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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, January 31, 2025 Page 15 electronic delivery receipt for the bulk sale of fuel oils and proBeacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen 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://MASSterList/subscribe/ THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. MORE BILL SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOV. MAURA HEALEY - Here are some of the many bills that were signed into law by Gov. Healey following the end of the 2024 session: REQUIRE BOATER SAFETY PROGRAM AND TEST (S 3011) – Gov. Healey signed into law a bill requiring anyone operating a boat in the state’s waters to take a state-sponsored boater safety course and then pass a boater safety exam. The bill, known as the Hanson-Milone Act, is named after David Hanson who lost his life in a boating accident in 2010 and Paul Milone, the late harbormaster from Weymouth who was an advocate for boat safety. Both families were strong advocates for passage of the measure and attended the signing ceremony. “I am so proud to see the Hanson-Milone Act finally become law,” said sponsor Rep. Kathy LaNatra (D-Kingston). “Massachusetts is home to some of the most beautiful waterways in the world, but too often, a day of fun on the water ends in tragedy because someone operates a boat without proper safety training. This legislation establishes a straightforward program to make sure anyone operating a boat in the commonwealth has the necessary safety knowledge to keep themselves and others safe … I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Hanson and Milone families for their relentless dedication and advocacy for this life-saving legislation.” BLOOD BANKS (S 2994) – Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that would allow organizations registered as blood establishments with the federal United States Food and Drug Administration, to maintain a blood bank if the bank is approved by the Massachusetts Commissioner of the Department of Public Health and the Public Health Council. Supporters said there are a number of blood banks that operate nationally that currently supply Massachusetts hospitals but may not draw or store blood here. They argued that this legislation is intended to address that inefficiency. Currently only the Red Cross, Center for Blood Research and hospitals are permitted to draw and store blood in the Bay State. “This bill allows FDA-registered blood banks to operate in Massachusetts,” said sponsor Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover). “Establishments like the New York Blood Center provide supply to many hospitals across Massachusetts, but they haven’t been allowed to collect donations here. This legislation changes that.” ALLOW ELECTRONIC RECEIPT FOR DELIVERY OF FUEL OILS AND PROPANE (H 4132) – Gov. Healey signed into law a measure that would allow companies to send customers an pane. “This legislation modernizes the receipt system by allowing the vendor of bulk sale deliveries to utilize an electronic receipt, ticket or other form of recorded representation for the purchaser to review the sale item,” said House sponsor Rep. Jeff Roy (D-Franklin). “Massachusetts is one of the last states to update this antiquated system of delivery of receipts/invoices from bulk sales. In today’s world of technology, it only makes sense that the delivery of receipts/invoices can be safely and efficiently transmitted to the consumer without having to leave a paper bill at the door or mailbox. Many, if not most businesses, already operate this way and there is no good reason not to advance bulk sales in this direction as well particularly as the consumer would have a choice in the method of delivery.” Supporters noted that customers frequently complain about the current practice of the company leaving bags with receipts on their doorknobs or in their mailboxes. They said leaving the receipts in a USPS mailbox is not permitted by law and also leaves consumers vulnerable to identity fraud. They also pointed out that leaving a plastic bag which might remain on the doorknob for several days is a clear signal to would-be criminals that the homeowner is not home and might be traveling. ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A MASSACHUSETTS CABO VERDEAN CULTURAL CENTER S 2995) – Gov. Healey signed a measure creating a 10-person special commission to study the feasibility of establishing a statewide Massachusetts Cabo Verdean cultural center in the city of Boston to represent the over 200 years history of Cabo Verdeans in the state. Supporters, noting the long overdue measure coincides with the 50th Anniversary of Cape Verdean independence, said the center will provide a vibrant space for cultural expression, education, and unity. Co-sponsors Sens. Lydia Edwards (D-Boston) and Liz Miranda (D-Boston) did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to comment on their proposal being signed into law. ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL HEALEY FILES $59.6 BILLION FISCAL YEAR 2026 STATE BUDGET – Gov. Maura Healy filed her third annual state budget, with a price tag of $59.6 billion. She also proposed an additional $1.95 billion in surtax spending that she says would stabilize the MBTA, enable critical investments in transportation and higher education infrastructure. The surtax revenue is from the constitutional amendment, approved by voters in 2022, that imposes an additional 4 percent income tax, in addition to the flat 5 percent one, on taxpayers’ earnings of more than $1 million annually. Language in the increase requires that “subject to appropriation, the revenue will go to fund quality public education, affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation.” “Our fiscal year 2026 budget proposal is a balanced, forward-looking blueprint that meets the needs of our residents and businesses while also taking care of their tax dollars,” said Gov. Healey. “We’re making historic investments in the infrastructure that our quality of life and economy depend on – stabilizing the MBTA, fixing our roads, bridges and regional transit and modernizing college campuses, all while creating good jobs,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This budget also prioritizes affordability and economic development – continuing the progress we have made in childcare, college affordability, tax cuts, housing, veterans services and more. We are able to build on this progress while controlling our spending and tightening our belts, just as families and businesses are doing across our state.” “I hear from residents, business and local officials on a daily basis about the challenges they face,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “I’m proud of the way that this budget responds to those needs, while also making sure Massachusetts can sustainably support the programs and services on which everyone in Massachusetts relies. We’re fully funding the Student Opportunity Act to make sure our K-12 schools have equitable access to the resources their students and educators need, growing local aid, boosting Chapter 90 funding to improve roads and bridges and creatively investing in our infrastructure.” The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance was quick to criticize the proposal. The group said the budget includes a plan allowing municipalities to raise taxes on meals and hotels through local option taxes, an idea soundly rejected last year; a $164 million tax hike by setting up a cap on the charitable deductions law approved by the voters in 2000; expansion of tobacco taxes to synthetic nicotine products; and extending the sales tax to candy. “She’s literally taking candy from a baby,” said alliance spokesperson Paul Craney. “Massachusetts residents already face some of the highest taxes in the nation, and this proposal exacerbates that burden. Taxpayers will have to spend $25 million more dollars on candy to just pay for this tax. This budget doubles down on the state’s addiction to higher taxes and spending at a time when residents are already feeling squeezed and leaving for more tax friendly states. The governor is taking a giant leap in the wrong direction. The governor has become so desperate for higher taxes that she’s even proposing caps on tax deductions for Massachusetts charities. This tax relief law was approved by the voters in 2000. If that isn’t cruel, I don’t know what is.” “This budget exemplifies the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s disregard for fiscal responsibility,” said MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale. “Relying on onetime revenues while increasing spending is an unsustainable path, particularly given the unchecked financial strain caused by the emergency assistance shelter program and ongoing uncertainty over monthly tax revenues. Instead of charting a path toward stability, this budget doubles down on reckless spending and higher taxes.” The budget now goes to the House which will craft and approve its own version and then it moves to the Senate which will offer a different plan. A House-Senate conference committee will eventually hamBHRC | SEE PAGE 16

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