THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from recent sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.

$1 MILLION FOR AUTISM (H 4800): House 155-2, overrode Gov. Maura Healey’s veto of $1 million (reducing funding from $11 million to $10 million) for contracted support services for families of children with autism.

The Senate did not act on the veto so the veto stands and the $1 million was eliminated.

“I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary,” said Gov. Healey in her veto message. “This reduced level reflects anticipated caseload levels and is not expected to have an impact on services.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the $1 million. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Natalie Blais, Yes; Rep. Daniel Carey, Yes; Rep. Mindy Domb, Yes; Rep. Kelly Pease, Yes; Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Yes; Rep. Aaron Saunders, Yes

$500,000 FOR JOBS PROGRAM FOR AT-RISK-YOUTH (H 4800): House 155-2, overrode Gov. Healey’s veto of $500,000 reducing funding from $15.9 million to $15.4 million for a Youth-at-Risk program. The program would target high-risk areas for the development and implementation of a year-round employment program for youths-at-risk, including programs that serve youth who are not more than 25 years-of-age; including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth; youth of color, youth of all abilities; youth of all national origins and religions; low-income youth; and youth who are experiencing housing insecurity.

The Senate did not act on the veto so the veto stands and the $500,000 was eliminated.

“I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary due to the availability of alternative resources,” said Gov. Healey in her veto message. “This operating funding overlaps with alternative funding intended to support this purpose.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the $500,000. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Natalie Blais, Yes; Rep. Daniel Carey, Yes; Rep. Mindy Domb, Yes; Rep. Kelly Pease, Yes; Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Yes; Rep. Aaron Saunders, Yes

$1 MILLION FOR URBAN ENTREPRENEURS (H 4800): House 155-2, overrode Gov. Healey’s veto of $1 million (reducing funding from $2.5 million to $1.5 million) for a competitive grant program to work with urban entrepreneurs to promote small businesses, create new jobs and support workforce development and training initiatives in urban communities.

The Senate did not act on the veto so the veto stands and the $1 million was eliminated.

“I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary due to the availability of alternative trust funding that can be maximized to maintain programming,” said Gov. Healey in her veto message. “Specifically, the Executive Office of Economic Development will work towards utilizing the Workforce Investment Trust Fund to offset the funding being vetoed.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the $1 million. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Natalie Blais, Yes; Rep. Daniel Carey, Yes; Rep. Mindy Domb, Yes; Rep. Kelly Pease, No; Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, Yes; Rep. Aaron Saunders, Yes

ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

MATERNAL HEALTH (H 4999): The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Healey a maternal health bill that would require certified professional midwives and lactation consultants to be licensed; encourage the creation of more freestanding birth centers; establish a grant program to address maternal mental health and substance use disorder; expand the statewide universal postpartum home visiting program; and mandate that insurers provide coverage for postpartum depression and major depressive disorder screenings for perinatal individuals.

“Massachusetts has some of the best health outcomes in the country, but we have a glaring and persistent disparity in maternal health outcomes, especially when it comes to the experience of Black mothers,” said Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro), House chair of the Committee on Public Health. “The maternal health bill passed by the Legislature will expand access to care for all mothers and ameliorate the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis here in Massachusetts.”

“I am proud that this important legislation will take positive steps toward addressing the disparities in maternal healthcare,” said Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “Strengthening access to physical and mental health in Massachusetts will provide a more inclusive support system that keeps parents and children healthy as they embark on their new journey. Every single family in our commonwealth deserves high quality care and support. Not only are we safeguarding the health of new families, but also laying a stronger foundation for future generations.”

“While the commonwealth’s health care system is amongst the best in the world, inequities in maternal health remain prevalent, and certain aspects of care are woefully insufficient,” said House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). “That’s why the reforms included in this legislation are so important, as they will help to close racial inequities and improve maternal health care statewide.”

“Today the Legislature took much needed action to strengthen access to physical and mental health care for pregnant people and new parents in Massachusetts,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “This is an important step to help ensure all expecting individuals regardless of background or economic status have access to the health services they need.

