Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of July 27 to July 31.
Home care (H 5627)
The House, 157-0, and the Senate, 40-0, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey a bill that would establish a licensure process for home care agencies that supporters say will ensure consumers receive quality non-medical services and that home care workers are protected.
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services would implement the licensure process and have the authority to approve licenses, survey and investigate home care agencies, and impose fines. Home care agencies would be required to disclose anyone with at least a 5% ownership interest in the agency, carry workers’ compensation and liability insurance, and provide appropriate levels of training for their employees.
“The bipartisan support for this bill in both the Senate and the House showcases the commitment within both chambers to keep aging residents in Massachusetts,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman, R-Sutton. “The protections created in this bill will give families the ease of mind that their older relatives will receive safer and higher-quality care at their homes through more training, oversight and accountability in the licensure process and beyond.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
- Sen. Jo Comerford — Yes
- Sen. Paul Mark — Yes
Child welfare (H 5629)
The House, 156-0, and the Senate, 40-0, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey legislation that supporters say would guarantee certain basic rights for children in foster care related to their safety, education and healthcare.
A key provision would expand the diversion of children dealing with behavior or attendance problems to Family Resource Centers (FRCs) instead of the court system. Supporters note that FRCs provide accessible, confidential support to children and families in crisis close to home and have proven successful in helping kids and teens stay in school, connecting families with services such as mental health or substance use treatment, housing aid and legal help.
Other provisions include creating a Foster Child Bill of Rights to clarify and protect the basic rights and services foster children need to live healthy, safe and fulfilled lives; codifying a Youth Engagement program to ensure the voices of youth are included to inform relevant policy, oversight and programs; allowing a child the same ability as an adult to petition the court to extend any abuse or harassment protection order made on behalf of the child; tasking the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) with supporting families and caregivers by providing training materials to mandated reporters and individuals who frequently work with children; and creating and maintaining a list of resources for grieving parents who have experienced a sudden unexplained pediatric death.
“This legislation reflects our shared responsibility to the children of the commonwealth — especially those who have experienced abuse, entered foster care or are navigating crises,” said Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “It affirms that every child deserves not only protection, but support, stability, dignity and the opportunity to build the future they deserve. This bill makes meaningful, systemwide improvements — from establishing a Foster Child Bill of Rights to strengthening education continuity, family supports and accountability. It makes our child welfare system more responsive, transparent and compassionate.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
- Sen. Jo Comerford — Yes
- Sen. Paul Mark — Yes
The PROTECT Act (H 5620
The House, 137-21, and the Senate on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey the PROTECT Act that supporters said would establish statewide standards governing interactions between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. They said the measure would create among the strongest protections in the nation for residents who have immigrated to their communities; strengthen due process protections; limit civil immigration enforcement in courthouses, public school grounds, hospitals and other sensitive locations; expand protections for victims of crime; and increase transparency, accountability and clarity for correctional facilities and law enforcement relative to civil immigration enforcement.
Provisions bar Massachusetts law enforcement agencies from signing new deputization agreements with federal immigration authorities, except in narrow, criminal-law-focused arrangements that meet additional safeguards; prohibit civil immigration arrests without a judicial warrant at schools, childcare centers, medical facilities and courthouses; establish a civil cause of action against federal officers who violate a resident’s constitutional rights, putting them under the same accountability standards as state and local police; keep state and local police out of federal civil immigration enforcement, barring the use of local resources for that purpose, or detention, based solely on a civil immigration detainer; and protect immigrant crime victims, including trafficking survivors, who assist law enforcement as witnesses, and speed up review of their special visa applications so they can keep participating in investigations or trials.
“Since the beginning of President Trump’s second term, ICE and Border Patrol agents have continued to harass and disappear innocent Americans with total impunity — a reckless approach that has led to the deaths of American citizens and legal residents, and to children being separated from their families,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano, D-Quincy. “Those actions have immigrants in Massachusetts living in fear as they go to work or bring their children to school. And they jeopardize the trust that local law enforcement has worked hard to build. That’s why this legislation is so important, as it takes steps to ensure that all residents in Massachusetts are treated equally under state law, and to protect our communities through practical, thoughtful measures.
