By Bob Katzen

Former State Representative and Congressman Barny Frank died last week. Gov. Maura Healey ordered that all flags on state buildings be flown at half-mast.
Continue reading THIS WEEK’S QUOTABLE QUOTES ON THE PASSING OF CONGRESSMAN BARNEY FRANK →

By Bob Katzen

The Raise Up Massachusetts Coalition announced that the State Department of Revenue certified that Massachusetts collected more than $3.1 billion in revenue from the state’s 4 percent surtax on millionaires over the first ten months of the state’s current fiscal year. They said that is a 20 percent increase over the $2.5 billion collected at that same point last year.
Continue reading $3.1 BILLION IN REVENUE FROM THE NEW 4 PERCENT SURTAX ON MILLIONAIRES →

By Bob Katzen

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is awarding $254,000 in grant funding to Massachusetts to monitor water quality at beaches and to notify the public if elevated levels of bacteria make swimming unsafe.
Continue reading $254,000 TO MONITOR WATER QUALITY AT BAY STATE BEACHES →

By Bob Katzen

A new law that took effect last August requires landlords, instead of renters, to cover the cost of broker fees unless a renter is the one to hire the broker first.
Continue reading THE GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL WARN ABOUT ILLEGAL RENTER-PAID BROKER FEES →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate approved, on a voice vote without a roll call, a $2.737 billion bond bill to fund various local, regional and state transportation programs.

The package includes $300 million for cities and towns for local road and bridges — $200 million which 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 $2.737 BILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS INCLUDING $300 MILLION FOR LOCAL ROAD AND BRIDGES (H 5375) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would increase by $450,000 (from $300,000 to $750,000) funding for a grant program that helps pay for security guards at nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of being targeted for terrorist attacks or hate crimes.
Continue reading SECURITY GUARDS AT NONPROFITS (S 4) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would increase funding for YMCAs across the state by $800,000 (from $7.2 million to $8 million.)
Continue reading $800,000 FOR YMCA (S 4) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 35-4, upheld the ruling of Sen. Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont), the acting Senate president at the time of the ruling, that ten amendments which proposed tax reductions will be prohibited from being debate and voted on by the Senate.
Continue reading PROHIBIT TAX REDUCTION AMENDENTS FROM BEING CONSIDERED (S 4) →

Senate 5-34, rejected an amendment to the current law, known as the MBTA Communities Act, which according to the state’s website, requires that an MBTA community “must have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right and meets other criteria including minimum gross density of 15 units per acre; and a location not more than 1/2 mile from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station. No age restrictions can be applied and the district must be suitable for families with children.”
Continue reading MBTA COMMUNITIES ACT (H 4000) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 36-4, approved an amendment that would repeal a current law, often called “Learnfare,” that allows the state to reduce Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) financial assistance to families whose children under age 16 have excessive unexcused school absences. The reduction or end to the benefits would apply only to the aid received by the child with the unexcused absences.
Continue reading UNEXCUSED SCHOOL ABSENCES AND WELFARE BENEFITS (S 4) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 4-35, rejected an amendment that would provide $300,000 for the Inspector General to conduct an investigation into the spending by and practices of the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) which provides health insurance coverage for the 460,000 public employees, retirees and dependents.
Continue reading $300,000 TO INVESTIGATE THE GROUP INSURANCE COMMISSION (S 4) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 40-0, approved a $63.37 billion fiscal 2027 state budget after three days of debate. The House has already approved a different version, and a House-Senate conference committee will eventually craft a compromise plan that will be presented to the House and Senate for consideration and then sent to Gov. Maura Healey.
Continue reading SENATE APPROVES $63.37 BILLION FISCAL 2027 STATE BUDGET (S 4) →

By Bob Katzen

House 156-0, approved a bill designed to improve interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder during traffic stops. Continue reading AUTISM AND POLICE STOPS (H 5438) →

By Bob Katzen

House 155-1, approved and sent to the Senate legislation that makes it illegal for a person to manufacture, modify, sell, transfer, possess or operate a robotic device equipped or mounted with a weapon. Other provisions prohibit anyone from using a robotic device to threaten to commit a crime, criminally harass a person or physically restrain or attempt to physically restrain a person; and exempt law enforcement agencies from the proposed new law.
Continue reading DRONES (H 5444) →

By Bob Katzen

House 155-1, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would mandate that hospitals screen all newborns for congenital cytomegalovirus (CCMV) by using saliva or Urine Polymerase Chain Reaction tests. The cost of providing the screening would be required to be a covered benefit by all health insurers.
Continue reading BIRTH DEFECTS (H 5441) →

By Bob Katzen

House 154-0, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would expand access to epinephrine autoinjectors that are used to treat anaphylaxis – a severe, sudden and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
Continue reading EPINEPHRINE TO TREAT ANAPHYLAXIS (H 5443) →