On Friday, Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito participated in a ceremonial signing of S.2931, An Act to ensure safe patient access to emergency care. Named in memory of Laura Levis, Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito were also joined by Laura’s husband, Pete DeMarco, members of her …
Read More »Public defenders offer 10-Point immigration policy plan
By Chris Van Buskirk State House News Service A coalition of public defenders from across the country is calling on the incoming Biden administration to adopt a 10-point immigration policy plan to reverse what they say are “unjust, harmful, and destructive tactics” used by the Trump administration. The plan, announced …
Read More »New Bedford Community Electricity Aggregation program renewed through 2023
The City of New Bedford has renewed its electricity aggregation program for another 35 months starting in January 2021. No action is required on the part of the current program participants as they will continue their electricity service automatically with the new supplier, Constellation. The New Bedford CEA program is …
Read More »Activists relieved to get Campus Assault Bill to Governor Baker
By Katie Lannan State House News Service College students would be anonymously surveyed about their experiences with sexual misconduct on campus and woul have access to new, confidential resources in the event of sexual assault, under a bill that’s now on Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk after a last-minute flurry of …
Read More »Attorney General Healey issues guidance on stimulus for long-term care residents
Chris Lisinski State House News Service Attorney General Maura Healey wants all long-term care residents and staff to know: stimulus checks directed toward residents are for their own use, not for the facility to grab as payment. Saying her office had heard reports of some facilities taking CARES Act checks …
Read More »Moving Out: Massachusetts top ten in 2020 outbound migration
By Matt Murphy State House News Service More people moved out of Massachusetts than relocated to the Bay State in 2020, with retirees and people seeking a change in lifestyle driving the overall migration out of the state, according to a recent study by a national moving company. United Van …
Read More »New Massachusetts law bans list of chemical flame retardants in products
By Michael P. Norton State House News Service Manufacturers and retailers in Massachusetts will be banned from selling or importing covered products like bedding, furniture, children’s products, window treatments and carpeting that contain 11 flame-retardant chemicals under legislation signed Friday by Gov. Charlie Baker. The new law, which does not …
Read More »Massachusetts legislators to get 6.46% pay raise
By Michael P. Norton State House News Service Massachusetts lawmakers are in store for another pay raise. Two years after Gov. Charlie Baker certified a raise of 5.93 percent for the 200 members of the House and Senate for the 2019-2020 session, the governor in a letter to Treasurer Deb …
Read More »Massachusetts businesses told to reduce foot traffic after Christmas
By Colin A. Young State House News Service Fearing that the holiday season could fuel an explosion of COVID-19 cases that the state’s health care system would not be able to handle, Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday announced new restrictions that seek to limit the number of people in most …
Read More »Governor Baker vetoes bill expanding abortion access
By Matt Murphy State House News Service Despite agreeing with key elements of the bill, Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed legislation Thursday that would codify the right to an abortion in state law and make the procedure in Massachusetts more accessible by expanding access for women after 24 weeks of pregnancy. …
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