Beacon Hill Roll Call reports local representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of Oct. 19 to Oct. 23. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week.
$2.35 billion supplemental budget (H 5700)
The House, 152-0, approved and sent to the Senate a more than $2.35 billion supplemental budget to close out the books on fiscal year 2026.
Provisions include $1.8 billion for MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program that provides healthcare for low-income residents and people with disabilities; $159 million for snow and ice removal costs; $54.5 million for Department of Transitional Assistance caseworkers; $22.5 million for no-cost calls by prisoners; $5.6 million to implement cannabis-related legislation; and $4 million for rest homes.
Other provisions include regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in political ads by requiring the disclosure of AI use and banning deceptive communications about a candidate or about the electoral process within three months of an election; authorizing online Lottery revenues to be distributed to the Early Education Grant Fund; and eliminating the $10 surcharge imposed on car-sharing organization rentals.
“This supplemental budget will close the books on fiscal year 2026 in a balanced and fiscally responsible manner,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, D-Boston, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “By making critical investments into much-needed programs in healthcare, Department of Transitional Assistance caseworkers and early education to name a few, the commonwealth will be in a strong fiscal position for fiscal year 2027 and beyond.”
“I supported the fiscal year 2026 closeout supplemental budget because it includes funding to address shortfalls in several important state programs, including MassHealth and snow and ice removal,” said House Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones, R-North Reading. “It also provides rate increases for nursing home facilities and early childcare providers, and expands the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s ability to provide grants to communities to rehabilitate their schools and build new education facilities, which will be of tremendous help to our cities and towns.”
Although the budget was approved unanimously, it wasn’t without its critics.
“The Massachusetts Legislature just passed an annual budget that went into effect on July 1,” said Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance Executive Director Paul Craney. “Now, they are passing another budget on top of the one they just passed. This additional spending shows how mismanaged our state is from the top. Instead of getting their spending under control, they just view the taxpayers as their ATM machine.”
A “Yes” vote is for the budget.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Didn’t Vote
Suspend the gas tax for two months (H 5699)
The House, 30-132, rejected an amendment that would suspend the state’s 24-cents-per-gallon gas tax for two months.
“People across Massachusetts are feeling the squeeze of rising costs, and they deserve action, not excuses,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Todd Smola, R-Warren. “A 60-day gas tax holiday is a practical way to deliver meaningful relief to families, commuters and small businesses. Every dollar matters when people are working hard to make ends meet. We have a responsibility to use the tools available to us to ease that burden and put taxpayers first. Our job is to deliver results for the people we represent, and this is an opportunity to put real savings back in the hands of Massachusetts residents. The Legislature missed an opportunity to help those in need.”
“Families across the state are struggling with gas prices that are averaging about $4.28 a gallon,” said House Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones, R-North Reading. “I supported the proposed gas tax holiday because it would provide temporary but tangible relief at the pump for Massachusetts residents, while still addressing the commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure needs by using Fair Share money to backfill these lost revenues.”
“The governor’s two-month gas tax suspension would have provided some relief at the pump, while [Republican gubernatorial candidate] Mike Minogue has proposed a more substantial approach that would suspend the gas tax whenever prices rise above $4 a gallon,” said Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance Executive Director Paul Craney. “There are ideas on the table to give taxpayers a break, but legislative leaders don’t seem interested in any of them. Massachusetts families are being squeezed from every direction, and Beacon Hill’s response is to keep collecting every penny it can from them at the pump.”
“It’s a short-term political fix that will do virtually nothing to assuage the high prices currently squeezing our constituents, providing minimal savings at most for the average taxpayer,” said amendment opponent Rep. Adrian Madaro, D-East Boston. “The amendment also fails to guarantee that oil companies and gas station chains simply won’t pocket the difference, using this temporary cut to increase profit margins rather than lowering the price at the pump for consumers.”
A “Yes” vote is for suspending the state’s 24-cents-per-gallon gas tax for two months. A “No” vote is against the suspension and favors keeping the state’s 24-cents-per-gallon gas tax intact.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — No
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Didn’t Vote
Offshore wind (H 5700)
The House, 25-129, rejected an amendment that would delete a section of the budget that would transfer $35 million, in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, from the General Fund to the Massachusetts Offshore Wind Industry Investment Trust Fund.
“Offshore wind has demonstrated serious challenges with its economic viability and continues to depend heavily on taxpayer subsidies,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Ken Sweezey, R-Duxbury. “At the same time, our commercial fishermen have raised significant concerns about the safety and economic impacts of these projects on an industry that has supported Massachusetts communities for generations. I cannot justify committing up to another $70 million in taxpayer dollars to subsidize large energy corporations, and I will always stand with our fishing industries and local blue economy partners.”
