Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on local representatives’ votes on roll calls from prior sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.
Earlier reading intervention (H 4672)
The House, 23-131, rejected an amendment to a bill that would provide a framework for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to identify and approve a list of high-quality curricula that school districts will pick from for kindergarten through third grade literacy. The amendment would require early intervention by the school when a student is “at risk” of falling behind in reading skills. It would replace language that requires early intervention only when a student is already behind.
Amendment sponsor Rep. Alyson Sullivan-Almeida, R-Abington, said the amendment would make a small but significant change that would require schools to act proactively rather than wait for significant underperformance before providing support for that child. She said earlier intervention would give students a better chance of success.
Rep. Ken Gordon, D-Bedford, said the amendment will create a vague, non-precise and unenforceable standard. He said it is hard to determine when a student is “at risk” of falling behind.
A “No” vote is against the amendment.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — No
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — No
Commission on family caregiving (H 4704)
The House, 154-0, approved an amendment that would create a special legislative commission to conduct a comprehensive study on family caregiving policy, including an evaluation of all state-funded efforts in caregiving research, clinical care, institutional and home-based and community-based services, and an investigation into the potential fiscal, access and quality impacts of allowing spouses to serve as paid caregivers in the MassHealth program.
Amendment sponsor Rep. Mike Kushmerek, D-Fitchburg, said that one in 10 Massachusetts residents serve as a caregiver to a loved one, which he described as one of the most important and difficult jobs. Kushmerek gained first-hand experience as a caregiver for his parents for 10 years. He said the commission would work to find innovative ways to keep seniors aging in place at home and our young, disabled population with their families. He noted it would also study ways to help the caregivers perform this overwhelming task.
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
Also up on Beacon Hill
Increase tax relief to veterans (S 1948)
The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to a Senate-approved bill that would allow cities and towns to hike, from $1,500 to $2,000, the property tax break for veterans and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans in exchange for their providing volunteer services to their municipality.
Supporters said that veteran and senior tax work-off programs were originally designed to operate in parallel, but while the Legislature recently raised the senior cap to reflect rising costs of living, the veteran cap was not updated, creating an unintended disparity.
“Our veterans have already given so much in service to our nation, and they deserve to be able to remain in the communities they call home,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro. “For many veterans on Cape Cod, the Islands and across Massachusetts, rising property taxes are putting undue pressure on household budgets that are already razor thin. This bill gives communities a meaningful property tax relief tool while recognizing the service veterans have already given so they may live with the dignity they have earned.”
Increase property tax exemption for seniors over 70 (H 3236)
The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to a bill that would amend the current law that gives senior citizens ages 70 and older, who meet certain low-income qualifications, an exemption in the amount of $4,000 of taxable valuation of real property or the sum of $500, whichever would decrease the property tax by the most. The bill would allow a city or town to exercise a local option to increase the $4,000 to up to $8,000 and/or the $500 to up to $1,000; or only increase the $500 exemption to up to $2,000. The bill also retains current law that already permits cities and towns to reduce the age of eligibility to 65 or older.
“I filed this bill to make life a little more affordable for our senior citizens,” said sponsor Rep. Adam Scanlon, D-North Attleborough. “Seniors who have done so much for our communities and have deep roots here should not be pushed out of their lifelong homes by property taxes. I want our towns to have the freedom to expand this senior property tax exemption to be able to get seniors this tax relief.”
Property tax cap for seniors 65 and older (H 3234)
The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to a bill that would allow local cities and towns to impose a property tax cap for some homeowners ages 65 and older. The cap would freeze the property tax at its current rate if the senior has a federal adjusted gross income of no more than $50,000 for a single-income household, and $60,000 or less if married; and assets of $75,000 or less, not including his or her primary residence and vehicle.
“I sponsored this bill because homeowners who are 65 and older and living on fixed incomes should not be forced out of their homes by rising property taxes,” said sponsor Rep. Adrianne Ramos, D-North Andover. “Many seniors have spent decades contributing to their communities, and they deserve stability and predictability as they age. By limiting property tax increases for those who meet reasonable income and asset thresholds, this bill targets relief to the homeowners who need it most while maintaining fairness for taxpayers overall.”
Bill Russell and Bob Cousy Highway (H 3727)
The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to Legislation that would name the portion of the Massachusetts Turnpike between Boston and Worcester “The Bill Russell and Bob Cousy Highway.”
“I believe we should pay homage to celebrated Boston Celtics teammates and NBA champions, Bob Cousy and the late Bill Russell, who were not only exceptional athletes who brought many championships home to Boston, but who were also two great pillars of our community here in the commonwealth,” said sponsor Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick.
Linsky continued, “Bill Russell, as the first Black coach in the NBA, was a frequent target of racially motivated harassment and abuse. Even as he received death threats and hate crimes from his own fan base, he courageously continued to pioneer player activism. Russell marched alongside civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers, and continued to fight for civil rights his entire life. Bob Cousy was also much more than a basketball player. He played a tremendous role in organizing the first player’s union in the NBA, which helped kickstart a new era of player empowerment in sports. Russell and Cousy both risked their careers and their lives to fight for what they believed in, and we should continue to honor them for their incredible work for our community.”
Infectious diseases (H 2836)
The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to legislation that would provide that any condition of health impairment caused by an infectious disease resulting in total or partial disability or death to an employee of a correctional facility would be presumed to have been suffered in the line of duty, unless shown otherwise by competent evidence.
“Corrections officers work in an inherently high-risk environment where close quarters and daily physical interactions make exposure to infectious disease an occupational hazard unlike almost any other profession,” said sponsor Rep. Mike Finn, D-West Springfield. “This legislation recognizes that reality by ensuring that when an officer gets sick, they aren’t forced to fight a bureaucratic battle to prove where they contracted an illness that may be impossible to trace to a single exposure. It’s the least we can do for the men and women who keep our correctional facilities safe.”