State House update for February

Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry departs

The Massachusetts Senate saw the departure of one of its most prominent members when Senator Linda Dorcena Forry, a Democrat from Dorchester, resigned her seat to accept a position with Suffolk Construction.  She will serve as vice president of Northeast region, diversity, inclusion and community relations.

Former Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry (photo: Don West)

A special election has been set to fill her seat representing the first Suffolk district. The primary is scheduled for April 3, and the general election will be held on May 1.  Two Boston state representatives, Evandro Carvalho and Nick Collins, are campaigning to move over to the Senate.

The Annual South Boston St. Patrick's Day Breakfast traditionally hosted by the Senator representing the district will this year be led by Congressman Stephen Lynch and City Councillor Michael Flaherty, both of South Boston.

We mourn the passing...

Representative Peter Kocot, Democrat of Northampton and Chairman of the House Committee on Health Care Financing, passed away after an illness.  He was known by colleagues and staff as a "gentle giant" who treated everyone with respect and kindness and worked hard to serve his district.  We at Neponset Strategies extend our deepest sympathies to his family, his friends, and his colleagues and staff.

Rep. Peter Kocot (photo: MassLive)

Policy update

The deadline for committees to report out bills came earlier than usual this year on February 10.  Some of the major pieces yet to be decided include the criminal justice omnibus that is still being reconciled by a conference committee.

The new adult-use marijuana regulations are under review by the Cannabis Control Commission now that the public comment period has concluded.  They have until March 15 to finalize those regulations.  Differences remain among stakeholders as to the appropriate categories of licensure, with elected leaders advocating a go-slow approach and pot proponents saying that a wider variety of licenses is the best way to ensure market participation by members of disproportionately impacted communities.

Consumer protection legislation designed to assist consumers affected by data breaches such as the recent Equifax crisis has passed the House, and the Senate is working on its version of a bill.

The Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change released a broad energy bill that would ban fracking, raise solar energy savings ceilings, encourage the use of renewable energy such as wind, and other initiatives.

And another mass shooting

The students who survived the latest mass shooting at a school are leading the way.  They are forcing conversations about solutions that go beyond "thoughts and prayers".  We are encouraged by their efforts to turn their pain and anger into power and action.  The students of Parkland may yet be the changemakers who help their peers and future generations create safer learning environments.

Preparing for what's to come...

President Obama and President-elect Trump officially begin the transition.

Winding down and gearing up

The 2015-16 legislative session is winding down.  Though the Legislature has not met in formal sessions since July 31, they continue to meet in informal sessions where bills are more easily stopped, but can move unexpectedly.

By now you've seen the results: Donald Trump is the President-elect, and the only statewide ballot questions that passed were those to require more humane treatment of farm animals and to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for people over 21 years of age.

We have 14 new legislators in the Massachusetts House and Senate.  Walter Timilty (D-Milton) moves from the House to the Senate, so he's technically a veteran lawmaker.

Here at Neponset Strategies, we continue our work to advance the agendas of our clients.  And even though it's not yet Thanksgiving, we are already hard at work mapping out strategies for the coming session.

The only certainty that came from this election season is that change is on the horizon.  If your organization could use some support in legislative, regulatory, or state budgeting processes, or if you'd like some help building relationships with decision-makers, give us a call or drop a line.  

We'd love to hear from you.

It may seem very quiet up there, but the work continues.

Did you think nothing was happening on Beacon Hill since they wrapped up formal sessions in July? There's always something happening. Back in 2014 after the 2013-14 session finished formal sessions, the House and Senate went on to take over 1000 actions on bills, and sent more than two dozen of them to the Governor for signature.

Massachusetts budget to be approved and sent to Gov's desk

Just one day before the start of the new fiscal year, the Massachusetts Legislature is set to vote on a compromise budget released last night by the Joint Ways & Means Conference Committee.  The House and Senate budgets contained significant differences in both funding levels and policy areas that had to be worked out.  The measure makes modest cuts and banks on several assumptions related to revenues.  It introduces no new taxes or fees and introduces some increases in human services areas such as education and child protection services.

The measure will go to Governor Baker's desk, and he will have 10 days to veto any items with which he disagrees.  The Legislature will remain in formal sessions through the end of July, and they can override vetoes with a 2/3 vote in each chamber.

New numbers give legislators "pause" and weekend work

Budget, interrupted

It seems that revenues are less robust than budget writers and conferees thought at the outset of the budget process.  Speaker DeLeo has called for a "pause" as state leaders ponder how to close a gap that may be as large as $750M.  This comes as a select group of House and Senate members were beginning negotiations to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of the budget for Fiscal Year 2017, which begins July 1st, two short weeks from now.

Credit: Boston Herald

Working the weekends

The end of formal sessions arrives on July 31st, even though many lawmakers will be attending their respective national conventions and so will be away for several days.  As a result, we can expect weekend sessions to help legislators get through some of the issues still awaiting action.  Weekend sessions are a rarity, but the clock is ticking.