PROTECT FIREFIGHTERS (S 2902): Gov. Healey signed into law a measure that would require a manufacturer or person that sells Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment to any person or government agency, to provide, beginning January 1, 2025, written notice to the buyer, at the time of sale, if the equipment contains toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance chemicals, known as PFAS. The seller would also have to provide the reason the chemicals were added to the equipment. Beginning on January 1, 2027, the bill goes further and would prohibit any person or company from manufacturing, knowingly selling or distributing any equipment containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals.

“Our firefighters are our heroes,” said Gov. Healey. “They selflessly run into harm’s way to protect their neighbors. It is essential that they have comprehensive information about what’s in their protective gear so that they can make informed choices that are best for them. This bill is an important part of our efforts to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our firefighters in Massachusetts.”

“Our firefighters are among the most hardworking, selfless people in Massachusetts, operating under the most dangerous of conditions while risking their own lives to save others,” said State Auditor Diana DiZoglio who was an original sponsor of the measure. “For their dedication to our communities, we must do all we can to provide them with the supports they need to do this invaluable work.”

“It is both joyous and a relief to finally witness the signing of this important legislation,” said Rep. Jim Hawkins (D-Attleboro) who originally filed the bill in 2019. “Despite improvements in cancer care, our firefighters are still becoming sick and dying from occupational cancers at a rate more than twice the general population.”

“This is great news,” said Deirdre Cummings, MASSPIRG’s Legislative Director. “Firefighters put their lives on the line to protect us in an emergency, and we must make sure the gear they wear will protect them.”

VETERAN SUICIDE AWARENESS (H 4862): The House gave initial approval to legislation that would designate Sept. 22 as Military Service Members and Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day.

The day would be in recognition and in honor of fallen service members and veterans and their families; to acknowledge that suicide among service members and veterans is an epidemic; to foster awareness of suicide among service members and veterans; and to call for suicide prevention measures for service members and veterans.

“We brought forward this veteran suicide remembrance and awareness bill in direct response to the tragedies that have left holes in the fabric of our communities and in order to build awareness to prevent future tragedy,” said co-sponsor Rep. Joan Meschino (D-Hull). “[This bill] is an important step in offering support to both our active service members and veterans.”

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“Massachusetts is the best state to live in, due in large part to its strong health care system and high-quality education. Massachusetts has the lowest premature death rate in the country and the lowest share of adults in fair or poor health. It also has the highest share of residents with health insurance coverage, at 97.3 percent. The Bay State also ranks first for the quality of its school systems; third for its property crime rate; and third in access to public transportation.”

— From Wallet Hub’s ranking of the top states in which to live.

“We are proud to see Massachusetts recognized as the best state to live in the country. Massachusetts’ greatest strength is our people. We are home to the best schools, the best healthcare and the most innovative businesses — but this isn’t the time to rest on our laurels. Our administration is dedicated to building on this momentum by continuing to invest in our communities, make Massachusetts more affordable and ensure that we remain the best place to live for future generations.”

— Gov. Healey

“The governor is very lucky that Massachusetts has such excellent universities and hospitals, because our education and healthcare edge is almost entirely what brought us to the top spot. On the issues she actually has control over, namely affordability, our state scored as one of the worst. We may have excellent health care and higher education opportunities, but if people can’t afford to live here and use them, what does it matter?”

— Paul Craney, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.

“We know Massachusetts is a great place to live, but it didn’t happen by accident. Since taking office, the Healey-Driscoll administration has cut taxes for families, seniors and businesses and produced responsible budgets that have increased investments in our schools, childcare, college accessibility and the environment.”

— Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz.

“Massachusetts may score high from a theoretical standpoint, but the reality on the ground is very different. We’ve seen one of the largest outflows of people and wealth from our state in recent history. Poll after poll shows that over 20 percent of everyone in the commonwealth is looking to leave in the next few years. If Massachusetts is doing so well, why is everyone leaving?”

— Paul Craney, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com.