THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of Feb. 23-27.
ENERGY (H 5151) — The House, 128-27, approved and sent to the Senate legislation that supporters said would result in over $9 billion in savings for utility ratepayers over the next 10 years. The measure cuts roughly $1 billion from the Mass Save program’s marketing and administrative budgets; returns 70 percent of alternative compliance payments to ratepayers through mid-2029; expands clean energy procurement authority; eases political barriers to nuclear development by repealing a voter law that placed restrictions on it; and delays an offshore wind contracting deadline by two years to 2029.
“As residents across Massachusetts face sky-high heating bills amid another brutal winter, this legislation is proof of the House’s commitment to bringing costs down by cutting unnecessary spending, by putting money back in residents’ pockets and through energy diversification,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “While the Trump Administration continues to attack clean energy projects on behalf of the fossil fuel industry, the House understands that energy diversification is the best tool that the commonwealth has to cut costs for ratepayers in the long term.”
“This legislation is one that takes a long-term look at our energy needs and focuses the conversation squarely on affordability for ratepayers,” said Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, D-Boston, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “While sustainability remains paramount, without a federal partner in Washington, the commonwealth finds itself in a difficult position. By making our energy infrastructure more transparent and more predictable, and by controlling costs, we can improve the lives of millions of our residents while at the same time bringing more energy onto the grid.”
“While there are some worthy provisions contained in this bill, it still falls far short of its stated goal to make energy costs more affordable and represents a missed opportunity to deliver real financial relief to the commonwealth’s residential and commercial ratepayers,” said House GOP Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones,. R-North Reading, who voted against the proposal. “The House Republican Caucus offered nearly three dozen amendments that would have provided meaningful short and long-term assistance to those individuals and businesses who are struggling to pay their utility bills. Unfortunately, most of those amendments were rejected, so I could not support the underlying bill in its current form.”
“Beacon Hill is now admitting that $1 billion in Mass Save spending was unnecessary and that ratepayers were funding bloated marketing and administrative costs,” said Paul Craney, executive director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. “Lawmakers approved this billion-dollar spending year after year, and families are only hearing about ‘inefficiencies’ after their electric bills reached record highs. That is not oversight. That is damage control.”
Craney continued, “Expanding procurement authority, codifying subsidy programs like SMART and creating new energy storage incentives is just expanding on the same approach that helped create this affordability crisis in the first place. These programs guarantee above-market compensation backed by ratepayers. Without repealing the upcoming 2030 climate emissions reduction mandate, this bill will be doing nothing but smoothing out the sticker shock while locking in the structural drivers of high energy costs.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote against it.)
Voting yes: Rep. James Arciero, Rep. Simon Cataldo, Rep. Rodney Elliott, Rep. Colleen Garry, Rep. Kenneth Gordon, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. Tara Hong, Rep. Vanna Howard, Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne, Rep. Michael Kushmerek, Rep. Tram Nguyen, Rep. David Robertso, Margaret Scarsdale, Rep. Dan Sen, Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik. Voting no: Rep. Kimberly Ferguson, Rep. Marc Lombardo
SUSPEND CHARGES (H 5151) — The House, 25-130, rejected an amendment that would suspend the electric distribution companies from assessing and collecting from consumers “public benefit energy charges” on electric utility bills for 12 consecutive billing months. These charges currently fund programs such as energy efficiency, renewable and clean energy initiatives, distributed solar, electric vehicle programs and residential assistance.
“This bill has been described as an affordability measure, but it does not guarantee immediate relief for ratepayers,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Ken Sweezey, R-Hanson. “[My amendment] provides direct, measurable relief by removing public benefit charges from bills for a full year. At a time when families are struggling to keep up with basic household costs, this gives them breathing room instead of asking them to continue funding state programs through their utility bills.”
Rep. Michael Kushmerek, D-Fitchburg, said he opposes the amendment because it would cut the residential assistance charge that funds low-income discount rates for electric customers across the state. He noted that this would impact hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable ratepayers.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.)
Voting yes: Rep. Kimberly Ferguson, Rep. Marc Lombardo. Voting no: Rep. James Arciero, Rep. Simon Cataldo, Rep. Rodney Elliott, Rep. Colleen Garry, Rep. Kenneth Gordon, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. Tara Hong, Rep. Vanna Howard, Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne, Rep. Michael Kushmerek, Rep. Tram Nguyen, Rep. David Robertson, Rep. Margaret Scarsdale, Rep. Dan Sena, Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik
NATURAL GAS (H 5151) — The House, 25-129, rejected an amendment that would require the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, in consultation with the Department of Public Utilities and the Energy Facilities Siting Board, to conduct a competitive solicitation for proposals to increase firm interstate natural gas transmission capacity into the Bay State with a goal of enhancing winter energy reliability and mitigating price volatility affecting ratepayers.