Budget negotiations, progress on records, public access

Conference Committee named for FY17 Budget

The House and Senate have named conferees to settle differences between their respective versions of the FY17 budget.  On the House side, they are Ways & Means Chairman Brian Dempsey, Vice Chair Stephen Kulik, and Representative Todd Smola.  The Senate will be represented by Ways & Means Chair Karen Spilka, Vice Chair Sal DiDomenico, and Representative Vinny deMacedo.

Once the Conference Committee arrives at an agreement on the differences between the two budgets, their report incorporating those items will be presented for a vote by the House and Senate for a straight up or down vote.

Public Records Access in Massachusetts

Legislation to reform access to public records has been signed by Governor Baker.  The updated law will allow parties that sue and prevail after being denied access to public records to seek attorneys' fees.  Previously, the cost for such fees would be borne by the aggrieved party even when the case was decided in their favor.

Public Accommodations Rights for Transgender People

Now that both the House and the Senate have approved a version of legislation to extend public accommodation rights to transgender individuals, many are hoping that a final bill can make its way to Governor Baker's desk soon.  The legislation is aimed at preventing discrimination against transgender people in public places, and includes allowing them to use facilities that correspond with their gender identity, even if it differs from their biological gender.

Senate Budget debate this week...

Lots of proposed changes to consider

The Massachusetts Senate begins debate this week on the 1167 amendments proposed to the Fiscal Year 2017 budget released last week by the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Many will seek increases in appropriations or new spending.  Some will propose policy changes covering a wide array of topics.

photo credit: malegislature.gov

Once the Senate completes its deliberations and releases an updated budget document, a Conference Committee will be appointed to work out the differences.

State Budget moves to the Senate

Senate budget to be released this week

The Senate budget is set to be released a day earlier than usual, on Tuesday.  This is their version of the FY17 budget passed a few weeks earlier by the House of Representatives.  The budget contains all major operational spending by the state for the upcoming fiscal year, but can be used as a vehicle to introduce or change policy as well.  We'll see what the Senate proposes this week.

House Budget debate coming soon

The FY2017 House budget is coming up for debate

Next week, the House of Representatives will debate the FY2017 budget released by the Committee on Ways & Means.  They'll consider what to do with the 1,307 amendments that propose to change, in ways large and small, how the state will manage its purse this coming year. 


The Massachusetts fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30.  The House of Representatives will complete its work in April, the Senate will repeat the process with its version of the budget in May, and the idea is to have a single, final budget approved by both bodies and signed by the Governor in time for July, 1, 2016.

credit: malegislature.gov

One Boston Day and House Ways & Means budget released

One Boston Day

Today marks the third anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombings, in which our community suffered the loss of four lives, and countless injuries and traumas. Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh recently declared that April 15 will be permanently designated One Boston Day, a day of kindness, community, and peace. Community events and random acts of kindness will be happening all over the city today.  Learn more at onebostonday.org.

House Ways & Means FY2017 Budget Released

On Wednesday, April 13, the Massachusetts House of Representatives Ways  released its FY2017 budget.  House lawmakers will review the document and file amendments, with debate scheduled to begin on Monday, April 25.

Bills keep coming; opposition to commercializing recreational marijuana grows

There Oughta Be A Law (or several hundred of them)

Joint Rule 10 Day (the deadline for bills to be reported out of committee) has come and gone, but bills are still being filed on various topics.  Some bills are time-sensitive special legislation that cannot abide by the calendar; others are on topics such as license plates, schools and roads.  Ours is an active State House and a busy Legislature.

More Thought Leaders Oppose Recreational Marijuana Industry Creation

You may have read that Sen. Jason Lewis, who chaired the Special Senate Committee on Marijuana, recently took a position in opposition to legalization of recreational marijuana.  He joins Governor Baker, Mayor Walsh, Sheriffs, DAs, and a host of others who have expressed serious concerns about the impacts of full legalization. Sen. Lewis had remained publicly neutral on the issue while the committee completed its work in anticipation of a potential ballot initiative this November. "I am opposed to the likely ballot question because this is the wrong time for Massachusetts to go down this road, and a commercial, profit-driven market is the wrong approach to take," he said. The Boston Globe has the story.  If you want to see the full report of the Special Committee, you can find it here.

Opioids and Joint Rule 10 Day

The pace is quickening on Beacon Hill these days.  Governor Baker signed sweeping legislation aimed at helping the fight against opioid addiction in Massachusetts.  The bill is a compromise hammered out between the House and the Senate and enjoys broad support.  Some notable allies are Boston Mayor Marty Walsh,  Attorney General Maura Healey, Speaker Robert DeLeo, and Senate President Stan Rosenberg.

March 16th was the deadline (known as Joint Rule 10 Day) for most legislative committees (Health Care Financing is the exception) to report out their bills, making this a busy week at the State House.

Welcome to Neponset Strategies, LLP!

Dianne Morad and Daniel Delaney formed a new Boston Government Relations Consulting firm to help organizations navigate the relationships, processes, and nuances at the intersection of business and government. Please be in touch if we can be of service to you or someone you know. Learn more about us and what we offer at www.neponsetstrategies.com. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.