Beacon Hill Roll Call
Volume 51 – Report No. 26
June 22 – 26, 2026
Copyright © 2026 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved.
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call reports local representatives’ votes on roll calls from recent June sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.
During the week of June 22-26, the House met for a total of 29 minutes and the Senate met for a total of six hours 47 minutes.
FIREFIGHTERS (H 5491)- House 154-0, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that supporters said is designed to boost safety for firefighters and people conducting “hot work” including welding, plasma cutting and spark-producing construction. The measure was first proposed after the March 2014 deaths of firefighters Edward Walsh and Michael Kennedy who perished while fighting a fire that was caused by welders, working without a city permit, on a building next door to the brownstone in which they died. The bill requires the establishment of a system of public notification and recording of non-compliance with regulations.
The bill establishes penalties for violations including a fine up to $1,000 for a first offense; a fine up to $2,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to one year for a second offense; and for a third or subsequent offense, a fine up to .025 percent of the total project value or $10,000, whichever is greater, and/or imprisonment for up to 2.5 years.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – Yes
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes
$228 MILLION FISCAL 2026 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (H 5496)- House 154-2, approved and sent to the Senate a $228 million fiscal 2026 supplemental budget that supporters said would address time-sensitive budget deficiencies, including winter storm recovery costs, public safety operations, substance abuse treatment services, homelessness assistance and emergency management expenses.
Snowstorm-related funding includes $159.8 million for snow and ice removal costs; $9.5 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency for costs associated with snow emergency response and recovery efforts; and $1.7 million for Massachusetts National Guard expenses related to winter storm response activities.
Other provisions include $22.5 million to support the implementation of no-cost calls for prisoners; $8.1 million for homelessness programs; $14 million for the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services; eliminating the $10 surcharge currently imposed on car-sharing rentals like Zipcar and Enterprise CarShare; and updating veterans’ bonus eligibility requirements by requiring a veteran to only currently be living in Massachusetts, rather than having had to live in the Bay State for at least six months before entering service, in order to qualify for certain veterans’ bonus payments.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – Yes
Rep. Donald Wong – 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.