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State House Coverage

House and Senate sessions and joint hearings on Beacon Hill — the state decisions that land in every town budget, school, and zoning map.

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Massachusetts Senate passes Great River school district vote bill, multiple municipal measures

Massachusetts Senate clears Great River Regional School District vote bill and a slate of municipal measures in a brief August session.

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Massachusetts Senate Passes Local Bills, Adjourns to Thursday in Brief Session

The Massachusetts Senate cleared a slate of local bills in a brief session August 20, adjourning to Thursday with no floor debate.

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Massachusetts Senate passes Medford civil service exemption, multiple local bills in brief session

The Massachusetts Senate passed more than a dozen local bills on unanimous voice votes at its August 20 session, including a civil service exemption for the Medford police chief and deputy chief. Senate Minority Leader Bruce E.

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Massachusetts House passes Natick police age-waiver bills and local charter measures

Massachusetts House passes Natick police age-waiver bills and a raft of local measures in brief informal session.

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Massachusetts Senate passes six local bills, two easement releases in brief session

The Massachusetts Senate passed six local bills and released two property easements in a brief formal session Monday without debate.

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Massachusetts Senate passes hot-work safety law for fallen Boston firefighters

Massachusetts Senate passes hot-work safety overhaul honoring two firefighters killed in 2014.

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Massachusetts House Passes Local Bills for Wrentham, Hopkinton, and Medford in Brief Session

The Massachusetts House passed a slate of local and special legislation bills in a brief August 13 session lasting roughly eight minutes. The House enacted House Bill 4269, exempting from taxation real estate owned by the surviving spouse of Wrentham Deputy Chief George C.

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Massachusetts Senate Passes Charity Alcohol Auction and Credit Union Bills

Massachusetts Senate clears charity alcohol auction and credit union director pay bills in brief Monday session.

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Massachusetts House engrosses bill naming official state sedimentary structure

The Massachusetts House passed legislation designating an official state sedimentary structure during a brief informal session August 10.

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Massachusetts Senate Passes Walpole, Newton Bills in Brief Procedural Session

The Massachusetts Senate passed four bills and ordered two more to third reading in a brief August 6 floor session before adjourning to meet again Monday.

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Massachusetts Senate passes Boston age-waiver, Pittsfield charter bills in brief session

The Massachusetts Senate passed two local bills and advanced a Marion liquor license measure in a brief session Tuesday.

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Massachusetts House Advances Bellingham Charter, Easthampton Licensing Bills in Brief Session

Massachusetts House advances local bills and extends Transportation Committee deadline in short informal session. The House met briefly on August 4, adopting a resolution filed by Representatives Michelle L.

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Massachusetts Conference Committee Convenes to Reconcile Competing Pet Welfare Bills

Massachusetts lawmakers open conference negotiations on dual pet equity and safety bills.

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Massachusetts Panel Hears Jesse's Law Bill Requiring Bystanders to Call 911

Massachusetts lawmakers take testimony on Jesse's Law, a bill that would require bystanders to call 911 at life-threatening emergencies. The Joint Committee on the Judiciary heard H5437 on July 31, the panel's final hearing of the term, co-chaired by Representative Michael S.

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Massachusetts Senate passes nine land-taking bills 39-0 in single session

Massachusetts Senate clears nine land-taking bills unanimously in a single Thursday session.

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Joint Committee Unanimously Advances MassDOT Easement Bill for Andover Bridge

Massachusetts joint committee fast-tracks MassDOT easement bill for Andover bridge replacement.

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Massachusetts Senate engrosses landmark transparency and press shield bill, 33-6

Massachusetts Senate passes sweeping transparency bill and enacts the state's first statutory press shield law.

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Massachusetts Senate engrosses land transfer bills for Bourne, Norwood, Weston in brief session

The Massachusetts Senate advanced more than a dozen local land transfer and charter measures in a brief Tuesday session, adjourning in under an hour.

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Massachusetts House Passes Alzheimer's and ALS Bills Unanimously in July Session

Massachusetts House passes sweeping Alzheimer's and ALS home-care bills without a single dissenting vote.

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Plymouth Seeks 99-Year Lease to Take Over Management of Pilgrim Memorial Park

Plymouth pushes for a 99-year state lease on Pilgrim Memorial Park to streamline community access.

