THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 21, 2025 Page 11 Sen. Lewis champions greater transparency and public access to the state legislature O n February 13, 2025, State Senator Jason Lewis joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to unanimously approve updated legislative rules for the new 2025-2026 legislative session that would increase transparency and public accessibility to the state legislature. The Senate passed updated Senate-specific rules that will go into effect immediately. The Senate also passed proposed Joint Rules for their collaboration with the House of Representatives; these will now need to be reconciled with a Joint Rules proposal from the House before taking effect. “Building greater trust and confidence in our government by improving transparency and accountability is critical for a healthy democracy,” said Senator Lewis. “I have long championed ROUNDUP | FROM PAGE 8 premises. 12. Marijuana in any form, including plants, and Marijuana Products shall not be visible from outside of the building. 13. Any outside storage of any kind is prohibited. 14. Any outside display of any kind is prohibited. 15. Incorporate odor control ate and Joint Rules will further open up the legislative process and make it easier for the public to see how we operate and to hold us accountable.” Highlights of the updated Senate-specific rules include: • Requiring that all votes taken by Senators in joint committees be posted online. The Senate already requires Senate committee votes to be posted online. • Requiring that all public writJason Lewis State Senator efforts to improve the transparency of state and local government, including being the lead Senate sponsor of the last major update to the state’s public records law. These updated Sentechnology and provisions and ensure that emissions do not violate M.G.L. c.111 § 31C, including but not limited to those specified for odors. 16. Prior to issuance of any final occupancy permit, submit copies of the following licenses and approvals: a) A valid license issued by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, as defined herein this ten or in-person testimony received by Senate members of a joint committee be posted online. The Senate already requires testimony to Senate committees to be posted online. • Requiring Senate committees to make bill summaries available online for legislation reported favorably out of the Ordinance; b) A fully executed Community Host Agreement with the City of Malden, as defined herein this Ordinance; c) Any required license and/or approvals issued by the Malden Cannabis Licensing and Enforcement Commission; and d) Any required license and/or approvals issued by the Malden Board of Health. 17. Mitigation based on pre9-MONTH CD 4.25% Unlock Tomorrow’s Potential. There’s Every Bank, Then There’s *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate of the date posted and is subject to change without notice. APY assumes the interest remains on deposit until maturity. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. A minimum of $500 is required to open a Certificate of Deposit and earn the advertised APY. Member FDIC | Member DIF APY* committee. Summaries from the Senate Ways and Means Committee have long been provided to Senators and members of the public who ask for them, but this provision would make the same information easily available online. • Requiring every Senator and Senate employee to undergo cybersecurity training every legislative session. This would be in addition to anti-harassment training, implicit bias training and ethics training, which are already required. Highlights of the Senate’s updated Joint Rules proposal include: • Requiring bill sponsors to provide public bill summaries for every bill they file • Increasing notice time for joint committee public hearings liminary peer review and after the six-month traffic study is conducted. 18. The Petitioner shall work with the City and the abutting property owners to connect the Spot Pond Greenway Project to the bike path. 19. Provide twelve (12) off-site parking spaces. 20. The hours of retail operation shall be 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. from a minimum of three days to five days to give stakeholders and the public more time to prepare • Moving up the deadline for joint committees to report out bills earlier in the legislative session to improve the efficient flow of legislation • Requiring that at least the first meeting of a conference committee be open to the public and media for greater transparency • Requiring at least one full day between a conference committee report filing and a floor vote in order to allow more time for review • Reforming joint committees to enable Senate and House members to vote only on their respective branch bills to help prevent deadlock and speed up the flow of legislation For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@ advocatenews.net
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