By Bob Katzen

“This data confirms that Massachusetts is losing talent and taxable income to lower-cost, lower-tax competitors. These numbers validate what anecdotal evidence, and common sense, have been telling us all along: High state taxes, including the income surtax, are driving people away from Massachusetts.” Continue reading THIS WEEK’S QUOTABLE QUOTES ON BEACON HILL →

By Bob Katzen

The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to a measure that would prohibit any prisoner from being transferred to another state and being required to work on labor projects in that state. The ban does not apply if the governor determines that an emergency in another state or territory creates the need for inmates or prisoners to be transferred from the Bay State and the prisoner agrees in writing to be transferred.
Continue reading PRISON LABOR (H 5125) →

By Bob Katzen

The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to a bill that would mandate that airline catering employees be paid at least the same minimum wage as many other Massport employees. Since 2023, the minimum wage for certain Massport service workers has been $17 per hour. These roles include wheelchair assistants, skycaps, ticket agents, janitorial staff, aircraft and cabin cleaning and baggage handlers.
Continue reading MINIMUM WAGE (H 2145) →

By Bob Katzen

The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to legislation designed to protect the rights and money of workers who receive their wages through electronic wage cards from their employers. It updates Massachusetts wage laws to reflect the increasing use of payroll card accounts and is designed to ensure that employees who are paid through electronic wage cards have full, fair and transparent access to their earned wages.
Continue reading ELECTRONIC WAGE CARDS (H 2074) →

By Bob Katzen

The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to a bill requiring banks and other mortgage lenders to delay foreclosure proceedings for 60 days after the death of a borrower and to refrain from taking any action to accelerate foreclosure proceedings. The surviving spouse or family member must notify the lender and provide proof of the death of the borrower for the halt on foreclosure to take effect.
Continue reading WIDOWED SPOUSES AND FORECLOSURES (H 1329) →

By Bob Katzen

The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to a measure that would mandate that the signing of a residential lease for renewal cannot be required to be executed more than four months in advance of the termination date of the current lease agreement.
Continue reading LEASE SIGNING (H 336) →

By Bob Katzen

The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to a bill that would ensure that firefighters who become full-time can receive creditable service for their time as call firefighters, or part-time firefighters, regardless of what fire department they worked at.

Continue reading FIREFIGHTER RIGHTS (S 2960) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 38-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that would establish October 15th as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day to increase public awareness of the prevalence of pregnancy loss and the physical and mental toll individuals face following a pregnancy loss. The day would also include loss from an unsuccessful round of intrauterine insemination or of an assisted reproductive technology procedure, a failed adoption arrangement, a failed surrogacy arrangement, a diagnosis or event that impacts pregnancy or fertility, a stillbirth or the death of the newborn child.
Continue reading PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS AWARENESS DAY (S 2145) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 38-0, approved and sent to the House legislation, named the PETS Act, that supporters said would end the inhumane puppy-mill-to-pet-shop system by banning commercial sales of cats and dogs in pet stores; ending harsh, unnecessary testing of animal subjects for non-medical purposes; strengthening animal cruelty protections; and prohibiting breed-based discrimination in public housing and insurance coverage.
Continue reading PETS (S 3014) →

By Bob Katzen

House 25-128, rejected an amendment that would provide a minimum of $100 million annually from the surtax surplus to cities and towns which must use 50 percent of the funds for the repair, maintenance, construction or reconstruction of roads and bridges and 50 percent for public school facilities and equipment. Each city and town would receive a proportional share of the $100 million based on its population as a percentage of the state’s total population as determined by the most recent federal decennial census or the most recent annual municipal census certified by the secretary of state, whichever is more recent.
Continue reading $100 MILLION FOR CITIES AND TOWNS (H 5264) →

By Bob Katzen

House 150-5, approved and sent to the Senate a $1.8 billion supplemental budget that funds $885 million in public transportation including $740 million for the MBTA; $417 million for public education; and millions for several fiscal year 2026 deficiencies.
Continue reading $1.8 BILLION SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET PARTIALLY FUNDED BY MILLIONAIRE’S TAX (H 5264) →