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Page 14 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 14, 2026 Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 51-Report No. 32 August 3-7, 2026 By Bob Katzen T HE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call reports local representatives’ votes on roll calls from recent sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND OTHER DEMENTIAS (H 5613) House 155-0, approved and sent to the Senate legislation that supporters say would strengthen dementia care, improve support for families and caregivers, expand workforce training and enhance public health efforts to address Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. They noted the bill takes a comprehensive approach to improving care for individuals living with dementia while equipping health - LEGAL NOTICE - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Middlesex Probate and Family Court 10-U Commerce Way Woburn, MA 01801 (781) 865-4000 Docket No. MI24P6056EA Estate of: PATRICIA MARIE SULLIVAN Also known as: PATRICIA SULLIVAN Date of Death: 06/02/2014 CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION To all interested persons: A Petition for S/A - Late and Limited Formal Testacy and/or Appointment has been filed by Robert Sullivan of Medford, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that: Robert Sullivan of Medford, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 09/02/2026. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affidavit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, Hon. Terri L. Klug Cafazzo, First Justice of this Court. Date: August 05, 2026 TARA E. DeCRISTOFARO REGISTER OF PROBATE August 14, 2026 care providers, fi rst responders, hospitals and state agencies with the tools and resources needed to better serve patients. The legislation establishes mandatory dementia training programs for municipal and state law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel including a minimum of two hours of initial instruction followed by biennial continuing education; expands notifi cation requirements so that families or legal representatives are informed of an initial diagnosis of any dementia; enhances protections for patients and families by requiring acute care hospitals to allow medically appropriate visitation for patients living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, as well as those exhibiting symptoms of cognitive impairment; expands the state’s Health Care Workforce Loan Repayment Program to provide loan repayment assistance for professionals specializing in geriatrics and geriatric psychiatry, in order to help recruit and retain clinicians with expertise in caring for older adults; and requires the Department of Public Health to expand public awareness eff orts on brain health and dementia through culturally relevant education campaigns. “Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are devastating illnesses that profoundly aff ect not only those diagnosed, but also the families and caregivers faced with the challenges of caring for their loved one,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “This legislation is about ensuring that the commonwealth is doing all that it can to care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias by strengthening training, by improving coordination across the health care system and by investing in a workforce that is better prepared to provide the care that diagnosed individuals need.” “While the commonwealth is a global pioneer in advancing Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia treatment and prevention, we can’t rest on our laurels,” said Rep. Tom Stanley (D-Waltham), House Chair of the Committee on Aging and Independence. “The prevalence of Alzheimer’s and related dementia is expected to increase substantially over the next decade and at the same time we are experiencing workforce challenges and a shrinking pool of family caregivers.” “With passage of this legislation, we demonstrate our continued commitment to Massachusetts residents living with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, as well as to their caregivers and healthcare providers,” said Rep. Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough) the sponsor of an earlier version of the measure. “This work began eight years ago with the passage of landmark Alzheimer’s legislation that made Massachusetts a national leader. Despite that work, dementia diagnoses are becoming more frequent, and patients and their caregivers need more help. As scientific advances continue to improve treatment options and make headway on a cure, so too must we in government adapt and implement policy such as the one we voted on today that will change lives for the better.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes PRIMARY CARE AND HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY (H 5630) House 158-0, approved a bill that supporters say would expand access to primary care, shift the health care system toward prevention, invest in the health care workforce, support hospitals and community health centers, improve affordability by lowering prescription drug costs and increase accountability across the health care system. They noted the measure establishes historic primary care investment targets; creates advanced primary care payment models that reward prevention and coordinated care; expands access to innovative models of care; creates an expedited determination of need process to expand equitable care access; and strengthens oversight to ensure primary care investments actually improve access, lower costs and support a sustainable, patient-centered health care system. The Senate has already approved a diff erent version of the proposal and a House-Senate conference committee has been appointed to hammer out a compromise version. Provisions of the House bill include $25 million to ensure there are a suffi cient number of health care professionals by funding scholarships, student loan repayment, primary care career pathways and workforce recruitment and retention; establishment of statewide primary care investment targets that gradually increase spending to 9% by 2030, 12% by 2033 and 15% by 2036; expanding the allowable uses of the Commonwealth Federal Matching and Debt Reduction Fund to help the state respond to an estimated $3.5 billion loss of federal funding; expanding access to health care by strengthening community-based providers and allowing more patients to receive care where they live; establishing safeguards for AI in health insurance utilization review to ensure technology supports, not replaces, clinical decision-making; and reducing out-of-pocket prescription drug costs by requiring most manufacturer rebates to be applied at the pharmacy counter. “When primary care leads the way on patient wellness, the entire system benefits,” said Rep. Kathy LaNatra (D– Kingston), the chair of House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability. “This legislation will help move more of our health dollar toward high-value primary care that delivers better outcomes BEACON | SEE PAGE 16

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