 state budget for the fiscal year 2027 that begins on July 1.

Healey’s office says that the budget does not propose any new taxes or fees and represents only a 1.1 percent growth over estimated fiscal year 2026 spending, the lowest spending rate since taking office and well under the rate of inflation. This includes $2.7 billion in Fair Share surtax spending. Along with her budget proposal, Gov. Healey also filed a Fair Share supplemental budget bill to spend $1.15 billion in surplus fiscal 2025 surtax revenue on education and transportation initiatives.

In April, the House will unveil and eventually approve its own version of a fiscal 2027 state budget. The Senate, likely in May, will follow suit and craft and approve its own version. Then a House-Senate conference committee will eventually craft a compromise plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration, and when approved, will be sent to the governor.

MENOPAUSE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS (H 4838) – The Public Health Committee held a hearing on legislation that would establish a special legislative commission on perimenopause and menopause care. Provisions include directing the Department of Public Health to develop a multi-lingual educational public health awareness campaign on perimenopause and menopause; requiring select health care providers to take a continuing medical education course focused on the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with perimenopause and menopause; and adding reproductive health, including perimenopause, menopause or related conditions from the list of legally protected characteristics that employers cannot discriminate against and for which they must provide reasonable workplace accommodations.

"When medical schools devote just one to six hours on menopause, despite the fact that women spend nearly a third of their lives navigating it, it’s clear why this bill is necessary,” said sponsor Rep. Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge). “There are currently no consistent standards for access to care, leaving too many doctors and patients uninformed and unprepared to address perimenopause and menopause. Women deserve care that treats the symptoms of menopause, not an expectation that they simply endure them."

ORGAN TRANSPLANT VEHICLES (H 4796) – Another proposal before the Public Health Committee would designate organ transplant vehicles as emergency vehicles when they are transporting human organs or medical personnel for the purpose of organ recovery or transplantation. Being designated as an emergency vehicle would enable organ transplant vehicles to exceed the applicable speed limit and to drive through intersections contrary to posted traffic signs or signals.

“The reason why I filed the bill is because one of my constituents who is a firefighter but also a driver for an organ transport company, asked me to do so on his behalf,” said sponsor Rep. Paul Donato (D-Medford). “The purpose of the bill is … that if they are transporting an organ from Logan Airport to Mass General Brigham or from Mass General Brigham to a hospital in Worcester, sometimes getting stuck in traffic on Storrow Drive or on the Turnpike can have a detrimental effect on the organ.”

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (H 4927) The Education Committee will hold a hearing on February 10 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on a measure that would allow students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to receive applied behavior analysis (ABA) services at their school — even if the services are administered by outside providers. Supporters said that currently school districts can impose undue requirements for ABA providers or deny access altogether.

“This proposal is needed to protect the rights of eligible students, and to ensure that children with ASD are able to receive the care that they need,” said sponsor Rep. Jim O’Day (D-West Boylston). “At its core, this proposal is about expanding access to care, a mission that is aligned with my broader legislative agenda to help those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I'm confident that [the bill] will allow for individuals with ASD to receive the services that they are eligible for, regardless of setting."

$8.4 MILLION TO PREVENT AND REDUCE YOUTH VIOLENCE - Gov. Healey marked the 20th anniversary of the Sen. Charles E. Shannon Jr. Community Safety Initiative (Shannon CSI) by announcing grant awards of $8.4 million to support evidence-based efforts that prevent and reduce youth and gang violence in communities across Massachusetts. With this year’s awards, the state has invested nearly $176.2 million through Shannon CSI, which supporters say serves as a national model for violence prevention. The program was created in memory of the late Sen. Charles Shannon who represented the 2nd Middlesex District at the time of his death on April 5, 2005.

“Our communities are stronger and safer as a result of these investments and the partnerships built through this program,” said Gov. Healey. “By carrying forward Sen. Shannon’s legacy, we are strengthening communities, expanding opportunity for young people and showing what is possible when Massachusetts leads with evidence and purpose.”

Supporters said that cities with Shannon CSI program sites experienced reductions in crimes committed by youth ages 10 to 24, including a 24 percent drop in aggravated assaults and a 52 percent decrease in robberies between 2020 and 2024.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“For countless residents across the commonwealth, these programs offer access to everyday items they need, including food and medical services. Through the work of our fraud examiners, we continue to help ensure they operate with transparency, accountability and equity. Our team will continue to work to ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively and that resources are available to those who truly need and qualify for them.”

---State Auditor Diana DiZoglio on her Bureau of Special Investigations’ fraud report for fiscal year 2025 which identified $11.9 million in public assistance fraud, including more than $4.1 million in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and more than $1.3 million in in MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program that provides health care for low-income and disabled persons.

“Massachusetts cannot even keep Cape Cod potato chips in Cape Cod. When a company whose entire identity is tied to this state decides it no longer makes economic sense to operate here, that should set off alarm bells on Beacon Hill.”

---Paul Craney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, on Cape Cod Potato Chips parent company, Campbell’s, announcing that it will shut down the Hyannis facility in April, eliminating 49 jobs and moving production to facilities in other states including North Carolina, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

“In Massachusetts and across the country, we continue to see unlawful and unconstitutional actions by ICE that are meant to intimidate and instill fear in our communities, including against United States citizens who are exercising their constitutional rights. This puts people at risk and in harm’s way, and I find it necessary in the interest of public safety to take this action today.”

---Gov. Healey upon filing legislation to keep ICE out of courthouses, schools, child care programs, hospitals and churches; make it unlawful for another state to deploy its National Guard in Massachusetts without the governor’s permission; and allow parents to pre-arrange guardianship for their children in case they are detained or deported.

“The solution is not to double down on furthering the divide between the state and federal government as proposed by Gov. Healey. Instead, our state government should be working in partnership with federal authorities to ensure that criminal illegal aliens are identified and apprehended off the streets. These apprehensions are best done in spaces like courthouses.”

--- Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale responding to Healey.

“The Trump Administration’s willingness to use the power of the federal government to hurt and even kill United States citizens is shocking. Massachusetts must be prepared for the possibility that President Trump unleashes his masked agents on the people of the commonwealth for having the audacity to stand up to him.”

--Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury), in a letter sent to Gov. Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell, urging their offices to prepare and enact proactive measures that will defend the rights of Bay Staters in the event the Trump Administration decides to send a federal operation to the commonwealth.

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 January 19-23, the House met for a total of five hours 29 minutes and the Senate met for a total of seven hours and 13 minutes.

Mon. Jan. 26 No House session.

No Senate session.

Tues. Jan. 27 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:09 a.m.

Senate 11:45 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.

Wed. Jan. 28 House 11:04 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

No Senate session.

Thurs. Jan. 29 House 11:27 a.m. to 11:51 a.m.

Senate 11:40 a.m. to 6:28 p.m.

Fri. Jan 30 No House session.

No Senate session.

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com