Beacon Hill Roll Call
Volume 50 – Report No. 1
December 30, 2024 – January 3, 2025
Copyright © 2025 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved.
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Last week was full of activity on Beacon Hill.
The Legislature also convened the 2025-2026 session that same day. Much of the day’s activities were ceremonial including the swearing-in of state senators and representatives. The only roll call votes were on the election of a speaker of the House and Senate president.
During the week of Dec. 30, 2024 to Jan. 3, 2025, the House met for a total of 18 hours and 33 minutes while the Senate met for a total of 17 hours and 21 minutes.
REP. RON MARIANO RE-ELECTED SPEAKER – The House re-elected Rep. Ron Mariano (D-Quincy) as speaker of the House and Rep. Brad Jones (R-North Reading) as Republican minority leader.
Mariano received the votes of all 132 Democrats who voted. Jones fended off a challenge from Rep. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica) for the GOP top spot. Jones received 21 votes to Lombardo’s four votes.
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – Voted for Mariano
Rep. Donald Wong – Voted for Jones
SEN. KAREN SPILKA RE-ELECTED SENATE PRESIDENT – The Senate re-elected Sen. Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) as Senate president and Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) as Republican Minority Leader.
Spilka received the votes of 34 of the Senate’s 35 Democrats while all five Republicans voted for Tarr. Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy) voted “present.”
Sen. Jason Lewis – Voted for Spilka
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.