Beacon Hill Roll Call
Volume 51 – Report No. 20
May 11 – 15, 2026
Copyright © 2026 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved.
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from recent sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or the Senate last week.
During the week of May 11-15, the House met for a total of 18 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 25 minutes.
All three roll calls are on amendments to the Senate version of the PROTECT Act that supporters said would establish statewide standards governing interactions between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. Opponents of the bill said they voted against the measure for a number of reasons including because of a provision that prohibits local and state law enforcement from working with federal law enforcement to apprehend dangerous felons accused of committing violent crimes.
The House has already approved its own version of the measure and a House-Senate conference committee will eventually hammer out a compromise version.
GIVE FEDERAL MONEY TO SHERIFFS AND CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT (S 3072)- Senate 5-34, rejected an amendment that would strike a section of the bill that provides that any payments made by the federal government to reimburse the Department of Correction for costs associated with executing its responsibilities, must be transferred to and then distributed by the Office for Refugees and Immigrants to designated non-profit organizations which would use the funds to increase access to legal representation for immigrants and refugees in the state.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment which would require the federal funds to be used by sheriffs and the Department of Corrections. A “No” vote is against the amendment and supports the funds being used to help legal representation for immigrants and refugees.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – No
INCLUDE ALL CRIMINAL OFFENSES (S 3072)- Senate 7-32, rejected an amendment to a section of the bill that allows a law enforcement official to request information about a person’s citizenship or immigration status when the officer has an articulable, case-specific reason to believe the person’s citizenship or immigration status is directly material to a list of specific criminal offenses the person has committed. The amendment would allow more criminal offenses to be considered.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment that would broaden the provision and make it apply to all criminal offenses. A “No” vote is against the amendment.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – No
VERIFY THAT AID RECIPIENTS ARE IN THE COUNTRY LEGALLY (S 3072)- Senate 5-34, rejected an amendment that would require any agency, organization or other entity receiving public funds for the purpose of providing legal representation in matters involving federal immigration law, to develop and implement mechanisms to ensure that no funds are provided to help an individual not lawfully present in the United States.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment that would require recipients to prove that they are here legally. A “No” vote is against the amendment.)
Sen. Jason Lewis – 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