Beacon Hill Roll Call
Volume 50 – Report No. 6
February 3 – 7, 2025
Copyright © 2025 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved.
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of Feb. 3-7, 2025. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week.
During the week of Feb. 3-7, the House met for a total of six hours and 13 minutes while the Senate met for a total of 11 minutes.
$425 MILLION FOR SHELTER SYSTEM (H 57)- House 126-26, approved and sent to the Senate a fiscal 2025 supplemental budget that includes $425 million to fund the state’s family shelter system and make some changes to tighten eligibility. The vote was almost strictly along party lines with all Republicans voting against it and all but two Democrats voting for it. The Democrats say the measure makes major reforms while the GOP says the bill does not go far enough.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – Yes
Rep. Donald Wong – No
BROADER BACKGROUND CHECKS (H 57)- House 26-125, 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; immigration or residency status; and presence on international or domestic criminal watch lists.
(A “Yes” vote is for the broader background checks. A “No” vote is against them.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – No
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes
REDUCE FUNDING FROM $425 MILLION TO $200 MILLION – House 26-126 rejected an amendment that would reduce funding for the emergency assistance shelter program from $425 million to $200 million.
(A “Yes” vote is for the reduction to $200 million. A “No” vote is against the reduction.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – No
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes
12-MONTH RESIDENCY REQUIRED (H 57)- House 26-126, rejected an amendment that would require that in order to be eligible for benefits under the emergency assistance shelter program, an applicant must have resided in Massachusetts for twelve consecutive months immediately prior to the date of application. The applicant must also provide an acceptable form of verification such as tax returns; a MA REAL-ID; a utility bill, lease or mortgage; or pay stubs showing Massachusetts employment. The residency requirement would not apply to victims of domestic violence or to any person whose living situation has been affected by a fire or other natural disaster that occurred in the Bay State.
(A “Yes” vote is for the 12-month residency requirement. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – No
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes
REQUIRE REPORTS (H 57)- House 152-0, approved an amendment that would require the Healey administration to report the number of families exiting the emergency assistance housing program each week because of a durational limit.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – Yes
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes
RULING OF THE CHAIR ON ICE DETAINER AMENDMENT (H 57)- House 128-24, supported the ruling of the chair that a proposed amendment that would have required the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to collaborate with ICE regarding detainers issued for dangerous criminal aliens, was beyond the scope of
the shelter bill and should not be allowed on the House floor for debate.
(A “Yes” vote supports the ruling of the chair that prohibits the amendment from being debated and voted upon on by the House. A “No” vote is against the ruling and favors the amendment being debated and voted upon.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – Yes
Rep. Donald Wong – No
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.
