Beacon Hill Roll Call
Volume 51 – Report No. 25
June 15 – 19 2026
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THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call reports local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of June 15-19.
During the week of June 15-19, the House met for a total of 13 hours and 18 minutes and the Senate met for a total of seven hours and seven minutes.
LITERACY EDUCATION STANDARDS (H 5511)- House 153-0, Senate 39-0, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey a bill dealing with teacher preparation and student literacy. The measure would establish clear statewide standards for evidence-based reading instruction—requiring the teaching of phonics, ensuring access to high-quality K-3 curricula, enhancing educator training and support and creating new reporting and accountability systems.
The bill defines evidence-based early literacy as instruction featuring phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and phonemic awareness, and is demonstrated to produce significant and positive effects on student learning outcomes. It prohibits curricula that are not evidence-based and curricula that rely on implicit or incidental word reading strategies.
Another provision formalizes dyslexia and literacy screening requirements by requiring schools to develop protocols for identifying potential neurological learning disabilities, including dyslexia, and to report their screening practices annually.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian- Yes
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes
Sen. Jason Lewis -Yes
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS (H 5510)- House 151-0, approved a $3.5 billion bond bill that supporters said will modernize environmental laws, strengthen climate resilience, support agricultural and food systems, streamline permitting processes and improve the management of the state’s natural resources. They noted the bill advances a broad set of reforms designed to help communities prepare for the impacts of climate change, accelerate critical infrastructure projects, improve environmental protections and support Bay State cities and towns.
The Senate has already approved its own version of the bill, and a House-Senate conference committee will likely be appointed to hammer out a compromise version.
(A “Yes” for the bill.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian- Yes
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes
PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS (S 3116)- Senate 35-4, approved and sent to the House legislation that supporters said would make it easier for Massachusetts residents to get a primary care doctor and an appointment with him or her. They noted the bill reduces the amount of time providers have to spend on administrative paperwork and aims to reduce health care costs.
Provisions include requiring health care providers and insurers to invest more heavily in primary care services; ensuring fairer compensation for community health centers, which serve as the frontline of primary care for many residents; and increasing the Massachusetts’ primary care workforce by unlocking matching federal funds to train and recruit more primary care doctors.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)
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.