“I voted ‘No’ because I feel like this bill inappropriately ties the hands of the police officers and sheriffs who put themselves in danger every day to keep our communities safe,” said Rep. Joe McKenna, R-Sutton. “Restricting basic communication with federal authorities and limiting advance notice when violent offenders, including those convicted of serious crimes, are being released back into our neighborhoods is not sound public service strategy and further drives a wedge between states and the federal government. Additionally, I am concerned that much of the bill is simply unenforceable as written given the Supremacy Clause. Ultimately, I feel that a cooperative and communicative position with ICE is more productive than deepening the mistrust and adversarial relationship we have.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
Banning school and public library books and materials (H 5489)
The House, 156-1, and the Senate on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and sent to the governor a bill that supporters said would protect people’s access to library materials and guard against politically motivated book bans in Massachusetts school libraries and public libraries. The bill requires local policies to be developed using nationally recognized library standards and lays out a process around challenges to library materials. The measure also protects librarians and school library professionals from retaliation.
Provisions include ensuring that students have free and open access to library books and other school library materials by establishing clear standards for library teachers and other employees to follow as they select school library materials; requiring that school library materials be age-appropriate, serve an educational purpose and be chosen based on a teacher or employee’s professional training — leaving aside any of their own personal, political or doctrinal views that could affect whether they place the book on the shelf; requiring all school districts, charter schools and local education agencies to adopt their own policies on how to select library materials as long as the policies align with American Library Association standards; guarding against spurious or unfounded challenges to school library books by keeping a book in question on the shelves unless and until a public hearing process has taken place and the appropriate authority has voted to remove it; and protecting school employees and public librarians from professional, civil or criminal penalties based on their selection of library materials.
“Libraries are among the last truly open spaces where every person can discover new ideas, encounter different perspectives and see themselves reflected in the stories that shape our communities,” said Sen. Jake Oliveira, D-Ludlow. “This legislation protects the freedom to read by ensuring that decisions about library collections are guided by professional expertise, not political pressure or personal ideology. At a time when intellectual freedom is increasingly being challenged, Massachusetts is reaffirming that access to knowledge, diverse viewpoints and free expression are essential to a healthy democracy.”
“[The bill] makes it more difficult for school committees to challenge book selections made by librarians, especially regarding LGBT+ type books that are usually so explicit that they cannot be read in public meetings or even on YouTube without being age-restricted,” said Rep. John Gaskey, R-Carver, the only legislator to vote against the measure. “This is not about banning books, as they are all available in a multitude of locations, especially the public library. This is about protecting youth from explicit material, regardless of the topic.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
Abortion (H 5595)
The House, 119-35, and the Senate on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey legislation that would loosen restrictions on abortions that can be performed after 24 weeks of gestation. The bill removes existing requirements that limit abortions at 24 weeks of pregnancy or later to four specific medical circumstances, and instead allows licensed physicians and providers to rely on their best medical judgment when caring for patients.
Supporters say that under current law, the four categories do not account for the full spectrum of medical conditions encountered by women and their doctors: protecting the patient’s life or physical or mental health, or cases involving a lethal fetal anomaly or a grave fetal diagnosis.
“Throughout relentless attacks on reproductive rights, Massachusetts has prioritized the fundamental rights and health care of its residents,” said Rep. Christine Barber, D-Somerville, House sponsor of the bill. “This bill continues that work. It ensures access to care by empowering physicians to use their professional judgment to make decisions in the best interest of their patients. Pregnancy is complex, and this bill eliminates barriers and guarantees medical expertise as the standard of care. It comes down to a simple, but powerful conviction: decisions about abortion care must remain between a patient and their provider. No one else. With today’s vote, we show our commitment to protecting the rights of our residents of the commonwealth.”
“This bill, pushed by radical pro-abortion activist groups like Planned Parenthood, is a dangerous attempt to remove virtually all remaining protections in the commonwealth for unborn babies,” said the Massachusetts Family Institute in a statement. “It allows abortion past 24 weeks with no requirement of medical justification, meaning abortions could be performed at full term, just days before natural birth, for any reason or no reason at all.”
