By Bob Katzen

QUOTABLE QUOTES – Gov. Maura Healey joined four former Bay State governors at Faneuil Hall to mark the 20th anniversary of Massachusetts’ landmark 2006 health care reform law.

Here’s what they said:

“Twenty years ago, Massachusetts showed the country what is possible when people come together and rise above partisan agendas to solve big challenges. This law expanded health coverage and made it a reality for people across our state, and today we are the best in the nation. Now, families and small businesses are facing a different challenge — the cost of care. That’s why we’re focused on lowering costs, cutting red tape and removing barriers to care to make sure people afford the best health care in the world. Massachusetts led then, and we are leading again.”
—Gov. Healey
Continue reading THIS WEEK’S QUOTABLE QUOTES ON BEACON HILL →

By Bob Katzen

The Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security held a hearing on legislation that would establish a special commission to review and recommend updates to school bus safety standards and operator training requirements; including potential adoption of safety sensors, additional monitors, enhanced training and other measures to protect students while on buses, during boarding, disembarking and at bus stops. The commission would be required to submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2026.
Continue reading SPECIAL COMMISSION TO EXAMINE SCHOOL BUS SAFETY (S 2861) →

By Bob Katzen

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on a measure that would establish the training, education and certification standards that must be met by law enforcement officers who investigate a death if a history of domestic violence is involved in the case.
Continue reading UNCOVERING STAGED SUICIDES (S 2743) →

By Bob Katzen

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on a measure that would establish the training, education and certification standards that must be met by law enforcement officers who investigate a death if a history of domestic violence is involved in the case.

Continue reading UNCOVERING STAGED SUICIDES (S 2743) →

By Bob Katzen

Another bill heard by the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee would require new vehicle manufacturers and retail vehicle establishments doing business in the state to clearly and conspicuously disclose the estimated tariff costs on their retail prices on websites and new vehicle labels.
Continue reading DISCLOSE TARIFFS ON CARS (H 5036) →

By Bob Katzen

The Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee held a hearing on legislation that would require that all commercial cash transaction in the Bay State be rounded to the nearest 5 or 10 cent intervals in order to remove the need for the penny. Amounts ending in 1, 2, 6 or 7 would be rounded down to the nearest 5 or 10-cent interval while amounts ending in 3, 4, 8 or 9 would be rounded up to the nearest 5 or 10-cent interval. Rounding rules would not apply to payments made electronically, with credit cards, checks, gift cards or other non-cash methods.
Continue reading ROUNDING PENNIES UP AND DOWN (H 5138) →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval, on a voice vote without a roll call, to a proposal that would repeal the current law that prohibits fraternal organizations from conducting more than three bazaars in a single calendar year. The bill does not alter another existing law which limits the organizations to only one event per day for no more than five consecutive hours.
Continue reading BAZAARS (H 4238) →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval, on a voice vote without a roll call, to legislation that would require automatic re-enrollment of eligible residents into the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) each year rather than forcing recipients to annually re-apply for benefits, as long as they continue to meet the program’s eligibility requirements. Continue reading ENERGY ASSISTANCE FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE (H 3509) →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval, on a voice vote without a roll call, to a measure that would allow public safety personnel with impaired health, presumed to have been suffered in the line of duty, to submit an affidavit attesting that the member underwent a physical exam upon beginning his or her service as a law enforcement official, if their employer failed to maintain these records.
Continue reading INJURED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS (S 1851) →

The House gave initial approval, on a voice vote without a roll call, to legislation that would allow cities and towns to establish a personal property tax exemption or abatement program, of up to $1,000 per child, for grandparent over the age of 55 who are raising their grandchild.
Continue reading PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE RAISING THEIR GRANDCHILD (H 3204) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 38-0, approved an amendment that would create a Drought Management Task Force within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, which supporters said would strengthen the state’s response to the increase in droughts that communities are experiencing.
Continue reading DROUGHT MANAGEMENT (S 3050) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 38-0 approved an amendment that would create a $15 million grant program, administered by the Department of Environmental Protection in consultation with the Executive Office of Education, to ensure access to clean drinking water in public schools and childcare centers across the state.
Continue reading $15 MILLION FOR CLEAN DRINKING WATER IN SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS (S 3050) →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 39-0, approved an amendment providing $25 million in bonding for the reduction of firefighters’ exposure to dangerous PFAS through three avenues – the purchase of PFAS-free protective turnout gear, the responsible disposal of equipment contaminated with PFAS and the research and development of safer turnout gear that does not contain PFAS.
Continue reading FIREFIGHTERS AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) (S 3050) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 36-3, approved and sent to the House an environmental bond bill, dubbed by supporters as the Mass Ready Act, which takes action to support the removal of “forever chemicals” from drinking water, help municipalities withstand floods and droughts and make outdoor recreation possible for more residents through improved trails and parks.
Continue reading ENVIRONMENTAL BILL (S 3050) →

By Bob Katzen

House 155-0, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that authorizes $4.58 billion in bonding for various local, regional and state transportation programs. The package includes $300 million for cities and towns for local roads and bridges — of which $200 million will be distributed to all municipalities based on the standard Chapter 90 Program distribution formula and another $100 million which will be distributed to all municipalities based solely on road mileage.
Continue reading $4.58 BILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS INCLUDING $300 MILLION FOR LOCAL ROAD AND BRIDGES (H 5375) →