Transcript Highlights:

• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then adopted a resolution recognizing the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The resolution condemned antisemitism, noted the historical significance of Auschwitz and the Holocaust, and directed copies to be sent to the Consulate General of Israel, the New England Holocaust Memorial Committee, and the Holocaust Legacy Foundation. The chamber then took up several bills and committee reports. It passed to be enacted House No. 4663, authorizing the town of Milford Select Board to appoint a highway surveyor, and sent it to the Governor. The Senate also ordered to a third reading a bill establishing a sick leave bank for Shannon Manning, a Trial Court employee. In addition, the Senate suspended Joint Rule 12 on a report concerning legislation to protect access to justice and referred the matter to the Committee on Judiciary. It also ordered House No. 4805, amending the town charter of Plainville, to a third reading, and suspended Joint Rule 12 on several House petitions so they could be referred to the appropriate committees. The Senate adopted an order to meet again the following Thursday at 11 a.m. in formal session, then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• All members, guests, and staff will please rise to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it. The order is adopted.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up several local bills on third reading and passed them to be engrossed, including measures authorizing police officers in Plainville, amending the charter of Acushnet, and authorizing conveyance of a parcel of land in Wellesley. It also considered House No. 4206, the bill modernizing the cannabis laws of the Commonwealth; the House nonconcurred in the Senate amendment and appointed a conference committee, and the Senate voted to insist on its amendment and appoint its own conferees, naming Senators Gómez, Comerford, and Durant. The Senate then suspended the rules to take up House No. 4007, concerning the composition of the Licensing Board for the City of Salem, and ordered it to a third reading. Later, two bills were passed to be enacted: House No. 4030, establishing a select board-town administrator form of government in Rochester, and House No. 4381, further regulating the term of the town moderator in Norwood. Both were ordered signed by the President and laid before the Governor. Finally, the Senate adopted an order to adjourn and reconvene on Monday at 11:00 a.m., then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Have all members voted? Voted. Thank you. Have all members voted?
• Thank you all.
• All members voted.
• All right. Thank you.
• Have all members voted who wish to do so? All members voted who wish to do so.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House took up several procedural orders early in the session, including extending the reporting deadline for the Housing Committee on H.4655 and suspending Joint Rule 12 for a petition seeking to rescind prior Article 5 constitutional convention applications. It then advanced three Ways and Means bills on education-related topics: personal financial literacy education (H.4670), expanded access to the state seal of biliteracy (H.4671), and teacher preparation and student literacy (H.4672), each moving through amendment adoption and third reading or engrossment procedures. A major portion of the meeting focused on H.4670, which would require personal financial literacy instruction in middle and high school and establish a financial literacy trust fund for curriculum and teacher training. Members spoke in support, emphasizing budgeting, credit, student loans, and long-term financial planning, and the bill passed to be engrossed by a 154-0 roll call. H.4671, which broadens access to the seal of biliteracy for students in public and private schools, also drew support and passed to be engrossed 155-0. The most extensive debate centered on H.4672, a literacy bill requiring evidence-based reading instruction, DESE-approved curricula or approved local alternatives, screening and progress monitoring, professional development, and related implementation measures. Members described concerns about declining reading scores and argued for a shift away from three-cueing toward phonics-based, science-of-reading approaches. Several amendments were considered: a proposal to change intervention language from “significantly” to “at risk of falling behind” failed, while amendments adding funding language, stakeholder collaboration, and other implementation details were adopted. One amendment clarifying that pictures may be used as a supplement in literacy curricula was also adopted, and the bill ultimately passed to be engrossed 155-0. The House also observed moments of silence for former Judge Leslie Harris, former Representative Mark Carron, and former Representative Dennis Rosa, and adjourned to meet the next day at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no. The resolution is adopted.
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no. The amendment is adopted.
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it.
