State Rep. Rodney Elliott. (James Thomas photo)
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of June 17-21.
MATERNAL HEALTH (H 4773) – House 153-0, approved and sent to the Senate a maternal health bill that would require certified professional midwives and lactation consultants to be licensed; encourage the creation of more freestanding birth centers; expand access to postpartum depression screenings; and raise awareness of pregnancy loss and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
“Today, I feel proud to stand with my colleagues in recognition of the autonomy of all birthing people to make important decisions about where they give birth – whether in a hospital, at home or in a birthing center – and ensure that all parents feel strong, empowered and in charge of their health at such a formative time in their lives,” said Rep. Kay Khan (D-Newton), a sponsor of the bill. “In passing this historic maternal health package, we have further elevated the midwifery model of care and moved mountains toward addressing the needs of all birthing people in the commonwealth, regardless of their race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.”
BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS AND MORE (S 2830) – Senate 38-2, approved a bill that would ban single-use plastic bags; make straws and plastic utensils available by request only; require stores to charge 10 cents for recycled paper bags with 5 cents retained by the retailer and 5 cents used to fund environmental protection measures; make it easier to recycle; create a statewide program for recycling large plastic objects including car seats; prohibit single-use plastic bottle purchases by state agencies; require do-not-flush labeling for non-flushable wipes made of plastic; and implement statewide composting.
“From microplastics in our blood to plastic bags in our waterways to greenhouse gases in our air, plastics pollute and harm our people and planet,” said Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment. “The Plastics Reduction Act will prevent billions of single-use plastic bags, bottles, cutlery and wipes from clogging up our environment, pipes and landfills each year. This is a major win for our climate, our wildlife and our health.”
“I think it’s important to understand that when we talk about the pollution that occurs throughout the world, that we understand where this comes from,” said Sen. Peter Durant (R-Spencer), the other senator who voted against the bill. “Over 70 percent of all plastic pollution in the world today comes from Asia. The United States accounts for approximately 4 percent of the pollution, which is too much, I can give you that. I oppose this bill because the question becomes, what is the cost-to-benefit ratio that we’re talking about here? To what end do we want to cause businesses to cause families in Massachusetts, to expend more for a diminishing return?”
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)
YES: Sen. Michael Barrett; Sen. John Cronin; Sen. James Eldridge; Sen. Barry Finegold; Sen. Cindy Friedman; Sen. Edward Kennedy; Sen. Bruce Tarr.
MAKE PAPER BAG FEE OPTIONAL (S 2830) – Senate 8-30, rejected an amendment that would make the up to 10 cent fee for paper bags optional for retailers to charge. The amendment would replace a section of the bill that requires stores to charge 10 cents for recycled paper bags with 5 cents retained by the retailer and 5 cents used to fund environmental protection measures.
Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) said he “voted in favor of [the] amendment because it helps consumers and small business owners save money at a time when inflation is causing hardships for families and businesses alike.”
“I voted yes … because we have spent almost four years fighting inflation,” said Sen. Mike Moore (D-Millbury). “Just when prices are starting to stabilize, why would we impose a mandated cost increase on retail products? I believe we should leave it up to the retailer to decide if it makes sense to impose a fee on carryout paper bags.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.)
NO: Sen. Michael Barrett; Sen. John Cronin; Sen. James Eldridge; Sen. Cindy Friedman; Sen. Edward Kennedy. YES: Sen. Barry Finegold; Sen. Bruce Tarr.
REQUIRE REPORTING (S 2830) – Senate 4-35, rejected an amendment that would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to report annually to the House, the Senate and the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, on any increased rates of recycling that can be attributed to the provisions of the new plastics law.
“Creating a reporting system for the progress of this bill would give us an opportunity to evaluate the efficacy of the legislation over time,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) who voted for the amendment. “Reporting this data serves as a metric to tell us if this bill has done what it was purported to do. These are reasons why I voted in favor of this amendment.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.)
NO: Sen. Michael Barrett; Sen. John Cronin; Sen. James Eldridge; Sen. Barry Finegold; Sen. Cindy Friedman; Sen. Edward Kennedy. YES: Sen. Bruce Tarr.
Also up on Beacon Hill
REVENGE PORN AND TEEN SEXTING (H 4744) – Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a bill that would prohibit the posting of sexually explicit images of another person online without their permission — commonly referred to as “revenge porn.” The practice is often used by ex-spouses or ex-partners. The measure was recently unanimously approved by the House and Senate.
Massachusetts was one of only two states that did not have a law about this crime. The measure establishes a sentence of up to 2.5 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000; increases the upper limit of the fine for criminal harassment from $1,000 to $5,000; allows a victim to petition the court for a harassment prevention order against a person who has violated this statute; and extends the statute of limitations to pursue criminal charges for certain domestic violence offenses from six years to 15 years.
