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[State House News Service + Additional Reporting]
Lawmakers are set to vet some weighty matters next week as they wait for signals from legislative leaders and Gov. Charlie Baker about some immediate concerns and developments. Bills addressing aid in dying, decriminalization of drugs, and supervised drug consumption sites are due up for public hearings, along with one designating the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day.
The governor's office takes Baker's public events and announcements day by day, and Democratic legislative leaders also are reticent to give more than a few days' advance notice of which bills might emerge for amendments, debate and votes. The Senate plans a formal session for Thursday, for instance, but the agenda was not set on Friday. The House plans two informal sessions next week. Among the issues that could pop at any time are proposed legislative and Congressional districts, which have already begun to emerge in some other states. Lawmakers this week sent Baker a bill (H 4118) updating the timeline for local officials to redraw precincts, an effort that, along with the broader plan to redraw districts, will be compressed this fall in light of the late release of decennial population data.
Because of the one-year residency requirement for state representative candidates, October, by necessity, will be redistricting month as lawmakers look to lock in new district boundaries ahead of the 2022 elections. Democratic legislative leaders have yet to roll out a plan to allocate a sizeable fiscal 2021 surplus and to close out the books on last fiscal year. Sports betting supporters and proponents of voting law reforms are waiting for the Senate to push bills addressing those topics.
Monday, Sept. 27, 2021
Two bills decriminalizing possession of controlled substances (S 1277 and H 2119) and three bills calling for safe drug consumption sites (S 1258, H 2088, and S 1272) are on the agenda for a Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery virtual public hearing. Supporters of the consumption sites bills, say the sites could become a critical way to reduce opioid overdose deaths and steer people into treatment.
Early Education and Care Economic Review Commission, established under a 2020 law, holds its fifth public meeting, a virtual gathering that will stream online and feature oral testimony but only from those invited to testify. The commission co-chairs are Rep. Peisch and Sen. Lewis. (Monday, 11 a.m., Hearing Access Details)
Both branches hold informal sessions at 11 a.m. in the House and Senate chambers.
Joint Committee on Elder Affairs holds virtual public hearing on bills broadly classified under the topics of health, safety and training. Topics covered under the range of bills include elder abuse, bullying of elders, dementia care, external defibrillators, dental care, and access to PPE for elder care providers. (Monday, 1 p.m., Hearing Agenda and Access Details)
The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure holds virtual public hearing on four bills dealing with the racing industry and simulcast wagering. Live horse racing has mostly dried up in Massachusetts, with the exception of harness racing at Plainridge Park Casino. (Monday, 1 p.m., Hearing Agenda and Access Details)
Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021
Legislation dealing with pension reform, civil service and veterans is before the Joint Committee on Public Service for a public hearing. Rep. Vitolo offers H 2792 to compel the State Retirement Board to make timely payments to new retirees and to report regularly to the Legislature on its progress in that regard. Earlier this year, Auditor Bump's office found that only about 3 percent of new retirees receive their first monthly benefit payments on time and the average time between retirement and the first payment is nearly double what state law allows. A number of bills on the docket deal with credible service benefits for military veterans. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Hearing Agenda and Access Details)
Bills related to gender neutral bathrooms, Indigenous Peoples Day and gender neutral designations on state documents are up for a hearing before the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. Rep. Domb and Sen. Comerford propose (H 3124 / S 2026) mandating the promulgation of building code regulations to allow for gender neutral bathrooms, and Comerford joined with Rep. Lewis to propose (S 2027 / H 3191) bills mandating that the governor "annually issue a proclamation setting apart the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day and recommending that it be observed by the people ... to acknowledge the history of genocide and discrimination against Indigenous peoples. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Hearing Agenda and Access Details)
Rep. Decker and Sen. Creem host press conference with MASSPIRG to launch a campaign in support of legislation (H 3289 / S 2149) that would expand the state's bottle redemption law
Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021
Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy holds a public hearing on energy efficiency bills. Energy efficiency is one of the paths the state is using to reduce the state's carbon footprint and efforts over the years have been fueled in part by revenues generated under a multi-state cap-and-trade compact that has cut power sector carbon emissions. The agenda includes a "better buildings" bill filed by Rep. Robinson of Framingham, a clean energy advocate who was tapped by President Biden this week to join the U.S. Department of Energy in the Office of Electricity. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Hearing Access and Details)
Journalist Bari Weiss, who resigned from the New York Times last year citing an "illiberal environment" in which "self-censorship has become the norm," is the keynote speaker for the Pioneer Institute's annual lecture and dinner. The organization said Weiss will analyze "the ways that ideology is too often suppressing thoughtful discourse in American life -- from the halls of our private and public schools, universities, and companies to the pages and Twitter accounts of major media outlets." Tickets are $250. Register by Monday, Sept. 27. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Hyatt Regency Boston, One Ave. de Lafayette, Boston)
Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021
Senate plans to meet in a formal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)
House plans to meet in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)
Friday, Oct. 1, 2021
Joint Committee on Public Health convenes a virtual public hearing to consider legislation that would allow terminally ill Massachusetts residents to acquire a prescription for a medication "to bring about a peaceful death." The bills (H 2381 / S 1384) filed by Rep. O'Day of West Boylston, Rep. Mahoney of Worcester and Sen. Comerford of Northampton are the only topic on the committee's agenda. (Friday, 9 a.m., Agenda and Livestream)
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Politico’s Lisa Kashinsky reports that freshman congressman Jake Auchincloss is building a wall against potential primary challengers, by locking in endorsements from scores of officials and legislators. Among those signing on is State Rep. Jeff Roy. Auchincloss has made at least two recent visits to Franklin.
