Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ and representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of May 18.
All Senate roll calls were related to the Senate version of a $63.37 billion fiscal year 2027 state budget. Of the 1,161 amendments filed by senators, only 26 came to a roll call vote and 21 of those were approved unanimously.
Epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis (H 5443)
The House, 154-0, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would expand access to epinephrine autoinjectors that are used to treat anaphylaxis — a severe, sudden and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
The measure would allow frequently visited and authorized public entities such as restaurants, sports arenas, recreation camps and universities to obtain, store and administer epinephrine. It also empowers trained personnel to act swiftly in emergencies, even when the affected individual does not have a known allergy or prescription on file.
Other provisions require that individuals complete an anaphylaxis training program and submit proof of that training to the Department of Public Health; establish protocols for storage and oversight; and provide liability protections for those acting in good faith, while preserving accountability in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
Birth defects (H 5441)
The House, 155-1, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would mandate that hospitals screen all newborns for congenital cytomegalovirus (CCMV) by using saliva or urine polymerase chain reaction tests. The cost of providing the screening would be a covered benefit by all health insurers.
Other provisions would establish a framework to create prenatal education on CCMV and on prevention methods to reduce the number of mothers that contract the virus and pass it along to their child; and mandate reporting of CCMV incidence to the Department of Public Health to provide better data on the disease.
“I’m delighted that this legislation passed the House yesterday,” said sponsor Rep. Sally Kerans, D-Danvers. “Left undetected and untreated within three weeks of birth, the virus can rob a baby of its hearing and cause other devastating and lifelong complications.”
“Not every parent may want their child tested for CCMV, much like any of the other invasive tests and vaccines the state forces on newborns,” said Rep. John Gaskey, R-Carver, the only member who voted against the proposal. “Parental rights are just that. Parents have the right to decide. The bill supported educating the parents but when debated on, [supporters] admitted that people don’t understand. So, the state has to step in and mandate testing. I disagree.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
Drones (H 5444)
The House, 155-1, approved and sent to the Senate legislation that makes it illegal for a person to manufacture, modify, sell, transfer, possess or operate a robotic device equipped or mounted with a weapon. Other provisions prohibit anyone from using a robotic device to threaten to commit a crime, criminally harass a person or physically restrain or attempt to physically restrain a person; and exempt law enforcement agencies from the proposed new law.
Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, who filed an earlier version of the measure, said the bill is designed to get ahead of potential misuses of advanced robotics technology while ensuring that this technology can be used responsibly by law enforcement for non-violent purposes.
“The commonwealth of Massachusetts is a global leader in robotics, and with the passage of this bill in the Senate and signature of the governor, it would become one in robotics safety as well,” she said.
“[This] is a ‘feel-good’ bill that is not well-thought-out and does nothing to protect the citizens of Massachusetts,” said Rep. John Gaskey, R-Carver, the only member who voted against the proposal. “It merely stifles innovation, like farmers using drones to spray their fields as it will be illegal to use a drone to spread a chemical agent and gives more power to the government infringing on our right to privacy and creativity, seeking to make criminals of law-abiding citizens.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
Autism and police stops (H 5438)
The House, 156-0, approved a bill designed to improve interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder during traffic stops. The measure, dubbed the “Blue Envelope Bill,” would create a program giving people with the disorder the option to be given a special blue envelope that holds the person’s driver’s license and vehicle registration. On the outside of the envelope, there would be written information and guidance regarding ways to enhance effective communication between a police officer and a person with autism spectrum disorder. The bill is designed to enable the driver to quickly and easily hand the envelope to a police officer during a traffic stop.
The Senate has already approved its own version of the bill and the House version now goes to the Senate for consideration.
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
Blue Star license plates (H 5439)
The House, 156-0, approved its version of a measure that would create a new license plate to honor the memories of fallen law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The measure would require the Registry of Motor Vehicles to provide the plates, at no charge, to the officers’ surviving parent, child, spouse, sibling or grandchild. It would also create a Blue Star Family emblem for motorcycle plates.
