Beacon Hill Roll Call
Volume 51 – Report No. 32
August 3 – 7, 2026
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THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call reports local representatives’ votes on roll calls from recent sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.
During the week of August 3-7, the House met for a total of nine minutes and the Senate met for a total of 26 minutes.
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND OTHER DEMENTIAS (H 5613)- House 155-0, approved and sent to the Senate legislation that supporters say would strengthen dementia care, improve support for families and caregivers, expand workforce training and enhance public health efforts to address Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. They noted the bill takes a comprehensive approach to improving care for individuals living with dementia while equipping health care providers, first responders, hospitals and state agencies with the tools and resources needed to better serve patients.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – Yes
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes
PRIMARY CARE AND HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY (H 5630)- House 158-0, approved a bill that supporters say would expand access to primary care, shift the health care system toward prevention, invest in the health care workforce, support hospitals and community health centers, improve affordability by lowering prescription drug costs and increase accountability across the health care system. They noted the measure establishes historic primary care investment targets; creates advanced primary care payment models that reward prevention and coordinated care; expands access to innovative models of care; creates an expedited determination of need process to expand equitable care access; and strengthens oversight to ensure primary care investments actually improve access, lower costs and support a sustainable, patient-centered health care system.
The Senate has already approved a different version of the proposal and a House-Senate conference committee has been appointed to hammer out a compromise version.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian – Yes
Rep. Donald Wong – Yes
CANCER SCREENINGS FOR FIREFIGHTERS (H 5631)- House 153-0, approved and sent to the Senate a bill mandating free insurance coverage of cancer screenings for firefighters. The firefighters would not be subject to co-payment, deductible, coinsurance or any out-of-pocket expenses.
The screenings would cover colon, lung, bladder, oral, thyroid, skin, blood, breast, cervical, testicular and prostate cancers. The measure provides that the first screening would be conducted no later than three years after the firefighter starts the job, with subsequent screenings happening every three years.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
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.