The measure adds coercive control to the definition of abuse. Coercive control is a nonphysical form of abuse that includes a pattern of behavior intended to threaten, intimidate, harass, isolate, control, coerce or compel compliance of a family or household member in a manner that causes the targeted individual to fear physical harm or to have a reduced sense of physical safety or autonomy. Examples of coercive control include threatening to share explicit images, regulating or monitoring a family or household member’s communications and access to services, and isolating a family or household member from friends or relatives.
Another provision changes current law under which minors, under 18 years of age, who share explicit images of themselves or other minors, can be charged with violating Massachusetts child pornography laws and be required to register with the Sex Offender Registry. The bill allows minors to be diverted to an educational program that would provide them with information about the consequences of posting or transmitting indecent visual depictions of minors.
PROHIBIT SALE OF DOGS, CATS AND RABBITS IN NEW PET STORES (S 2820) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that would prohibit pet shops opened after Jan. 1, 2025 from offering dogs, cats and rabbits for sale. Pet shops existing prior to Jan. 1, 2025 would be exempt from the law.
The new law would allow new pets shops to offer space to an animal rescue or shelter organization to showcase dogs, cats or rabbits for adoption as long as the pet shop does not have an ownership interest in the animals offered for adoption. The bill imposes a penalty of $1,000 for a first offense, $2,500 for a second offense and $5,000 for a third and subsequent offenses.
“Typically, pet shops obtain animals from substandard breeding facilities, which results in consumers unknowingly purchasing sick or genetically compromised pets,” said Rep. Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster).
REQUIRE ADAPTIVE BEAM HEADLIGHT TECHNOLOGY (H 3419) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that would require all new automobiles sold in the state after Jan. 1, 2026 to be equipped with adaptive beam headlight technology which is currently used in other parts of the world including Europe, China and Canada.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Adaptive Driving Beam Headlight Systems (ADBs) use automatic headlight beam switching technology to shine less light on occupied areas of the road and more light on unoccupied areas. The adaptive beam is particularly useful for distance illumination of pedestrians, animals and objects without reducing the visibility of drivers in other vehicles.
As a CNN report noted, “Imagine if you could drive at night with your high beams on all the time, bathing the road ahead in bright light but without ever blinding other drivers. That’s what ADB accomplishes.”
ILLEGAL FIREWORKS (H 3634) – The House gave initial approval to legislation that would amend current law which imposes a fine between $10 and $100 on anyone convicted of illegal possession or use of fireworks. The bill would increase the penalty, in areas with a population density of 1,000 or more persons per square mile, to a fine of between $200 and $500 and/or a prison sentence or up to six months.
“This has been an issue in my district that needs to be addressed,” said sponsor Rep. Rodney Elliott (D-Lowell). “By increasing fines for illegal fireworks usage, we not only deter irresponsible behavior but also send a clear message that the safety of our citizens is eminent.”
FREE WEIGHTS IN PRISONS (H 2422) – The House gave initial approval to a measure that would require superintendents of medium- and maximum-security prisons to block inmates from accessing free weights or any other exercise equipment that is not secured.
Sponsor Rep. Steven Xiarhos (R-Barnstable) said the bill is named “Matt’s Law” in honor of Corrections Officer Matthew Tidman, who was brutally assaulted in 2022 by a prison inmate who used free weights from a prison gym facility as a weapon.
“I am proud to have filed the bill … this session and I believe its protections are necessary to keep our correction officers safe at work,” said Xiarhos. “These brave men and women risk their safety for us every day and it is important for us to have their back.”
EXPAND NERO’S LAW (H 2423) – The House gave initial approval to another Xiarhos proposal that would expand Nero’s Law, passed in 2022, that requires EMS personnel to provide basic emergency treatment to a police dog and use an ambulance to transport the dog injured in the line of duty to a veterinary clinic or veterinary hospital, if there are not people requiring emergency medical treatment or transport at that time. That law was passed following the tragic death of Yarmouth Police Sgt. Sean Gannon who was shot and killed in the line of duty. His K-9 partner Nero was severely injured and had to be rushed to the animal hospital in the back of a police cruiser. Nero survived.
The bill permits not just basic emergency medical treatment, but also advanced life support care as an option by those properly trained, if available and necessary.
CITIES AND TOWNS (H 3396) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that would require that cities and towns include a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) element in their master plans. Sponsors say that TDM studies policies aimed at giving people effective, reliable transportation options, often by spreading travel across modes, locations, routes and times of day. The measure also emphasizes collaboration with Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) to reduce congestion and improve mobility.
Supporters said that TDM and TMA options can help improve transportation equity by allocating resources to under-served groups, including non-drivers and reduce negative impacts from driving, such as congestion, noise, air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. They argued that implementing TDM policies is often less expensive for cities and towns than car-centric options such as expanding roads and parking facilities.
How long was last week’s session?
Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session.
During the week June 17-21, the House met for a total of five hours and 51 minutes and the Senate met for a total of eight hours and 26 minutes.
Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com.