Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of June 1 to June 5.
$1.35 billion supplemental budget (H 5470)
The House, 153-0, and the Senate, 37-3, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey a $1.35 billion fiscal year 2026 supplemental budget that includes $558 million for education and $794 million for transportation.
Some of the funding will come from the $1.3 billion generated by the 2022 voter-approved constitutional amendment known as the Fair Share Amendment, which imposes a 4% surtax, in addition to the flat 5% one, on taxpayers’ earnings of more than $1 million annually. Language in the constitutional amendment requires that “subject to appropriation, the revenue will go to fund quality public education, affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation.”
Education provisions include $152 million for special education reimbursements; $150 million for making child care more affordable and accessible; and $40 million to help young learners read, including $20 million for tutoring and $20 million for classroom programs to accelerate reading skills for kids in kindergarten through third grade.
Transportation provisions include $595 million for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), including $450 million to keep the T running; $60 million for maintenance and upgrades to physical infrastructure with an emphasis on commuter rail improvements; $50.4 million to improve workforce and safety; $20 million to make fares more affordable for low-income riders; and $15 million for water transportation infrastructure across the state.
Other provisions create a new tax exemption, capped at $35 million per year, on building materials used in the construction of affordable, moderate-income and middle-income housing projects; a permanent extension of the state’s temporary 20-cent fee on Uber, Lyft and other rideshare trips; $100 million to help cities and towns recover from major storms over the winter; $1 million to help public school districts implement bell-to-bell cellphone-free policies; and $1 million toward free legal services for immigrants and refugees who need help navigating the courts.
A “Yes” vote is for the $1.35 billion budget.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
- Sen. Jo Comerford — Yes
- Sen. Paul Mark — Yes
$4.58 billion for transportation projects (H 5375)
The House, 152-0, and the Senate, 39-0, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey a measure that authorizes $4.58 billion in bonding for various local, regional and state transportation programs. 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, while the other $100 million will be distributed to all municipalities based solely on road mileage.
Other 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.
The legislation also reauthorizes $3.18 billion in funding for several programs included in the 2022 Transportation Bond Bill, including $2.3 billion for projects on interstates and other federally aided highways; $800 million for improvements to non-federally aided roadways and bridges; $65 million for the Municipal Pavement Program for engineering, permitting, design and climate change adaptation on municipal ways; and $12 million for grants for the Shared Streets Program for improvements to municipal streets to create additional capacity for pedestrians and cyclists.
A “Yes” vote is for the $4.58 billion package.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
- Sen. Jo Comerford — Yes
- Sen. Paul Mark — Yes
Audit the Legislature and more (H 5469)
The House, 125-28, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would narrow the scope of a voter-approved legislative audit and create a formal process to govern public access to legislative records. Democratic leaders argued the bill preserves the constitutional separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches, where the auditor’s office is positioned.
Democratic State Auditor Diana DiZoglio and the Republicans disagreed and argued the bill goes against the will of the voters who, in the November 2024 election, approved Question 1 asking them if they favor allowing the state auditor to audit the Legislature. The question passed overwhelmingly by 72% of the vote. It has now been 19 months since the voters approved the audit but an audit has yet to take place.
The bill would limit the auditor’s power to investigate the branch to four categories of administrative functions, rather than the more expansive language outlined in the 2024 ballot law. And the legislation would also create a new statute establishing a legislative records request process and codifying which records would be public — most of which are already publicly available — and subject the governor’s office to the public records law from which they currently claim an exemption. The bill also stops Secretary of State William Galvin’s office (who usually oversees public records inquiries) from interfering in requests to the Legislature, but allows a path of judicial review, while simultaneously barring the courts from resolving disputes between the auditor and lawmakers.
“The House is already audited every year by an independent auditing firm, the results of which are posted on the Legislature’s website upon completion,” said Speaker Ron Mariano. “What we oppose is a politically motivated audit conducted in violation of the Constitution, which is why we didn’t see a path forward until recently, when the auditor finally specified the scope of the audit before the Supreme Judicial Court.”
Rep. Todd Smola, R-Warren, the ranking minority member of the House Ways and Means Committee, questioned the process.
