Beacon Hill Roll Call
Volume 50 – Report No. 7
February 10 – 14, 2025
Copyright © 2025 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved.
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senator’s votes on roll calls from the week of Feb. 10-14. There were no roll Calls in the House last week.
During the week of Feb. 10-14, the House met for a total of eight minutes while the Senate met for a total of 15 hours and 59 minutes.
$425 MILLION FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE (EA) SHELTER SYSTEM (S 16)- Senate 33-6, approved 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. The vote was almost strictly along party lines with all Republicans voting against it and all but one Democrat voting for it. The Democrats say the measure makes major reforms. The Republicans say while the bill includes some reforms they have long sought, it does not go far enough, and they all voted against it.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – Yes
BROADER BACKGROUND CHECKS (S 16)- Senate 38-0, approved an amendment that would require the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Police, to study the feasibility of conducting a National Crime Information Center background check for each adult or beneficiary applying for the emergency shelter program.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – Yes
PRIORITY TO BAY STATE RESIDENTS (S 15)- Senate 8-30, rejected an amendment that would require that the state prioritize giving
long term shelter to legal Massachusetts residents whose initial cause of homelessness and application for shelter occurred while they were residing legally in Massachusetts.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment giving priority to Massachusetts residents. A ”No” vote is against giving priority.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – No
12-MONTH RESIDENCY REQUIRED (S 15)- Senate 6-32, rejected an amendment that would require that 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 their application. The applicant must also provide an acceptable form of verification such as tax returns; a MA REAL-ID; a utility bill; a 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.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – No
INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF SHELTER PROGRAM (S 15)- Senate 6-32, rejected an amendment that would have required an independent review of the emergency assistance housing program by the Inspector General, to help identify savings and potential cost recovery.
(A “Yes” vote is for requiring the review. A “No” vote is against requiring it.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – No
INVESTIGATE SECURITY LAPSES AND SHORTCOMINGS (S 15)- Senate 6-32, rejected an amendment that would require the Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight to investigate the
emergency housing assistance program’s security lapses and shortcomings which amendment supporters say have compromised public safety, health and security.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – No
ADOPT JOINT HOUSE-SENATE RULES FOR 2025-2026 SESSION (S 15)- Senate 39-0, adopted and sent to the House for consideration joint House-Senate rules for the 2025-2026 session.
Provisions include increasing the time for notifying the public about joint committee hearings from 72 hours to five days; requiring that all first meetings of a conference committee be open to the public and media; requiring at least one full day between a conference committee report filing and a legislative vote on the report; requiring sponsors of all bills to submit bill summaries which must be made publicly available alongside the bill text; changing the name of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy to the Committee on Climate, Utilities and Energy; the Committee on Elder Affairs to the Committee on Aging and Independence; and the Committee on Agriculture to the Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries.
(A “Yes” vote is for the rules package.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – Yes
MORE TIME TO READ CONFERENCE COMMITTEE BILLS (S 15)- Senate 5-33, rejected an amendment that would allow members 48 hours to read the conference committee version of a bill. A conference version of a bill is the compromise version that is hammered out by a joint House-Senate committee when the House and Senate approve different versions of legislation.
(A “Yes” vote is for the 48 hours. A “No” vote is against the 48 hours.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – No
REQUIRE ROLL CALL ON CONFERENCE COMMITTEE BILLS (S 15)- Senate 9-29, rejected an amendment that would require that a roll call vote be held on all conference committee versions of a bill.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment requiring a roll call vote. A “No” vote is against it.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – No
EXPAND CONFLICT OF INTEREST BAN (S 15)- Senate 38-0, approved an amendment to a rule that would prohibit legislators from purchasing, directly or indirectly, the stock or other securities of any corporation or association, knowing that there is pending before the Legislature any measure specially “granting the corporation or association any immunity, exemption, privilege or benefit or any measure providing for the creation of, or directly affecting any, contractual relations between the corporation or association and the state.”
The amendment would expand the ban to include any immediate family member of a legislator.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment expanding the ban to apply to immediate family members.)
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.
