Beacon Hill Roll Call: Legislature OKs new literacy teaching standards

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call reports local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of June 15-19.

LITERACY EDUCATION STANDARDS (H 5511) — The House, 153-0, Senate 39-0, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey a bill dealing with teacher preparation and student literacy. The measure would establish clear statewide standards for evidence-based reading instruction — requiring the teaching of phonics, ensuring access to high-quality K-3 curricula, enhancing educator training and support and creating new reporting and accountability systems.

The bill defines evidence-based early literacy as instruction featuring phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and phonemic awareness, and is demonstrated to produce significant and positive effects on student learning outcomes. It prohibits curricula that are not evidence-based and curricula that rely on implicit or incidental word reading strategies.

Another provision formalizes dyslexia and literacy screening requirements by requiring schools to develop protocols for identifying potential neurological learning disabilities, including dyslexia, and to report their screening practices annually.

“This is a pivotal moment for children across our state as we advance the critical legislation I filed to ensure every student gains essential literacy skills,” said sponsor Sen. Sal DiDomenico, D-Everett. “We all recognize that teaching our kids to read and write is one of the most fundamental responsibilities we have, yet far too many students are still falling short of basic literacy benchmarks. As co-chair of the conference committee, I was proud to collaborate with many educators to craft evidence-based policies that will strengthen early literacy instruction and set our students on a path to lifelong success.”

“It is unacceptable that less than half of young students in Massachusetts are proficient in reading at their grade level,” said Sen. Jason Lewis, D-Winchester, Senate chair of the Education Committee. “This important legislation ensures that educators use evidence-based early literacy curricula that are backed by science while leaving schools flexibility to decide what curriculum is best for their students and teachers. Strengthening student literacy through evidence-based instruction has decades of scientific research and improved outcomes backing it up. With the passage of this bill, the Massachusetts Legislature continues its commitment to providing a high-quality education for all students across the commonwealth.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)

Voting yes: Rep. James Arciero, Rep. Simon Cataldo, Rep. Rodney Elliott, Rep. Kimberly Ferguson, Rep. Colleen Garry,  Rep. Kenneth Gordon, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. Tara Hong, Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne, Rep. Marc Lombardo, Rep. Tram Nguyen, Rep. David Robertson, Rep. Margaret Scarsdale, Rep. Dan Sena, Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik, Sen. Michael Barrett, Sen. John Cronin, Sen. James Eldridge, Sen. Barry Finegold, Sen. Cindy Friedman, Sen. Vanna Howard, Sen. Bruce Tarr.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS (H 5510) — The House, 151-0, approved a $3.5 billion bond bill that supporters said will modernize environmental laws, strengthen climate resilience, support agricultural and food systems, streamline permitting processes and improve the management of the state’s natural resources. They noted the bill advances a broad set of reforms designed to help communities prepare for the impacts of climate change, accelerate critical infrastructure projects, improve environmental protections and support  cities and towns.

The Senate has already approved its own version of the bill, and a House-Senate conference committee will likely be appointed to hammer out a compromise version.

Provisions of the House bill include establishing a new Resilience Revolving Fund to help municipalities, tribal governments and public water and wastewater districts finance climate-resilient infrastructure projects and technical assistance; creating new commissions and advisory bodies focused on flood mitigation, air quality, coastal resilience and long-term climate preparedness; streamlining permitting and environmental review processes for priority housing developments, nature-based solutions projects, culvert replacements, wetland restoration and other projects that advance climate resilience while maintaining environmental protections; expanding representation on the Massachusetts Food Policy Council; modernizing commercial feed regulations; strengthening enforcement tools for agricultural programs; and requiring flood risk disclosures for prospective homebuyers and tenants.

Funding includes $385 million for the Water Pollution Abatement Trust to support wastewater, stormwater and drinking water projects; $315 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Grant Program for towns to assess climate risks; and $308 million for the repair, construction and removal of state-owned dams, seawalls, docks, culverts and salt marshes.

“There is perhaps no responsibility more fundamental to the role of government than ensuring that residents have access to clean drinking water and are breathing clean air,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano, D-Quincy. “This legislation is the latest example of Massachusetts’ ironclad commitment to protecting our environment and to leading the fight against climate change. At the same time, the bill takes steps to ensure that the commonwealth’s environmental regulations aren’t unnecessarily burdensome when issuing permits for new housing developments and other critical infrastructure projects.”

“Today, the House passed … the largest state investment in climate resilience in our state’s history,” said Rep. Christine Barber, D-Somerville, House chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. “We aren’t just talking about protecting our environment against climate change, today we’re taking action. Our communities have real, immediate needs — clean drinking water free from PFAS contamination, protection from flooding and storm damage, accessible parks, restored beaches, rivers and coastlines and healthier forests. These investments we voted on today will fortify our environmental infrastructure and build a sustainably rich future for generations to come.”

