THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from recent debate on the joint House-Senate rules. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.

LIMIT NUMBERS OF BILLS AT HEARINGS (S 15):

Senate 5-33, rejected an amendment that would reduce from 50 to 30 the maximum number of bills that can be considered at a hearing on bills by a committee.

“Reducing the maximum number of bills heard in a joint committee hearing from 50 to 30 allows for more focused and meaningful discussion,” said Sen. Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton). “With fewer bills being considered, legislators and more importantly, the public have more time to engage with the issues at hand and ensure that everyone, especially those who travel far to testify, receives a fair opportunity to participate and be heard.”

“The amendment proffered a solution looking for a problem,” said Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, I presided over a hearing on plastics and waste management last session that considered a number of closely related bills which would have been split up under the proposed amendment. The current ceiling [50] for bills to be heard at a committee hearing is reasonable, both substantively and procedurally and promotes legislative efficiency.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment decreasing the number of bills from 50 to 30. A “No” vote is against the decrease.)

Sen. Joanne Comerford, No; Sen. Paul Mark, No; Sen. Jacob Oliveira, No; Sen. John Velis No

ALLOW MINORITY REPORT ON CONFERENCE COMMITTEE BILLS (S 15): Senate 6-32, rejected an amendment allowing the minority members who voted against a conference committee version of a bill to issue a report on why they voted against it. A conference committee is a committee that is appointed by the Senate president and House speaker when the House and Senate approve different versions of a bill. The committee’s job is to craft a compromise version.

“It is important that the perspective from both sides of the debate within our conference committees is represented for the public to consume,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). “The people of Massachusetts do not benefit from one-party rule.”

Amendment opponents did not offer any arguments against the amendment. Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem), the chair of the Senate Committee on Rules, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking her to comment on why she voted against the bill.

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment allowing a minority to issue a report. A “No” vote is against allowing a minority to issue a report.)

Sen. Joanne Comerford, No; Sen. Paul Mark, No; Sen. Jacob Oliveira, No; Sen. John Velis, No

PROHIBIT LATE VOTES ON CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORTS (S 15): Senate 6-32, rejected an amendment that would prohibit any conference committee bills from being considered less than 72 hours before the end of a formal legislative session. The amendment would allow the Legislature to consider a conference committee bill at any time only if the House and Senate vote unanimously to allow consideration. The amendment would replace a rule that allows the Legislature to consider conference committee reports at any time during the legislative session.

“This amendment … closes a loophole that allows leadership to push through last-minute conference committee reports and then reconvene after the formal sessions to vote on them,” said Sen. Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton). “By prohibiting these reports from being filed within 72 hours of the end of formal sessions, this change ensures major legislation is properly reviewed and prevents rushed, last-minute decision-making.”

Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) said the amendment would tie the hands of the House and Senate by establishing an arbitrary deadline that would prevent them from voting on important bills. She said that would result in the bills essentially dying from lack of action.

(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment prohibiting any conference committee reports from being considered less than 72 hours before the end of formal legislative sessions. A “No” vote is against the amendment.)

Sen. Joanne Comerford, No; Sen. Paul Mark, No; Sen. Jacob Oliveira, No; Sen. John Velis, No

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

$6.4 MILLION TO CLIMATECH COMPANIES: The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) announced $6.4 million in funding for 25 clean energy and climatetech companies and researchers. The investment is designed to accelerate innovation and business growth in 13 cities and towns across Massachusetts.

“These companies have made Massachusetts a leader in climate technologies,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “As the rest of the world races for the competitive edge in climatetech, Massachusetts is leading the way with smart investments in growing businesses. With these investments, big ideas become jobs and economic growth for our state.”

“The climatetech industry is an economic development opportunity for every city and town in Massachusetts,” said Emily Reichert, CEO of MassCEC. “These MassCEC emerging climatetech grants empower innovative ideas and transformative solutions that will shape the future of the state’s economy. By supporting entrepreneurs and innovators, we’re accelerating the deployment of technologies that will lower energy costs and create jobs right here in Massachusetts.”

$825,000 TO IMPROVE WATER QUAILTY: The Healey Administration announced $825,000 in water quality grants to several Cape Cod towns - Barnstable, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Falmouth, Mashpee, Wellfleet and Yarmouth. The grants are aimed at reducing nitrogen pollution, which mostly comes from wastewater. Nitrogen can cause serious problems in the water, such as harmful algae blooms that can affect both the environment and public health.

