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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 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 November 17-21. $2.3 BILLION SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (H 4761) House 149-9, Senate 38-0, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey a $2.3 billion fi scal year 2025 budget to close out the books on fi scal year 2025. Provisions include $1.67 billion for MassHealth, with a $303 million net cost to the state after federal reimbursements; $374 million for Steward hospital payments, with a $236 million net cost to the state; $10 million for Health Care For All to conduct a public awareness campaign to inform vulnerable populations about new Medicaid work requirements put in place by the recent federal spending bill; $5 million in for reproductive health care; $2.5 million for the Committee for Public Counsel Services for indigent persons; $60.7 million for snow and ice removal; and $50 million for the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund. Other provisions require an investigation into sheriff s’ fi scal year 2025 spending defi - cits; create a new Sports and Entertainment Fund initially provided with $10 million to support transportation, public safety and other costs related to Massachusetts’ seven 2026 FIFA World Cup matches; criminalize the impersonation of a federal offi cer and increase penalties for impersonating a public offi cial, including a federal offi cer; protect unpaid federal employees from residential eviction or foreclosure during and immediately after any federal shutdown; and remove the automatic requirement of a public notice for name-change petitions fi led in court. “This closeout supplemental budget effectively closes the books on fiscal year 2025 by following through on our commitments across the health care, education and public safety sectors,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Besides responsibly wrapping up the last fi scal year, our bill takes meaningful action such as providing for technological upgrades to the delivery of SNAP benefi ts to our residents, penalizing the impersonation of a federal agent and protecting federal workers from evictions or foreclosures during a government shutdown. This agreement not only refl ects our priorities, but also responsibly reconciles spending gaps and puts the fi scal year to bed.” “This supplemental budget will close the books on fi scal year 2025 in a balanced and fi scally responsible manner,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “By making critical investments into much needed programs in health care, education and housing to name a few, the commonwealth will be in a strong fi scal position for fi scal year 2026 and beyond.” “Beacon Hill is once again using a closeout bill to expand government costs without addressing the underlying fi scal issues driving them,” said Paul Craney, executive director of the Mass Fiscal Alliance which opposed the budget. “Lawmakers approved more spending for free inmate phone calls while quietly pumping another $50 million into rental assistance, a growing cost burden driven in large part by the state’s shifting costs from the self-infl icted migrant shelter crisis. Instead of shifting money around to paper over the problem, the Legislature should confront the policies that created these unsustainable obligations. Taxpayers deserve accountability and a long-term plan, not another round of reactive spending.” None of the nine representatives who voted against the budget responded to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they voted against it. Those nine representatives are Reps. Donald Berthiaume (R-Spencer), Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick), Colleen Garry (D-Dracut), John Gaskey (R-Carver), Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica), Joseph McKenna (R-Sutton), Alyson Sullivan-Almeida (RAbington), Kenneth Sweezey (R-Hanson) and Justin Thurber (R-Somerset). (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 RESCIND CALLS FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION (H 4692/S 2684) House 155-3, Senate 34-4, approved resolutions which would rescind all previous calls by the Massachusetts Legislature for a national Constitutional Convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. This action makes Massachusetts the 17th state to rescind all prior applications for an Article V convention and reaffi rms that any constitutional decisions should refl ect the will of today’s elected lawmakers and the people they represent. An Article V convention is a process outlined in the U.S. Constitution allowing states to propose constitutional amendments if two-thirds (34) of state legislatures call for it. Supporters of the resolutions said such a convention could open the entire Constitution to unpredictable changes, as there are no clear guidelines or limitations on what delegates could propose. They noted that while an Article V convention has never been called before in American history, there is recent conservative momentum to add up all active resolutions to meet the two-thirds threshold. Supporters said the resolutions are in response to concerns that Congress and the Trump Administration could attempt to use prior Massachusetts resolutions to call for a Constitutional Convention to advance their own political agenda, moves that could have broad and sweeping implications on current protections under the U.S. Constitution. “Given the uncertainty surrounding an Article V convention, such a process could present a serious threat to the U.S. Constitution, our democracy and the civil rights and liberties that are the foundation of our nation,” said House sponsor Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Alice Peisch (DWellesley). “Today, we come together in defense of the U.S. Constitution, a document that for more than two centuries has guided our nation, safeguarded our freedoms and provided the framework for our democracy.” “Today’s bipartisan vote is a resounding affirmation of our commitment to protecting the stability and integrity of the U.S. Constitution,” said Senate Majority Leader Cindy Stone Creem (D-Newton), Senate sponsor of the resolutions. “By acting swiftly and collaboratively, both chambers are turning the page on these outdated petitions that no longer refl ect the values or priorities of the commonwealth. Massachusetts will not allow our past resolutions to be misused in ways that could undermine fundamental rights or destabilize our constitutional framework.” “I am the Senate sponsor of the ‘We the People’ bill to repeal the Citizens United decision, including through an Article V Convention. I continue to believe it is a legitimate path to change the U.S. Constitution, and therefore I voted ‘No’ on the resolutions.” None of the other six legislators who voted against the resolutions responded to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they voted against them. Those six legislators are Sens. Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton); Peter Durant (RSpencer); and Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton); along with Reps. Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick); John Gaskey (R-Carver); and Marc Lombardo (RBillerica). (A Yes” vote is for the resolutions. A “No” vote is against them.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes CANNABIS CHANGES (S 2722) Senate 30-7, approved a bill that makes changes to the 2016 voter-approved state law that legalized the recreational use of cannabis including reducing the size of the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) from five members to three members. Supporters said the bill updates licensure policies to meet the needs of businesses and consumers today and in the future, allowing retailers to expand and hold a maximum of four licenses and removing operational barriers for smaller companies to enter the medical marijuana market. They noted that following the successful introduction of recreational consumption since voters approved legalization in 2016, recreational consumers would be allowed to possess a maximum of two ounces, an increase from the current one-ounce limit. “As Massachusetts’ cannabis industry continues to mature, our laws must evolve to meet the moment,” said Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfi eld), Senate Chair of the Committee on Cannabis Policy. “[The bill] is a thoughtful step forward streamlining the CCC to improve oversight, expanding opportunities for local entrepreneurs and recognizing the reality of adult cannabis use in our communities. By modernizing our approach, we’re strengthening public accountability, supporting small businesses, and advancing equity, fi scal responsibility and patient access.” “Almost 10 years have passed since the people of Massachusetts voted to legalize recreational cannabis use, and, as the market has grown, it has become clear that we should make adjustments to strengthen our regulatory structure and relax limits on possession,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The Senate acted swiftly, overwhelmingly passing legislation that will reform operations at the CCC while increasing public accountability. This legislation responsibly increases individual possession limits and requires the commission to report on the mental health impacts of cannabis use in the commonwealth.” “We should work to ensure the cannabis industry operBHRC | SEE Page 16

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