Beacon Hill Roll Call
Volume 51 – Report No. 17
April 20 – 24, 2026
Copyright © 2026 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved.
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.
During the week of April 20-24, the House met for a total of 30 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 45 minutes.
BAN CONVERSION THERAPY FOR ANYONE UNDER 18 (H 140)- The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled 8 to 1 against a law banning “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ+ children under 18 in Colorado. The court sided with a therapist who argued that the law violates the First Amendment and sent it back to a lower court for review. Conversion therapy is primarily used to try to convert gays and lesbians to be straight. LGBTQ+ groups and some mental health experts charge that the practice is scientifically unproven and unsound and can trigger depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts in these youngsters.
Massachusetts is one of several states that currently ban or restrict conversion therapy. The Supreme Court’s decision to send the case back down to the lower court to make a determination regarding the future of Colorado’s law doesn’t change the laws of the Bay State or any other state.
On March 13, 2019, the House 149-8 and then 148-8, approved a bill that prohibits psychiatrists, psychologists and other health care providers from attempting to change the sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression of anyone under 18. On March 28, 2019, the Senate 34-0, approved a different version of the bill. A few days later the House and Senate agreed on a final version of the bill and approved it on a voice vote without a roll call vote. Former Gov. Charlie Baker signed that final version of the bill into law on April 8, 2019.
There were two roll calls on the bill in the House. Two representatives changed their votes on the second roll call.
Rep. Susannah Whipps (U-Athol) was first recorded as voting “No” and then was recorded as voting “Yes” on the second roll call. Whipps told Beacon Hill Roll Call, “During the 2019 roll call, my vote was incorrectly recorded. I immediately notified the clerk and speaker and requested a correction. A second roll call was taken to reflect my actual position, and I voted against conversion therapy. That reflects my position then and now.”
Rep. Nick Boldyga (R-Southwick) was first recorded as voting “Yes” and then was recorded as voting “No” on the second roll call. Boldyga did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to explain why he was recorded as voting differently on the two roll calls.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill banning conversion therapy. A “No” vote is against the bill banning conversion therapy and supports allowing the therapy. There was only one roll call in the Senate while the House held two roll calls.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – was not yet elected
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes/Yes
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