By Bob Katzen

“For countless residents across the commonwealth, these programs offer access to everyday items they need, including food and medical services. Through the work of our fraud examiners, we continue to help ensure they operate with transparency, accountability and equity. Our team will continue to work to ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively and that resources are available to those who truly need and qualify for them.”
—State Auditor Diana DiZoglio on her Bureau of Special Investigations’ fraud report for fiscal year 2025 which identified $11.9 million in public assistance fraud, including more than $4.1 million in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and more than $1.3 million in in MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program that provides health care for low-income and disabled persons.
Continue reading THIS WEEK’S QUOTABLE QUOTES ON BEACON HILL →

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Healey marked the 20th anniversary of the Sen. Charles E. Shannon Jr. Community Safety Initiative (Shannon CSI) by announcing grant awards of $8.4 million to support evidence-based efforts that prevent and reduce youth and gang violence in communities across Massachusetts. Continue reading $8.4 MILLION TO PREVENT AND REDUCE YOUTH VIOLENCE →

By Bob Katzen

The Education Committee will hold a hearing on February 10 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on a measure that would allow students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to receive applied behavior analysis (ABA) services at their school — even if the services are administered by outside providers. Supporters said that currently school districts can impose undue requirements for ABA providers or deny access altogether.
Continue reading AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (H 4927) →

By Bob Katzen

The Public Health Committee held a hearing on legislation that would establish a special legislative commission on perimenopause and menopause care. Continue reading MENOPAUSE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS (H 4838) →

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Maura Healey filed a $62.8 billion fiscal 2027 state budget for the fiscal year 2027 that begins on July 1.

Healey’s office says that the budget does not propose any new taxes or fees and represents only a 1.1 percent growth over estimated fiscal year 2026 spending, the lowest spending rate since taking office and well under the rate of inflation. Continue reading GOVERNOR PROPOSES $62.8 BILLION FISCAL 2027 STATE BUDGET (H 2) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 37-0, approved and sent to the House a proposal that would designate January 30 of each year as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution in Massachusetts, in recognition of the birthday of Fred Korematsu and to educate about and honor his life, his perseverance, and his determination to advocate for the civil liberties of all Americans.
Continue reading JAPANSESE INTERNMENT CAMPS (S 2132) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 38-0, approved a bill that would require Massachusetts school districts to select kindergarten through 3rd grade reading curricula that meet guidelines set by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) based upon evidence-based literacy instruction and featuring phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and phonemic awareness. School districts would have until the start of the 2027-2028 school year to adopt a K-3 literacy curriculum that meets the new framework, or to secure approval from DESE for a waiver.
Continue reading LITERACY EDUCATION STANDARDS (S 2924) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 26-130, rejected an amendment that would create a Massachusetts AED Communities Fund to help cities and towns pay for AEDs at public stadiums, sports centers, gymnasiums or other facilities hosting or providing athletic or sporting events, and also pay for any necessary equipment and infrastructure to properly hold and charge the devices. Continue reading ESTABLISH FUND TO HELP COMMUNITIES PAY FOR DEFIBRILLATORS (H 4993) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 154-1, approved legislation that would require an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to be present at all public stadiums, sports centers, gymnasiums or other facilities hosting or providing athletic or sporting events. The measure does not apply to a school-sponsored athletic event at a school gymnasium.
Continue reading REQUIRE DEFIBRILLATORS AT SPORTING EVENTS (H 4993) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 154-1, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that seeks to increase the state’s trades’ workforce by requiring the hiring of apprentices for all contracts awarded for public works projects over $10 million. One year after the bill becomes law, it would require projects to hire apprentices to work 5 percent of the total amount of hours worked, 10 percent in three years and 15 percent in four years.
Continue reading REQUIRE APPRENTICESHIPS IN PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION (H 5032) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 156-0, approved a bill that would annually establish June 16 as Domestic Workers’ Rights Day to honor all domestic workers who work in private homes and in recognition of Massachusetts’ historic enactment of basic labor standards in the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights.
Continue reading DOMESTIC WORKERS’ RIGHTS DAY (H 3417) →