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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 20, 2025 Page 19 BEACON | FROM PAGE 18 without paying the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax. State law currently calls for a 2-day sales tax holiday every year. This bill simply sets the specific dates. “The sales tax holiday is a wonderful opportunity for our residents to get out into their communities, support local businesses, get their kids ready for school in fall or make a purchase that they’ve been putting off,” said co-sponsor Sen. Adam Gómez (D-Springfield), Senate Chair of the Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses. “I am glad that our leaders here in the Legislature have been able to work and get this done again for our residents this year, and I look forward to hearing how residents are able to make the most of the tax reprieve.” “I was proud to sponsor the legislation establishing this year’s sales tax holiday that helps boost our economy and provides support and relief for our residents and small businesses,” said co-sponsor Rep. Carole Fiola (D-Fall River), House Chair of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “This is an important weekend that helps bolster our economy and I applaud my colleagues in passing this legislation to provide individuals, families and businesses across the commonwealth with some relief.” “Lowering costs for Massachusetts residents and supporting local businesses is critical for our communities in this time of economic uncertainty,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “This year’s temporary suspension of the sales tax will bring consumers needed economic relief while boosting revenue for small businesses and retailers,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). AGE OF CONSENT (S 1104) – The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on legislation that would change the current law under which someone who just turned 16-yearsold can be prosecuted for statutory rape for having a sexual relationship with someone just under 16. The bill establishes a closein-age exception (often called a “Romeo and Juliet” clause) for certain sexual offenses involving minors, ensuring that consensual relationships between teenagers close in age are not subject to severe criminal penalties. The bill amends laws on indecent assault and battery and statutory rape to prevent prosecution when the defendant is no more than two years older than a minor who is at least 13 years old. It also mandates that juvenile defendants be processed through the juvenile court system rather than adult court when applicable. “In Massachusetts, someone who just turned 16-years-old can be prosecuted for statutory rape for having a sexual relationship with someone just under 16 years old,” said sponsor Sen. Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). “While the intent of protecting young people is a good one, the way the law currently exists can cause unintended consequences for young people who are in love. Rather than arbitrarily lowering the age of consent, my bill creates a framework that looks at the nature of the age gap between young people and establishes a two-year age difference between the consenting young adults as the determinant of whether criminal charges can be brought.” Fernandes continued, “Thus, if someone is one month shy of age 16 and has a sexual relationship with someone older, that older person cannot be charged criminally as long as they are no more than two years older than the younger partner – in this case, one month shy of age 18. My bill takes into account the current realities for young adults in Massachusetts and removes the extreme jeopardy of the law as currently written, which provides penalties of up to life imprisonment even for a 16-year-old, who has a sexual relationship with someone just under 16.” JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND THEIR VICTIMS (H 1792) – Another measure before the Judiciary Committee would direct the state’s courts to make all reasonable efforts to ensure that victims of crimes perpetrated by juvenile offenders receive restitution, and that juvenile offenders be required to repair, replace or otherwise make restitution for any damage or loss caused by their crime. This bill also requires that the juvenile court make restitution a condition of release, placement or parole for the juvenile offender. “Crime victims face many hardships, not only as they deal with the emotional toll of the crime itself, but also with the related financial repercussions,” said sponsor Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “We should not compound their suffering by adding to their financial burden but should instead make it easier for them to receive restitution, which is what [my bill] seeks to do.” MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE HEARING – The Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hearing on several bills including: EXEMPT LOCAL BILLS FROM REQUIRING THE LEGISLATURE’S APPROVAL (S 1471) – Would remove the current requirement that the Legislature review and approve of routine home rule petitions, filed in the Legislature by local cities and towns, that have minimal or no statewide impact, such as liquor license increases, charter changes and individual personnel exemptions from the state civil service law. “State legislative review of home rule petitions with limited to no statewide impact unnecessarily adds more red tape to established local processes,” said sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “It hinders our partners in municipal government from doing the jobs they were elected to do and restricts and confuses community members. Simply put, we just don’t need more confusion or longer wait times to implement what voters want in their own communities. My bill … would streamline the routine home rule process by eliminating state legislative review, thereby uplifting local decision-making so the right solutions for each of our 351 municipalities can be timely implemented.” REQUIRE TRAINING OF MEMBERS OF LOCAL CITY AND TOWNS BOARDS (S 1432) – Would require mandatory, standardized annual training for new members of key local board in cities and towns including boards of health, conservation commissions, planning boards and zoning boards of appeals. The training programs would be developed in consultation with the Massachusetts Municipal Association and would require all new board and commission members to complete these trainings prior to beginning their service. “I filed [the bill] because we rely on volunteers to make consequential decisions on local boards that shape everything from housing to public health, yet we don’t give them the training they need,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “This bill creates a simple, no-cost, standardized training so new board members understand the laws they’re upholding and can serve their communities effectively from day one.” RAISE FINES FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY (H 2247) – Would amend current law that imposes up to a 7-year prison sentence and/or $5,000 fine for a first offense of animal cruelty and a 10-year prison sentence and/or $10,000 fine for a second offense. The bill leaves the prison sentences as they are but raises the fines to $5,500 for a first offense and $11,000 for subsequent offenses. It also creates a special account where up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for subsequent offenses would go to fund improvements to animal shelters in the city or town in which the violations occurred. The proposal received initial House approval in 2021 but then died in committee because of lack of further action by the House. Sponsor Rep. Bruce Ayers (D-Quincy) said that Massachusetts in 2024 took a big step forward in animal rights and protection with the passage of Ollie’s law that established rules and regulations for dog kennels in the Bay State, to ensure animal welfare, protect consumers and keep kennel staff safe. “This bill seeks to build on that momentum by increasing penalties for animal cruelBEACON | SEE PAGE 20 - LEGAL NOTICE - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Middlesex Division Docket No. MI25P3144EA Estate of: THOMAS J. WALDEN Also Known As: THOMAS JAY WALDEN Date of Death: January 23, 2025 INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE To all persons interested in the above captioned intestate estate, by Petitioner Carole A. Smith of Sanford, ME Carole A. Smith of Sanford, ME has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond. The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any, can be obtained from the Petitioner. June 20, 2025

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