• All such amendments shall be second-reading amendments.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then adopted an emergency preamble for Senate No. 2799, establishing a sick leave bank for a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education employee. The chamber also adopted a congratulatory resolution honoring the Warren Public Library on its 150th anniversary. Several local bills then advanced, including Senate No. 2509 on filling mayoral vacancies in New Bedford, House No. 4171 on vacancies among town meeting members in Milford (as amended), and House No. 4233 amending the Charter of the City of Malden, which was passed to be enacted and sent to the Governor. Senate No. 2799 was also passed to be enacted. The Senate adopted a committee report extending the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure’s reporting deadline to March 5, 2026. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer a House petition concerning the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code to the Committee on Financial Services. Multiple Senate orders were then adopted setting expedited procedures for Ways and Means consideration of several bills, including campaign finance reporting by state ballot question committees (Senate No. 507, new draft 2898), property tax bill shocks (Senate No. 1933, new draft 2899), municipal tax relief (Senate No. 1935, new draft 2900), property tax deferral (Senate No. 2713, new draft 2901), a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption (Senate No. 2036, new draft 2902), and honoring Blue Star Families (Senate No. 2903). The Senate also adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m. and dispense with printing a calendar. At the close of business, members moved to adjourn in memory of Mary Ann Lomba of Dorchester, with remarks noting her community service and family, and the motion prevailed. The Senate adjourned in her memory.

Transcript Highlights:

• All those in favor say aye; all those opposed...
• All those in favor say aye; all those opposed, nay. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye; all those opposed, nay. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye; all those opposed, nay. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye; all those opposed, nay. The ayes have it.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House convened, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and first took up procedural matters. It suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow consideration of two petitions: one concerning the sale of nitrous oxides and another establishing a sick leave bank for a Suffolk County Sheriff's Office employee. The House also suspended Rule 7A to advance several bills reported by the Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee. The bills ordered to a third reading included legislation protecting employees’ right to rebuttal of personnel records, and local bills waiving the maximum age requirement for two Boston police officer applicants and establishing Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day. The House then passed two bills to enactment: one authorizing Scituate to issue four additional on-premises liquor licenses and another amending the charter of Aquinnah. Later, the House engrossed a Hull parking fines bill and considered a Randolph charter bill. On motion, the Randolph bill was amended by substitution with a related bill addressing compensation for town council and school committee members and meetings of multiple-member bodies, and then passed to engrossment as amended. The session concluded with adjournment, with notice that the House would meet in informal session on Wednesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay. The ayes have it. The rules are suspended.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay. The ayes have it. The order is adopted.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye, all those opposed nay. The ayes have it.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several procedural and local matters. It adopted an order extending the Committee on Education’s reporting deadline to March 18, 2026, and approved the Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee’s recommendation to place two Boston local bills on the calendar: H.4254 and H.4255, each directing the Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police officers for Rodney Alcindor and Jonathan Telford, respectively. The House suspended Rule 7A, advanced both bills through second reading, and ordered them to a third reading. The House then passed to be enacted H.4030, establishing a select board town administrative form of government in Rochester, and H.4381, further regulating the term of the town moderator in Norwood. It also accepted the Third Reading Committee’s report on Senate amendments to H.4657, authorizing the town of Scituate to issue four additional off-premises alcohol licenses, and concurred in the amendments. In addition, H.4621, changing the Board of Selectmen in Boylston to a Select Board, was passed to be engrossed. At the close of business, the House adopted an adjournment order and then adjourned to meet the following Monday at 11 a.m. in an informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• All members, guests, and staff, please rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
• to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no. The ayes have it, and the rule is suspended.
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate convened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a brief acknowledgment of Transgender Day of Remembrance, with remarks honoring transgender and gender non-conforming individuals and reaffirming a commitment to safety and dignity for all. The chamber then took up several Election Laws committee reports involving local validation and ratification measures, including legislation to validate the proceedings of the Millbury annual town meeting and Senate 2679, which ratifies acts and proceedings related to Plymouth town meeting and actions by Plymouth officials. The Senate ordered the Millbury bill to a third reading and likewise ordered Senate 2679 to a third reading. It also considered reports from the Committee on Rules of the Two Branches recommending suspension of Joint Rule 12 for several Senate petitions, and the Senate voted to suspend the necessary rules so the matters could be considered forthwith and referred to their respective committees. One measure was passed to be enacted and sent to the Governor for approval. After a brief recess, the Senate adopted an order to adjourn until Monday at 11:00 a.m., and then adjourned accordingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no.
