Beacon Hill Roll Call
Volume 50 – Report No. 13
March 24 – 28, 2025
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THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senator’s votes on roll calls from recent Senate debate on a fiscal 2025 supplemental budget that includes $425 million to fund the state’s emergency shelter system and make some changes to tighten eligibility for it. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.
SAFETY PLAN FOR EMERGENCY SHELTERS (S 16) – Senate 38-0, approved an amendment that would require the governor to create, implement and enforce a safety plan for the state’s emergency shelter system.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – Yes
BROADER BACKGROUND CHECKS (S 16)- Senate 12-26, rejected an amendment that would expand the background checks that the state must conduct on emergency assistance shelter applicants by mandating universal criminal background checks that include criminal records at the state, federal and international levels as well as immigration or residency status. Without the amendment, the bill limits background checks to crimes committed in Massachusetts.
(A “Yes” vote is for the broader background checks. A “No” vote is against them.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – No
ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL
ALLOW REMOTE ACCESS TO PUBLIC MEETINGS (H 62) – Gov. Maura Healey signed into law legislation that would extend, until June 2027, the current law that allows cities and towns to offer remote participation at public meetings. The option, first
adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent state of emergency, was due to expire on March 31. The extension applies to public bodies and representative town meetings.
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