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Massachusetts Senate passes three bills, names conferees on pet and home care disputes

The Massachusetts Senate passed three local bills and named conferees on two contested measures in a brief Sunday session.

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Massachusetts Senate Engrosses Economic Development Bill After Marathon Amendment Session

Massachusetts Senate engrosses major economic development bill after clearing nearly 600 amendments in one session.

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House Sends Health Care, Home Care, and Campaign Finance Bills to Conference

The Massachusetts House declined to concur with the Senate on two major policy bills Wednesday, sending a health care workplace violence prevention measure and a home care improvement bill to separate conference committees.

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Massachusetts Credit Card Commission Closes Public Hearings, Moves Toward Final Report

Massachusetts credit card commission wraps public testimony ahead of final report.

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Massachusetts Credit Card Commission Closes Public Hearings, Moves Toward Final Report

Massachusetts credit card commission wraps public testimony ahead of final report.

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Massachusetts Panel Hears Six Municipal Governance Bills, Closes Without Formal Votes

Massachusetts Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government heard six local governance bills Wednesday, taking no formal votes. House Chair Jack Patrick Lewis and Senate Chair Rebecca L.

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Massachusetts Joint Committee Hears Six Town Petitions to Ban Rat Poison

Six Massachusetts towns seek local authority to ban anticoagulant rodenticides as legislative committee hears testimony. Senate Chair Rebecca L.

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Massachusetts House Votes 119-33 to Remove Post-24-Week Abortion Exceptions

Massachusetts House votes 119-33 to scrap the state's post-24-week abortion exceptions framework. The House passed H. 5595, an act prioritizing patient access to care, on July 22 after floor debate anchored by Representative Michael S.

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Massachusetts Joint Committee Hears Six Town Petitions to Ban Rat Poison

Six Massachusetts towns seek local authority to ban anticoagulant rodenticides as legislative committee hears testimony. Senate Chair Rebecca L.

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Massachusetts Panel Hears Six Municipal Governance Bills, Closes Without Formal Votes

Massachusetts Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government heard six local governance bills Wednesday, taking no formal votes. House Chair Jack Patrick Lewis and Senate Chair Rebecca L.

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Massachusetts House Votes 119-33 to Remove Post-24-Week Abortion Exceptions

Massachusetts House votes 119-33 to scrap the state's post-24-week abortion exceptions framework. The House passed H. 5595, an act prioritizing patient access to care, on July 22 after floor debate anchored by Representative Michael S.

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Sudbury Recall Bill Draws Divided Testimony at State House Hearing

Sudbury recall bill draws more than a dozen witnesses to State House as committee takes no action. The Joint Committee on Election Laws, co-chaired by Representative Daniel J.

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Sudbury Recall Bill Draws Divided Testimony at State House Hearing

Sudbury recall bill draws more than a dozen witnesses to State House as committee takes no action. The Joint Committee on Election Laws, co-chaired by Representative Daniel J.

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Massachusetts Senate Engrosses Six Local Bills, Sends Campaign Finance Measure to Conference

Massachusetts Senate advances six local bills and sends campaign finance measure to conference in brief Monday session. The Senate, presided over by Senate President Karen E.

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Massachusetts Senate Engrosses Six Local Bills, Sends Campaign Finance Measure to Conference

Massachusetts Senate advances six local bills and sends campaign finance measure to conference in brief Monday session. The Senate, presided over by Senate President Karen E.

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Massachusetts House Engrosses Local Bills, Advances State Vegetable Designation

The Massachusetts House moved through a brief routine session July 20, passing a dozen measures by unanimous voice vote in under 20 minutes.

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Massachusetts House Engrosses Local Bills, Advances State Vegetable Designation

The Massachusetts House moved through a brief routine session July 20, passing a dozen measures by unanimous voice vote in under 20 minutes.

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Massachusetts House Sends Energy Affordability Bill to Conference Committee

The Massachusetts House declined to concur with Senate changes to a wide-ranging energy bill and appointed a Conference Committee to resolve the impasse at its July 16 session. Representative Mark J.

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Massachusetts Senate Passes Healthcare Worker Workplace Violence Bill

Massachusetts Senate passes landmark healthcare worker assault protection bill and advances $325 million economic development measure.

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Massachusetts House Votes 151-1 to Engross Sweeping Pet Welfare Overhaul

Massachusetts House votes 151-1 to engross a sweeping animal welfare omnibus banning household product animal testing.

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