Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of March 28 to April 1.
The House, 156 to 0, approved and sent to the Senate a $250 million package that includes authorizing $200 million in funding for the maintenance and repair of local roads and bridges. The package, a bond bill under which the funding would be borrowed by the state through the sale of bonds, also includes $150 million to pay for bus lanes, improvement of public transit, electric vehicles and other state transportation projects.
Supporters said the funding will help cities and towns make their streets and bridges safer for all drivers and will improve the state’s public transportation system. They noted that this funding, known as Chapter 90, is relied on every year by local communities but noted that this is not the only source of local aid for cities and towns.
Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, is one of the biggest advocates for more Chapter 90 funding above the $200 million.
“We are pleased that Chapter 90 and other important municipal transportation grant programs have been advanced by the House,” Beckwith said. “This is timely action to make sure that these funds are available for the upcoming construction season, and we look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers to address the long-term needs for local roads.”
Many local officials across the state continue to advocate to increase the funding and argue that the cost of repairing roads has increased by up to 40% but the state has kept this funding flat at $200 million for the past 11 years.
Rep. Bill Strauss, D-Mattapoisett, the House chair of the Transportation Committee and the sponsor of the bill, did not respond to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call for a comment.
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
Rep. Natalie Blais — Yes
Rep. Paul Mark — Yes
Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes
The House, 28 to 128, rejected an amendment that would provide an additional $25 million to cities and towns in one-time funding for the maintenance and repair of local roads and bridges. This would be in addition to the $200 million already included in the spending package.
“Roads are one of the biggest complaints we get from our constituents,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Kelly Pease, R-Westfield. “I believe that elected officials need to make dedicated road funding to our cities and towns a priority. Chapter 90 funding has not been increased for the last 11 years. Cities and towns throughout the commonwealth continue to take more and more money out of their budgets to try and keep up with the increasingly poor road conditions. This and schools are usually the biggest factors in property taxes going up. Again, I believe this issue needs to be one of our top priorities at the State House.”
Opponents noted that the package already contains $200 million for roads and bridges and an additional $150 million for other local transportation projects. They said the current formula, created decades ago, for distribution of the funds is considered unfair by many cities and towns. They argued the House should wait until an attempt is made to change the formula so that the additional $25 million will be distributed in a fairer manner.
Rep. Bill Strauss, D-Mattapoisett, the House chair of the Transportation Committee and the sponsor of the bill, did not respond to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call for a comment.
A “No” vote is against the $25 million.
Rep. Natalie Blais — No
Rep. Paul Mark — No
Rep. Susannah Whipps — No
The Senate, 40 to 0, approved a bill that would prohibit any person or entity, including educational institutions, workplaces and public spaces, from implementing any policy that would target someone who wears their natural hairstyle. The measure defines natural hairstyle as hair texture, hair type and protective hairstyles including braids, locks, twists and other formations. The House has approved a different version of the measure and the Senate version now goes to the House for consideration.
“Today’s passage of the Crown Act is a symbol from the Massachusetts Legislature that we stand with women of color who have experienced hair discrimination,” said Sen. Adam Gomez, D-Springfield. “As a father to young women of color this legislation means a great deal to me, but legislation is just the first step. In order to change hearts and minds, you have to ensure that people know that this exists, that it is deeply wrong and that it is something that many women of color have … experience with.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
Sen. Joanne Comerford — Yes
Sen. Anne Gobi — Yes
Sen. Adam Hinds — Yes
The Senate, 39 to 0, approved and sent to the House a bill that would allow car dealers in Massachusetts to provide temporary license plates for vehicles that are purchased by out-of-state residents and allow them to use the plates until the vehicle can be driven to and registered in their home state. The measure would direct the Registry of Motor Vehicles to design, issue and regulate the use of the license plates.
Supporters said that under current regulations, out-of-staters leave the dealership after a purchase and are forced to coordinate a complicated delivery across state lines.
Sen. Mike Rush, D-Boston, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure recognizes the growing business of online auto sales, especially in New England, which has a very compact set of states. He noted the legislation will bring in an estimated $75 million to the state in new sales tax revenue and noted that almost all states currently allow this.
