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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, January 17, 2025 Page 15 Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen GOVERNOR SIGNS SEVERAL BILLS - Gov. Maura Healey signed several bills into law last week including: DRUG COSTS AND INDUSTRY TRANSPARENCY – Gov. Maura Healey signed into law legislation (S 3012) that supporters say would lower the cost of prescription drugs. Provisions include requiring insurers to eliminate cost-sharing requirements for one generic drug and to cap co-payments on one brand-name drug at $25 per 30-day supply for diabetes, asthma and certain heart conditions. It also ensures that consumers are not charged a co-pay if it would be cheaper for them to purchase a drug without using their insurance. Another provision requires insurers to provide continuity of coverage for new members' existing prescriptions when they switch to a new plan. She also signed into law another bill (H 5159) that that supporters say will enhance the market review process and close loopholes in the health care market regulatory process, including gaps in oversight that were exploited for years by Steward Health Care and Ralph de la Torre. This measure expands the scope of data collection and public review of health care and health care transactions by the Health Policy Commission (HPC) and the Center for Health Analysis and Information with the goal of increasing visibility and accountability for transactions involving private owners of health care resources. It also includes a provision establishing a primary care task force, co-chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh and the Executive Director of the HPC. The task force will study primary care access, delivery and payment, develop recommendations to stabilize and strengthen the primary care system, increase recruitment and increase financial investment and patient access. “We know that one of the biggest strains on Massachusetts family's budgets is the high health care costs,” said Gov. Healey. “These new laws will lower out-of-pocket costs by capping copays at $25 for lifesaving prescription medications and increasing transparency in the industry. They also close loopholes in our regulatory processes so that for-profit providers like Steward Health Care are subject to the same transparency rules as non-profit providers. As attorney general, I spent years in court trying to hold Steward to this standard, and I’m glad that our laws will no longer be exploited in this way.” “The bills signed by Gov. Healey today represent the Legislature’s enduring commitment to protecting patients, bringing down cost growth and to fostering greater stability and accountability within the health care system,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “Before Steward Health Care ultimately collapsed, executives spent years hiding their financial information from state regulators, putting patients and our health care system at risk. That’s why ensuring that our institutions are equipped to monitor the health care landscape, and to guard against trends and transactions that drive up costs without improving patient outcomes, is so important.” “These laws are an important step toward transparency and accountability for our health care system, and making medications more affordable,” said Secretary Kate Walsh. “We know primary care access is a critical component of health equity, so I’m especially looking forward to the commitment of strengthening our primary care system to help more people in Massachusetts live healthy lives.” ROSA PARKS DAY (H 3075) – Gov. Healey signed into law a bill establishing February 4 as Rosa Parks in recognition of the historic civil rights leader. Co-sponsor Rep. Mike Kushmerek (D-Fitchburg) said the measure will bring awareness and representation to the heroic actions of Rosa Parks during the Civil Rights Movement. “February 4th is the birthday of Rosa Parks, so it will be a great reminder to all those within the commonwealth to reflect on the role she played in raising international awareness of the struggles for civil rights,” said Kushmerek. PROHIBIT REVOCATION OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES (H 4937) – Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that would repeal a current state law which creates professional licensure consequences for anyone who defaults on their student loan. Under current law, a borrower’s state-issued professional or occupational certificate, registration or license can be suspended, revoked or canceled if the borrower is in default on an education loan. “Current laws are potentially harmful to the more than one million student loan borrowers in the commonwealth,” said sponsor Rep. Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster). “With all of the uncertainty around the federal student loan forgiveness and repayment plans, now more than ever, we need to protect student loan borrowers and ensure they can continue their work and have the ability to repay their student loan debt.” ID FOR LIQUOR PURCHASES (H 4131) – Gov. Healey signed into law a measure that would allow alcohol-serving establishments to accept all out-of-state motor vehicle licenses and Global Entry cards issued by the United States Customs and Border Protection. “Massachusetts has been the only state in the entire United States that did not permit retailers of alcohol beverages to rely on a valid out-of-state ID for the purchase of alcoholic beverages,” said a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Package Stores Association (MASSPACK), a non-profit trade organization representing locally owned retailers of beer, wine and spirits headquartered in Massachusetts. “This regulation was archaic and irrational. It also impeded commerce across the state.” “This vitally important economic measure will support our restaurants, bars and other entertainment venues as they continue to fully recover from losses experienced during the pandemic and allow our out-ofstate visitors to enjoy a drink, if they choose,” said House sponsor Rep. Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham). DECLAWING OF CATS (S 2552) – Gov. Healey signed into law a measure that would ban cat declawing and tendonectomy unless it is done for the medical need of the feline. The measure imposes a fine on offenders of up to $1,000 for a first offense, $1,500 for a second offense and $2,500 for a third or subsequent offense. Supporters said that declawing a cat involves amputating the last bone of each toe, which if performed on a human would be equivalent to cutting off each finger at the last knuckle. They noted that according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the physical side effects from declawing include both acute and chronic pain, improperly healed wounds, sudden loss of blood, impaired immune response and behavioral side effects include biting. “Declawing is an abhorrent practice that most veterinarians view as inhumane,” said sponsor Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford). “This is another step in my commitment to protect animals in the commonwealth. As a state we have done far too little to punish heartless abusers and to push back against a weak court system that has too often failed to hold them accountable.” PROTECT CATS AND DOGS (S 2908) – Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that would prohibit the sale or transfer of any puppies and kittens under eight weeks old. Violators would be fined $100 per animal. When the animal is more than eight weeks old, the outright ban is lifted and replaced with a section that would prohibit the sale or transfer of any dogs or cats at specified outdoor locations, such as flea markets and roadsides. This prohibition would not apply to the transfer of a dog or cat by, or to, a shelter, animal control or animal rescue; or to the display of a dog or cat as part of a state or county fair exhibition, a 4-H program or similar exhibition or educational program. Violators would be fined $50 per animal for a first offense, $100 for a second offense and $300 for a third and subsequent offense. "Early separation of puppies and kittens from their mother, and the unregulated roadside sale of dogs and cats, are practices that often lead to serious health or behavioral problems for the animal and no recourse for the new owner,” said sponsor Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield). “I was proud to file this legislation in the Senate this session and am glad that it is one step closer to becoming law and establishing new protections for animals throughout the commonwealth." RENAME THE OFFICE OF ELDER AFFAIRS (S 3006) – Gov. Healey signed into law a bill that would change the name of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to the Executive Office of Aging and Independence. The proposal also replaces outdated language in the state’s lawbooks, including changing “elderly persons,” to “older adults” and “handicapped” to “adults with a disability.” The new legislation also incorporates gender-neutral language into current law. The original version of the bill was filed by Gov. Healey in May. “Our population of adults aged 60+ continues to grow, and it is essential that we evolve to meet the changing needs of this group,” said Gov. Healey. “We want residents to feel reflected in our agencies and to know where to turn when they need support. I look forward to seeing the work that our incredible team at the Executive Office of Aging and Independence will do for the people of Massachusetts.” ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL $5 MILLION FOR ENHANCED SECURITY – The Healey Administration announced nearly $5 million in grants to support more than 100 nonprofit organizations ,at high risk of hate crimes or terror attacks, by enhancing their security. The announcement follows the release of the 2023 Hate Crime Report for Massachusetts by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The report documented 557 hate crime reports statewide —a 26.6 percent increase from 440 in 2022. As in previous years, the most common bias motivation in 2023 was based on race, ethnicity or national origin, accounting for 45.1 percent of all incidents. Anti-Jewish offenses which rose from 70 in 2022 to 119 in 2023 saw the sharpest increase. “These organizations offer BHRC | SEE PAGE 16

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