“Nobody saw this legislation 24 hours ago,” he said, adding that committee members had 34 minutes between when the poll landed in their inbox and they had to vote on it. “Yet, we had to respond to that poll and ultimately weigh in as members of the committee.
“We had members on both sides of the political aisle that were calling each other back and forth to say, ‘Can you explain this portion?'” Smola continued. “That’s how confusing some components of this legislation were when we saw it for the first time yesterday.”
All 25 Republicans voted against the bill. All but three Democrats voted for it. Five Democrats did not vote. The three Democrats who voted against it were Reps. Mike Connolly, D-Cambridge, Jim Hawkins, D-Attleboro, and Alan Silvia, D-Fall River. Rep. Susannah Whipps, I-Athol, the one non-party-affiliated member in the Legislature, voted for the legislation.
“This legislation was drafted in partnership with good government experts to increase access to public records from the executive and legislative branches, and to establish a clear framework for legislative audits conducted by the state auditor,” Mariano said. “These measures will build on the rules reforms that the Legislature adopted earlier this session, and will ensure greater transparency while respecting legislative privilege and the separation-of-powers principles outlined in the state Constitution. We hope this legislation will put an end to protracted litigation, address an issue that may otherwise come before voters on the ballot and allow the Legislature to refocus on the many issues facing Massachusetts residents.”
DiZoglio disagreed. “The people have a co-equal right with the Legislature to create laws, and the courts have a constitutional right to adjudicate laws,” she responded. “With this proposed bill, and under the guise of transparency, your state representatives are not only throwing the 72% voter-mandated law in the dumpster — they’re taking a match and lighting that dumpster on fire, violating the people’s constitutional rights and undermining democracy.” She said House leaders were “painting this as some sort of a transparency measure” while “essentially negating everything that you voted for in the November 2024 ballot question.”
“The speaker is acting like an authoritarian, and I am calling on him to resign,” DiZoglio said on Boston Public Radio. She also urged Gov. Maura Healey to veto the bill if it ever reaches her desk. She continued, “The speaker needs to retire, resign, move on. We need new leadership in our state government, in our state Legislature.” She said lawmakers “need to move on” if they “don’t think they need to answer to anybody.”
A spokesperson for Mariano responded, “The speaker is calling on the auditor to tone down the rhetoric. Personal attacks will not solve the fundamental flaws with the audit ballot question — the legislation that the House passed this week does exactly that.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
Change archaic language referring to people with disabilities (H 5474)
The House, 150-0, and the Senate, on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey legislation that would modernize and remove archaic language in state laws to reflect the evolution of terminology relating to people with disabilities.
Changes include replacing “handicapped persons” with “persons with disabilities;” replacing “the mentally retarded” with “persons with an intellectual disability;” replacing “retarded children” with “children with an intellectual disability;” and replacing “disabled American veterans” with “American veterans with disabilities.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
Move ‘last call’ for alcohol to 3 a.m. (H 5478)
The House, 150-0, and the Senate, on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and Gov. Maura Healey signed into law legislation that would enable Massachusetts bars to push their “last call” to as late as 3 a.m. this summer, from June 8 to July 31, if they get local approval from their city or town. The measure would also allow municipalities to establish designated public consumption districts for expanded alcohol purchase and consumption.
“This bill will provide more opportunities for people to celebrate with their community for the World Cup and the other exciting events we have happening this summer for MA250,” Healey said. “It will also support our local businesses and regional economies as they see a surge in visitors. We’re grateful to our partners in the Legislature for getting this bill across the finish line in time for the World Cup, as well as to the hardworking staff at our bars and restaurants for providing a welcoming and joyful environment for residents and visitors alike.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
Data privacy (H 5479)
The House, 146-0, approved a proposal that would guard personal privacy and provide data protection for Massachusetts residents. The Senate already approved a different version of the measure and the House version now goes to the Senate for consideration.
The House proposal gives all Massachusetts residents the right to access their personal information; the right to correct inaccurate information; the right to opt out of certain processes such as targeted advertising; the right to transport personal data; and the right to delete certain information.