“This legislation is deeply personal and profoundly important to my district following the tragic loss of Uxbridge’s Officer Stephen LaPorta, who gave everything to his community in the line of duty,” said Rep. Michael Soter, R-Bellingham. “The bill is a necessary, visible token of the commonwealth’s enduring gratitude, ensuring that the sacrifice of officers like LaPorta is never forgotten and that their families know the community stands with them in their grief.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
Senate approves FY27 budget (S 4)
The Senate, 40-0, approved a $63.37 billion fiscal year 2027 state budget after three days of debate. The House has already approved a different version, and a House-Senate conference committee will craft a compromise plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration and then sent to Gov. Maura Healey.
“This budget proposal reflects the Senate’s commitment to meet this moment with urgency, compassion, skill and resolve,” said Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “As residents and communities across Massachusetts face rising costs and constant uncertainty, this proposal makes critical investments in food security, health care, education and municipal support. While we cannot fully address the hardship stemming from federal cuts, this budget works to protect essential services and to guard against further harm.”
A “Yes” vote is for the $63.37 billion FY27 budget.
- Sen. Jo Comerford — Yes
- Sen. Paul Mark — Yes
$300,000 to investigate Group Insurance Commission (S 4)
The Senate, 4-35, rejected an amendment that would provide $300,000 for the inspector general to conduct an investigation into the spending by and practices of the Group Insurance Commission (GIC), which provides health insurance coverage for the 460,000 public employees, retirees and dependents.
Amendment supporters said the commission is funded to the tune of $2.7 billion per year and argued that its spending and practices should be investigated to be sure the funds are well-used. Opponents said the commission is already the most regulated, overseen and investigated agency in the state, and noted that the Division of Insurance requires adherence to rate setting and other financial regulations.
A “No” vote is against the $300,000 investigation.
- Sen. Jo Comerford — No
- Sen. Paul Mark — No
Unexcused school absences and welfare benefits (S 4)
The Senate, 36-4, approved an amendment that would repeal a current law, often called “Learnfare,” that allows the state to reduce Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) financial assistance to families whose children under age 16 have excessive unexcused school absences. The reduction or end to the benefits would apply only to the aid received by the child with the unexcused absences.
The amendment also tasked the Department of Transitional Assistance with seeking federal permission to prevent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from using their public benefits on candy and soft drinks.
“Learnfare is an outdated state policy from 1995 that strips low-income families of their TAFDC financial assistance if a student has too many unexcused absences from school,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Jason Lewis, D-Winchester. “Learnfare has proven to be ineffective, inequitable, needlessly punitive, and pushes away students and families who need support the most. Chronic absenteeism for low-income students often comes from barriers such as housing and food insecurity, lack of transportation, illness and mental health struggles, disabilities and family responsibilities.”
Four of the chamber’s five Republicans voted against the repeal — Sens. Kelly Dooner, R-Taunton, Peter Durant, R-Spencer, Ryan Fattman, R-Sutton, and Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester. None of them spoke against the repeal during the Senate debate and none responded to requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they voted against the repeal.
A “Yes” vote is for the amendment repealing a law that allows the state to reduce TAFDC assistance to families whose children under age 16 have excessive unexcused school absences.
- Sen. Jo Comerford — Yes
- Sen. Paul Mark — Yes
MBTA Communities Act (H 4000)
The Senate, 5-34, rejected an amendment to the current law, known as the MBTA Communities Act, requiring that an MBTA community “must have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right and meets other criteria including minimum gross density of 15 units per acre; and a location not more than half a 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. The amendment would put the law on hold for two years for any municipality categorized as an “Adjacent Community” or an “Adjacent Small Town” without direct access to MBTA service.
Amendment supporters said the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is not being flexible and is pulling funding from some cities and towns that are not complying. They said the delay in implementation of the law will give some communities additional time to work out a solution.
Opponents said that current law already allows some flexibility for these adjacent communities or adjacent small towns by establishing lower capacity requirements and greater flexibility over where they site their districts. They noted that the Office of Housing and Livable Communities has the administrative ability to offer some flexibility to these communities and said the amendment is not necessary. They argued that the amendment is unfair to more than 100 communities that have already done the work to comply with the law and sends the message that deadlines don’t mean anything.
