Beacon Hill Roll Call
Volume 51 – Report No. 5
January 26 – 30, 2026
Copyright © 2026 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved.
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of January 26-30.
During the week of January 19-23, the House met for a total of five hours 29 minutes and the Senate met for a total of seven hours and 13 minutes.
DOMESTIC WORKERS’ RIGHTS DAY (H 3417)- House 156-0, approved a bill that would annually establish June 16 as Domestic Workers’ Rights Day to honor all domestic workers who work in private homes and in recognition of Massachusetts’ historic enactment of basic labor standards in the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – Yes
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes
REQUIRE APPRENTICESHIPS IN PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION (H 5032)- House 154-1, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that seeks to increase the state’s trades’ workforce by requiring the hiring of apprentices for all contracts awarded for public works projects over $10 million. One year after the bill becomes law, it would require projects to hire apprentices to work 5 percent of the total amount of hours worked, 10 percent in three years and 15 percent in four years.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – Yes
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes
REQUIRE DEFIBRILLATORS AT SPORTING EVENTS (H 4993)- House 154-1, approved legislation that would require an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to be present at all public stadiums, sports centers, gymnasiums or other facilities hosting or providing
athletic or sporting events. The measure does not apply to a school-sponsored athletic event at a school gymnasium.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – Yes
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes
ESTABLISH FUND TO HELP COMMUNITIES PAY FOR DEFIBRILLATORS (H 4993)- House 26-130, rejected an amendment that would create a Massachusetts AED Communities Fund to help cities and towns pay for AEDs at public stadiums, sports centers, gymnasiums or other facilities hosting or providing athletic or sporting events, and also pay for any necessary equipment and infrastructure to properly hold and charge the devices.
(A “Yes” vote is for creating the Massachusetts AED Communities Fund to help cities and towns pay for AEDs. A “No” vote is against creating it.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – No
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes
LITERACY EDUCATION STANDARDS (S 2924)- Senate 38-0, approved a bill that would require Massachusetts school districts to select kindergarten through 3rd grade reading curricula that meet guidelines set by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) based upon evidence-based literacy instruction and featuring phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and phonemic awareness. School districts would have until the start of the 2027-2028 school year to adopt a K-3 literacy curriculum that meets the new framework, or to secure approval from DESE for a waiver.
The House has already approved its own version of the measure and the Senate version now goes to the House for consideration. A House-Senate conference committee will likely hammer out a compromise version of the legislation.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – Yes
JAPANESE INTERNMENT CAMPS (S 2132)- Senate 37-0, approved and sent to the House a proposal that would designate January 30 of each year as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the
Constitution in Massachusetts, in recognition of the birthday of Fred Korematsu and to educate about and honor his life, his perseverance, and his determination to advocate for the civil liberties of all Americans.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – Yes
For more information and details on each bill, roll call attendance, and other relevant information, please visit the Wakefield Daily Item at www.localheadlinenews.com