Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, FEbRuARy 27, 2026 Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 51 - Report No. 8 February 16-20, 2026 By Bob Katzen THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on local representatives’ votes on roll calls from prior sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. EARLIER READING INTERVENTION (H 4672) House 23-131, rejected an amendment to a bill that would provide a framework for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to identify and approve a list of high-quality curricula that school districts will select from for kindergarten through third grade literacy. The amendment would require early intervention by the school when a student is “at risk” of falling behind in reading skills. It would replace lanType of Person Needed: * Are you an experienced/willing to learn, motivated person looking for a shop where your skills can be valued? 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Perform light duty mechanical preventive duties, including Fleet preventive maintenance. * State Inspection Services * Miscellaneous shop duties Requirements: * Valid driver’s license with good driving history * Possess or pass the required State Inspector License Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Saturday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM * Rate will be based on experience Contact: Ed Hyde or David Morovitz Call: 781-322-9401 Email: ehyde@maldentrans.com Website: www.maldentrans.com guage that requires early intervention only when a student is already behind. Amendment sponsor Rep. Alyson Sullivan-Almeida (R-Abington) said the amendment would make a small but signifi cant change that would require schools to act proactively rather than waiting for significant underperformance before providing support for that child. She said that earlier intervention would give students a better chance of success. Rep. Ken Gordon (D-Bedford) said the amendment will create a vague, non-precise and unenforceable standard. He said it is hard to determine when a student is “at risk” of falling behind. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle No SPECIAL COMMISSION ON FAMILY CAREGIVING (H 4704) House 154-0, approved an amendment that would cre~ HELP WANTED ~ ate a special legislative commission to conduct a comprehensive study on family caregiving policy in the Bay State including an evaluation of all state-funded eff orts in caregiving research, clinical care, institutional and home-based and community-based services and an investigation into the potential fi scal, access and quality impacts of allowing spouses to serve as paid caregivers in the MassHealth program. Amendment sponsor Rep. Mike Kushmerek (D-Fitchburg) said that one in ten Massachusetts residents serve as a caregiver to a loved one and noted this is one of the most important and diffi cult jobs. He said that the commission will work to fi nd innovative ways to keep seniors aging in place at home and our young, disabled population in our communities with their families. He noted it will study ways to help the caregivers perform this overwhelming task. He noted that his fi rst-hand experience as a caregiver for his parents for ten years showed him how diffi cult the job is. He said it was among the best and most heartbreaking experiences of his lifetime. He said that you give up a part of yourself to be a caregiver. You do it because you love the people, and you do it because often there’s nobody else. He noted that nothing could have prepared him for the job -- going from being a 22-year-old student focused on college parties and fi nal exams to learning MassHealth waivers and leaning medication management. He noted that caregivers often do not have significant resources, support or education on how best to advocate for those they love. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL INCREASE TAX RELIEF TO VETERANS (S 1948) – The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to a Senate-approved bill that would allow cities and towns to hike from the current $1,500 to $2,000, the property tax break for veterans and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans in exchange for their providing volunteer services to their municipality. Supporters said that veteran and senior work-off programs were originally designed to operate in parallel but while the Legislature recently raised the senior cap to refl ect rising costs of living, the veteran cap was not updated, creating an unintended disparity. “Our veterans have already given so much in service to our nation, and they deserve to be able to remain in the communities they call home,” said the bill’s sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Provincetown). “For many veterans on Cape Cod, the Islands and across Massachusetts, rising property taxes are putting undue pressure on household budgets that are already razor thin. This bill gives communities a meaningful property tax relief tool while recognizing the service veterans have already given so they may live with the dignity they have earned.” INCREASE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS OVER 70 (H 3236) – The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to a bill that would amend a current law that gives seniors 70 and older, who meet certain low-income qualifi cations, an exemption in the amount of $4,000 of taxable valuation of real property or the sum of $500, whichever would decrease the property tax by the most. The bill would allow a city or town to exercise a local option to increase the $4,000 to up to $8,000 and/or the $500 to up to $1,000; or by only increasing the $500 exemption to up to $2,000. The bill also retains current law that already permits cities and towns to reduce the age of eligibility to 65 or older. “I fi led this bill to make life a little more aff ordable for our senior citizens, by giving our cities and towns more fl exibility to do so when it comes to property taxes,” said sponsor Rep. Adam Scanlon (D-North Attleborough). “Seniors who have done so much for our communities and have deep roots here should not be pushed out of their lifelong homes by property taxes. I want our towns to have the freedom to expand this senior property tax exemption to be able to get seniors this tax relief.” PROPERTY TAX CAP FOR SENIORS 65 AND OLDER (H 3234) – The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to a bill that would allow local cities and towns to impose a property tax cap for some homeowners ages 65 and older. The cap would freeze the property tax at its current rate if the senior has a federal adjusted gross income of no more than $50,000 for a single income household, and $60,000 or less if married; and assets of $75,000 or less not including his or her primary residence and motor vehicle. “I sponsored this bill because homeowners who are 65 and older and living on fixed incomes should not be forced out of their homes by rising property taxes,” said sponsor Rep. Adrianne Ramos (D-North Andover). “Many seniors have spent decades contributing to their communities, and they deserve stability and predictability as they age. By limiting property tax increases for those who meet reasonable income and asset thresholds, this bill targets relief to the homeowners who need it most while maintaining fairness for taxpayers overall.” BILL RUSSELL AND BOB COUSY HIGHWAY (H 3727) – The House, on a voice vote without a roll call, gave initial approval to Legislation that would name the portion of the Massachusetts Turnpike between Boston and Worcester, “The Bill Russell and Bob Cousy Highway.” “I believe we should pay homage to celebrated Boston Celtics teammates and NBA champions, Bob Cousy and the late Bill Russell, who were not only exceptional athletes who brought many championships home to Boston, but who were also two great pillars of our community here in the commonwealth,” said sponsor Rep. David Linsky BEACON | SEE PAGE 19
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