9-21-2026 4:38am

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. 38

September 14-18, 2026

By Bob Katzen

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THE HOUSE AND SENATE: On November 3, or prior to that for voters who take advantage of early voting between October 17-30, all voters will have the opportunity to vote on nine ballot questions that will become law if approved by the majority of voters.

To get on the ballot, the groups backing each ballot question were required to collect and submit at least 74,574 signatures last fall. The Legislature had until May 5, 2026 to act on the proposed law. The Legislature did not act on any of the proposals by its May 5 deadline. At which point supporters were required to collect another 12,429 signatures by July 1, 2026 in order to get their question on the ballot. All nine groups gathered sufficient signatures to get their question on the 2026 ballot.

Although neither the House nor Senate voted on the proposal, the Committee on Initiative Petitions did hold a public hearing on the matter. The committee eventually issued a majority report recommending that the Legislature take no action on the proposal, and a minority report recommending adoption of it. The Legislature never acted on the reports which were simply “placed on file,” where they died.

Secretary of State Bill Galvin has issued an 88-page book via the U.S. mail and online with details about each question. If you would rather not read the entire 88-page book, Beacon Hill Roll Call will be presenting a report on each ballot question over the next several weeks prior to the election.

BALLOT QUESTION 1 – Here is a look at Question 1:

QUESTION 1: MAKE RECORDS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR PUBLIC RECORDS

This question asks voters if they approve of a proposed law that would make most records held by the Legislature and the governor’s office public records and available to the public under the Massachusetts Public Records Law. Exemptions include communications between legislators and their constituents, if they are a request by the constituent for assistance in obtaining government-provided benefits or services.

WHAT SUPPORTERS SAY:

“I believe voters should vote “Yes” on Question 1 because Massachusetts residents deserve the same meaningful access to government records from their elected leaders that they expect from other public agencies,” State Auditor Diana DiZoglio told Beacon Hill Roll Call. DiZoglio is also the chair of the Committee on Transparency and Democracy – the group that is sponsoring the question. “As State Auditor, I have seen firsthand how difficult it can be to obtain information from the Legislature, and voters should not have to rely on closed-door processes when public business is being conducted.”

DiZoglio continued, “Opponents have raised concerns about costs and the burden of disclosure, but those arguments should not obscure the basic principle that government records created in service to the public should be accessible to the public. Our campaign is continuing to organize and educate voters because this is ultimately about who government works for—the People—and whether Massachusetts will finally bring its most powerful elected institutions into a stronger culture of transparency and accountability.”

WHAT OPPONENTS SAY:

There is no organized group urging a “No” vote on this question.

Opponents in general say that this proposed law violates the separation of powers mandated by the Massachusetts Constitution by requiring the secretary of state, an executive branch official, to enforce this law against the legislative branch – the House and Senate. They note that giving this power to the secretary would violate the state constitution. They say that this change would take a constitutional amendment to implement, not a state law.

They argue that the legislative process is already publicly accessible at the Statehouse and online. They say that advance notice is given of upcoming public hearings which are broadcast live online and then archived for viewing after the livestream is over. They say that public and advocacy groups are allowed and encouraged to testify in person, remotely online and in writing.

OFFICIAL ARGUMENTS: Here are the official arguments, gathered by the secretary of state, from each side of the question:

IN FAVOR:

“Massachusetts deserves open government. Good government groups rank our state the least transparent in the nation. We're one of only two states where both the governor's office and the Legislature claim a blanket exemption from the public records law. Every city, town and state agency must follow that law, but the politicians on Beacon Hill exempted themselves.

Question 1 puts the Legislature and the governor's office under the same public records law as everyone else. It protects constituent privacy, and the Secretary of Administration and Finance has certified that it has no cost to taxpayers.

In 2024, 72% of voters said yes to auditing the Legislature. Beacon Hill is still fighting that vote — but Question 1 will give you and every taxpayer the ability to access public records directly.

You have a right to see what your government is doing with your hard-earned taxpayer dollars. Please vote ‘Yes’ on Question 1.”

AGAINST:

“The proposed law includes overly broad and poorly defined exemptions. It would exempt from public disclosure documents related to the development of public policy, but only during policy development. These records would become public once the policy is developed. This limited and temporary exemption will chill open communications by lawmakers, raising significant constitutional concerns, particularly around legislative speech and debate protections.

The narrow protection for constituent communications creates serious privacy risks. By only exempting correspondence tied to benefits or agency interaction, the law leaves vulnerable to public disclosure all other general constituent communications, such as emails and letters from citizens expressing personal political views, sharing sensitive local grievances or criticizing lawmakers. This lack of comprehensive privacy protection will negatively affect civic engagement and deter residents from contacting their elected officials.

