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Page 16 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2025 BHRC | FROM Page 15 on items that do not grow jobs, reduce energy costs or make our state more economically competitive is utterly foolish but that’s what this supplemental budget represents.” None of the nine representatives who voted against the budget when it was approved by the Legislature 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 (RBillerica), Joseph McKenna (RSutton), Alyson Sullivan-Almeida (R-Abington), Kenneth Sweezey (R-Hanson) and Justin Thurber (R-Somerset). PROTECT ALL PUBLIC TRANSIT WORKERS FROM ASSAULT AND BATTERY (S 2697) — The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Healey legislation that would expand the current law which punishes anyone who commits assault and battery against a public employee including police offi cers, fi refi ghters and emergency medical personnel. The bill ensures that all transit workers are covered, including those who are not directly employed by the state, such as workers employed by Keolis, the state’s contracted commuter rail operator. The bill would also add “assault and battery by means of a bodily substance including saliva, blood or urine” to the current law. “Transit workers are among the most essential employees of our commonwealth, carrying out the steady and often unseen work that allows tens of thousands of people to travel safely and reliably each day,” said Senate sponsor Sen. Nick Collins (D-South Boston). “Their commitment keeps our cities moving, even under challenging and unpredictable circumstances. When the rights and safety of these workers are impinged upon, it is an aff ront to the invaluable service they provide and the trust the public places in them.” Collins continued, “We must remain vigilant in safeguarding their wellbeing as they encounter nearly every facet of public life in this line of work. With the passage of this legislation, strengthening protections and expanding the defi nition of what constitutes an assault against a transit worker, we are sending a clear message that we do not take their hard work for granted and that we stand fi rmly behind those who keep our commonwealth connected.” “Our transit workers provide critical services all over the commonwealth, yet are many times assaulted by the very customers they serve,” said House sponsor Rep. Joe McGonagle (D-Everett). “I am so thrilled that both the House and Senate prioritized this important issue. The right to feel safe and supported on the job is just that, a right. I’m also extremely grateful to the brave men and women who came forward to share their stories. I look forward to Gov. Healey signing this bill swiftly.” OKUR-CHUNG NEURODEVELOPMENT SYDROME (OCNDS) AWARENESS DAY (H 3366) — The House gave initial approval to legislation designating April 5 as Okur-Chung Neurodevelopmental Syndrome Awareness Day. According to the National Library of Medicine, “Individuals with OCNDS frequently have nonspecifi c clinical features, delayed language development, motor delay, intellectual disability (typically in the mild-to-moderate range), generalized hypotonia starting in infancy, diffi culty feeding and nonspecifi c dysmorphic facial features. Lead sponsor Rep. Kristin Kassner (D-Hamilton) said that she filed this bill on behalf of her constituent Jillian Kavanagh, who brought OCNDS to her attention. Kassner said, “OCNDS is rare and diffi cult to diagnose, but if caught early, there are treatments that can lead to better outcomes. Our goal in fi ling this bill was to raise awareness of the syndrome, which can lead to earlier diagnoses that truly improve the quality of life for patients and their families.” PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON A PERSON’S HEIGHT (H 1820) — The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on legislation that would provide increased protection from harassment and discrimination on the basis of height, by adding height as a protected characteristic across Massachusetts civil rights and hate-crime laws. The measure also creates a new law that prohibits photographing or videotaping a person with a disability without the person’s consent. Anyone who conveys such a photograph or video by electronic communication or publishes the photograph in print for the sole purpose of harassing or annoying the person or the person’s family, would be subject to up to a 3-month prison sentence and/ or a fi ne of up to $500. Supporters said the bill would strengthen anti-discrimination statutes, enhance protections for students, update hate-crime defi nition and direct the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination to enforce these new safeguards. They argued that the proposal would ensure that individuals cannot be denied opportunities, treated unfairly or subjected to bias-motivated harassment simply because of their height. “Everyone deserves to live, work and learn in an environment free from discrimination,” said co-sponsor Rep. Angelo Puppolo (D-Springfield). “[The bill] takes a meaningful step toward ensuring that no one is targeted, bullied or denied opportunity because of their height. This bill is about fairness, dignity and strengthening Massachusetts’ commitment to equal treatment for all.” Rep. Michael Kushmerek (DFitchburg), the co-sponsor of the bill, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on his bill. COMBAT STREET TAKEOVERS (H 4736) — The Judiciary Committee’s hearing also included a measure that supporters say will protect the public from street takeovers by giving cities and towns the necessary tools to combat the Street Takeover Public Safety Crisis. The bill would prohibit the reckless or negligent operation of a group of two or more vehicles in a public place or at a business or commercial property in a way that hinders the movement of other vehicles. Violators would be subject to up to a 2.5-year prison sentence and a fi ne of up to $2,000. The measure also imposes up to a 1-year prison sentence and/or up to a $500 fi ne on anyone who is convicted of disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace while wearing a mask. Another provision would sharply distinguish street takeovers from traditional reckless operation of a vehicle; allow for the forfeiture of vehicles utilized in street takeovers; and provides municipalities with the funds received from the sale of the forfeited vehicles. Supporters said they filed the bill in response to the rash of dangerous street takeover events across the state, resulting in several arrests, injuries and damaged property including a Boston Police vehicle which was burned while offi cers were responding to a recent street takeover incident. Sponsor Rep. Christopher Markey (D-Dartmouth) said he is deeply concerned by the danger that recent street takeover incidents represent to public safety. “We have already seen multiple instances where property was damaged, law enforcement was assaulted and bystanders were injured,” said Markey. “This legislation takes an important step by giving law enforcement and municipalities the necessary tools to combat the crisis.” MAKE JURASSIC ARMORED MUD BALL THE OFFICIAL SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURE OF THE STATE (H 3438) — The House gave initial approval to a bill that would designate the Jurassic Armored Mud Ball (JAMB) as the offi cial sedimentary structure of the state. Supporters said that these mud balls are one of the rarest sedimentary structures in the world, representing a unique geologic environment and are only easily seen in Massachusetts. They noted that they can be found in Greenfi eld, Turners Falls, Gill and Deerfi eld. Richard Little, Professor Emeritus of Greenfield Community College is leading the fi ght to preserve and publicize the JAMB. “The intriguing and amusingly named armored mud balls formed as mud rolled down flooding streams and became coated with pebbles — the armor,” said Little. “These sedimentary structures are so rare that, in the whole world, they are only easily seen in the red sedimentary rocks of the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. Offi cially celebrating them as one of Massachusetts’ symbols, will preserve them for future generations. After all, they are in the same Jurassic rock layers as our State Dinosaur (Podokesaurus) and State Fossil (Dino Footprints). That is why I am leading a working group of scientists and citizens to preserve these rare features.” Advocates also note that famous Greenfi eld native and magician, Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller once said, “I may live in Las Vegas and travel the world, but

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