THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2025 Page 21 BHRC | FROM Page 19 deadly,” said Lovely. “We cannot be sure which category of fi rst responder will be the fi rst to arrive on the scene, and training and providing all fi rst responders with opioid antagonists will ensure we are able to eff ectively treat overdoses and save lives.” LOWER COST OPTIONS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS — Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s Citizen Information Service has compiled information about new fi nancial aid programs available to Massachusetts students at public colleges and universities. The new informational brochure, “Low and No Cost Options for Higher Education,” highlights several new programs available through the state’s public colleges. Detailed information is provided about the state’s free community college program, free tuition at state schools for lower income students and scholarships available for high-achieving community college students transferring to one of the UMass campuses. “In the last few years, Massachusetts has created several new pathways to aff ordable learning, but students and their parents may not be aware of these options,” Galvin said. “This publication is meant to educate the public about grants and scholarships that may be available, to help alleviate the burden of student loans.” More information and details are available at https://www.sec. state.ma.us/divisions/cis/education/low-no-cost-options.htm $46 MILION FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING — The Healey Administration announced a package of $46 million for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to support the buildout of EV chargers across Massachusetts. Supporters said that the funding will help address gaps identifi ed by the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Coordinating Council, including the need for more chargers along secondary corridors and to support medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. “We’re making it easier for everyone to get around as more Massachusetts residents choose to drive electric,” said Energy and Environmental Aff airs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Not only are these vehicles fun to drive but they are typically less expensive to maintain than their gas- and diesel- powered counterparts. We are committed to building a cleaner environment and vibrant economy for everyone.” “Expanding our robust network of public EV chargers will enable electrification of passenger vehicles as well as highly polluting medium- and heavy-duty vans and trucks,” said Mass Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Commissioner Bonnie Heiple.?“This funding allows MassDEP to cut air and noise pollution in communities across the state — driving real change for a healthier Massachusetts.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “Massachusetts has over 25,000 culverts, most of which are undersized. By replacing these outdated culverts with larger, safer structures, we can better prepare our communities for severe weather. Investing in these projects now will save our cities and towns money on disaster recovery in the future.” --- Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper announcing $2.9 million in grants to support ecological restoration projects across Massachusetts to strengthen resilience against extreme weather events, improve water quality, reduce fl ood risk and restore crucial wildlife habitat. “Our audit identified a number of issues that undermine and negatively impact the Cannabis Control Commission’s mission to equitably and eff ectively oversee the cannabis industry in Massachusetts. Our team appreciates the commission’s cooperation throughout this audit, which serves to identify areas for needed improvements to better serve the residents of the commonwealth. We encourage the Cannabis Control Commission to adopt our offi ce’s recommendations for improvement and will be revisiting the commission’s progress in roughly six months as part of our post-audit review.” ---Auditor Diana DiZoglio upon releasing an audit of the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) — the independent agency responsible for developing and enforcing regulations over the marijuana industry in Massachusetts. Among the audit’s fi ndings is that the CCC’s mismanagement of prorated fees for license extensions resulted in revenue loss, procedural inequity, noncompliance with state regulations and the appearance of potential favoritism and/or impropriety with respect to some being required to pay fees, while others inexplicably did not need to do so. “Massachusetts is narrowing the digital divide by working with communities to deliver digital training and education services to residents statewide. The Municipal Implementation Program off ers a road map to local leaders through a planning exercise and puts dollars on the table to implement the communities’ top priorities to close the digital divide.” --- Massachusetts Interim Economic Development Secretary Ashley Stolba announcing $555,747 in grants as part of the Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program designed to support a broad range of activities across the state including expanding digital literacy instruction, digital education and access, digital navigation services, laptop and tablet distribution and public Wi-Fi networks. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of August 1115, the House met for a total of 26 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 27 minutes. Mon. August 11 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:12 a.m. Senate 11:12 a.m. to 11:31 a.m. Tues. August 12 No House session No Senate session Wed. August 13 No House session No Senate session Thurs. August 14 House 11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Senate 11:01 a.m. to 11:09 a.m. Fri. August 15 No House session No Senate session. Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019. FURNISHED ROOM FOR RENT EVERETT 1 bedroom, 1 bath furnished room for rent. $275. per week rent. Two week deposit plus 1 week rent required. Call: 617-435-9047 - NO TEXT
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