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a congratulatory resolution honoring Anna Karaz on her 100th birthday. It then took up and passed several local bills, including a measure authorizing bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole for the town of Randolph. The sponsor spoke in support, describing the bill as a home rule petition intended to improve access, civic participation, and voter turnout for Randolph’s growing Haitian Creole-speaking population. The bill was read a third time and passed to be engrossed. The Senate also passed a bill authorizing the Milford Select Board to appoint a highway surveyor. It received a Ways and Means report on House No. 4683, relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, recommending amendment by substitution of the text in Senate document No. 2924; the chamber suspended the rules to consider the order forthwith and adopted it. The Senate further suspended rules to process several Senate petitions and local matters, and then enacted bills amending the Provincetown charter, establishing the appointed town clerk position in Avon, and authorizing Westwood to reissue and grant certain alcohol licenses. Later, the Senate referred a House petition concerning retirement benefits for Valeria Dorazio to the Committee on Public Service after suspending Joint Rule 12. It then adopted an amendment substituting a new draft for a Plymouth bill, changing it to validate and confirm certain acts and proceedings of Plymouth officials, and passed the bill to be engrossed. The session also included remarks congratulating Sweet Paws Rescue on its 15th anniversary and upcoming facility move, followed by a motion to adjourn in memory of Gerard W. Moynihan, which was adopted after a moment of silence. The Senate adjourned to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• All members, guests, and staff will rise, and we will have to pledge allegiance to the flag.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed? No.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed? No. The ayes have it, and the rule is suspended.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed? No. The ayes have it, and the rule is suspended.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed? No.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a resolution offered by Senator Comerford recognizing Russell Russ Carrier’s 44 years of service to the Forbes Library. The chamber then took up several local bills, including an act amending the charter of the town of Provincetown and an act amending the charter of the city of Greenfield; both advanced on voice votes, with Provincetown passed to be engrossed and Greenfield ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed. The Senate also acted on committee reports and rule suspensions. A report from the Committee on Rules recommended suspending Joint Rule 12 for a bill filed by Senator Crighton to update Massachusetts student transportation; the Senate suspended the rules and referred the matter to the Committees on Public Safety and Homeland Security. A House petition concerning access to applied behavior analysis services in schools was likewise taken under Joint Rule 12 and referred to the Committee on Education. On final passage, the Senate enacted a bill increasing the age limit for retired police officers serving as special police officers in Weston and a bill dissolving a special fund in Athol. The chamber also adopted an order extending the Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries’ reporting deadline on Senate Document No. 58 concerning oyster shell recycling until January 23, 2026. The Senate concluded by adjourning in memory of Manuel B. Barros after a brief memorial tribute and moment of silence, and set its next meeting for Thursday at 1:00 p.m. in formal session with the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• All members, guests, and staff will please rise to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
• Passing the bill to be engrossed: all those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it. The order is adopted.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up several bills out of the orders of the day and advanced them on third reading. These included Senate No. 2574, providing accidental death benefits for the surviving spouse of a former Boston firefighter; Senate No. 2652, authorizing Taunton to establish a separate billing rate for water supply to manufactured housing communities; House No. 86, allowing recall of elected offices in Sharon; and Senate No. 2110, designating the last week in April as Building Trades Recovery Week. In each case, the Senate voted aye with no opposition and passed the bills to be engrossed. The chamber also considered two additional bills and passed them to be enacted: one concerning a fire district and House No. 4859, authorizing the town of Ludlow to pay a certain unpaid bill. These measures were approved without recorded opposition and were to be signed by the President and sent to the Governor. At the close of business, Senator O'Connor offered and the Senate adopted an order to adjourn until Thursday at 11:00 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar. The Senate then adjourned accordingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• All those in favor say aye, opposed, no. The ayes have it. The special adjournment is adopted. Mr.
