Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from recent House sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.

Consolidated education amendment (H 4005)

The House, 151-4, approved a consolidated amendment adding $46.2 million in education funding to the $1.3 billion supplemental budget. Much of the funding was for education projects and programs proposed by individual representatives for their local districts.

“This consolidated amendment provides critical funding for a variety of education-related programs and projects at both the state and municipal levels, including $15 million to assist communities with regional school transportation costs,” said Rep. Brad Jones, R-North Reading. “These initiatives are funded with excess … surtax revenues, which is in keeping with the will of the voters to use this money to supplement spending for education and transportation-related initiatives.”

Opponents said the amendment was full of pork barrel spending proposed by representatives for projects in their own districts. They noted that the money should be used for education projects for all cities and towns, including fully funding special education costs.

A “Yes” vote is for the $46.2 million.

Rep. Natalie Blais — Yes

Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes

Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes

Consolidated transportation amendment (H 4005)

The House, 134-20, approved a consolidated amendment adding $28.8 million in transportation funding to the $1.3 billion supplemental budget. Much of the funding was for transportation projects and programs proposed by individual representatives for their local districts.

“This consolidated amendment includes funding for multiple transportation-related initiatives across the state, providing cities and towns with the funding needed to carry out essential transportation infrastructure repairs and maintenance,” said Rep. Brad Jones, R-North Reading. “When the voters approved the [surtax] amendment in 2022, they were clear that these revenues should be spent only on transportation and education, and this consolidated amendment upholds the will of the voters.”

“We are seeing the necessity for overrides pop up all across the commonwealth and in multiple towns of the 6th Plymouth District, dominated mostly by school operational budgets,” said Rep. Ken Sweezey, R-Hanson. “I believe that the … funds would have been best used on education in the dire situation we find ourselves in rather than the disproportionate amount we funneled to transportation and the MBTA.”

A “Yes” vote is for the $28.8 million.

Rep. Natalie Blais — Yes

Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes

Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes

Also up on Beacon HillHouse Ways and Means Committee proposes $61.4 billion budget

The House fired the second shot in the long battle over the state budget for fiscal year 2026 that begins on July 1. Gov. Maura Healey fired the opening volley in January when she filed her version of the spending package. The House Ways and Means Committee unveiled its own $61.4 billion version, a plan whose combined traditional and wealth surtax spending is about 6.4% higher than the FY25 budget that Healey signed last summer. Debate on the House version is scheduled to begin the week of April 28.

After the full House approves a version of the spending plan, the Senate will follow suit with its own version. Then a House-Senate conference committee will eventually craft a compromise plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration, and when approved, will be sent to the governor.

Foreclosure prevention program (S 765)

The Financial Services Committee held a hearing on a bill that would create a Massachusetts Foreclosure Prevention Program to assist homeowners in avoiding foreclosure through supervised pre-foreclosure conferences between creditors and borrowers regarding foreclosure alternatives.

Conferences would result in a report, and foreclosures can only proceed with a certificate of compliance, contingent on a creditor’s good-faith efforts to negotiate. Judicial enforcement provisions allow sanctions against non-compliant creditors, including interest tolling, penalties or dismissal of foreclosure actions. The program would be funded by the Foreclosure Prevention Fund, supported by creditor fees to cover administrative costs such as conference monitors and outreach initiatives.

“With Massachusetts foreclosures on the rise, updated state laws that better protect homeowners are long overdue,” said sponsor Sen. Adam Gomez, D-Springfield. “In the Pioneer Valley, more than half of all renters are ‘cost-burdened,’ spending 30% or more of their income on housing. This trend is even worse for communities of color in the region, such as Springfield where we continue to face serious housing stability challenges.”

Divest state retirement funds from firearms companies (H 49)

A bill heard by the Public Service Committee would require the Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM) Board to divest direct investments with companies that derive more than 15% of revenues from the sale or manufacture of ammunition, firearms or firearm accessories used for civilian purposes.

“It is crucial that we take a stand against gun violence, which is now the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 19,” said State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg. “This bill takes a fiscally responsible approach in divesting from an industry that has repeatedly refused to work toward protecting our communities.”

She noted that while this represents only a minuscule fraction of the state’s investment portfolio, divestment from ammunition and firearms sends a clear message to the victims and survivors of gun violence everywhere that Massachusetts stands with them.

Seniors’ financial stability (S 471)

The Elder Affairs Committee’s hearing included legislation that would require the state treasurer to develop and periodically review and update model curriculum to support seniors’ financial literacy and stability, in consultation with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the Massachusetts Councils on Aging and AARP Massachusetts.

“Massachusetts is among the three states where older people are most likely to be financially insecure,” said sponsor Sen. Pat Jehlen, D-Somerville. “Older people are the fastest group of unhoused people and among the most likely victims of scams.”

Liquor license suspension (H 390)

Current law suspends the liquor license of, and closes down for a period of time, any package store that is found guilty of selling to a minor or an intoxicated individual. However, in big box stores, supermarkets, gas stations and other places in which liquor sales are not their primary business, a violation results only in the closing of the liquor department. A bill, sponsored by Rep. Steven Howitt, R-Seekonk, and heard by the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, would amend current law so that the entire establishment is closed down.

Supporters said current law creates an unfair disadvantage to the liquor stores and argued the bill levels the playing field.

“As licenses to sell alcohol have expanded into big box stores and supermarkets, the small, in most cases, family-owned ‘packies’ have suffered,” Howitt said. “If any liquor store is caught selling to a minor, they may face closure for a few days, not the case for liquor-selling big box stores, gas stations and supermarkets. Should this occur in one of these retailers, only the alcohol department is shut down for a suspension period.”

Howitt continued, “This bill would shut down the whole business, just as a liquor store. It would also ensure that these big stores would be mindful, as small liquor stores are, that this is serious business, not just a small additional merchandise department in their stores.”

“HERstory” photo exhibit

Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, announced the opening of HERstory, a photo exhibit honoring 91 trailblazing women who have shaped the history of Massachusetts and the nation. The exhibit will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays, in Spilka’s ceremonial office on the third floor of the Massachusetts State House, directly outside the Senate Chamber.

Photos include Phillis Wheatley, the first African American author of a published book of poetry and a strong supporter of America’s fight for independence; Frances Perkins, workers’ rights advocate and the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet; Elberta Futrelle Copeland, the first woman publisher of the State House News Service and first woman to step foot on the floor of the Massachusetts House of Representatives; Margaret Marshall, anti-apartheid activist and the first woman to serve as chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court; Kitty Dukakis, longest-serving first lady of Massachusetts and advocate for mental health and Holocaust awareness; and Therese Murray, the first woman to be elected Senate president.

These photos replace the current hanging photos of past Senate presidents going back to 1780. The most recent presidents still have their portraits hanging in the Senate Reading Room, including former Senate Presidents Therese Murray, Bill Bulger, Tom Birmingham, Kevin Harrington and Bob Travaglini.

“Massachusetts residents have always been dynamic and diverse, but our State House art has failed to fully represent them,” Spilka said. “It is our responsibility to make sure every resident can see themselves in the halls of power, regardless of their background. I hope that when women walk into this office, they know that they have a place in this building — and in shaping Massachusetts’ future. I’m so excited to be able to share this with residents, visitors and staff who come to the State House.”