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Beacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives' and senators’ votes on roll calls from recent sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. $259 MILLION FISCAL 2025 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (S 2575) House 150-6, Senate on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a $259 million fiscal 2025 supplemental budget. The measure provides $40 million for the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) to hire about 320 additional public defenders. This supplemental budget did not include this investment in legal representation for indigent defendants when the governor first filed it, but a work stoppage among private attorneys who take cases as bar advocates had since led some criminal defendants to have charges against them dropped. The Legislature added the $40 million. The budget would provide bar advocates with a $20-anhour raise over two years - compared to the $60-an-hour raise that some bar advocates were seeking. Supporters said the $40 million will more than double the CPCS’s existing workforce. They noted that increasing the proportion of indigent clients represented by public defenders—as opposed to private bar advocates, who are independent contractors—will help stabilize the public defense system in Massachusetts. “This agreement provides a substantial raise for bar advocates that reflects our commitment to supporting the important work that they do, even in a challenging budget year,” said Gov. Healey upon signing the budget. “Despite chaos at the federal level, the Massachusetts Legislature remains committed to delivering important services to our residents and communities, ensuring our bills are paid, practicing fiscal responsibility and maintaining access to justice for all,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashlan) . Not everyone agreed with that assessment. The Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) said in a statement that the raise is not sufficient and pledged that the MACDL will “continue to support the tireless advocacy, commitment and selflessness of the many bar advocates who stand in solidarity to make their voices heard.” The statement continued, “The rates for bar advocates in Massachusetts remain insufficient and will not solve the current constitutional crisis. This legislation does not bring the rate of pay for bar advocates anywhere near the rate of pay for appointed attorneys in neighboring states.” “I say to you today and to the leadership, we’re going nowhere,” said Sean Delaney an advocate of the higher wages. “Your ridiculous proposal that you put forward yesterday has only strengthened our resolve.” In the meantime, despite the signing of the bill, some criminal defendants who haven’t been appointed a lawyer in the past 45 days continue to have charges against them dismissed. Other provisions in the budget include $60 million for Home Care Services; $43 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT); $15.5 million for increasing the security of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards by transitioning to chip cards; $7.5 million for the Healthy Incentives Program which both strengthens food security for residents and supports Massachusetts farmers in the face of federal funding cuts; $6 million for veterans’ benefits; $4 million for the Massachusetts State Police crime lab; and $1 million for the Fair Housing Fund. “Amid President Trump’s dismantling of the Department of Education, and amid sweeping cuts at the federal level to programs that millions of Americans rely on, this supplemental budget makes key investments that will ensure continued funding for state programs that support many of the commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “[This budget] has a carryover from the last budget, still spending money on illegal immigrants and pushing transgenderism and abortion,” said Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver). “Until the Democrat-led Legislature wakes up to reality that these policies are destroying our state, I will continue to vote ‘No’ and I encourage other Democrat leaders to recognize reality and step up to be a voice for sanity and healthy citizens. Additionally, while I think the attorneys should be paid better to defend the indigent, I believe there are better ways than letting criminals go free.” THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 15, 2025 Five other representatives voted against the budget but did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them to explain why they voted against it. The five representatives, all Republicans, are Reps. Brad Jones (R-North Reading); Paul Frost (R-Auburn); Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick); Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica); and Alyson Sullivan-Almedia (R-Abington). (A “Yes” vote is for the $259 million budget. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Paul Donato Yes Rep. Steven Ultrino Yes $3.5 MILLION FOR DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH (S 3) Senate 39-0, approved an amendment that would increase funding for the Department of Mental Health (DMH) by $3.5 million (from $15.5 million to $19 million) to support diversion programs that offer treatment alternatives to incarceration for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders. It also directs the DMH to update regulations to improve discharge protocols for patients leaving mental health and substance use facilities that are overseen by the state. “This amendment gets money and training into the hands of the people doing the hardest work-the officers, clinicians and outreach workers who are often the first to encounter our most vulnerable constituents,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Nick Collins (D-Boston). “By expanding these diversion programs and strengthening discharge oversight, we’re helping police de-escalate, helping communities stay safe and helping people get the care they need.” (A “Yes” vote is for the $3.5 million.) Sen. Jason Lewis Yes APPEAL MBTA COMMUNITIES ACT (S 3) Senate 5-34, rejected an amendment to the current law, known as the MBTA Communities Act, which according to the state’s website, requires that an MBTA community “must have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right and meets other criteria including minimum gross density of 15 units per acre; and a location not more than 1/2 mile from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station. No age restrictions can be applied and the district must be suitable for families with children.” The amendment would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop and promulgate regulations alPage 13 lowing a city or town affected by the zoning provisions of the MBTA Communities Act to appeal for relief from those provisions. The amendment would also require any appeal to be based on at least one of the following criteria: the community’s inability to meet the drinking water supply or wastewater requirements necessary to support the housing units authorized by the law’s zoning provisions; the inability of municipal transportation infrastructure to safely accommodate the increased population attributable to this housing development; and any adverse environmental impacts attributable to the development of housing units under this act. “Allowing for these exceptions provides an avenue for a town to rightfully appeal the MBTA Community decision in cases where more harm than good is present,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), the sponsor of the amendment, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to comment on his amendment. "I voted against [this amendment] because it was based on what I believe is the inaccurate premise that a municipality must permit construction of housing in MBTA community zones even if there is an inadequate drinking water supply, wastewater capabilities, transportation infrastructure and environmental protections," said Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy). (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment allowing an appeal. A “No” vote is against the amendment.) Sen. Jason Lewis No ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL $300 MILLION FOR LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES (H 4307) - Gov. Healey signed into law a $1.2 billion transportation bond bill that includes authorizing $300 million in one-time funding for the maintenance and repair of local roads and bridges in cities and towns across the state. The $300 million is a 50 percent increase over last year’s funding. The measure provides that $200 million be distributed to all cities and towns based on the standard Chapter 90 Program distribution formula while $100 million would be distributed to all municipalities based solely on road mileage. The package also contains $885 million for other transportation-related projects including $500 million for roads and bridges that are in the worst condition; $200 million to repair local culverts and small bridges under 20 feet that are in a state of disrepair or require replacement; and $185 million for capital projects to reduce congestion hotspots. “Through this Chapter 90 funding, we will upgrade roads and bridges across the state to improve transportation, reduce congestion and enhance safety,” said Gov. Healey. “Whether it’s helping a city repave a key commuter route or giving a small town the resources to replace a flood-prone bridge, this bill is delivering the resources our communities need to deliver for their residents.” “As a former mayor, I know how transformational this funding can be when it comes to planning, budgeting and delivering the infrastructure our communities deserve,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “This bill is a win for every city and town, as well as every person who travels across our state.” “This legislation reinforces the very foundation of our transportation system, starting in the communities where people live, work and navigate daily life,” said Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “It reflects our shared commitment to building safer streets, expanding access to public transit, and creating infrastructure that doesn’t just support economic growth, but actively advances equity and climate resilience. With our municipal partners, we’re not just repairing roads. We are reshaping the future of transportation to be more just, sustainable and inclusive.” REPRODUCTIVE AND TRANSGENDER CARE PROTECTIONS – THE SHIELD ACT (H 4271) – Gov. Healey signed into law the “Shield Act” which would prohibit state agencies, employees and law enforcement from cooperating with investigations by other states or the federal government, into reproductive or gender affirming health care that is legally protected in Massachusetts. Other provisions include enhancing license protections for anyone providing or assisting in reproductive or transgender care; forbidding insurance companies from discriminating against or penalizing providers who offer reproductive and gender-affirming care; and protecting attorneys licensed in Massachusetts from removal or discipline for advising or representing clients on the topics of reproductive or transgender care. “Massachusetts will always be a state where patients can access high-quality health care and providers are able to do their jobs without BHRC| SEE PAGE 15

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