• All those in favor say aye, opposed, nay.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and received a gubernatorial message recommending legislation on financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges; the message was referred to the Committee on Transportation. The chamber then acted on several Rules Committee reports, suspending rules and extending reporting deadlines for the Labor and Workforce Development and Revenue committees, and suspending Joint Rule 12 to allow a petition on disclosure of consumer information related to tariffs to go to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. The House also took up a Steering, Policy and Scheduling report setting several local bills for consideration, including measures involving police hiring or age waivers in Boston, Haverhill, and Monterey, and an update to expungement law. After suspending Rule 7A, the House ordered those bills to a third reading. In third reading, it passed to be engrossed a bill waiving the maximum age requirement for a Boston police officer applicant and another establishing a sick leave bank for an employee of the Department of Children and Families, the latter amended to add an emergency preamble. Finally, the House adopted an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. and a special adjournment in memory of former Representative Robert S. Hargraves of Groton. The House then adjourned to meet tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• All members? Have all members been recorded? 37 members in the affirmative, none in the negative.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no.
• All those in favor say aye. Opposed, no.
• All members? Mm-hmm. Have all members been recorded?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate resumed debate on Senate No. 2696, An Act Regarding Free Expression, a bill addressing challenges to books and other library materials in school and public libraries. Senators supporting the bill argued it protects free expression and gives students, parents, guardians, and others a court path to challenge removals, while opponents raised concerns about parental rights, school control, and the scope and timing of the review process. Several speakers also emphasized the broader context of book bans and the impact on authors, librarians, and students. A number of amendments were considered. Amendment 4, offered by Senator Creem, was adopted and extended standing to authors and creators to challenge removals of their works, including in municipal libraries. Amendment 5, by Senator DiDomenico, was adopted and limited who may initiate challenges to those connected to the school community. Amendment 6, by Senator Comerford, was adopted to require that challenged materials be considered in their entirety. Amendment 8, by Senator Tarr, proposing parental notification of challenges, was rejected after a roll call. Subsequent Tarr amendments on parental opt-out, reporting, public process, and written policy were also rejected, while Amendment 19, requiring written reasons when librarians remove outdated or successor materials, was rejected as well. Amendment 7, a Ways and Means amendment, was adopted. The Senate then ordered the bill to a third reading and passed it to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 35 in favor and 3 against. The chamber also adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11:00 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several procedural matters. It adopted an order extending the reporting deadline for a Community Development and Small Business matter to March 18, 2026, and suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow two petitions to be referred: one on medication administration in rest homes and another on concealment of the death of a child born out of wedlock. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling also recommended a slate of bills for House consideration, including measures on Building Trades Recovery Week, accidental death benefits for a former Boston firefighter’s surviving spouse, recess for elementary and middle school students, satisfaction of money judgments, police age-waiver matters for Jose Reyes and Jonathan Gagney, and advertising for justices of the peace. The House suspended Rule 7A to proceed with these matters. The chamber then advanced the listed bills through second reading and ordered seven of them to a third reading. It also passed House No. 4502, amending the Town Manager Act of Arlington, to be enacted. Several bills released from the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading were then taken up: House No. 4740, waiving the maximum age requirement for a Boston police officer applicant, and House No. 4817, authorizing an additional all-alcoholic-beverages license in Pembroke, both passed to be engrossed. House No. 5014, establishing a sick leave bank for Sonia Felix of the Department of Transitional Assistance, was amended on the floor to change wording and add an emergency preamble, then passed to be engrossed as amended. The House also adopted an order to adjourn and concluded by adjourning to meet the following Monday at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no. The ayes have it. The order is adopted. Mr.
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no. The ayes have it.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House met briefly, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several student athletic groups visiting the chamber. Members welcomed the Sutton girls’ soccer team, which was noted for a 19-4 season and a fifth consecutive state championship, as well as guests of several representatives including the Tri-County varsity football team and boys cross-country team, both of which were recognized for recent vocational state titles. The only formal business was an order offered by Mr. Mariano of Quincy to set the next meeting for Monday at 11:00 a.m., which was adopted by voice vote. Mr. Wong of Saugus then moved that the House adjourn, and that motion also passed by voice vote. The House adjourned to meet Monday at 11:00 a.m. in an informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• All members and guests in the Senate Chamber will please rise to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the
• to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no. The ayes have it, and the order is adopted.
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no. The ayes have it.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate briefly convened, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and then took up a House bill establishing a sick leave bank for Sonia Felix, an employee of the Department of Transitional Assistance. On motion by Senator Fattman, the rules were suspended to allow immediate consideration, and the Senate ordered the bill to a third reading without objection. The chamber then considered and adopted an order setting the Senate’s next meeting for Thursday at 11:00 a.m. and directing the clerk to dispense with printing a calendar. After that order was approved, the Senate voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Have all amendments reported?