“[My amendment] would have required the executive branch to put out solicitation for bids to build a pipeline from the Appalachian Shale to Massachusetts, introducing an ample supply of cheap natural gas to ratepayers,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Marc Lombardo, R-Billerica. “Had Maura Healey not stopped the Kinder Pipeline, it would’ve saved rate payers $5 billion since 2018. We saw during the arctic blast of late January and early February how ill-prepared our energy portfolio is to reliably and cost-effectively handled the demands of Massachusetts. During that time hydroelectric from Canada was terminated, and wind produced less than one percent of electrical needs. Instead, ISO New England needed to bring online oil-based production, which accounted for 40 percent of the energy supply at that time. Additional gas supply would have been significantly cheaper and cleaner for Massachusetts ratepayers. If we’re ever going to be serious about lowering costs, then we need to increase our gas supply.”
Rep. Mark Cusack, D-Norfolk, acknowledged that more gas capacity will help address winter reliability and address price volatility which is why the Department of Public Utilities has a tool and is already doing it. This past January, the DPU approved expansion of Eversource’s Algonquin pipeline, which will lower costs for over 600,000 gas customers. Developers will pay for this expansion, not ratepayers. Gas is a part of the all-of-the-above strategy, and continued conversations are needed and will happen. And also, to build a new gas pipeline, would be about a 10-to-15-year process, and would require interconnection to New York, and they would have to build first. So this solicitation would be very premature, and no one would actually bid on it, since it’s not buildable yet.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.)
Voting yes: Rep. Kimberly Ferguson, Rep. Marc Lombardo. Voting no: Rep. James Arciero, Rep. Simon Catald, Rep. Rodney Elliott, Rep. Colleen Garry, Rep. Kenneth Gordon, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. Tara Hong, Rep. Vanna Howard, Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne, Rep. Michael Kushmerek, Rep. Tram Nguyen, Rep. David Robertson, Rep. Margaret Scarsdale, Rep. Dan Sena, Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik
BATTERY STORAGE FACILITY (H 5151) — The House, 26-127, rejected an amendment that would prohibit the state from approving a battery storage facility in a municipality, unless the city or town governing body of the municipality in which the facility is proposed has voted to approve the project. The amendment also gives cities and towns the authority to establish additional siting, safety and environmental requirements for these storage facilities, as long as they don’t conflict with state law. “The commonwealth is moving all approvals for new energy storage facilities to the state level,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Kelly Pease, R-Westfield. “This amendment would still allow cities and towns to have a say in where, when and how new battery storage facilities are implemented, or not implemented within their municipalities.”
Rep. Kushmerek said the House should wait until action is taken on a similar bill that is pending before the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. He noted that there are already current conversations underway between the committee, Department of Energy Resources and the Energy Facility Siting Board to establish parameters on setbacks in local communities for battery storage.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.)
Voting yes: Rep. Kimberly Ferguson, Rep. Marc Lombardo. Voting no: Rep. James Arciero, Rep. Simon Cataldo, Rep. Rodney Elliott, Rep. Colleen Garry, Rep. Kenneth Gordo, Rep. Natalie Higgin, Rep. Tara Hong, Rep. Vanna Howard, Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne, Rep. Michael Kushmerek, Rep. Tram Nguyen, Rep. David Robertso, Rep. Margaret Scarsdale, Rep. Dan Sena, Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik
UNIT PRICING IN CONVENIENCE STORES (S 2965) — The Senate, 37-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that amends a current law which exempts smaller convenience stores from being required to display unit pricing. Unit pricing is the identification of and labeling of items for sale with the retail price per unit, permitting easier price comparisons among similar products in different sized containers.
Under current law, an exemption from unit pricing is given to retailers with lower sales volumes—defined as establishments that generate less than $5 million in in-store sales each year, including sales of Lottery products and gift cards. The bill would remove Lottery products and gift card sales from the calculation of whether a store can be included in the unit price exemption.
Bill supporters said that with the steady rise of inflation, introduction of higher-value Lottery products and increased popularity of pre-paid gift cards, local businesses are more apt to exceed the exemption threshold.
“The unit pricing exemption is a simple way to cut expenses for small businesses and support the communities they serve,” said Sen. Mike Moore, D-Millbury, the bill’s lead sponsor. “However, in the two decades since the policy was written into law, the $5 million revenue threshold for the exemption has remained the same while the cost of products has risen significantly. This legislation makes small tweaks to how a store’s revenue is calculated to ensure the law continues to apply to the corner stores and small businesses it was originally intended to protect.”
“By exempting Lottery tickets and prepaid gift card sales from the unit pricing threshold calculation, we are helping ensure the financial health of our small, neighborhood convenience stores,” said co-sponsor Sen. Pavel Payano, D-Lawrence. “I was proud to help advance this update, which strikes the right balance between protecting consumers and supporting our small businesses.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Voting yes: Sen. Michael Barrett, Sen. John Cronin, Sen. James Eldridge, Sen. Barry Finegold, Sen. Cindy Friedman, Sen. Bruce Tarr
$3.28 BILLION TO MODERNIZE BAY STATE PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (S 2962) — The Senate, 37-0, approved a $3.28 billion package, known as the BRIGHT Act, that funds the modernization of Bay State public colleges and universities by using the revenue from the 2022 voter-approved law, known as the Millionaire’s Tax, that imposes an additional 4 percent income tax, in addition to the current flat 5 percent one, on taxpayers’ earnings of more than $1 million annually. The House has already approved its own version of the bill and a House-Senate conference committee will likely hammer out a compromise version.