The statement continued, “In addition, current law requires late-term abortions to be performed in a hospital — recognition that a procedure this serious, at this stage of pregnancy, demands a hospital’s resources and safeguards. This bill eliminates that requirement. A late-term abortion could legally be performed anywhere a provider chooses, with none of the protections a hospital setting is meant to guarantee. This is not healthcare — this is a direct attack on the dignity of life.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
Press Shield Law (S 3200)
The Senate, 40-0, approved an amendment creating the Press Shield Law that would prohibit government bodies from compelling journalists to reveal their sources, except in certain limited circumstances and only with clear and convincing evidence that the source disclosure is necessary and there is an overriding public interest in the disclosure.
“As Trump and his administration accelerate and intensify their attacks on journalism and sources are increasingly afraid to speak up, the Massachusetts Senate takes an historic stand to strengthen our free press and fortify our democracy,” said sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch, D-Needham. “The need for a statutory press shield law in our commonwealth has never been more urgent. By passing this legislation, we show the federal government and our constituents that we will defend the First Amendment and support a free press, without which our democracy cannot survive.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
- Sen. Jo Comerford — Yes
- Sen. Paul Mark — Yes
Also up on Beacon Hill
Buy Massachusetts Lottery tickets online
The Lottery has launched Mass Lottery Online, featuring a variety of both new and old games that registered players ages 21 and older can play on the Mass Lottery app and website on a mobile device, computer or tablet. Profits generated from online sales will be used to fund a grant program to support early childhood education and care.
“The launch of our online platform marks an exciting new chapter for the Lottery as we continue to evolve and meet the needs of today’s players,” said State Treasurer Deb Goldberg, chair of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission. “Online Lottery will allow us to compete on a more level playing field in the state’s gaming marketplace and sales will help make childcare more affordable for families across Massachusetts.”
Several popular draw-based games, now sold only at retail stores, will be available for purchase online, including Mass Cash, Megabucks, Mega Millions, Powerball and Millionaire for Life. Several games remain available only for retail purchase, including traditional Keno, The Numbers Game and The Wheel of Luck.
Mass Lottery Online is also introducing 20 new eInstant Games, which are digital games featuring cascading or tumbling symbols that result in instant winning experiences when a cluster of symbols match. Other play styles include key number match and find the symbol.
To play Mass Lottery games online, players must be 21 or older and physically located in Massachusetts at the time of play. Players need to have a Mass Lottery Player Account, which can be created at masslottery.com or by downloading the Mass Lottery App on a mobile device or tablet. Registration requires a nine-digit Social Security number along with the player’s legal full name, date of birth, residential address and other information.
Alcohol donations for charities (H 5351)
The House gave initial approval to legislation that would allow local licensing authorities to issue temporary licenses to charities in order for the charities to accept donations of wine, beer and alcohol for their events. These licenses were previously allowed under 1997 legislation, but the authorization has since expired.
“Today, more than ever, nonprofits are in need of charitable donations to stay afloat,” said sponsor Rep. Joan Meschino, D-Hull. “This bill would allow for safe and regulated alcohol licensure for nonprofits in order to raise revenue at charity events by partnering with alcohol manufacturers, wholesalers or retailers. This bill was brought to me by Deborah Goldberg, the treasurer and receiver general, and has her full support.
Postural screenings for students (H 2517)
The House approved and sent to the Senate a proposal amending a current law that requires every child in public schools and for children in private schools, at the request of their parents or guardians, to be tested for postural defects at least once annually in grades five through nine. The amendment would reduce the mandated frequency of testing to at least once in grades five through nine.
“I filed this bill after learning from my daughter, a school nurse, about the impact on students and staffing demands created by annual postural screenings,” said sponsor Rep. Rodney Elliott, D-Lowell. “Many students are already screened by their pediatricians or primary care physicians during routine physicals, making the annual school requirement repetitive. This bill keeps the screening requirement in place while giving schools the flexibility to conduct it once during grades six through nine instead of every year. It’s a practical update that allows school nurses to focus more of their time on students’ immediate health needs without compromising student care.”
Allow consumers to use insurance adjusters (S 785)
The House and Senate, on voice votes without a roll call, approved and sent to the governor legislation that would prohibit insurance companies from prohibiting the insured from hiring or using a public insurance adjuster.
“The passage of [the bill] is great news for Massachusetts residents because it ensures they can continue to access the professional services and expertise of an insurance adjuster to help them file a claim and negotiate directly with the insurance company,” said co-sponsor Rep. Brad Jones, R-North Reading. “I am hopeful that Gov. Healey will act quickly to sign these pro-consumer protections into law.”