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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021 Page 21 A NOTE FROM BOB KATZEN, PUBLISHER OF BEACON HILL ROLL CALL: 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 going on up on Beacon Hill, Massachusetts politics, policy, media and influence in Massachusetts. The stories are drawn from major news organizations as well as specialized publications selected by widely acclaimed and highly experienced writers Chris Van Buskirk and Keith Regan who introduce each article in their own clever and never-boring inimitable way. 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: www. massterlist.com/subscribe THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of October 4-8. HENS (H 4194) House 156-1, approved a bill that would make changes and put Massachusetts in line with other larger egg-producing states that have put in place standards for hen confinement. In 2016, Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly passed Question 3 to prevent cruelty to farm animals. At the time it was the strongest law for farm animals in history but since then leading retailers, producers and other states mandated even stronger standards in the shift to cage-free conditions for hens. Supporters said the bill will ensure the Bay State adapts to the new science unavailable in 2016. “The updates in today’s bill are consistent with the goals of the law passed in 2016 and in certain cases actually strengthen animal protections,” said Rep. Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston). “This legislation is time sensitive. Without these updates, we know that many egg producers both inside and outside of Massachusetts who have upgraded their facilities to the emerging national standards won’t be able to provide eggs to our residents as early as the first of the year. This is particularly concerning because we know that many families, particularly those experiencing food insecurity, rely on eggs as an essential, lowcost source of protein.” Rep. Susannah Whipps (I-Athol), the only representative to vote against the bill, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call for a comment. The Senate approved a different version of the bill in June. The House version now goes back to the Senate for consideration. “Massachusetts is now an outlier, which could threaten our supply of eggs,” said Senate sponsor Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester). “Fortunately, the egg producers and animal welfare groups have come together to agree on this legislation, ensuring safe and humane conditions for egg-laying hens and affordable eggs for Massachusetts consumers.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes FREE SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH (H 3999) House 157-0, Senate on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a bill that would require schools in which a majority of students come from low-income families to provide universal free breakfast and lunch to all students. The program would be paid for by the federal government. The legislation also abolishes policies which can shame students for having unpaid school meal debt. It prohibits schools from publicly identifying a student who has a meal debt; disposing of an already served meal because of the student’s lack of funds to pay for the meal or because of unresolved meal debt; denying a student a meal as a form of behavioral discipline or punishment; prohibiting a student or a sibling of a student from attending or participating in extracurricular activities, field trips or school events and from receiving grades, official transcripts, report cards or from graduating or attending graduation events solely because of unresolved meal debt. “With this bill, we will feed more kids, eliminate meal debt shaming and stigma and maximize federal resources for schools across Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen the commonwealth,” said co-sponsor Rep. Andy Vargas (D-Haverhill). “With the historically high percentage of economically disadvantaged students across the state, it makes sense to lock in this data now, which the federal government recognizes for at least the next four years.” The practice of identifying and shaming children and families who are unable to afford food is archaic and must end immediately,” said co-sponsor Rep. Sean Garballey (D-Arlington). “This legislation is in line with the commonwealth’s values of supporting our most vulnerable citizens.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Joseph McGonagle Yes ELECTION LAW CHANGES (S 2545) Senate 36-3, approved and sent to the House a bill making permanent the mail-in and early voting options used in Massachusetts in 2020. Other provisions include same-day voter registration; increased ballot access for service members serving overseas; ensuring that individuals who are incarcerated who are currently eligible to vote are provided with voting information and materials to exercise their right to vote and that individuals who are incarcerated but prohibited from voting are notified of their right to vote upon release and given the opportunity fill out a voter registration form; allowing U.S. service members and other citizens residing overseas to cast their votes electronically; and requiring the secretary of state to conduct a comprehensive public awareness campaign to publicize the new voting and registration options. “I am incredibly proud of the Senate’s work on the [bill] which will not only protect but expand voting access in the commonwealth,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “The provisions contained within this bill, including same-day voter registration, early voting and permanent vote-by-mail will make it much easier to vote in Massachusetts—which is especially important for those individuals and communities that have struggled to vote or who have been disenfranchised in the past. I am excited to see this bill signed into law so that all of our citizens will have expanded access to voting, our most sacred right as Americans.” “This bill was too far reaching in the election policies it sets out to accomplish,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton), one of the three senators who voted against the bill. “Measures like universal mail-in ballots were specifically intended to keep people safe during the pandemic, but the costs levied by making this measure permanent would be too costly for small municipalities like some that I represent. I am not sure at this point that we have the safeguards in place to ensure confidence in our electoral system. Eighteen thousand mail-in ballots were rejected in last year’s state primary, BHRC | SEE PAGE 22

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