Provisions include $1.25 billion for the UMass system; $1.25 billion for nine other state university campuses and 15 community college campuses; $275 million for upgrades to MassArt; $100 million for the transition of campus facilities and property into housing and mixed-use developments; $80 million for costs associated with decarbonization and energy efficiency; $120 million for lab modernization, projects at community colleges to support collaboration with vocational technical schools and projects related to student health and well-being; $50 million for a grant program for general improvements and climate-related upgrade; $20 million for enhancing remote or hybrid learning; and $100 million for a grant program for improvements to upgrade and expand career technical education and training programs.
“Today, the Senate advanced urgently needed legislation to transform public higher education infrastructure by leveraging Fair Share dollars to address deferred maintenance, modernize classrooms, and decarbonize campuses,” said Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Senate Chair of the Committee on Higher Education. “With the BRIGHT Act, Massachusetts is choosing not to retreat in the face of federal attacks on higher education, but to build forward—creating healthier, more sustainable campuses that reflect the future we are preparing our students to lead.”
“Massachusetts students deserve campuses that match the quality of their ambition,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “The BRIGHT Act will deliver just that: safe, modern and energy-efficient classrooms that provide a strong foundation for academic and professional success for every student at every public institution in the commonwealth. I applaud the education leaders who helped shape this bill, the faculty and staff who dedicate themselves to educating our residents and the students who choose to pursue a world-class education at Massachusetts’ public colleges and universities.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Voting yes: Sen. Michael Barrett, Sen. John Cronin, Sen. James Eldridge, Sen. Barry Finegold, Sen. Cindy Friedman, Sen. Bruce Tarr
$300 MILLION FOR K-12 EDUCATION (S 2962) — The Senate, 6-31, rejected an amendment that would provide local cities and towns with $300 million in education aid for public elementary and secondary education, including “programs, services, operations, supports and improvements that advance educational quality, equity, access and student success in the commonwealth.”
Amendment supporters said that the $300 million will help cities and towns across the state fund and improve their K-12 education. They noted that communities are struggling to make ends meet and this $300 million would be welcomed by every community.
Amendment opponents said the amendment is well-intentioned but noted the bill is designed to invest in deferred maintenance of colleges, not in K-12 education funding for local cities and towns. They noted that the overall state budget already includes $760 million for local education aid.
(A “Yes” vote is for the $300 million. A “No” vote is against it.)
Voting yes: Sen. Barry Finegold, Sen. Bruce Tarr. Voting no: Sen. Michael Barrett, Sen. John Cronin, Sen. James Eldridge, Sen. Cindy Friedman
ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL
Several bills were given initial approval by the House, on a voice vote without a roll call, including:
PROHIBIT RECORDING OR BROADCASTING WHILE DRIVING (H 3748) — Would prohibit an operator of a motor vehicle from recording, broadcasting or otherwise capturing images or video of themselves while driving.
“I sponsored the bill because I believe it will reduce the extent of distracted driving which unfortunately seems to be occurring more frequently, particularly with the continuous advent of new technology,” said sponsor Rep. Brian Murray, D-Milford.
DOUBLE FINES FOR SPEEDING IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE (H 3729) — Would double fines for motor vehicles speeding in the far-right lane, otherwise known as the “breakdown” lane, in areas where travel is permitted during peak commuting hours.
Supporters said that while allowing travel in the far-right lane is essential on some highways in order to temporarily provide traffic relief during peak hours, many motorists irresponsibly use this lane as a high-speed passing lane, risking their own safety and the safety of disabled motor vehicle owners and emergency personnel. They noted that numerous accidents and fatalities have occurred due to excessive speed in the breakdown lane.
INCREASE FINES FOR ILLEGAL HANDICAPPED PARKING VIOLATIONS (H 3614) — Would allow cities and towns to increase fines for handicapped parking violations by $450. Current fines are between $100 and $300 so the bill would increase that range to between $550 and $750.
The additional funds must be placed in a special municipal account and used solely to support compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on public property and in public buildings. Local commissions on disabilities or special commissions are tasked with assessing municipal needs for ADA implementation.
“I filed this legislation to ensure stronger enforcement of handicapped parking laws and to provide dedicated funding for local ADA compliance efforts,” said sponsor Rep. Bruce Ayers, D-Quincy. “This bill will help protect the rights of residents with disabilities and improve accessibility throughout our communities.”
QUOTABLE QUOTES
“For more than a year, we’ve been fighting to protect the constitutional rights of babies born in Massachusetts and across the country from the Trump Administration’s blatantly unlawful order that would rip away their right to citizenship. Courts have ruled again and again that President Trump does not have the authority to rewrite the Constitution, and I will continue to stand up for the rule of law and for American children across the country whose fundamental rights are being attacked by this administration.” —Attorney General Andrea Campbell and a coalition of 24 attorneys general filing an amicus brief, defending birthright citizenship, at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at [email protected].
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