By Bob Katzen

“Massachusetts has never lacked for strengths. But if the last few years have shown us anything, it’s that those strengths are not permanent. They have to be fought for every day. And they have to be earned again by every generation. I want Massachusetts to remain the place where talented young people come to learn, work, innovate and stay.”
—Senate President Karen Spilka in a speech to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Forum.
Continue reading THIS WEEK’S QUOTABLE QUOTES ON BEACON HILL →

By Bob Katzen

Heading Home, Inc., a nonprofit provider of shelter, housing and support services for families and individuals, announced it is actively seeking to acquire a property to test what it calls “an innovative, scalable affordable housing solution for working-class families across Massachusetts.”
Continue reading AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR WORKING CLASS FAMILIES →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate approved, on a voice vote without a roll call, the House version of legislation designed to improve interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder during traffic stops. The Senate had previously approved its own version but last week agreed to the House version. This program was adopted by the Massachusetts State Police in 2024 but is not an actual law. This bill would codify the program into Massachusetts law. The proposal needs additional approval in each branch before it goes to Gov. Healey.
Continue reading AUTISM AND POLICE STOPS (H 5438) →

By Bob Katzen

The House, on a voice vote, without a roll call, gave initial approval to a bill that would ban the commercial sale of dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs in pet stores. The measure does allow pet shops to offer space to an animal rescue or shelter organization to showcase dogs, cats, rabbits or guinea pigs that are up for adoption as long as the pet shop does not have an ownership interest in the animals offered for adoption.
Continue reading PETS (H 4319) →

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that would modernize and remove archaic language in state laws to reflect the evolution of terminology relating to persons with disabilities.
Continue reading CHANGE ARCHAIC LANGUAGE REFERRING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (H 5474) →

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a measure 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 — $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 based solely on road mileage.
Continue reading $4.58 BILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS INCLUDING $300 MILLION FOR LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES (H 5375) →

By Bob Katzen

The House and Senate, on a voice vote without a roll call, approved a measure that would allow consumers to buy most products that cost under $2,500 on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9 without paying the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax. A 2018 state law, which made the sales tax holiday permanent, requires the Legislature to vote to set the dates of the holiday each year. The measure does not need the governor’s signature to become effective.
Continue reading 2026 SALES TAX HOLIDAY (S 3119 and H 5495) →

By Bob Katzen

Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that supporters say would guarantee certain basic rights for children in foster care related to their safety, education and health care. They argued that the measure safeguards the wellbeing of children, especially those in state care and foster care; increases access to community support for children at risk of court involvement; and strengthens the Office of the Child Advocate to support robust investigations into reports of harm or abuse to a child.
Continue reading CHILD WELFARE (S 3111) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 28-128, rejected an amendment to a section of a $228 million fiscal year 2026 supplemental budget that provides $22.5 million to cover the additional costs associated with no cost calls for Massachusetts prisoners. The amendment would delay the distribution of this funding until the Secretary of Administration and Finance develops and presents a plan to keep the annual expenditure from this line item under $10 million.
Continue reading NO-COST CALLS FOR PRISONERS (H 5493) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 156-0, approved and sent to the Senate legislation that would create a public database of violations of the state’s fire prevention laws and a public notification system to alert workers of violations.
Continue reading SAFETY FOR FIREFIGHTERS (H 5488) →

By Bob Katzen

House 2-154, rejected an amendment striking a current law which prevents employees of schools, libraires and museums from being prosecuted for violating obscenity laws if the evidence proves that the defendant was acting in the course of his or her employment as an employee of those entities.

Continue reading ELIMINATE LAW THAT PROTECTS EMPLOYEES FROM PROSECUTION (H 5489) →

By Bob Katzen

House 153-3, approved a bill that supporters said would protect people’s access to library materials and guard against politically motivated book bans in Bay State school libraries and public libraries. The bill requires local policies to be developed using nationally recognized library standards and lays out a process around challenges to library materials. The bill also protects librarians and school library professionals from retaliation.
Continue reading BANNING SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOKS AND MATERIALS (H 5489) →

SOMERVILLE —The City of Somerville is inviting all community members to the City’s annual Juneteenth flag raising ceremony on Tuesday, June 16, from noon to 1 p.m. on the City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave).
Continue reading Somerville Honoring Juneteenth with Flag Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, June 16 →