“This funding represents a critical step in helping Cape Cod communities address the longstanding challenges of nitrogen pollution,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “By supporting local initiatives, we are protecting our treasured coastal ecosystems and ensuring that future generations can enjoy clean and healthy waterways. The health of Cape Cod’s waters is directly tied to the well-being of its residents, its economy and its unique environmental heritage.”

“Protecting our fragile natural environment has always been one of my top priorities,” said Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “We’ve worked hard to bring sustained funding to subsidize the astronomical costs of nitrogen-pollution-reduction programs across Cape Cod, including the establishment of the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund in 2018. I am thrilled that MassDEP is awarding grants to these six Cape Cod towns. If we keep up with these efforts, we can restore our waterways and relegate excessive nitrogen pollution to the history books.”

$7.2 MILLION FOR LOCAL CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS: Gov. Healey announced $7.2 million in grants to cities and towns across Massachusetts to fund clean energy projects.

“We are happy to help our cities and towns move forward with initiatives that create healthier communities and boost local economies,” said Gov. Healey. “These projects will ultimately save people, businesses and municipalities money and will help Massachusetts achieve energy independence.”

“These projects reflect the hard work and dedication of our local officials to make Massachusetts a healthier, more affordable place for families and businesses,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “We are committed to partnering with our local leaders to support efforts that save cities and towns money and strengthen communities.”

STRENGTHEN HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING IN MASSACHUSETTS HOTELS: Massachusetts state legislators, hospitality industry leaders and survivor advocates gathered at the Statehouse to highlight the urgent need to implement human trafficking recognition training across the hotel industry in the Bay State. They urged approval of legislation that would mandate human trafficking training for all hotel employees in the Bay State, from the front desk to housekeeping and food service, in order to equip them to recognize and respond to trafficking situations.

“Prevention training is already a standard practice at many hotels in Massachusetts, and we remain committed to partnering with law enforcement and survivor advocacy organizations to strengthen these efforts,” said Kevin Carey, President and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

“Human trafficking remains a vicious crime and modern-day version of slavery that exists in almost every community across the commonwealth and the United States,” said Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), the lead author of the first anti-human trafficking law approved in Massachusetts and the sponsor of this new legislation (S 1729) which would mandate human trafficking training for all hotel employees. “This is not simply some awful problem occurring in some far away land. Many victims are vulnerable women or children from our own communities, and hotels and motels are often exploited by traffickers to perpetuate this heinous crime. We must break through the inertia on Beacon Hill and mandate training for hospitality workers who can play a lifesaving role in combatting trafficking.”

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“[President Trump] is taking the bureaucracy out of education so that more money flows to the states. Better education is closest to the kids, with parents, with local superintendents, with local school boards.”

— U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon on the Trump Administration’s announcement of a cut to nearly half of the Department of Education’s 4,000-person workforce.

“By attempting to dismantle the Department of Education which, among many things, funds educational programs that benefit low-income children and students with disabilities and enforces laws that prohibit discrimination in education, the Trump Administration is making it crystal clear that it does not prioritize our students, teachers or families.”

— Attorney General Andrea Campbell and 20 other attorneys general on their lawsuit against U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the U.S. Department of Education and President Trump over their attempt to dismantle the Department of Education.

“Right now, our democracy is being attacked from every angle. Our commonsense, pro-democracy reforms put the most essential element of our democracy – the people – front and center. Together, we’ll continue advocating for critical legislation that strengthens our voting rights, makes it easier for people to participate in their government and increases transparency to hold those in power accountable.”

— Geoff Foster, Executive Director of Common Cause Massachusetts, launching the “Platform for People Power,” outlining their priorities for the 2025-2026 state legislative session to enact same day voter registration, guarantee hybrid access for government meetings and strengthen transparency around who funds state ballot questions.

“Raising awareness of problem gambling is central to the Lottery’s work, not just this month but throughout the year. Together with our partners, we are committed to providing resources to help prevent and address this challenge throughout Massachusetts.”

— State Treasurer Deb Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission, about the Bay State’s participating in Problem Gambling Awareness Month.

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com.