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Page 14 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, ApRil 24, 2026 Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 51 - Report No. 16 April 13-17, 2026 By Bob Katzen THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call reports local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of April 13-17. $4.58 BILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS INCLUDING $300 MILLION FOR LOCAL ROAD AND BRIDGES (H 5375) 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. Other provisions include $500 million for the Lifecycle Asset Management Program which aids non-federally funded roads and targets the pavement and bridges across the state that are in the worst condition; $200 million for capital projects to support housing development, including stormwater managemonwealth are deeply grateful to the House for moving so decisively on this legislation,” said Massachusetts Municipal Association Executive Director Adam ment, culverts and bike and pedestrian improvements; $200 million for a new accelerated deferred maintenance and modernization program for infrastructure under the care and control of the Department of Conservation and Recreation; and $200 million for the MBTA for the procurement of electrically powered locomotives. The legislation also reauthorizes $3.18 billion in funding for several programs included in the 2022 Transportation Bond Bill including $2.3 billion for projects on interstates and other federally aided highways; $800 million for improvements to non-federally aided roadways and bridges; $65 million for the Municipal Pavement Program for engineering, permitting, design and climate change adaptation on municipal ways; and $12 million for grants for the Shared Streets Program for improvements and projects to municipal streets to create additional capacity for pedestrians and cyclists. “Providing funding for critical infrastructure projects through investments in the commonwealth’s public transportation, roads and bridges is one of the most important responsibilities that we have as members of the Legislature,” said House Speaker Ron. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I’m proud of the support for local infrastructure repairs that this legislation provides, and of the funding included for the MBTA.” “Continuing the needed support for the commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure and programs, this legislation reauthorizes over $3 billion in programs from the 2022 Transportation Bond Bill and it mirrors the success of last year’s Chapter 90 increase for road mileage to grow regional equity,” said Rep. James Arciero (D-Westford), House Chair of the Committee on Transportation. “The House continues to proceed with caution while balancing the signifi - cant transportation needs of our cities and towns.” “Local leaders across the com~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ CITY OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS INVITATION FOR BIDS IFB No.: EPS-26-98 Project Name: INTERIOR PAINTING SERVICES The City of Everett is seeking sealed bids from qualified and DCAMM certified General Contractors for Interior Painting Services at the George Keverian School and the Sumner G. Whittier School. All work is subject to the applicable provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30, § 39M and Chapter 149, §§ 44A-44H inclusive. Attention is directed to the minimum wage rates to be paid on the work as determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Industries under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 149, §§ 26-27 inclusive. Specifications, bid documents, and instructions will be available beginning April 15, 2026 via download at https://cityofeverett. com/bids/. It is the sole responsibility of the bidder to register as a plan holder. Please note all addendum will be posted to the City’s website. Site Visit: See IFB Project Estimate: $300,000 Sealed Bids will be received until May 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM at the Procurement Department City Hall, Room 14, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149. The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive informalities when deemed in the best interest of the City. Kiara M. Freeman Chief Procurement Officer City of Everett April 24, 2026 Chapdelaine. “The Chapter 90 program remains the backbone of municipal infrastructure maintenance. By continuing this increased funding level, the Legislature is directly committing to improving the safety and reliability of our local roads. We are thrilled to see this momentum.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes ENVIRONMENTAL BILL (S 3050) 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 fl oods and droughts and make outdoor recreation possible for more residents through improved trails and parks. A key provision would prohibit single-use plastic bags at retail stores and instead allow shoppers to check out with a recyclable paper bag or a reusable plastic bag. Customers would be required to pay a minimum of 10 cents per recycled paper bag with 5 cents of the fee going to the Plastics Environmental Protection Fund and the other 5 cents going to the retailer. Retailers would have the option to make the fee more than 10 cents per bag. The bill exempts from the bag fee any business with not more than one store location, with an area of not more than 4,000 square feet of retail selling space and not more than ten employees, and which provided not more than 10,000 carryout bags in total during the previous calendar year. The measure also prohibits retailers from providing a customer with food serviceware, including cups, napkins, condiments, food containers, straws, plates, bowls, trays, cartons, stirrers, cup sleeves, cocktail sticks and toothpicks, unless requested by the customer. Another provision would create the Massachusetts Paint Stewardship Program, run by paint manufacturers, to coordinate the collection, recycling, reuse and environmentally sound disposal of used leftover house paint purchased by consumers. The program would be funded by adding a fee, estimated to be $1.45 per can, to paint sold in the Bay State. The bill mandates that under the plan, at least 90 percent of residents have a collection site within a 15-mile radius and that at least one collection site is established in each city and town with a population of 50,000 or more. The bill would authorize state borrowing to invest in a resilient environment and an accessible natural world including $500 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, supporting climate resiliency planning in cities and towns; $450 million for the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust to protect access to clean water; $120 million for PFAS remediation in public and private wells; $125.5 million to support resource conservation and preservation initiatives, including $5.5 million for the Healthy Soils Grant Program; $225 million for coastal infrastructure and resilience; $800.5 million for properties and roadways owned and managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation; and $521.6 million for state and municipally owned dams. Other provisions include $30 million for tree-planting initiative; $50 million for MassTrails Grants, including $10 million for accessibility upgrades that protect access to trails for all Massachusetts residents; $20 million for the growth and economic competitiveness of the state’s agricultural, commercial fi shing and cranberry-growing sectors; and $132.5 million for the Food Security InfrastrucBEACON | SEE PAGE 16

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