By Bob Katzen

THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call records the votes of local senators and representatives from the week of November 18-22.

As the holidays are getting underway, State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey and Chief Dennis Condon, president of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts announced a statewide cooking fire safety public awareness campaign urging residents to use caution while cooking.

By Bob Katzen

A bill before the Judiciary Committee would make it a crime punishable by up to five years in prison to intentionally coerce or encourage someone who

By Bob Katzen

The Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee is considering legislation that would prohibit “spoofing,” a practice used by telemarketing companies to have a phony

By Bob Katzen

The Judiciary Committee is considering several bills that would exempt certain people from jury duty. The exempt include a

By Bob Katzen

The Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight’s hearing last week included a measure that would

By Bob Katzen

The Massachusetts State Senate 36-4, approved and sent to the House a bill that would prohibit stores from providing customers with a single-use carryout bag — defined as “made of plastic, paper or other material that is

By Bob Katzen

Senate 7-32, rejected an amendment providing up to a $500 tax credit for smokers who purchase smoking cessation products or get counseling to stop smoking.
Amendment supporters said this

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 11-27, rejected an amendment that would exempt menthol cigarettes from the ban and allow them to be sold.

Amendment supporters said the

By Bob Katzen

The House 119-33, Senate 32-6, approved and sent to Gov. Baker a bill that would ban the sale of flavored vaping and tobacco products—including mint and menthol cigarettes—and impose a 75 percent excise tax on

By Bob Katzen

The House 155-0, Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the governor a bill making changes in the state’s campaign finance laws. Current law exempts legislative candidates and

By Bob Katzen

The House 155-0, Senate 40-0, approved and sent to Gov. Baker legislation designed to make it easier for children and their families to navigate the state’s complicated and often difficult to understand health care system. A key provision requires

By Bob Katzen

The House 154-1, Senate 38-1, approved and sent to Gov. Baker a bill that would prohibit drivers, except on-duty public safety personnel, from using a hand-held cellphone or other electronic device to make

By Bob Katzen

The House 156-0, Senate 39-0, approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker the Student Opportunity Act that invests $1.5 billion, mostly in the form of Chapter 70 Aid for local school districts, in the state’s public K-12 education system over the next seven years. The measure implements the recommendations of the