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Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – WEDnEsDAy, July 3, 2024 GET A FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO MASSTERLIST – Join more than 22,000 people, from movers and shakers to political junkies and interested citizens, who start their weekday morning with MASSterList—the popular newsletter that chronicles news and informed analysis about what’s going on up on Beacon Hill, in Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications. MASSterlist will be e-mailed to you FREE every Monday through Friday morning and will give you a leg up on what’s happening in the blood sport of Bay State politics. For more information and to get your free subscription, go to: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/aPTLucKs THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of June 24-28. $540 MILLON FISCAL 2024 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (H 4790) House 153-1, approved and sent to the Senate a $540 million fiscal 2024 supplemental budget to close out the books for fiscal year 2024. Provisions include millions of dollars in funding for 18 collective bargaining agreements; $26.5 million for citBeacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen ies and towns to prepare for and celebrate in 2026 the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution; $5.5 million for tax abatements for veterans, widows, blind persons and the elderly; and $29.6 million for Income-Eligible Child Care; $2.1 million for Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Services. Supporters said the bill funds necessary and important projects and programs to help close out the books on fiscal 2024. Rep. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica), the only member who voted against the bill, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to comment on why he opposed the bill. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes BAN HOME EQUITY THEFT (H 4791) House 154-0, approved and sent to the Senate a measure that would prohibit cities and towns that foreclose on properties on which the owner owes back property taxes, from keeping all of the profits when the city or town sells the property at auction. Current Massachusetts law allows this practice. The bill would allow the city or town to keep only the amount owed in back taxes and send the remainder to the owner. Last year, the United States Supreme Court ruled that cities and towns that foreclose on properties on which the owner owes back property taxes, cannot keep all of the profits when the city or town sells the property at auction. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, writing a unanimous decision about a similar Minnesota law, said that “a taxpayer who loses her $40,000 house to the state to fulfill a $15,000 tax debt has made a far greater contribution to the public fisc than she owed.” “This legislation provides much needed consumer protections to property owners and clarity to municipalities on tax lien procedures,” said Rep. Mark Cusack (D-Braintree), House Chair of the Committee on Revenue. “Equity will now be returned to its rightful owner while making cities and towns whole.” The bill was based on earlier versions of the measure sponsored by Reps. John Mahoney (D-Worcester), Tram Nguyen (D-Andover) and Jeff Roy (D-Franklin), “For far too long, unscrupulous collectors have taken advantage of Massachusetts homeowners in foreclosure,” said Mahoney. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS LAND COURT DEPARTMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT Docket No. 24 SM 002347 ORDER OF NOTICE TO: David P. Connolly and to all persons entitled to the benefit of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. c. 50 §3901 (et seq): US Bank Trust National Association, Not In Its Individual Capacity But Solely As Owner Trustee For VRMTG Asset Trust claiming to have an interest in a Mortgage covering real property in Everett, numbered 43 Charlton Street, Unit No. B-108, of the Charleston Lofts Condominium, given by David P. Connolly to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as mortgagee, as nominee for StonehamBank - A Co-operative Bank, its successors and assigns, dated February 25, 2010, and recorded in Middlesex County (Southern District) Registry of Deeds in Book 54334, Page 371, and now held by the Plaintiff by assignment, has/have filed with this court a complaint for determination of Defendant’s/Defendants’ Servicemembers status. If you now are, or recently have been, in the active military service of the United States of America, then you may be entitled to the benefits of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. If you object to a foreclosure of the above -mentioned property on that basis, then you or your attorney must file a written appearance and answer in this court at Three Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108 on or before 08/12/2024 or you may lose the opportunity to challenge the foreclosure on the ground of noncompliance with the Act. Witness, GORDON H. PIPER Chief Justice of this Court on 6/26/2024 Attest: Deborah J. Patterson, Recorder July 3, 2024 “This legislation rectifies this systematic problem once and for all. By protecting the hard-earned equity of our neighbors, while balancing the needs of cities and towns, we can stifle the corruption of bad-faith lienholders and make the commonwealth a more prosperous place for working families. “The best way for property owners to keep the equity in their homes, is for them to keep their homes,” said Nguyen. “This bill protects homeowners by providing better notices in the municipal tax lien process and presenting opportunities to cure deficiencies.” “Today’s vote by the Legislature makes the tax taking process more just and erases the patently unfair and unconstitutional processes used to rob homeowners of their home’s equity built over years,” said Roy. “The bill enhances due process protections which will ensure that a homeowner receives adequate notice and affirms their right and opportunity to claim that equity. Moreover, this significant legislative step provides homeowners with an equitable process for resolving tax delinquencies and rectifies constitutional problems with the current law.