Amendment opponent Rep. Mark Cusack, D-Braintree, said that despite setbacks, offshore wind remains vital to economic growth, providing thousands of good-paying jobs and helping to power the climate tech economy. He noted that the fund in Massachusetts has supported more than 3,700 jobs over the course of construction and generated more than $380 million in direct wages and benefits for workers.
A “Yes” vote would keep the $70 million in the General Fund. A “No” vote supports putting the $70 million in the Offshore Wind Industry Investment Trust Fund.
- Rep. Aaron Saunders — No
- Rep. Susannah Whipps — Didn’t Vote
Also up on Beacon Hill
$38 million to help families reduce medical debt
An estimated 70,000 Massachusetts residents are soon going to receive letters announcing that they will receive a portion of more than $38 million in direct medical debt relief under a nonprofit partnership created by the Atrius Health Equity Foundation. The foundation has erased more than $293 million in medical debt since it started in 2024.
Supporters note that there is no application process for this debt relief, and it cannot be requested. Patients are automatically selected if they meet certain income criteria and their medical debt is available for acquisition through a partnership with a provider, such as a hospital or collection agency. Patients receiving the letters do not need to take any action. The eligible medical debt will automatically be eliminated for those who qualify, no strings attached, and negative credit score marks will be removed.
“Medical debt not only impacts families’ long-term financial future, but also makes people reluctant to seek care,” said Dr. Ann Hwang, president of the Atrius Health Equity Foundation. “Our hope is that the patients and families across eastern Massachusetts aided by this debt relief can move forward without this burden.”
“For too many patients, an unexpected illness or medical emergency can create financial hardship that lasts long after they leave the hospital, ER or doctor’s office,” said Undue Medical Debt CEO and President Allison Sesso. “Eliminating medical debt gives people a meaningful fresh start and ensures that getting the care they need doesn’t come at the cost of their economic security and mental health.”
Official jazz song of Massachusetts (H 3407)
The House gave initial approval to a measure designating the song, “Massachusetts,” sung by Springfield native Montenia Shider, as the state’s official jazz song.
Supporters said the bill will honor 79-year-old Shider, who has been singing for more than 40 years and also taught music.
Rep. Orlando Ramos, D-Springfield, the sponsor of the proposal, did not respond to requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on initial approval of his bill and why he filed it.
The song was written by Andy Razaf and Charles Roberts and first recorded in July 1942 by Gene Krupa, many years before Shider recorded it in the 1990s, with new lyrics focused on western Massachusetts.
Recycling, composting and waste reduction
The Healey-Driscoll administration announced that more than $5 million in grant funding will support 323 municipalities and regional solid waste districts in maximizing recycling, composting and waste reduction.
“We’re proud to support municipalities and regional solid waste districts as they expand reuse, recycling and composting programs to make a difference in their communities,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These investments help reduce the amount of material going into the waste stream, save money on disposal costs, minimize climate impacts, and grow jobs and businesses.”
“These grants help communities put the circular economy into action — investing in programs and equipment that keep valuable materials in use and out of the waste stream,” said Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “This year’s record investment gives municipalities more resources to reduce waste, save money and strengthen their programs for years to come.”
The list of communities and the grants they received can be found at mass.gov/doc/list-of-2026-municipalregional-grant-awards-october-2026/download.
Expand home ownership
The Healey-Driscoll administration announced the launch of “Move-In Mass,” a new initiative to expand homeownership opportunities by supporting cost-effective approaches to building starter homes. The program is expected to support at least 20 homes in its first round, with financing designed to be repaid and reinvested in future housing developments.
Supporters say that Move-In Mass will encourage the use of manufactured, modular and other innovative construction methods that can reduce development costs, shorten construction timelines and make homes more affordable for first-time homebuyers. The initiative aims to build quality homes at lower costs while reducing reliance on state subsidies, allowing public investments to support additional housing opportunities over time.
“Buying your first home should be an exciting milestone, but for too many people in Massachusetts, it feels out of reach,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “We’re working to change that by helping first-time homebuyers with down payments and building more housing to bring down costs. Move-In Mass is another way we’re making homeownership more attainable by lowering the cost of building starter homes.”
“Gov. Healey and I want Massachusetts to be a place where people can grow up, get a good job, buy their first home and build a future,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “That’s why we’re focused on creating more opportunities for first-time homebuyers, from making down payments more affordable to increasing the supply of starter homes. Move-In Mass gives us another tool to work with communities and developers to build quality homes at lower costs and help more families achieve the dream of homeownership.”