• All those in favor say I oppose no.
• But in addition to that, all of the other things and all of the other pressures that are out there from
• All members? Mm-hmm.
• All members?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up floor debate on H. 4206, An Act Modernizing the Commonwealth Cannabis Laws, with repeated amendment votes focused largely on cannabis regulation, transparency, youth access, and the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC). Early motions included suspending Senate Rule 38A to continue past 8 p.m., which passed by standing vote. Most amendments offered by Senator Tarr were rejected, including proposals on possession limits, CCC executive director appointment and removal, legislative control over medical marijuana licenses, a multi-agency task force on illegal cannabis, annual CCC hearings and reports, an ombudsman, a legislative liaison, a youth-cannabis study commission, supply-and-demand study, and increased penalties for distribution to minors. Amendment 33 by Senator Driscoll, directing the CCC and other agencies to study regulation of intoxicating hemp products, was adopted. Amendment 7 by Senator Brownsberger, allowing cannabis discount and loyalty advertising to existing customers and opt-in email lists, was also adopted. Amendment 29 by Senator O’Connor, allowing the CCC to temporarily suspend or revoke medical marijuana licenses during investigations of illegal sales, was adopted as well. Several other amendments were debated and defeated, including Senator O’Connor’s billboard advertising restriction for cannabis and Senator Tarr’s proposal to increase penalties for selling marijuana to minors. The chamber then took up the bill’s corrective and Ways and Means amendment, adopted both, ordered the bill to a third reading, and then passed it to be engrossed by roll call vote. The final vote showed the bill advancing despite some opposition, including from several senators who voted no on engrossment. After the cannabis bill, the Senate considered and passed two land-related bills by roll call: H. 4772, authorizing easements in Lowell, and H. 4362, authorizing release of agricultural preservation restrictions in Westford. The Senate also adopted a motion that when it adjourned, it would do so in memory of Stephen P. Foutou of Newton, followed by a moment of silence. The chamber then adopted an adjournment order and recessed until the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay. The ayes have it.
• All items on Page 22 are held. Page 23: all items are held. Page 24: all items are held.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay. The ayes have it.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with routine ceremonial business, including the Pledge of Allegiance and adoption of several resolutions, such as congratulations to the Williamsburg Grange on its 125th anniversary and to Fire Captain Melissa Blodgett on her retirement. The chamber also concurred in a Senate petition to establish a sick leave bank for a Bristol County Sheriff’s Department employee and suspended Joint Rule 12 to advance local petitions, including one involving the Dalton Fire District and another renaming a Chelmsford bridge. The main floor action centered on several Ways and Means bills. The House advanced a bill amending laws relative to individuals with disabilities, replacing outdated and offensive terminology in the General Laws with person-first language; members spoke at length in support, emphasizing dignity, inclusion, and the bill’s non-substantive nature. The bill was engrossed by a roll call vote, 152-0. The House also took up and engrossed a bill to improve Massachusetts home care, which would create a licensing and oversight framework for private-pay home care agencies, establish standards for contracts, background checks, training, insurance, and consumer protections, and create advisory committees to guide implementation. An amendment establishing a Family Caregiver Commission was adopted 154-0, and the bill itself was then engrossed 153-1. In addition, the House passed or engrossed several other measures, including a bill authorizing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to provide sewer services to land in Sharon, a sick leave bank bill for a Trial Court employee, a Marblehead parking fines bill, a Hingham municipal property bill for a center for active living, and a Taunton bill allowing continued employment of Police Chief Edward J. Walsh. The chamber also handled numerous calendar items, holding or passing over many while advancing a few. The session ended with a special adjournment in memory of former Representative George L. Sacco Jr., and the House adjourned to meet the next day at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• It hurts all of us.
• I want to again commend the gentleman from Hampden and all the advocates and all the other senators who
• And all the advocates, and, you know, all the other senators who have taken the time to explain to the
• All those in agreement please stand.