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes $3.4 BILLION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE (H 4789) House 155-2, approved and sent to the Senate a $3.4 billion economic development package that supporters said includes an array of investments and policy initiatives that aim to bolster support for workers and businesses, particularly in the life sciences, clean energy technology and manufacturing industries, while retaining a larger focus on making Massachusetts more affordable and competitive. Provisions include $500 million for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to provide grants and loans to grow the life sciences industry in Massachusetts; $400 million for MassWorks public infrastructure grants to cities and towns; $150 million for grants for cities and towns for library projects; $100 million for the Rural Development Program providing financial assistance to exclusively rural areas; $100 million for the Seaport Economic Council Grant program for municipalities for the construction and repair of coastal assets; and $100 million for Applied AI Hub Capital grant program to support the adoption and application of AI technology in the state’s tech sectors. The bill includes several tax credits including a $30 million annual tax credit for a program to expand the Climatetech industry; $7 million annual tax credit to support pre-Broadway, pre-off Broadway, national tour launches and regional professional theater productions; $5 million per year, to support the production of video games; and a $10 million tax credit for employers, consisting of $100,000 per employee that employ for 12 weeks a recent graduate of a public or private institution of higher education in Massachusetts. “Through billions of dollars in critical investments and tax credits, the House’s economic development bill provides support for companies at the forefront of innovation in the clean energy and the life sciences sectors, among other burgeoning industries,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “Ultimately, this legislation will help to ensure that the commonwealth remains a hub for those industries of the future, while also enhancing support for workers across Massachusetts.” “This well-rounded economic development package makes significant, targeted investments into major sectors of the commonwealth’s economy,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “By renewing our commitment to the life sciences industry, and by making significant new investments into ClimateTech, we will be elevating the commonwealth’s economy to be able to compete and thrive for years to come.” “This legislation promotes economic growth across all regions of the state and makes several targeted investments in key sectors like life sciences and climatetech,” said Rep. Jerry Parisella (D-Beverly), House chair of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “Highlights of this session’s bill include $700 million in meaningful tax credits, new permitting reforms, workforce training and consumer protections around ticket sales, electric vehicle charging and home improvement contractors. This is an exciting time in Massachusetts history and I’m proud of the work done to keep us not only competitive, but a leader in vital industries.” Reps. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) and Nicholas Boldyga (RSouthwick), the only two members to vote against the bill, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to comment on the bill and why they opposed it. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes CLEAN ENERGY (S 2829) Senate 38-2, approved and sent to the House climate legislation that supporters say will make systemic changes to the state’s clean energy infrastructure that will help the state achieve its net zero emissions by 2050 goals. They say it will also expand electric vehicle use and infrastructure and protect residents and ratepayers. The bill would ban competitive energy suppliers from enrolling new individual residential customers – a move that supporters say will save residents’ money and protect residents from unfair and deceptive practices. Other provisions would lower utility rates for consumers with low- and middle-incomes by directing utility providers to offer lower rates to eligible consumers; consolidate the review of clean energy siting and permitting and expedite the timeline of projects; extend through 2027 the state’s MOR-EV program which gives residents $3,500-$6,000 for the purchase of new or used electric vehicles; allow residents who own parcels within condominiums, homeowner associations and historic districts to install EV chargers; make it easier to decarbonize buildings across the state; modernize the ‘bottle bill’ by adding noncarbonated beverages, wine and spirits to the list of containers eligible for a bottle deposit and increasing the deposit amount from 5 cents to 10 cents; and rein in a statutory provision that for decades has given gas companies a preferential ratemaking advantage over providers of other heating sources. “Today’s vote isn’t just a step toward reaching our net-zero emissions mandate,” said Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem (D-Newton), Chair of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change. “It’s a leap toward a greener, cleaner future. The gas system reforms in the Senate climate bill make Massachusetts the national leader in the transition from gas to clean forms of heating, and they also protect residents’ wallets.” “We are in a climate crisis,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “The Senate has heard loud and clear from resiBEACON | SEE PAGE 19

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