Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 15, 2025 BEACON | FROM PAGE 17 dents enjoy equal protection under our laws and full control over their own healthcare choices,” said Rep. Michael Day (D-Stoneham), House Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary. “We stand united in affirming that we will not allow radical prosecutors or politicians in other states to exploit legally protected healthcare decisions made here in the commonwealth for their own political gain.” “Today, we again affirm our residents’ right to make their own health care decisions—and that in Massachusetts, we will not discriminate against anyone based on the care they seek or provide,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “We will not cede ground to the Trump Administration as it attacks the rights and wellbeing of people seeking reproductive and gender-affirming care. By reinforcing our Shield Law, we are expanding protections further than ever before.” “As the Trump Administration and Republicans across the country continue to target individuals for exercising their right to make their own health care decisions in consultation with their doctor, this legislation is representa- Legal Notice - SUMMONS (FAMILY LAW) NOTICE TO RESPONDENT (Name) SONJA CHERRY You have been sued. Read the information below. Petitioner’s Name is: ROBERT E. GAMBLE CASE NUMBER: 23FL012557N You have 30 calendar days after this Summons and Petition are served on you to file a Response (Form FL-120) at the court and have a copy served on the petitioner. A letter, phone call, or court appearance will not protect you. If you do not file a Response on time, the court may make orders affecting your marriage or domestic partnership, your property, and custody of your children. You may be ordered to pay support and attorney fees and costs. For legal advice, contact a lawyer immediately. Get help finding a lawyer at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp), at the California Legal Services website (www.legalhelpca.org), or by contacting your local bar association. NOTICE - RESTRAINING ORDERS: These restraining orders are effective against both spouses or domestic partners until the petition is dismissed, a judgment is entered, or the court makes further orders. They are enforceable anywhere in California by any law enforcement officer who has received or seen a copy of them. FEE WAIVER: If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the clerk for a fee waiver form. The court may order you to pay back all or part of the fees and costs that the court waived for you or the other party. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA NORTH COUNTY DIVISION, 325 S. MELROSE DR., VISTA, CA 92081 The name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner’s attorney, or the petitioner without an attorney, are: ROBERT E. GAMBLE 1221 Eucalyptus Ave Vista, CA 92084 Tel: 508-615-2752 Date: 07 NOV 2023 Clerk by, T. Angulo, Deputy SUMMONS (Family Law) August 8, 15, 22, 29, 2025 tive of the Legislature’s commitment to preserving that fundamental right,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “This Shield Act builds on the commonwealth’s proud history of preserving and expanding access to reproductive and gender-affirming care by establishing new safeguards around patient data, and by protecting health care professionals who provide that vital care.” “It comes as no surprise that Gov. Healey would, unhesitatingly, endorse the expanded Shield Act,” said Catholic Action League Executive Director C. J. Doyle. “Healey has openly credited one of the leading proponents of the measure, Planned Parenthood--whose representatives attended the signing ceremony---with making her career in Massachusetts politics possible. Following her first election to public office, as Attorney General in 2014, Healey said her endorsement by Planned Parenthood was ‘a game changer for my campaign.’” Doyle continued, “As 22 states and the District of Columbia now have shield laws, concealing the identity, obstructing the extradition and absolving the liability of abortionists who send Mifepristone to states where its use is illegal, there is growing pressure for action to correct this overreach. Any attempt to invoke the clauses of the Shield Law to require that Catholic institutions perform so-called emergency abortions as part of ‘stabilizing care,’ would be met by a court challenge on First Amendment free exercise grounds.” “Gov. Healey and Massachusetts legislators have sadly, but predictably, bowed to ideology instead of protecting Massachusetts citizens, especially children,” said Sam Whiting, General Counsel to the Massachusetts Family Institute. “This ‘shield law’ only shields activist healthcare providers from transparency and accountability, all while infringing on the rights of other states to protect children from abortion and irreversible gender mutilation procedures.” “Beacon Hill Democrats showed us who they were and what their desired outcome is with the Shield act and Rep. Adrianne Ramos couldn’t have said it better that the Republicans want parents to have a say in their child’s life, to say no to transgender or abortion,” said Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver). “Democrats want to be the middleman between parents and their children. That is what this bill is about. They want to protect those that want to kill babies and mutilate children. When will this be enough? What are they going to add next year or better yet, take away from parents?” POSSIBLE 2026 BALLOT QUESTIONS – Sponsors of possible ballot questions for the November 2026 election faced their first deadline last week in the long process to get their proposed law on the ballot. Sponsors had until August 6 to submit their proposals and the signatures of ten citizens to Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office. There were 43 initiative petitions for proposed new laws filed with Campbell’s office. Campbell will decide by September 3 if the proposals pass muster and meet constitutional requirements. If an initiative petition for a proposed law is certified, the initiative’s proponents are required to gather and file with the Secretary of the State the signatures of 74,574 registered voters by December 3. The proposal would then be sent to the Legislature and if not approved by May 6, 2026, proponents must gather another 12,429 signatures by July 1, 2026, in order for the question to appear on the November 2026 ballot. Proposed laws include requiring voters to show identification at their polling places in order to be allowed to vote; overhauling or eliminating the financial stipends that legislative leaders award to many lawmakers for serving in the leadership and as committee chairs; subject the governor’s office and Legislature to the state’s public records law; allowing prospective voters to register and cast a ballot in a single trip to the polls on Election Day; enable Committee for Public Counsel Services staff -– which includes public defenders, social workers, investigators and administrative staff who support indigent clients -– to unionize; imposing rent control by curtailing rent increases to the cost of living with a 5 percent increase, with some exemptions; reducing the personal income tax rate from 5 percent to 4 percent over a three-year period; using a portion of the funds generated from the existing sales tax on sporting goods to fund conservation; providing indigent tenants with an attorney in eviction and foreclosure proceedings; and allowing single-family homes on small lots in areas with adequate infrastructure. A complete list of pro - posed laws can be found at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/ballot-initiatives-submitted-for-the-2026-biennial-statewide- election-proposed-laws-and-2028-biennial-statewide-election-proposed-constitutional-amendments SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING (H 2302) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that would increase the amount of funds that a school district can stash away in a reserve account during good fiscal times to help alleviate the fiscal burden of paying for special education during difficult fiscal times. The measure would increase the amount allowed from 2 percent to 5 percent of the district’s annual budget. “The districts I represent have struggled over this past year, as have districts across the commonwealth, and one of the biggest drivers of those challenges has been the rising cost of special education,” said sponsor Rep. Kathy LaNatra (D-Kingston). “I want to give districts the tools they need to plan for these difficult times in the future and give them the chance to make sound fiscal planning decisions to ensure that rising costs don’t lead BEACON | SEE PAGE 19
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