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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025 Page 15 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 THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of June 30-July 4. APPROVE $60.9 BILLION FISCAL YEAR 2026 STATE BUDGET (H 4240) House 139-6, Senate 382, approved and Gov. Maura Healey signed into law, after vetoing $130 million in planned spending, a conference committee version of a $60.9 billion fi scal 2026 state budget for the fi scal year that began July 1, 2025. The House and Senate had approved different versions of the budget and a conference committee hammered out this compromise version. “I’m proud to sign a budget that is fi scally responsible and protects what makes Massachusetts special,” said Gov. Healey “In Massachusetts, we are continuing to lead and do what we know works — focusing on lowering costs, protecting essential care and services and moving our economy forward by investing in housing, transportation and our schools. We are also signing this budget in a moment of great dysfunction in Washington. The President is poised to sign a bill that’s going to kick hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents off their health care, increase energy and groceries prices and cost people their jobs.” The budget also includes a new law, eff ective August 1, which will require landlords, instead of renters, to cover the cost of broker fees unless a renter is the one to hire the broker fi rst. “This is about saving you money, thousands of dollars you can now spend on whatever you need or put it away for the future,” said Healey. “And this is just one way I’m lowering costs and getting after high housing prices.” “Between first and last month’s rent, a security deposit and a broker’s fee — moving to a new apartment was breaking the bank for far too many Massachusetts residents,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “In Massachusetts, we know that the best investment we can make is in our people, and this budget refl ects the Senate’s continuing commitment to do so while maintaining our equal commitment to responsible money management,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “This statewide approach to investment delivers resources to every part of the state and protects our most vulnerable residents from the cruelest actions of the federal government, while our continued focus on education and mental health ensures that people have the keys to unlock the doors of opportunity.” “This fi scal year 2026 budget makes key investments that better support Massachusetts students and families, that increase access to affordable health care and that provide for a safer and more reliable public transportation system — all without raising taxes,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “ In a moment of incredible uncertainty at the federal level, this budget is proof that government can be both fi scally responsible and an agent of good, the kind of government that our residents deserve.” “I am fi lled with optimism as I refl ect on the outcome of the fi scal year 2026 budget conference committee,” said Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth), Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Through strong bipartisan collaboration, we in the House and Senate reached a consensus that not only addresses current needs but also sets a positive precedent for future partnerships. This fi nal agreement refl ects our shared commitment to the people of the commonwealth and our ability to work together for the greater good. The success of the fi scal year 2026 budget underscores the incredible potential we unlock when we come together across party lines. We’ve made meaningful investments in critical areas, addressing urgent funding gaps and expanding access to higher education.” “While Massachusetts tax dollars continue to be used on housing and benefi ts for nonresidents, this budget uses more tax dollars to create a legal fund to stop the deportation of illegal immigrants, including those who have committed violent crimes,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton), one of only two senators who voted against the budget. “Meanwhile, cities and towns across the state are struggling to balance their budgets and provide services to seniors and children being educated in our public schools, including many of the towns I represent in Worcester and Hampden County. This dichotomy is Gov. Healey’s responsibility, and in good conscience, I can’t support it.” “The fi scal year 2026 budget continues a completely unsustainable budget increase year over year,” said Rep. Ken Sweezey (R-Hanson), one of only six representatives who voted against the package. “A 6 percent increase from last year, nearly 50 percent increase from 2019, and nearly 140 percent increase from 2010. The commonwealth should only be paying for needs instead of wants with the extreme federal uncertainty and the impending cuts.” “Beacon Hill leaders are trying to have it both ways,” said Paul Craney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. ”They’re talking about caution and restraint while greenlighting billions in new spending, using one-time gimmicks to paper over structural imbalances and shortchanging local aid to the cities and towns they claim to represent. Local governments are in crisis. Budgets are breaking, override votes are stacking up and yet Beacon Hill refuses to share the wealth. They’re prioritizing their own pet projects while towns are forced to cut core services and raise taxes on residents. (A “Yes” vote is for the $60.9 billion budget. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes $7.5 BILLION INTERIM FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET (H 4237) House 144-1, Senate, on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and sent to Gov. Healey a 7.5 billion interim one-month fiscal 2026 state budget, sometimes called a one-twelfth budget, to pay the state’s bills and fund accounts while Gov. Healey takes her constitutionally allotted time of ten days to review and then to veto or amend any provisions in the full $61.01 billion budget. The interim budget will only be in eff ect for a maximum of ten days and is superseded by the full-year budget once that takes eff ect. “The issue is she needs the ten days for vetoes,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano. “So, no matter when we do it, we need a one-twelfth budget.” Rep. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica), the only representative to vote against the $7.5 billion interim budget, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call to explain why he voted against it. (A “Yes” vote is for the interim $7.5 billion budget. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL REPEATED PUBLIC NUISANCE COMPLAINTS (H 2246) — A bill heard by the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government would empower cities and towns to hold property owners fi nancially accountable when their properties are the source of ten or more repeated public nuisance complaints within a 1-year period. The measure holds the owner responsible for the costs associated with any subsequent police responses, as well as any other costs. “This legislation is about restoring fairness for taxpayers and ensuring safer neighborhoods,” said sponsor Rep. Bruce Ayers (D-Quincy). “When a property becomes a repeated source of disturbance, the fi nancial burden shouldn’t fall on the community, it should fall on the property owner responsible. By holding them accountable, we give municipalities the tools they need to protect quality of life for all residents.” BAN FREE PHONE CALLS FOR SOME PRISONERS (S 1689) — The Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on legislation that would ban no cost phone calls for incarcerated violent criminals who have been found guilty of rape of a child, fi rst degree murder, second degree murder, attempted murder, sexual assault, assault and battery on second off ense, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, arson, stalking and armed robbery. “Unlimited phone calls for violent criminals in prison means that murderers can freely call their loved ones while the loved ones of their victims will never talk to their murdered child or spouse again,” said sponsor Sen. Ryan Fattman (RSutton). “These phone calls allow criminals to communicate with their network of associates and continue criminal activity even while incarcerated. It is primarily for these reasons that I authored this legislation to eliminate no cost calls for violent criminals.” THE COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE AND RECOVERY- This committee held a hearing on several bills including: AVAILABILITY OF NARCAN IN SCHOOLS (S 1422) — Would require all school districts to create a Narcan overdose prevention program. Narcan, also known by its generic name naloxone, is an emergency treatment used for the complete or partial reversal of an opioid overdose. The measure would require every school nurse to be trained in Narcan assistance and to have Narcan in the nurse’s offi ce. Another provision requires all public schools to off er training to junior high school and high school students on how to administer naloxone hydrochloride, in nasal spray form. “I’m in the camp that Narcan should be available everywhere — absolutely everywhere, including in our schools,” said sponsor Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield). “It absolutely terrifies me that a growing number of high school students are using drugs, many of which could be unknowingly contaminated with a deadly contaminant like fentanyl. We can and must inBHRC | SEE Page 16

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