A new biennial session begins in Massachusetts

The new year and the new session means a flurry of legislative activity blew in during the month of January.  We saw 14 new legislators take the oath of office, and one member made the jump from the House to the Senate.

Over 5,800 pieces of legislation were filed by the January 20th deadline and co-sponsors had until Friday, the 3rd of February to decide which bills they wanted to endorse.

Firms like ours are now scouring volumes of policy proposals to see which ones may have an impact on the folks we represent, and media outlets are picking out some of the more interesting bills to highlight in their coverage.

Photo credit: Newsday - Tom Brady after the Patriots' 5th(!) SuperBowl win
This photo has nothing to do with our blog topic, but we couldn't resist.

The House and the Senate recently agreed on the rules of their respective chambers and the Joint Rules which govern how they will work collectively to make laws this session.

Leadership is now making decisions about committee assignments and chairmanships, which will be important as organizations and individuals map out their advocacy strategies.  Once committees are populated, legislative hearings will begin.

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.

Budget, Transgender Rights, Weed

Next year's state budget signed into law...

Governor Baker signed the budget sent to him by the Legislature on Friday, but not before he vetoed $256 million in funding.  The total budget, nearly $39 billion, represents a 1.3% increase over last year's spending.  Revenues have been disappointing in light of an underperforming stock market and have caused budget writers to adjust expectations.

Transgender people now have public accommodations protections

After some conference committee wrangling to iron out differences between the House and the Senate, a bill to protect transgender people from discrimination in public places has now been signed into law.  The pivotal element of the legislation allows folks to use sex-segregated facilities (rest rooms, locker rooms, etc.) that correspond to their gender identity, not necessarily their anatomical gender.  The compromise bill also includes language that has the Attorney General and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination working to deal with any potential use of the law for improper purposes, provisions that were important to some constituencies.

Speaker DeLeo, Governor Baker, Mayor Walsh and others urge a NO vote on recreational marijuana in MA

Safe Cannabis Massachusetts, the first committee formed in opposition to the ballot question to establish a marijuana and THC products industry in Massachusetts, continues to work to educate voters about the dangers of this particular initiative, even for those who favor the concept of allowing folks to smoke pot without interference.  Governor Baker, Mayor Marty Walsh, and Speaker DeLeo were joined by other political and community leaders at a press conference last week to announce their opposition and lay out their concerns.

The NO side enjoys the vocal support of political leaders who discussed how passage of this question would tie the hands of communities to limit how many retailers set up shop and allow them near day care centers and playgrounds. 

Opponents are especially concerned about the lack of restriction on the production, labeling and marketing of edible THC products, such as gummies and candy, evoking memories of Big Tobacco's aggressive youth-targeted marketing.

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