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Page 18 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024 and eliminate the waitlist,” said House GOP Minority leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). 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 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:// lp.constantcontactpages.com/ su/aPTLucKs THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ and representatives’ votes on roll calls from recent sessions during the week of April 22-26. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. TAX CREDITS FOR CONSERVATION LAND (H 4600) House 154-0, approved a budget amendment that would expand the existing Conservation Land Tax Credit (CLTC) by raising the annual cap for this program from $2 million to $5 million over a three-year period, beginning on January 1, 2026. The increase would remain in place until December 31, 2034. This state tax credit provides an incentive for land with signifi - cant conservation value to be donated to public and private conservation agencies. The tax credit is equal to 50 percent of the fair market value of the donated property, up to a maximum credit of $75,000. Supporters said that raising the cap will help the state address the growing demand for participating in the program, which currently has a waiting list of more than two years. “The CLTC program plays a critical role in conserving land and creating more accessible and open public space,” said amendment sponsor House Republican Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading). “To date, the program has helped Massachusetts conserve 15,505 acres of land across 154 municipalities, and in 2023 alone helped protect 558 acres of land. Raising the annual cap will allow for increased participation in the program and promote the conservation of critical natural resources in the state.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes PRIORITIZE 12-MONTH RESIDENTS (H 4600) House 27-131, rejected an amendment that would give priority consideration for inclusion in the emergency housing assistance program, when space becomes available, to residents who have resided in the state for a minimum of 12 consecutive months and are on the waitlist for the program. “With a growing number of people on the waitlist for emergency housing assistance, we need to set clear priorities to better manage the demand “When doing so, it’s only fair that longtime residents of the commonwealth in need of services should take precedence over someone who has just arrived here from out of state.” Amendment opponents said the amendment might be unconstitutional. They also noted that people from around the world who are the victims of rape, violence and oppression are coming to Massachusetts and the state should not impose residency requirements on these suff ering migrants. “I would also just like to underscore … that no families — whether they are longtime Massachusetts residents or families that are new to the state — are being put out on the street,” said Rep. Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley) who opposed the amendment. “We do have these overfl ow shelters. I don’t want anyone to be operating under the assumption that we have Massachusetts residents who are being left out on the street, so once again, I ask you please … to reject the residency requirement.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment giving priority to 12-month residents. A “No” vote is against the amendment.) Rep. Jessica Giannino No Rep. Jeff Turco No ELECTRIC SUPPLIERS (S 2738) Senate 34-4, approved and sent to the House a bill that would bar electric suppliers from enrolling new individual residential customers in contracts, beginning on January 1, 2025. Supporters said the measure would protect residents from unfair and deceptive practices in the competitive electric supply market. They noted that according to the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Public Utilities, data analysis shows that consumers lost more than $577 million to competitive electric suppliers between July 2015 and June 2023. They added that low-income residents and residents of color are disproportionately aff ected by the industry by being more likely to sign up, and subsequently being charged higher rates. “Each year, the broken and predatory residential competitive electric supply industry harms consumers across Massachusetts — particularly in lowincome communities and communities of color and fails in its promise to consistently provide consumer savings,” said Attorney General Andrea Campbell a sponsor of the original version of the bill. “I now urge the House to take up and pass this legislation so that Massachusetts residents are protected from this deceptive and harmful industry.” “The market would benefit from total reform, not elimination of newer energy suppliers/brokers,” said Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) who opposed the bill. “A competitive market is healthy for the economy and by implementing strategy that would hold these energy suppliers accountable, it would be benefi cial to all parties involved.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes IMPOSE REGULATIONS INSTEAD OF BANNING (S 2738) Senate 5-33, rejected an amendment that would replace the bill barring electric suppliers from enrolling new individual residential customers in contracts, with a diff erent bill that would have allowed the practice to continue and would instead impose more barriers for competitive suppliers to enter the market and provided the attorney general with more oversight authority. Under this alternate version, energy brokers, marketers and suppliers would be required to obtain licenses from the Department of Public Utilities, pay fees and maintain bonds. It imposes regulations on in-person or door-todoor marketing practices and requires third-party verifi cation and identification badges for agents. It also imposes conditions on suppliers’ licensure renewals, including notifi cation requirements and restrictions on termination fees. Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) said the amendment is aimed at reforming the industry by holding accountable those acting inappropriately in the marketplace, increasing public awareness on best practices to save money and ensuring greater transparency in energy pricing. “There is value in competition to lower consumer rates however I believe to effectively address this issue is by market reform instead of total eradication,” said O’Connor. “The amendment … holds suppliers accountable by identifying bad actors and preventing misleading market practices through new regulations.” Sen. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington), Senate chair of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, said the amendment used “lousy language.” Barrett signaled competitive suppliers have not added value to their product, despite having 25 years to prove themselves in the marketplace. “There’s nothing redeemable about this particular option,” said Barrett. It’s too bad. I think a lot of us were very optimistic in the late 90s — this should have worked,” Barrett said. “Turns out that the product was absolutely fungible. These middlemen don’t have lower costs, they have higher costs.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment that replaces the ban with a new bill imposing regulations. A “No” vote is against the amendment.) Sen. Lydia Edwards No ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL GOV. HEALEY SIGNS SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET INCLUDING $251 MILLION FUNDING FOR SHELTERS (H 4582) — Gov. Healey signed into law a supplemental budget that includes an additional $251 million in funding for the Emergency Assistance Program that funds the emergency family shelter system which houses migrants. The measure imposes a new ninemonth limit on how long families can stay in the state’s emergency shelters, with up to two 90-day extensions available to some and a new hardship waiver process. Provisions include $10 million for approved workforce training programs; $10 million for a tax credit for companies that provide job training to Emergency Assistance participants; $3 million for family welcome centers; $1 million for supplemental staffi ng at emergency housing assistance program shelters; and $7 million for resettlement agencies and shelter providers to assist families with rehousing, work authorization and English language learning. Other provisions keep in place some pandemic-era programs, set to expire, including allowing restaurants to sell beer, wine and cocktails for take-out; expanding outdoor dining; and allowing graduates and students in their last semester of nursing education programs to practice nursing. “This supplemental budget dedicates resources to balance the budget and maintain critical services and programs,” said Gov. Healey. “It also implements a length of stay policy for Emergency Assistance shelter, which

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