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Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 5, 2025 BEACON | FROM PAGE 17 sociation. “Every day, health care workers face an imminent risk of workplace violence,” said Rep. John Lawn (D-Watertown), lead sponsor of the bill and House Chair of the Committee on Health Care Financing. “This bill takes decisive action to ensure our laws reflect our values and deliver real protections for those who protect us.” “Every day frontline health care workers are asked to do their jobs under the threat of violence,” said Rep. Dan Cahill (D-Lynn), House Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. “This bill makes it clear that protecting our health care workers is a matter of public safety and an urgent responsibility. By requiring health care employers to assess risks, train staff, report incidents and respond to violence with real accountability, we are taking long overdue steps to ensure that no worker stands alone in harm’s way.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Donald Wong Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL DON’T MISS THIS TRANSPORTATION POLICY FORUM - Massachusetts faces a turning point in transit. Long underfunded systems are getting a boost from a new Transportation Bond Bill — but key challenges remain. On Tuesday, December 9, the State House News Service and MASSterList host TransitNEXT, a policy forum at the MCLE in Boston (Downtown Crossing). Speakers include interim MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng, former Federal Highway Deputy Administrator and MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack, along with key legislators and transportation advocates. Networking begins at 7:30 a.m. with the policy conversation starting at 8:30 a.m. Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/transitnext $2.3 BILLION SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (H 4761) Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a $2.3 billion fiscal year 2025 budget to close out the books on fiscal 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 sheriffs’ fiscal year 2025 spending deficits; 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 officer and increase penalties for impersonating a public official, including a federal officer; 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 filed in court. “This budget represents our commitment to delivering for people on what matters in their lives,” said Gov. Healey. “It will make things more affordable, promote vaccine and health care access for our kids and families in the face of attacks from the federal government and protect public safety in our communities. While President Trump is increasing costs and cutting funding from states, this budget is balanced and protects taxpayer dollars.” “With the next fiscal year well underway, it is critical that we close the books on fiscal year 2025 with a balanced budget that delivers for Massachusetts communities,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “This bill reflects our commitment to responsibly managing state spending and stretching every dollar in service of Massachusetts residents.” “The governor and Legislature put the finishing touches on a supplemental budget that was full of gravy for their pet projects, and not prioritizing the taxpayers of the commonwealth,” said Paul Craney, executive director of the Mass Fiscal Alliance which opposed the budget. “If you can imagine a Thanksgiving feast, the taxpayers were on the table and not at the table. Our hard-earned money was being carved up for misguided priorities. Spending billions of dollars 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 (R-Billerica), Joseph McKenna (R-Sutton), 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 officers, firefighters 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 affront 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 definition 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 firmly 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 nonspecific clinical features, delayed language development, motor delay, intellectual disability (typically in the mild-to-moderate range), generalized hypotonia starting in infancy, difficulty feeding and nonspecific 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 difficult to diagnose, but if caught early, there are treatments that can lead to better outcomes. Our goal in filing 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 fine of up to $500. Supporters said the bill would strengthen anti-discrimination statutes, enhance protections for students, update hate-crime definition 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 (D-Fitchburg), 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 fine of up to $2,000. The measure also imposes up to a 1-year prison sentence and/or up to a $500 fine 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 BEACON | SEE PAGE 19

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