(A “Yes” for the bill.)

Voting yes: Rep. James Arciero, Rep. Simon Cataldo, Rep. Rodney Elliott, Rep. Kimberly Ferguson, Rep. Colleen Garry, Rep. Kenneth Gordon, Rep. Natalie Higgins, Rep. Tara Hong, Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne, Rep. Marc Lombardo, Rep. Tram Nguyen, Rep. David Robertson, Rep. Margaret Scarsdale, Rep. Dan Sena, Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik.

PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS (S 3116) — The Senate, 35-4, approved and sent to the House legislation that supporters said would make it easier for Massachusetts residents to get a primary care doctor and an appointment. They noted the bill reduces the amount of time providers have to spend on administrative paperwork and aims to reduce health care costs.

Provisions include requiring health care providers and insurers to invest more heavily in primary care services; ensuring fairer compensation for community health centers and increasing the Massachusetts’ primary care workforce by unlocking matching federal funds to train and recruit more doctors.

“Massachusetts has always led the way on health care, and today the Senate is doing it again,” said Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Ashland. “Too many of our residents are struggling to find a primary care doctor or putting off basic care because of the cost. That’s not acceptable, and it’s not sustainable. This legislation takes direct aim at the problem. It requires greater investment in primary care, lifts up the community health centers at the heart of so many neighborhoods and grows the workforce our residents need. When we get primary care right, everything else in our health care system works better.”

“With this nation-leading approach, the Massachusetts Senate is confronting the primary care crisis head-on with the thoughtfulness and urgency it deserves,” said Sen. Cindy Friedman, D-Arlington, Senate chair of the Committee on Health Care Financing. “For far too long, our health care system has put too much emphasis on costly medical interventions, rather than incentivizing preventive care delivered in our primary care practices and community health centers. The legislation passed today delivers an historic increase in primary care funding in Massachusetts by reprioritizing and shifting how we spend our health care dollars to support our primary care providers, increases access to value-based care and delivers better health outcomes for patients.”

Opponents said the bill has some good points but does not do enough to control skyrocketing medical costs. They supported a number of failed amendments that they said would improve the measure.

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)

Voting yes: Sen. Michael Barrett, Sen. John Cronin, Sen. James Eldridge, Sen. Barry Finegold, Sen. Cindy Friedman, Sen. Vanna Howard. Voting no: Sen. Bruce Tarr.

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT REMOVES INCOME TAX REDUCTION QUESTION FROM 2026 BALLOT — The Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the ballot question reducing the state income tax from 5 percent to 4 percent over a three-year period, is ineligible to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot, with justices concluding Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office provided a “significantly misleading” summary of the proposal that was likely to influence voters.

Opponents of the tax cut filed a lawsuit with the SJC in January contending that Campbell’s summary of the proposal is flawed and unfair because it fails to make clear that voter approval of the question would also automatically reduce the tax rate for long-term capital gains income, which under current law is tied to the income tax rate.

Campbell’s office had argued that her summary accurately summarized the proposal because the initiative “does not specifically propose to amend the statutes setting the rate of taxation for capital gain income.”

The court did not buy the argument by supporters of the ballot question that a reduction in the long-term capital gains tax rate is not guaranteed, because the Legislature could amend the current law before the election and untether the capital gains rate from the income tax rate. The court ruled that that possibility does not make the summary fair, noting that the court reviews the summary against the law as it exists, not based on speculation about a hypothetical future statute.

“The court has made its decision. I think what doesn’t change is the need for everyone to focus on driving down costs and making life more affordable for people in Massachusetts,” said Gov. Healey. “That’s been my top priority. That’s what I’ve been doing, you know, cutting co-pays and deductibles when it comes to healthcare, fighting utility rate increases, you know and doing the things that we need to do to make life more affordable, so that they can afford homes.”

“A $5 billion annual loss in state revenue would’ve meant significant cuts to services and programs that Massachusetts residents rely on, while doing little to bolster competitiveness and address the affordability challenges facing the commonwealth,” said Mariano. “I’m grateful that this irresponsible initiative petition won’t appear on the ballot in November.”

“The dark-money proponents of this reckless ballot initiative tried to hide an enormous give-away to the richest 1% within the appearance of a broad-based tax cut,” said Max Page, President of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. “It’s good that the court stood up for the principle that voters deserve to know what they’re voting on. However, the out-of-touch billionaires behind this initiative are continuing to push their revenue cap ballot initiative, which would cost the state billions of dollars over the coming years and force cuts to public schools, healthcare and other critical programs.”