• Have all members been recorded? Have all members been recorded?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with recognitions of several young climate advocates visiting the State House and then adopted an adjournment in memory of Nancy Driscoll, with remarks honoring her long public service and family legacy. The chamber then took up Senate No. 2947, An Act Regarding Fair Housing Practices in the Commonwealth, after a Ways and Means redraft. Senators supporting the bill described housing discrimination against voucher holders and Black applicants, emphasized the need for stronger enforcement, transparency, and fair housing education, and noted the bill’s goal of increasing penalties and public reporting for discriminatory brokers. Several amendments were debated. Senator Tarr offered an amendment to require annual HUD-related compliance certifications from municipalities and public agencies, notification to the Attorney General of federal findings, corrective action plans, and possible enforcement consequences; it was defeated on a roll call, 6-30. Senator Kennedy’s gender-neutral language amendment changing “salesmen” to “salespersons” was adopted. Senator Payano’s amendment to require publication of license suspensions as well as revocations for discriminatory conduct was also adopted. Senator Edwards withdrew an amendment that would have expanded housing protections for returning citizens. Senator Keenan’s amendment to anonymize complaint summaries while preserving publication of revoked licensees’ names was adopted. After the Ways and Means amendment, as amended, was adopted, the bill was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed by a unanimous roll-call vote of 37-0, later clarified as 38-0. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Tuesday at 11 a.m. and adjourned in memory of John Arizian and Nancy Driscoll.

Transcript Highlights:

• All those in favor say aye, all those opposed name. Mr.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed nay. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed nay. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay. The ayes have it.
• All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, nay. The ayes have it.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several Rules Committee reports. Members adopted resolutions congratulating Auburn on the 100th anniversary of the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket launch and welcoming Boston’s new National Women’s Soccer League team, the Boston Legacy, to Massachusetts. The House also adopted orders extending the reporting deadlines for the Committee on Revenue on two House documents into 2026. The chamber suspended joint rules to allow several petitions to proceed, including proposals on social media regulation for minors, a sick leave bank for a Department of Children and Families employee, retirement credit for a probation employee, taxation of certain foreign government pension benefits, and naming the American lobster the official crustacean of the Commonwealth. The Steering, Policy and Schedule Committee then listed bills for consideration, including measures on private road maintenance in Gloucester, property valuation and assessment fairness, municipal tax collectors, preservation of historic resource information in community preservation funds, and Salem liquor license changes. The House advanced those bills through second and third readings, then passed to be enacted local bills involving compensation for a Revere widow, a Wellesley senior tax deferment change, and a Hopkinton library trustees charter amendment. It also engrossed a bill directing the Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for a specific applicant, Edney Joseph. The session ended with a moment of silent tribute to Adrian Dolan of South Boston and an order to adjourn until the next Thursday morning in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no. The ayes have it. Rules are suspended.
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.
• All those in favor say I, opposed no.
• All those in favor say aye. comes on passing the bill to be engrossed.
• All those in favor say aye; opposed, no.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several committee reports and local matters. The Committee on Rules recommended adoption of resolutions commending the Sleep Apnea Awareness Initiative for recognizing March 2026 as Sleep Apnea Awareness Month and celebrating the commissioning of the USS Massachusetts; the House suspended the rules and adopted both resolutions. The House also concurred with a Senate petition to establish a sick leave bank for a Worcester County Sheriff’s Department employee, and suspended Joint Rule 12 to send a petition on condominium conversions of co-owned two-unit buildings to the Committee on Housing. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling reported a series of local bills for consideration, including measures for Somerville’s affordable housing trust, property tax exemptions in Swampscott and Arlington, the Lexington Housing Assistance Board, a Lexington parkland exchange, and a charter for the town of Orange. The House ordered these bills to a third reading. It also passed to be enacted two engrossed bills: one waiving the maximum age requirement for a Boston police officer applicant, and another authorizing DCAMM to convey parcels of land in Brockton. Later, the House took up additional third-reading bills and passed them to be engrossed, including another Boston police age-waiver bill and a bill allowing Sean Duffy to take the firefighter civil service exam despite the maximum age requirement. The session ended with adoption of an order to adjourn to Wednesday at 11 a.m. in formal session, and notice of a Democratic caucus at noon.