“I (am) a proud sponsor of (the bill),” Rush said. “As state senator representing the Norfolk and Suffolk district, I have the privilege of representing the largest stretch of auto dealers in eastern Massachusetts, the Norwood ‘Auto Mile.’ This legislation will enhance auto sales throughout our commonwealth.”
A “Yes” vote is for the bill.
Sen. Joanne Comerford — Yes
Sen. Anne Gobi — Yes
Sen. Adam Hinds — Yes
The House and Senate approved, on voice votes, without a roll call, and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a $1.6 billion supplemental budget that contains $700 million for COVID-19 related expenses including testing, treatments, expanded vaccination access and personal protective equipment.
The measure also includes a section requiring the state’s pension funds to terminate investments with any company that has been sanctioned by the United States as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or is incorporated in Russia. Another provision provides $10 million for the Office of Immigrants and Refugees to support the resettlement of Ukrainian and other international refugees.
The House and Senate had each approved its own versions of this budget weeks ago. The leaders of the two branches worked out the differences and came up with a compromise version without appointing a conference committee to do so. Although no one voted against the bill, some critics said the 42-page bill is being rushed through the Legislature without representatives and senators having much time to read and understand the new version.
Other provisions include $140 million for grants to special education schools to address the impacts of COVID-19 and subsequent variants; $100 million for cities and towns for road repairs; $100 million for rental assistance for needy families; extending eviction protections for tenants who have active assistance applications; and $20 million for low-income home energy assistance.
The package also extends from April 1, 2022 to April 1, 2023 outdoor dining at restaurants and from May 1, 2022 to April 1, 2023 the law allowing restaurants to sell beer, wine and cocktails with takeout orders.
“The supplemental budget … is emblematic of the Legislature’s consistent response to the economic needs and priorities of the commonwealth,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano, D -Quincy. “In addition to critical investments in health care, education, transportation infrastructure and housing, this package also includes funding for the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees here in Massachusetts, ensuring that we do our part in the global effort to help those suffering from the war.”
Senators agreed to keep their emergency rules in place to allow for remote voting through July 31. These rules were set to expire last week.
The House gave initial approval to a bill that would allow a defendant in a housing eviction case to have the records of the case sealed unless the landlord wins on the merits or a tenant breaks an agreement and is evicted by a constable. The measure needs additional approval by the House before it goes to the Senate for consideration.
Supporters explained that under current law, as soon as an eviction case is filed by a landlord, a tenant has a permanent “eviction record” regardless of whether the tenant did anything wrong or was actually evicted. They argued that the mere fact that a tenant was party to an eviction or housing case is being unfairly held against them when they try to rent a new place.
They said they are concerned about the unrestricted availability of eviction records and the impact this has on people’s ability to obtain housing, credit and employment, now and in the future. Many cases are decades old and the information is obsolete, but the records are publicly available forever regardless of the outcome of the case.
“The (bill) is about making sure people can have a second chance,” said Senate sponsor Sen. Lydia Edwards, D-Boston. “It’s about removing permanent barriers to housing and allowing people to have a fresh start. It makes no sense that people can seal misdemeanor and felony records but can’t seal an eviction record. This is a tool to help us recover from this pandemic and any other economic downturn more equitably.”
Rep. Mike Moran, D-Brighton, the House sponsor of the bill, did not respond to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call for a comment.
This bill would require Massachusetts public education curriculum to include the histories, roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people in the history of Massachusetts and the nation.
“Growing up as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I know how important it is to learn about your history,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro. “I want LGBTQ+ youth to have the opportunity to learn about our struggles, our accomplishments and our stories. This is a feat that will benefit all students of the commonwealth.”
The bill was replaced by a measure (S 2748) that would establish guidelines for plans to increase racial and ethnic diversity among teaching, administration and staff positions in public schools and districts — thus killing Cyr’s bill.
In response, Cyr said, “I am encouraged to see legislation that supports the essential endeavor to promote educator diversity. Going forward, I would like to see the enumeration of an LGBTQ+ curriculum.”