Page 18 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2025 By Bob Katzen If you have any questions about this week’s report, e-mail us at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com or call us at (617) 720-1562 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 infl uence. 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: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from recent debate on the joint House-Senate rules. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. LIMIT NUMBERS OF BILLS AT HEARINGS (S 15) Senate 5-33, rejected an amendment that would reduce from 50 to 30 the maximum number of bills that can be considered at a hearing on bills by a committee. “Reducing the maximum number of bills heard in a joint committee hearing from 50 to 30 allows for more focused and meaningful discussion,” said Sen. Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton). “With fewer bills being considered, legislators and more importantly, the public have more time to engage with the issues at hand and ensure that everyone, especially those who travel far to testify, receives a fair opportunity to participate and be heard.” “The amendment proff ered a solution looking for a problem,” said Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, I presided over a hearing on plastics and waste management last session that considered a number of closely related bills which would have been split up under the proposed amendment. The current ceiling [50] for bills to be heard at a committee hearing is reasonable, both substantively and procedurally and promotes legislative effi ciency.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment decreasing the number of bills from 50 to 30. A “No” vote is against the decrease.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Didn’t Vote ALLOW MINORITY REPORT ON CONFERENCE COMMITTEE BILLS (S 15) Senate 6-32, rejected an amendment allowing the minority members who voted against a conference committee version of a bill to issue a report on why they voted against it. A conference committee is a committee that is appointed by the Senate president and House speaker when the House and Senate approve diff erent versions of a bill. The committee’s job is to craft a compromise version. “It is important that the perspective from both sides of the debate within our conference committees is represented for the public to consume,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). “The people of Massachusetts do not benefi t from one-party rule.” Amendment opponents did not off er any arguments against the amendment. Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem), the chair of the Senate Committee on Rules, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking her to comment on why she voted against the bill. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment allowing a minority to issue a report. A “No” vote is against allowing a minority to issue a report.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Didn’t Vote PROHIBIT LATE VOTES ON CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORTS (S 15) Senate 6-32, rejected an amendment that would prohibit any conference committee bills from being considered less than 72 hours before the end of a formal legislative session. The amendment would allow the Legislature to consider a conference committee bill at any time only if the House and Senate vote unanimously to allow consideration. The amendment would replace a rule that allows the Legislature to consider conference committee reports at any time during the legislative session. “This amendment … closes a loophole that allows leadership to push through lastminute conference committee reports and then reconvene after the formal sessions to vote on them,” said Sen. Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton). “By prohibiting these reports from being fi led within 72 hours of the end of formal sessions, this change ensures major legislation is properly reviewed and prevents rushed, last-minute decision-making.” Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) said the amendment would tie the hands of the House and Senate by establishing an arbitrary deadline that would prevent them from voting on important bills. She said that would result in the bills essentially dying from lack of action. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment prohibiting any conference committee reports from being considered less than 72 hours before the end of formal legislative sessions. A “No” vote is against the amendment.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Didn’t Vote ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL $6.4 MILLION TO CLIMATECH COMPANIES — The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) announced $6.4 million in funding for 25 clean energy and climatetech companies and researchers. The investment is designed to accelerate innovation and business growth in 13 cities and towns across Massachusetts. “These companies have made Massachusetts a leader in climate technologies,” said Energy and Environmental Aff airs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “As the rest of the world races for the competitive edge in climatetech, Massachusetts is leading the way with smart investments in growing businesses. With these investments, big ideas become jobs and economic growth for our state.” “The climatetech industry is an economic development opportunity for every city and town in Massachusetts,” said Emily Reichert, CEO of MassCEC. “These MassCEC emerging climatetech grants empower innovative ideas and transformative solutions that will shape the future of the state’s economy. By supporting entrepreneurs and innovators, we’re accelerating the deployment of technologies that will lower energy costs and create jobs right here in Massachusetts.” $825,000 TO IMPROVE WATER QUAILTY — The Healey Administration announced $825,000 in water quality grants to several Cape Cod towns — Barnstable, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Falmouth, Mashpee, Wellfleet and Yarmouth. The grants are aimed at reducing nitrogen pollution, which mostly comes from wastewater. Nitrogen can cause serious problems in the water, such as harmful algae blooms that can aff ect both the environment and public health. “This funding represents a critical step in helping Cape Cod communities address the longstanding challenges of nitrogen pollution,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “By supporting local initiatives, we are protecting our treasured coastal ecosystems and ensuring that future generations can enjoy clean and healthy waterways. The health of Cape Cod’s waters is directly tied to the well-being of its residents, its economy and its unique environmental heritage.” “Protecting our fragile natural environment has always been one of my top priorities,” said Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “We’ve worked hard to bring sustained funding to subsidize the astronomical costs of nitrogen-pollution-reduction programs across Cape Cod, including the establish
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