Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from recent debate on the joint House-Senate rules. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.

Limit numbers of bills at hearings (S 15)

The Senate, 5-33, rejected an amendment that would reduce from 50 to 30 the maximum number of bills that can be considered at a hearing on bills by a committee.

“Reducing the maximum number of bills heard in a joint committee hearing from 50 to 30 allows for more focused and meaningful discussion,” said Sen. Kelly Dooner, R-Taunton. “With fewer bills being considered, legislators and, more importantly, the public, have more time to engage with the issues at hand and ensure that everyone, especially those who travel far to testify, receives a fair opportunity to participate and be heard.”

“The amendment proffered a solution looking for a problem,” said Sen. Becca Rausch, D-Needham. “As Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, I presided over a hearing on plastics and waste management last session that considered a number of closely related bills [that] would have been split up under the proposed amendment. The current ceiling [50] for bills to be heard at a committee hearing is reasonable, both substantively and procedurally, and promotes legislative efficiency.”

A “No” vote is against the decrease.

Sen. Joanne Comerford — No

Sen. Paul Mark — No

Allow minority report on conference committee bills (S 15)

The Senate, 6-32, rejected an amendment allowing the minority members who voted against a conference committee version of a bill to issue a report on why they voted against it. A conference committee is a committee that is appointed by the Senate president and House speaker when the House and Senate approve different versions of a bill. The committee’s job is to craft a compromise version.

“It is important that the perspective from both sides of the debate within our conference committees is represented for the public to consume,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman, R-Sutton. “The people of Massachusetts do not benefit from one-party rule.”

Amendment opponents did not offer any arguments against the amendment. Sen. Joan Lovely, D-Salem, chair of the Senate Committee on Rules, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking her to comment on why she voted against the bill.

A “No” vote is against allowing a minority to issue a report.

Sen. Joanne Comerford — No

Sen. Paul Mark — No

Prohibit late votes on conference committee reports (S 15)

The Senate, 6-32, rejected an amendment that would prohibit any conference committee bills from being considered less than 72 hours before the end of a formal legislative session. The amendment would allow the Legislature to consider a conference committee bill at any time only if the House and Senate vote unanimously to allow consideration. The amendment would replace a rule that allows the Legislature to consider conference committee reports at any time during the legislative session.

“This amendment … closes a loophole that allows leadership to push through last-minute conference committee reports and then reconvene after the formal sessions to vote on them,” said Sen. Kelly Dooner, R-Taunton. “By prohibiting these reports from being filed within 72 hours of the end of formal sessions, this change ensures major legislation is properly reviewed and prevents rushed, last-minute decision-making.”

Sen. Joan Lovely, D-Salem, said the amendment would tie the hands of the House and Senate by establishing an arbitrary deadline that would prevent them from voting on important bills. She said that would result in the bills essentially dying from lack of action.

A “No” vote is against the amendment prohibiting any conference committee reports from being considered less than 72 hours before the end of formal legislative sessions.

Sen. Joanne Comerford — No

Sen. Paul Mark — No

Also up on Beacon Hill$6.4 million to climatetech companies

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) announced $6.4 million in funding for 25 clean energy and climatetech companies and researchers. The investment is designed to accelerate innovation and business growth in 13 cities and towns across Massachusetts.

“These companies have made Massachusetts a leader in climate technologies,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “As the rest of the world races for the competitive edge in climatetech, Massachusetts is leading the way with smart investments in growing businesses. With these investments, big ideas become jobs and economic growth for our state.”

“The climatetech industry is an economic development opportunity for every city and town in Massachusetts,” said Emily Reichert, CEO of MassCEC. “These MassCEC emerging climatetech grants empower innovative ideas and transformative solutions that will shape the future of the state’s economy. By supporting entrepreneurs and innovators, we’re accelerating the deployment of technologies that will lower energy costs and create jobs right here in Massachusetts.”

$7.2 million for local clean energy projects

Gov. Maura Healey announced $7.2 million in grants to cities and towns across Massachusetts to fund clean energy projects.

“We are happy to help our cities and towns move forward with initiatives that create healthier communities and boost local economies,” Healey said. “These projects will ultimately save people, businesses and municipalities money and will help Massachusetts achieve energy independence.”

“These projects reflect the hard work and dedication of our local officials to make Massachusetts a healthier, more affordable place for families and businesses,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “We are committed to partnering with our local leaders to support efforts that save cities and towns money and strengthen communities.”

Strengthen human trafficking training for hotels

Massachusetts state legislators, hospitality industry leaders and survivor advocates gathered at the State House to highlight the urgent need to implement human trafficking recognition training across the hotel industry. They urged approval of legislation that would mandate human trafficking training for all hotel employees in Massachusetts, from the front desk to housekeeping and food service, to equip them to recognize and respond to trafficking situations.

“Prevention training is already a standard practice at many hotels in Massachusetts, and we remain committed to partnering with law enforcement and survivor advocacy organizations to strengthen these efforts,” said Kevin Carey, president and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

“Human trafficking remains a vicious crime and modern-day version of slavery that exists in almost every community across the commonwealth and the United States,” said Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford, the lead author of the first anti-human trafficking law approved in Massachusetts and the sponsor of this new legislation (S 1729). “This is not simply some awful problem occurring in some faraway land. Many victims are vulnerable women or children from our own communities, and hotels and motels are often exploited by traffickers to perpetuate this heinous crime. We must break through the inertia on Beacon Hill and mandate training for hospitality workers who can play a lifesaving role in combating trafficking.”