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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MARCH 20, 2026 Page 17 Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 51 - Report No. 11 March 9-13, 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. ALLOW FOR TRANSLATION AND TRANSCRIPTION (H 5093) House 12-145, rejected an amendment to a bill that would prohibit the distribution of deceptive artifi cial intelligence (AI) communications within 90 days of an election, including audio or visual media which depicts a candidate with intent to injure their reputation or deceive a voter into voting for or against them. The amendment would narrow the language to allow the use of AI for translation and transcription. Amendment sponsor Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver) said the bill travels dangerously close to the edge of First Amendment violations, especially when we’re talking about challengers and grassroots organizations that have smaller budgets than establishment and incumbent positions. He noted that AI is now being used as a low-cost tool for these organizations to be able to generate transcriptions and translations to get their information out to more people, and in multiple languages. Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfield) opposed the amendment and said that the bill does nothing to aff ect free speech. She noted that the measure refers to misinformation, not just of a candidate, but of the underlying infrastructure that we need to trust to have elections. Like where the polling place is and what the times are. It talks about actual malice and intent. It’s not a mistake somebody makes, it’s about intent. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle No PROPANE FUEL (H 5151) House 25-128, rejected an amendment to a bill that supporters said would result in over $9 billion in savings for utility ratepayers over the next ten years. The amendment would provide that if a propane vendor fails to perform timely delivery cent to 3.5 percent. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle No ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL CHANGE THE BAY STATE’S of propane, as required under a signed agreement, and the failure results in the customer’s propane supply being depleted or critically low, the customer would have the right to sign a new contract with another licensed propane vendor, regardless of whether the tank or equipment is owned or leased by the original vendor. Amendment sponsor Rep. John Marsi (R-Dudley) said that many people rely on propane for heat and hot water. He noted that a large propane company bought up several smaller ones and then laid people off , resulting in seniors who weren’t able to get their deliveries on time. He said his amendment simply would allow customers to use another vendor to fulfi ll their propane needs in an emergency situation, if their contract is broken. Rep. Mark Cusack (D-Braintree) opposed the amendment and said that this is a more complicated issue and that the amendment should be fi led as separate bill so the Legislature can hold public hearings on it. He urged members not to rush this amendment through the House. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle No GREEN ENERGY (H 5151) House 25-139, rejected an amendment to a current law that requires retail electrical suppliers to provide a minimum percentage of kilowatt-hour sales to customers from renewable energy generating sources. The amendment would eliminate the renewable energy requirement if compliance would not be cost eff ective or would result in additional costs to consumers. Rep. Paul Frost (R-Auburn), the sponsor of the amendment, said that he is not opposed to green energy in general but is opposed to its mandated use when it is more expensive than conventional energy. He noted that currently off shore wind and solar energy is more expensive than conventional energy and the higher costs result in the ratepayers paying more. Rep. Mark Cusack (D-Braintree) said he opposed the amendment because it is duplicative of what is already within the power of state’s Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to do. He noted that DOER did just that this year when it reduced the requirement from 3.7 perTIME ZONE (S 2157) – Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) announced her support for S 2157 – a bill that would make Atlantic Standard Time the standard year-round time in Massachusetts, and would put an end to the practice of switching between Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time. This means that people would no longer change the clocks in the Spring and Fall. The change would only take eff ect if two or more neighboring states (ConCity of Everett PLANNING BOARD 484 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Frederick Cafasso- Chairman LEGAL NOTICE EVERETT PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Public Hearing on an application by ILPB Ventures, LLC Property located at: 22-26 Elm Road Site Plan Review In accordance with the provisions of M.G.L Chapter 40A and with Sections 4 and 19 of the Everett Zoning Ordinance, the Everett Planning Board will conduct a public hearing on Monday, April 6, 2026 at 6:00PM in the Speaker George Keverian Room (Room 37, Everett City Hall) to consider the above-listed application for Site Plan Review. This proposal contemplates the redevelopment of a 5,010 sq. ft. parcel of land currently occupied by a multifamily structure and garage. By the present application, Applicant seeks to construct an addition to the existing dwelling, demolish the existing garage structure, and perform an interior fit-up to the existing dwelling, resulting in a three-story dwelling containing seven (7) units and a surface parking lot containing 6 parking spaces. 22-26 Elm Road is a parcel of land located in the Dwelling District and is referenced by Assessor’s Department as D0-05-000032. A copy of the application and plans are on file and available in the Office of the City Clerk and the Department of Planning and Development, both located at City Hall, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149 and can be inspected online anytime at http://www.cityofeverett.com/449/PlanningBoard and/or by request during regular City Hall business hours by contacting The Planning and Development Office at 617-394-2334. All persons interested in or wishing to be heard on the applications may attend and participate in person. This project, along with all other projects to be discussed at the meeting, can be found on the posted Agenda at the following link: http://www.cityofeverett.com/AgendaCenter. Questions and comments can be directed in advance of the public hearing to Jeannie Vitukevich of the Department of Planning & Development at Jeannie.Vitukevich@ci.everett.ma.us or 617394-2230. Frederick Cafasso Chairman March 20, 27, 2026 necticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island or Vermont) also adopt similar legislation. Within 120 days of this new law taking effect, Gov. Maura Healey would be required to petition the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to include Massachusetts within the Atlantic Standard Time Zone. Under current federal law, a state cannot simply unilaterally decide to change their time zone. Any change would have to be approved by the DOT. Currently, 48 states have Daylight Saving – the exceptions being Hawaii and Arizona. Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 BEACON | SEE PAGE 18

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