A “No” vote is against the amendment that would put the law on hold for two years for any municipality categorized as an adjacent community or an adjacent small town” without direct access to MBTA service.
- Sen. Jo Comerford — No
- Sen. Paul Mark — No
Prohibit tax reduction amendments (S 4)
The Senate, 35-4, upheld the ruling of Sen. Will Brownsberger, D-Belmont, the acting Senate president at the time of the ruling, that 10 amendments that proposed tax reductions will be prohibited from being debate and voted on by the Senate.
The proposed tax reductions include a reduction in the income tax, short-term capital gains tax, estate tax, tax on overtime work and tax on tips.
Brownsberger said the 10 tax reduction amendments would technically turn the state budget into a money bill, and noted that under the Massachusetts Constitution, all money bills must originate in the House of Representatives.
Opponents of the ruling said the ruling is misguided and inappropriate, and argued that this is simply a way to avoid Democrats going on record as voting “No” on tax cuts. They noted that amendments that raise, not lower taxes, would make the bill a money bill.
A “Yes” vote supports the ruling that prohibits the tax reductions amendments from being debated and voted on by the Senate.
- Sen. Jo Comerford — Yes
- Sen. Paul Mark — Yes
$800,000 for YMCAs (S 4)
The Senate, 39-0, approved an amendment that would increase funding for YMCAs across the state by $800,000 (from $7.2 million to $8 million.)
A “Yes” vote is for the $800,000.
- Sen. Jo Comerford — Yes
- Sen. Paul Mark — Yes
Security guards at nonprofits (S 4)
The Senate, 39-0, approved an amendment that would increase by $450,000 (from $300,000 to $750,000) funding for a grant program that helps pay for security guards at nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of being targeted for terrorist attacks or hate crimes.
“Across the commonwealth, nonprofits, including religious organizations of many denominations, continue to face harassment and threats of violence,” said Sen. Cindy Creem, D-Newton. “These nonprofits and the communities they serve are seeking to hire additional security, and they need help from the state to afford it.”
A Yes” vote is for the extra $450,000.
- Sen. Jo Comerford — Yes
- Sen. Paul Mark — Yes
Also up on Beacon Hill
Transportation projects (H 5375)
The Senate approved, on a voice vote without a roll call, a $2.737 billion bond bill to fund various local, regional and state transportation projects.
The package includes $300 million for cities and towns for local road and bridges — $200 million of which will be distributed to all municipalities based on the standard Chapter 90 Program distribution formula and another $100 million of which will be distributed to all municipalities based solely on road mileage.
Provisions include $500 million for the Lifecycle Asset Management Program that aids non-federally funded roads and targets the pavement and bridges across the state that are in the worst condition; $200 million for capital projects to support housing development, including stormwater management, culverts, and bike and pedestrian improvements; $200 million for a new accelerated deferred maintenance and modernization program for infrastructure under the care and control of the Department of Conservation and Recreation; and $200 million for the MBTA for the procurement of electrically powered locomotives.
Only final approval is needed in each branch prior to the package going to Gov. Maura Healey for her signature.
“With the winter of 2026 in the rearview mirror, the Senate now moves forward in addressing long-term capital projects for roadways and bridges all across the commonwealth,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues, D-Westport, chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This legislation builds upon our commitment to make Massachusetts the leader and a model for a safe and state-of-the-art public transportation system.”
Adam Chapdelaine, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, said, “With this legislation successfully advancing through the Senate today, municipal leaders across the commonwealth are seeing a powerful, bipartisan commitment to our local infrastructure. Chapter 90 remains the premier program for promoting the safety and reliability of municipal roads and bridges.”
Revenue from the surtax on millionaires
The Raise Up Massachusetts Coalition announced that the Department of Revenue certified that Massachusetts collected more than $3.1 billion in revenue from the state’s 4% surtax on millionaires over the first 10 months of the state’s current fiscal year. They said that is a 20% increase over the $2.5 billion collected at that same point last year.
The revenue is generated by the 2022 voter-approved constitutional amendment, known by supporters as the Millionaire’s Tax or the Fair Share Amendment, that imposes an income surtax of an extra 4%, in addition to the flat 5% one, on taxpayers’ earnings of more than $1 million annually.