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Page 14 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024 rently has a historic balance of $8.2 billion. The bills have been in conferBy 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:// lp.constantcontactpages.com/ su/aPTLucKs THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ and representatives’ votes on bills that are currently in separate House-Senate conference committees which are trying to hammer out a compromise version of each bill following House and Senate approval of diff erent versions of the bill. The members of a conference committee are appointed by the Senate president and House speaker. Once a conference committee works out a compromise version, the full House and Senate vote on that version which, if approved, goes to the governor for her signature. Here are some bills currently in conference committees, or soon to be in a conference committee, and how senators and representatives voted on the version originally approved by each branch. SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET INCLUDING $250 MILLION FUNDING FOR SHELTERS (H 4466 and S 2711) House 121-33, Senate 32-8, approved diff erent versions of a supplemental budget that includes an additional $250 million in funding for the Emergency Assistance Program that funds the emergency family shelter system which houses migrants. Other provisions keep in place some pandemic-era programs, set to expire, including allowing restaurants to sell beer, wine and cocktails for take-out and expanding outdoor dining. The bills have been in conference committee since March 28. (A “Yes” vote is for the budget. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes USE INTEREST FROM STATE’S “RAIN DAY FUND” TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL FUNDS (H 4446 and S 2554) House 154-0, Senate 39-0, approved diff erent version of a bill that would leverage the interest from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to better compete for federal dollars, to ensure the state receives the maximum possible share of federal funds and to pay down the state’s long term debt liabilities. The Rainy Day Fund curence committee since March 25. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes APPROVE FIREARMS CHANGES (H 4139 and S 2572) House 120-38, Senate 37-3, approved different versions of a bill that would change some of the state’s gun laws including limiting the carrying of guns into public places including schools, polling places, government buildings and the private residences of others, with an exemption for law enforcement. Another provision would crack down on the spread of ghost guns — unserialized and untraceable fi rearms. The bills have been in conference committee since February 29. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco No Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes EMPLOYERS MUST DISCLOSE A SALARY RANGE WHEN POSTING A JOB (H 4109 and S 2484) House 148-8, Senate 381, diff erent versions of a bill, dubbed the Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act, which would require employers with 25 or more employees to disclose a salary range when posting a job position. The bills have been in conference committee since October 30. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes REVENGE PORN AND TEEN SEXTING (H 4241 and S 2703) House 151-0, Senate 40-0, approved different versions of a bill that would prohibit the posting of sexually explicit images of another person online without their permission— commonly referred to as “revenge porn.” The practice is often used by ex-spouses or ex-partners. Massachusetts is one of only two states that does not have a law about this crime. The measure makes it illegal to do so and establishes a sentence of up to 2.5 years in prison and/or a fi ne of up to $10,000; increases the upper limit of the fi ne for criminal harassment from $1,000 to $5,000; and allows a victim to petition the court for a harassment prevention order against a person who has violated this statute. Another provision changes current law under which minors, under 18 years of age, who share explicit images of themselves or other minors, can be charged with violating Massachusetts child pornography laws and are required to register with the Sex Off ender Registry. The bill allows minors to be diverted to an educational program that would provide them with information about the consequences of posting or transmitting indecent visual depictions of minors. This bill has not yet been sent to a conference committee because the Senate has not yet appointed its members of a conference committee. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL EXPAND PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENTS FOR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS (H 2890) — The House gave initial approval to a bill that would expand the current law which provides a property tax abatement to the surviving spouses and minor children of police offi cers and fi refi ghters “killed in the line of duty.” The bill provides that the abatement also go to the families of offi cers who “died in the line of duty.” “Killed in the line of duty” has a limited defi nition usually meaning the individual lost their life in an incident, accident or due to violence that are directly related to their service. “Died in the line of duty” is broader and can account for a number of medical emergencies like stroke or heart attack. “This legislation honors the sacrifice of our brave police and fi refi ghters,” said sponsor Rep. Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham). “This simple language change will assure that surviving family members receive the tax benefit they are deserving of and what I believe was the original intention of the exemption.” TAX INCENTIVE FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE (H 2852) — The House gave initial approval to legislation that would promote urban agriculture and horticulture by allowing Gateway cities as well as cities and towns, with populations of more than 50,000, to exempt from property taxes any land of two acres or less that is used for commercial urban agriculture and horticulture. Additionally, the parcel must have had at least $500 in gross sales of agricultural or horticultural products in the prior year to be eligible for the tax exemption. “Rep. Vanna Howard (D-Lowell) and I fi led this bill together to support small-scale urban agriculture, which expands access to healthy food and promotes economic growth in cities,” said co-sponsor Rep. Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury). “In addition to these benefi ts, urban agriculture also improves environmental health and makes local food systems more resilient. By incentivizing urban agriculture, this bill will help cities obtain the benefi ts of these operations.” INCREASE PARKING FINES (H 3326) — The House gave initial approval to legislation that would allow cities and town to double the mazimum fi ne for some parking violations. Current law sets a maximum fi ne for many violations at $50 if paid within 21 days, $55 if paid after 21 days and $75 if paid after the parking clerk reports the parking off ense and fi ne to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The bill increases the fi nes to $100 if paid within 21 days, $110 if paid after 21 days and $150 if paid after the parking clerk reports the parking offense and fi ne to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Rep. Susan Giff ord (R-Wareham), the bill’s sponsor, said the current maximum fines established in have not been changed since 2004, nearly twenty years ago. “This bill does not establish any minimum fi nes or mandate an increase in any existing fines,” continued Giff ord. “It merely gives communities the option to adopt policies that better suit local needs and enforcement priorities.” REPLACE PROPERTY TAX (H 4271) — The Revenue Committee held a hearing on a measure that would allow cities and towns to abolish the local property tax and replace it with both a personal and business income tax to fund the local city or town’s budget. The bill was filed by Rep. James Arciero (D-Westford) at the request of a constituent, under the state law that allows citizens to requerst their local legislator fi le a bill on the constituent’s behalf. These bills are known as “by request” bills and do not necessarily have the support of the legislator who fi led it for the constiuent.

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