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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEMbEr 21, 2025 Page 17 Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 50 -Report No. 46 November 10-14, 2025 Copyright © 2025 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved. By Bob Katzen T HE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of November 10-14. There were no roll calls in the House last week. DIGITAL AND PRINT MATERIALS IN LIBRARIES (S 2710) Senate 37-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that would establish a commission to study the challenges public libraries face with digital resources, including costs, access, privacy and licensing differences between digital and print materials. The commission would be required to submit a report with recommendations to improve digital resource sustainability, protect patron data and ensure equitable access across the state. “E-books, audio books and other digital resources are increasingly in demand by the public, but providing these resources is cost prohibitive for libraries and often come with unwieldy sets of restrictions,” said sponsor Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The commission established by this bill will help streamline the process for libraries to license books and other digital materials, expanding access to knowledge to more Bay Staters.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes PROTECT ALL PUBLIC TRANSIT WORKERS FROM ASSAULT AND BATTERY (S 2697) Senate 38-0, approved legislation that would expand the current law which punishes anyone who commits assault and battery against a public employee. 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 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. Legislation like this, which strengthens protections and expands the defi nition of what constitutes an assault against a transit worker, sends 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.” The House already approved a diff erent version of the measure, and the Senate version now goes to the House for consideration. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes BANNING SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOKS AND MATERIALS (S 2696) Senate 35-3, approved and sent to the House a bill that supporters said would require that school library materials be age-appropriate, serve an educational purpose and be chosen based on a teacher or employee’s professional training— leaving aside personal, political or doctrinal views which could aff ect their decision to place the book on the shelf. Supporters noted that the bill would give local school districts and municipal public libraries the fl exibility to craft their own policies that align with state protocols and the standards of the American Library Association. They argued that for school libraries, an appropriate process for considering whether to remove a book would include assurance that a challenged book remains available to library patrons while the process plays out, guarding against frivolous or unfounded complaints. They said the bill would protect librarians and school employees from retaliation over their selection of library books, ensuring that they do not suffer professional, civil or criminal penalties if they have acted in good faith and followed their library materials policy. “I am thrilled that the Senate has taken decisive bipartisan action to push back against cowardly attempts to ban books in our schools and public libraries,” said Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro), the lead sponsor of the bill.“Massachusetts is not immune from the un-American panic gripping the nation in recent years. Today, the Senate defends the right to read and ensures that decisions about library materials are made by trained professionals, not political actors. This bill is about protecting the people who make our libraries and schools places of discovery, inclusion and belonging.” “I’m proud to stand with my Senate colleagues today in support of this bipartisan bill to protect values we hold so dear: the freedom to create, to think for one’s self, to explore ourselves and our world through books and art and pass the legacy of free expression to our children and grandchildren,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “This bill is just one of many that the Senate is prioritizing and passing this session as part of our Response 2025 initiative to protect our residents, defend our values and lead Massachusetts during these dark days when our basic civil and constitutional rights are under constant attack.” “I don’t believe in restricting knowledge, as long as it’s age appropriate, and believe in setting up a process where adults can deliberate on the appropriateness,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton), one of three senators who voted against the bill. “The Senate’s final version of the bill restricts parental notifi cations and involvement, diminishes the school committee as the ultimate authority of BEACON | SEE PAGE 18 Say nr Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Best Online Will Makers Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good online resources for writing a simple will? I’m 70 and divorced and want to get my affairs organized, but I hate paying a high-priced attorney fee if I can do it myself. Don’t Have Much Dear Don’t, Having a last will and testament is an important document to have because it ensures that your money and property will be distributed to the people you want to receive it after your death. Currently, fewer than one-third of American adults have prepared a will. If you die without a will, your estate will be settled in accordance with state law. Details vary by state, but assets typically are distributed using a hierarchy of survivors. Assets go fi rst to a spouse, then to children, then your siblings, and so on. You also need to be aware that certain accounts take precedence over a will. If you jointly own a home or a bank account, for example, the house, and the funds in the account, will go to the joint holder, even if your will directs otherwise. Similarly, retirement accounts and life insurance policies are distributed to the beneficiaries you designate, so it is important to keep them up to date too. Online Will Makers If you have a simple, straightforward estate and an uncomplicated family situation, writing your own will – with the help of a good online will making program – is a viable alternative to hiring an attorney and much cheaper. Like tax software, these online tools will guide you through a series of questions and will insert your answers into a will for you, and it usually takes less than 30 minutes from start to fi nish. Some of the highest-rated do-it-yourself options include the Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2025 downloadable software (WillMaker.com) that starts at $109 and is valid in every state except Louisiana; Trust & Will (TrustandWill.com) which charges $199 for an individual will-based estate plan; and LegalZoom (LegalZoom.com), which off ers will-based estate plans for $129 or $149 if you’d like assistance from an independent attorney. Or, if that’s more than you’re able or willing to pay, two good options that will let you make your will for free are FreeWill. com or DoYourOwnWill.com. When to Hire a Lawyer If you have considerable fi - nancial assets or a complex family situation, like a blended family or a child with special needs, it would be smart for you to seek professional advice. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases, which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org) and the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC.org) websites are good resources that have directories to help you fi nd someone in your area. Costs will vary depending on your location and the complexity of your situation, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $1,000 to get your will made. To help you save, shop around and get price quotes from several diff erent fi rms. And before you meet with an attorney, make a detailed list of your assets and accounts to help make your visit more effi cient. Where to Store it? Once your will is written, the best place to keep it is either in a fi reproof safe or fi le cabinet at home, in a safe deposit box in your bank or online. But make sure your executor knows where it is and has access to it. Or, if a professional prepares your will, keep the original document at your lawyer’s offi ce. Also, be sure to update your will if your family or fi nancial circumstances change, or if you move to another state. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070. nior ior

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