Ultimately, this measure creates a flawed framework that fails to deliver genuine accountability while actively compromising constituent privacy.”

WHAT YOUR VOTE DOES:

A “Yes” vote is in favor of making most records held by the Legislature and the governor’s office public records and available to the public under the Massachusetts Public Records Law.

A “No” vote is against making most records held by the Legislature and the governor’s office public records and available to the public under the Massachusetts Public Records Law.

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

CREATE “DOLLY PARTON 9 TO 5 DAY” (SD 4203) – Following House passage of the bill to designate September 25 as “9 to 5 Day" across the state, the Senate referred the bill to the State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Committee. The measure recognizes “Dolly Parton’s emblematic cultural impact on the United States, her steadfast dedication to charitable causes and her unwavering support of women, workers, LGBTQ+ people and children.”

“In Dolly Parton, we lost an icon: a legendary singer-songwriter, a philanthropist and a role model who showed generations of Americans what it means to lead and live with kindness and authenticity,” said Senate sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro) and Rep. Sam Montaño (D-Boston), the House sponsor of the measure, in a joint written statement. “Dolly’s passing felt incredibly personal to millions of us, like we had all lost our ‘Aunt Dolly.”

Time is running out for the bill to be given final approval in both branches and signed by Gov. Maura Healey in order for the bill to take effect on September 25 of this year. But Matt Fortin, Director of Communications for Sen. Cyr, told Beacon Hill Roll Call, “It is our hope to have the bill passed by Sept. 25 this year.”

$1.8 MILLION FOR FIRE SAFETY - Gov. Healey announced that her administration is making $1.8 million in grants available to local fire departments to support fire and life safety efforts that protect Massachusetts’ most vulnerable residents.

The annual Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) and Senior SAFE grants are used to fund trained firefighter-educators who deliver age-appropriate safety education to school-aged children and older adults, as well as the associated costs of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, teaching equipment and other expenses.

“Consistent, statewide fire and life safety education has helped make Massachusetts one of the most fire-safe states in the nation,” said State Fire Marshal Jon Davine. “The SAFE and Senior SAFE grants are a vital part of that educational strategy. I strongly encourage every local fire department to apply.”

Supporters say these grants contributed to the steepest decline in child fire deaths in Massachusetts history. In 1994, there were more than two dozen child fire fatalities. The SAFE grants were launched the following year and child fire deaths never again reached even half that number, declining at a rate about 30% steeper than fire deaths overall.

Fire departments in every city, town, fire district are eligible but must meet certain requirements. Applications must be submitted by 5 pm on September 29. For more info and to get an application go to: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/student-awareness-of-fire-education-s…

CONTRIBUTE VIA A MASSACHUSETTS TAX RETURN TO COUNTRIES COPING WITH GLOBAL WARMING (S 1922) – On July 6, the Revenue Committee gave a favorable report to and recommended passage of a measure that would give Massachusetts residents the option, on their Massachusetts income tax form, to contribute to a special United Nations Fund -- the Least Developed Countries Fund -- to help developing countries cope with the effects of global warming. The Senate then sent the measure to the Ways and Means Committee where it has languished.

Supporters say the state income tax form currently features six “tax check-off" options that give residents the option, when filing their state income tax return, to contribute all or part of their tax refund to various causes. They said helping other countries deal with the effects of global warming is a worthy cause.

Sen. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), the sponsor of the bill, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to explain why he filed the bill.

"This demonstrates the priorities of the Massachusetts Legislature,” said Paul Craney, executive director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. “What taxpayers desperately need are broad-based tax cuts and eliminations, not gimmicky stunts to send taxpayer money overseas. While Sen. Barrett may seek the praise of European elites, he is doing this at the expense of ordinary Massachusetts working people."

$7 MILLION FOR LIVE THEATER PRODUCTIONS – Gov. Healey announced the granting of $7 million in Live Theater Tax Credits for 23 live stage productions across Massachusetts. Eligible theater companies may receive non-refundable tax credits equal to 35 percent of qualifying payroll costs, 25 percent of production and performance expenditures and 25 percent of transportation expenditures. Credits may be transferred or carried forward for up to five years.

“Massachusetts has incredible theaters, talented artists and communities that know how to put on a great show,” said Gov. Healey. “These investments help bring more productions to our state, support good jobs and local businesses and give residents and visitors even more reasons to spend time in communities across Massachusetts. We want Massachusetts to be a place where artists and producers want to create and audiences want to come experience it.”

“Live theater brings people together and brings real economic activity into our communities,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “When people come to see a show, they’re also eating at local restaurants, staying in hotels and supporting nearby businesses. These awards will help our theaters compete for exciting productions while supporting jobs and economic growth across Massachusetts.”

