Slow week for Legislature
it.)
NO: Sen. Michael Barrett; Sen. John Cronin; Sen. James Eldridge; Sen. Barry Finegold; Sen. Cindy Friedman; Sen. Anne Gobi; Sen. Edward Kennedy. YES: Sen. Bruce Tarr.
ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL
New bills filed for consideration in the 2023-2024 session include:
GENDER-NEUTRAL BATHROOMS (SD 316) — Would change the state building code to allow gender-neutral bathrooms in new construction and renovations of buildings.
Supporters say that sexsegregated restroom facilities fail to accommodate the needs of every person, posing special difficulty to transgender and gender nonconforming students. They note that research shows that nearly two-thirds of transgender students avoid school bathrooms because they feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
“Massachusetts strives to be welcoming to all,” said sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford (D-northampton). “We were the first state to vote to uphold rights against discrimination for all people. This bill would strengthen those protections in a small but very important way, by reducing daily stress for transgender and gender non-conforming people.”
WARNING ON MOBILE PHONES (SD 2327) — Would require all mobile phones sold or leased to disclose, on product packaging, the following notice to consumers: “To assure safety, the Federal Government requires that cell phones meet radio frequency (RF) exposure guidelines. If you carry or use your phone in a pocket or the phone is otherwise in contact with your body when the phone is on and connected to a wireless network, you may exceed the federal guidelines for exposure to RF radiation. Refer to the instructions in your phone or user manual for information about how to use your phone safely.”
“Information and knowledge are key to consumer safety, especially when it comes to children,” says sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (Dtruro). “would require disclosures on cell phone packaging that inform consumers of the potential risk of radio frequency exposure and advises cell phone users to review instructions to use their phone safely. Health should always be a priority, and as people, especially young people, spend significant time in close proximity to cell phones, this bill seeks to promote awareness around the safe use of cell phones.”
FREE DIAPERS (SD 239) — Would create a pilot program to provide free diapers to low-income families at food pantries.
“Access to new, clean diapers is necessary to preserve our babies’ health,” says sponsor Sen. Joan Lovely (D-salem). “No parent should have to resort to reusing soiled diapers due to an inability to pay or have to undergo further economic hardships to acquire diapers. This legislation puts the well-being of our infants and families where it should be, at the forefront.”
PROHIBIT USE OF NATIVE AMERICAN MASCOTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS (SD 857) — Would prohibit public schools from using an athletic team name, logo or mascot which names or is associated with Native Americans, or which denigrates any racial, ethnic, gender or religious group.
“Passage of this bill is an obligation of justice, a recognition of the common humanity of all and a repair of historic wrong,” says sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford (D-northampton). “It also addresses the deep psychological harm caused by perpetuating harmful, racist stereotypes—harm caused to both people who are of Native American heritage and those who are not. This bill says that the time has come to say loud and clear to Native Americans who had been on this land for millennia before the Pilgrims landed a mere 400 years ago: ‘You are people, not mascots.’”
QUOTABLE QUOTES “We know gun laws save lives. Massachusetts has consistently remained in the lowest three state rankings. As an urban state with the most effective gun safety laws, we treat guns like automobiles including renewable licensing, first in the nation consumer protection regulations for the gun industry and the most comprehensive assault weapon ban. It is no coincidence that once again we have the lowest gun death rate in the nation.” — John Rosenthal, Founder and Chairman of Stop Handgun
Violence on a report that shows that Massachusetts ranked 50th in the nation for gun deaths per capita.
“Protecting the environment is a fundamental responsibility of state government and partnering with private businesses like these grant recipients helps us increase and improve recycling across the commonwealth. Our administration is pleased to support these companies as they grow in their local communities and implement innovative methods and practices that allow us all to achieve our common environmental goals.” — Gov. Maura Healey upon awarding more than $950,000 in grants to six companies under the state’s Recycling and Reuse Business Development Grant program, which will enable Massachusetts recycling companies to expand and grow their operations and increase the amount and quality of recycling in the state.
“Adding to employers’ woes is the inability to fully staff their businesses with qualified workers. Beacon Hill must proceed with caution this legislative session to avoid further increasing the cost of doing business in Massachusetts—giving small business owners yet another reason to move jobs to a state with friendlier economic conditions or worse, close their doors for good.” — National Federation of Independent Business’ Massachusetts state director Christopher Carlozzi.
“Regional Home Care engaged in illegal practices at the expense of vulnerable consumers across Massachusetts who depend on this medical equipment for their health and livelihood. As a result of this settlement, thousands of consumers who were harmed by this company’s actions will directly benefit, and our office will continue to protect consumers from predatory practices and scams.” — Attorney General Andrea Campbell announcing her office reached a $2.5 million settlement with Regional Home Care, resolving allegations that the company engaged in unfair, deceptive and abusive debt collection practices in violation of state consumer law and debt collection regulations and improperly collected money from members of Masshealth, the state’s Medicaid program, for balances not owed or that were already paid for by Masshealth.
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 chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. 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 of Feb. 13-17, the House met for a total of nine minutes while the Senate met for a total of 15 minutes.
Mon. Feb. 13: House 11:0111:06 a.m. Senate 11:06-11:18 a.m.
Tues. Feb. 14: No House or Senate session
Wed. Feb. 15: No House or Senate session
Thurs. Feb. 16: House 11:02-11:06 a.m. Senate 11:1711:20 a.m.
Fri. Feb. 17: No House or Senate session
Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@ beaconhillrollcall.com. Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019.