A key provision would prohibit sensitive data from being sold or shared without a user’s consent. Sensitive data includes information such as biometric or genetic information, precise geolocation data, health and wellness information, reproductive and sexual health data, data of a minor under 18, government-issued identifiers, and data that reveals an individual’s racial or ethnic origin, national origin or citizenship or immigration status, religious beliefs, sex life, sexual orientation, status as transgender or non-binary, union membership, status as a military service member or veteran and status as a victim of a crime.
Other provisions include requiring that personal data collection must be proportionate to providing requested services, and data must be protected and deleted when no longer necessary or required by law; special protections for individuals under 18, including a prohibition on targeted advertising to minors; and giving the Attorney General’s Office broad regulatory authority to enforce these new laws.
“The Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act centers the consumer and is a must for the 21st century,” said Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, House chair of the Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity. “Through the technology that we have come to rely on daily, companies collect and legally sell our data, including sensitive data, without our knowledge or consent. The [bill] is a critical step to hold companies accountable, protect minors and establish strong consumer protections.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
Teachers’ retirement benefits (S 3109)
The Senate, 39-0, approved legislation that would allow longtime public school teachers the opportunity, until mid-2027, to join “Retirement Plus” and buy into an enhanced savings program if they missed out when the program was first established in 2001.
“Due to administrative confusion when the Retirement Plus program launched, many teachers lost out on their opportunity to join this essential program,” said Sen. Sal DiDomenico, D-Everett. “Thanks to this legislative fix we passed through the Senate, up to 8,500 eligible teachers will have a one-time window until June 30, 2027, to buy into the program and secure the enhanced retirement benefits they deserve and should have received decades ago.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Sen. Jo Comerford — Didn’t Vote
- Sen. Paul Mark — Yes
Also up on Beacon Hill
Ban cancer-linked chemical from IV bags (S 3106)
The Senate approved, on a voice vote without a roll call, and sent to the House a bill that would ban the use of DEHP, a toxic chemical that is commonly added to plastic intravenous bags and tubing and linked to breast, liver, lung and testicular cancer. Many IV bags currently contain DEHP, which is added to improve the plastic’s flexibility but can pose serious health dangers to patients.
“When a patient is in a hospital bed receiving IV therapy, the last thing they should have to worry about is whether the equipment itself is making them sicker,” said Sen. Joan Lovely, D-Salem, the sponsor of the measure. “DEHP is a known carcinogen. Safer alternatives already exist and are being used by major health systems right here in Massachusetts. This bill simply says we are going to catch up with the science. Patients deserve nothing less.”
Commercial interior designers (S 3107)
The Senate approved, on a voice vote without a roll call, and sent to the House legislation that would create optional state licensure for commercial interior designers, a step that supporters say would empower smaller designers to bid individually for certain projects rather than having to contract with a larger firm. Currently, smaller interior design operations have to contract with larger firms that have architectural licenses to bid on certain projects.
“Massachusetts is home to five colleges with nationally accredited interior design programs,” said sponsor Sen. Joan Lovely, D-Salem. “We are training talented professionals and then telling them they cannot fully practice their craft in their own state. This is not right, and [the bill] fixes that. It creates real economic opportunity, especially for women and minority-owned businesses, and it keeps our graduates here where they can grow their careers and contribute to our communities.”
Cleft palate and cleft lip (HD 4385)
The House referred to the Committee on Financial Services a bill that would amend and expand current law that mandates coverage for the expense of treatment of cleft palate and cleft lip for children under the age of 18. The bill would expand the law to include patients over the age of 18.
Supporters said the current law results in individuals over the age of 18 born with a cleft palate and/or cleft experiencing a “cliff effect,” where their insurance will automatically stop covering medically necessary treatments and surgeries despite appeals from both the patients and their medical providers.
$10.1 million to cities and towns for fiber networks
The Healey-Driscoll administration announced $10.1 million in grants to Massachusetts cities and towns to help them build or complete municipal fiber networks, enabling modern, efficient technology infrastructure and stronger cybersecurity capabilities.
“Municipally owned fiber networks are critical to help cities and towns modernize operations, strengthen cybersecurity and deliver more reliable public services,” said Technology Services and Security Secretary Jason Snyder. “Through the Municipal Fiber Grant Program, we are helping cities and towns close critical connectivity gaps, improve the resiliency of local government technology systems and build scalable networks that will support municipal operations for years to come.”