"Travel today is increasingly driven by experiences, and few experiences are as memorable as live performance,” said Kate Fox, executive director at the Office of Travel and Tourism. “From internationally recognized productions to hometown stages, Massachusetts offers an incredible theater landscape that inspires visitors to stay longer, explore our communities and return throughout the year. This investment strengthens both our theaters and our reputation as one of the nation's premier cultural destinations.”

MBTA HOUSING – The Bay State’s Supreme Judicial Court upheld the decision of a lower court which ruled that the town of Marshfield’s claim that the current law, known as the MBTA Communities Act, is an unfunded state mandate, is invalid.

Current law requires that an MBTA community must have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as a right and meets other criteria including minimum gross density of 15 units per acre; and a location not more than 1/2 mile from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station. No age restrictions can be applied and the district must be suitable for families with children. Cities or towns that do not comply with the MBTA law are in danger of losing various state grants.

Supporters of the act said it is intended to spur development of housing in more than 170 cities and towns that host or are adjacent to MBTA service by requiring those communities to adopt at least one zone where multi-family housing is allowed by right.

Marshfield had sued Gov. Healey’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, arguing that adopting the zoning mandated by the law forced it to absorb significant "incurred costs and expenses in evaluating and drafting proposed zoning bylaws and presenting them to Town Meeting." A Superior Court judge concluded in June that the possible costs Marshfield did or could face were "indirect," and that the law is therefore not an unfunded mandate. The SJC last week upheld the lower court’s ruling.

“The complaint does not identify the future costs or include facts showing how the act itself will impose them rather than the town voluntarily assuming them because of local policy choices or other reasons,” said the SJC in its decision. “If the alleged future costs concern another effort to amend the zoning bylaw, the complaint does not allege facts suggesting that those costs would differ in character from the alleged costs already incurred," Justice Serge Georges wrote. "If instead the costs concern future municipal services associated with later housing development, the alleged costs are indirect and speculative."

“Massachusetts has a housing crisis, and it’s impacting everything from our ability to grow our workforce to the everyday cost of living,” said Attorney General Andrea Campbell. “Today’s decision by the SJC rejects Marshfield’s claim that the MBTA Communities Law is an unfunded mandate and reaffirms that the law is constitutional and compliance is mandatory.”

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“Today’s ruling confirms what we have argued from the beginning: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cannot erase a $7 billion program that Congress created and funded. For more than a year, families and communities have seen higher energy bills while billions of dollars intended to lower electricity costs sat out of reach. Today’s decision makes clear that EPA unlawfully terminated the Solar for All Program.”

--- Jillian Blanchard, Senior Vice President of Climate Change and Environmental Justice at Lawyers for Good Government, on a federal judge’s ruling that the EPA unlawfully canceled the $7 billion programs, striking down the agency’s decision to end a nationwide program designed to lower electricity bills and bring affordable solar power to families and communities across the country.

“Across Massachusetts, VA medical centers remain dedicated to helping veterans secure safe, stable housing along with the supportive services they need to succeed. These grants strengthen our partnerships with community organizations and help us reach veterans where they are, providing resources that make a meaningful difference in their lives.”

--- Jonathan Kerr, executive director of VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, on the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs awarding $40.26 million in grants to 16 community organizations to help Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Massachusetts.

“This is about lowering energy costs and keeping the lights on when communities need it most. These investments will help schools, affordable housing, community centers and other critical facilities stay powered during outages while strengthening our grid for the future. We’re also making sure first responders and local officials have the training and tools they need as more energy storage comes online across Massachusetts.”

--- Gov. Healey announcing $40.3 million in grants to expand energy storage across Massachusetts, helping critical facilities stay powered during outages, supporting training for first responders and municipal officials and advancing innovative long-duration storage technologies.

“The commission has already been hard at work in 2026 remodeling our regulations as the industry continues to evolve, and we look forward to taking on a wide range of updates this fall. Modernizing our regulations will keep us in line with requirements … but will also allow us to better protect public health and safety, improve the business climate and increase consumer confidence.”

--- Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) chair Chris Harding announcing the CCC will begin a series of public meetings to undertake one of the largest efforts to modernize cannabis regulations in commission history, with topics including cannabis testing protocols, medical marijuana licensing and registered agent training up for discussion.

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 Sept. 14-18, the House met for a total of 17 minutes and the Senate met for a total of one hour and 40 minutes.

Mon. Sept. 14 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:06 a.m.

Senate 11:08 a.m. to 11:21 a.m.

Tues. Sept. 15 No House session.

No Senate session.

Wed. Sept. 16 No House session.

No Senate session.

Thurs. Sept. 17 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:12 a.m.

Senate 11:24 a.m. to 12:51 p.m.

Fri. Sept. 18 No House session.

No Senate session.

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com