The Pioneer Institute said, “Today’s ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is a serious disappointment for commonwealth families struggling under one of the highest tax and cost burdens in the nation. The court’s decision rests on a drafting error in the attorney general’s summary of the petition — a matter entirely outside the control of voters and petition signers. As a result, the people of Massachusetts will be denied the opportunity to decide whether the commonwealth should reduce the income tax rate from 5% to 4%.”

PROTECT FIREFIGHTERS (H 5488) — The House and Senate, on a voice vote, approved and sent to Gov. Healey legislation that would create a public database of violations of the state’s fire prevention laws and a public notification system to alert workers of violations.

The measure is designed to boost safety for firefighters and people conducting “hot work” including welding, plasma cutting and spark-producing construction. The proposed law has been 10 years in the making and was prompted by the March 2014 deaths of firefighters Edward Walsh and Michael Kennedy who perished while fighting a fire that was caused by welders, working without a city permit, on a building next door to the brownstone in which they died.

“I am grateful to the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and Boston Firefighters Local 718, whose advocacy never wavered throughout this process,” said sponsor Sen. Nick Collins, D-South Boston. “In the wake of an unimaginable loss, they remained committed to ensuring that future firefighters, tradespeople and workers would be better protected. This legislation is the result of that commitment, as well as the collaborative work of my colleagues in the Senate and House. While it was born from tragedy, it leaves behind a lasting legacy, one that will help save lives and make workplaces safer for years to come.”

AUTISM AND POLICE STOPS (H 5438) — The House and Senate approved, on a voice vote, and sent to Gov. Healey legislation designed to improve interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder during traffic stops. This program was adopted by the Massachusetts State Police in 2024 but is not an actual law. This bill would codify the program into Massachusetts law.

The measure, dubbed the “Blue Envelope Bill,” would create a program giving people with the disorder the option to be given a special blue envelope that holds the person’s driver’s license and vehicle registration. On the outside of the envelope there would be written information and guidance on the envelope regarding ways to enhance effective communication between a police officer and a person with autism spectrum disorder. The envelope must also include instructions for access to the envelope, including attaching it to the sun visor on the driver’s side of the vehicle. The bill is designed to enable the driver to quickly and easily hand the envelope to a police officer during a traffic stop.

“Enacting the Blue Envelope Bill is a major win for the commonwealth and for individuals living with autism spectrum disorder,” said Senate sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton. “Enshrining the Blue Envelope program in law will help ensure safer, more informed interactions during traffic stops and emergencies, making permanent a simple but powerful tool for both drivers and emergency responders. This legislative victory is a testament to the tireless advocacy of families, organizations, law enforcement and individuals who have pushed us to act and move closer to a commonwealth that works for everyone.”

REDUCE WRONG-WAY DRIVING — Gov. Healey announced a statewide plan to reduce wrong-way driving incidents on Bay State roads through a combination of advanced detection technology, enhanced roadway signage, infrastructure improvements and targeted safety upgrades. The multi-year effort will focus on over 500 high-risk locations across Massachusetts where drivers may be more likely to enter roadways in the wrong direction due to driver confusion or roadway design.

“We’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact that wrong-way driving crashes can have on families, law enforcement and communities across Massachusetts,” said Healey. “People deserve to be safe on our roads, and we’re taking action. By investing in new technology, stronger safety measures and targeted infrastructure improvements, we’re working to prevent these crashes before they happen and help save lives. Our hearts are with every family that has lost a loved one in a wrong-way driving crash, and we are committed to doing everything we can to prevent these tragedies from happening again.”

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“We are heartbroken each year as we learn the stories of people walking who lose their lives in crashes that are often preventable. One factor continues to show up again and again: speed. Our streets are still designed in ways that allow people to drive too fast, making it harder for drivers to see and safely yield to people walking.”

— Brendan Kearney, executive director of WalkMassachusetts, commenting on a study that showed that in 2025, one in every five traffic deaths in Massachusetts involved a person walking

“We want Massachusetts to be the best place in the country to start, grow and scale innovative companies. This initiative will help lower barriers for entrepreneurs and researchers, strengthen our innovation ecosystem and create new pathways for students and workers to participate in this growing industry.”

— Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announcing that the state awarded nearly $2 million through the Massachusetts Robotic Digital Twin Initiative to six organizations advancing robotics innovation across the state. The funding will help accelerate commercialization pathways for robotics hardware developers by expanding access to digital twin technologies.

“Families are at risk of becoming collateral damage in a system that is growing increasingly difficult to navigate and sustain. Without meaningful action to stabilize reimbursement and restore predictability, providers will be forced to make difficult decisions about capacity, staffing and their ability to serve MassHealth members. We are running out of time to address this issue.”

— Rebecca Thompson, chair of the Massachusetts Providers for ABA Access and Quality, on autism service providers warning that recent policy decisions and ongoing reimbursement challenges are creating an unsustainable environment that could reduce access to care for those who rely on Medicaid-funded autism services

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at [email protected].