There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.

When the 2024 legislative session ended on Jan. 1, thousands of bills that did not get final approval by the House and Senate died.

Beacon Hill Roll Call’s research highlights three major bills that were easily approved by the Senate but died from inaction in the House.

Three of the measures died in the House Ways and Means Committee. Under House rules, any individual representative can move to discharge any bill from the Ways and Means Committee. There is a seven-day waiting period prior to the House considering the motion to discharge. The discharge motion must receive a majority vote of the members present. If the measure is discharged from the committee, the committee has four days within which to report out the measure for placement on the House’s agenda for action.

A bill may also be discharged from the Ways and Means Committee by any representative by filing a petition signed by a majority of the House. The bill would then be discharged seven days later and go onto the House agenda for the next session.

Rarely are either of those methods used to discharge a bill from a committee.

Some critics say that sometimes bills are held up in committee because someone in a high position of power either inside or outside the State House is opposed to it.

An ex-state representative who wished to remain anonymous told Beacon Hill Roll Call, “Although under House rules, every representative has the power to attempt to discharge a bill, hardly any attempt is made to do this out of fear of offending and alienating the powerful speaker, his leadership team and committee chairs.”

Beacon Hill Roll Call’s archives show that motions to discharge a bill from a committee and bring it to the full House for debate and a vote was a common practice back in the 1970s and 1980s.

Beacon Hill Roll Call contacted the office of House Speaker Ron Mariano, D-Quincy, and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, D-Boston, several times last week and asked why these bills, easily approved by the Senate, died in the House. Neither office responded.

Here are three bills that were easily approved by the Senate but died in the House. Beacon Hill Roll Call asked the Senate sponsor of each bill how they feel about it dying in the House and whether they have filed the bill for consideration in the 2025-2026 session.

Make obtaining ID cards easier for homeless individuals (S 2251)

On July 27, 2023, the Senate, 38-0, approved and sent to the House legislation that would make it easier for homeless youth and adults to secure free state ID cards. The House took no action on the bill and it died.

Supporters said that currently a person experiencing homelessness faces prohibitive fees and documentation requirements when trying to obtain an ID card. They noted that this legislation removes those barriers by eliminating fees and only requiring that applicants present documentation showing that they are currently receiving services provided by the state, a homeless service provider or another service provider. They argued that ID cards are necessary for applying for jobs, enrolling in school, interacting with law enforcement, accessing government buildings, opening financial accounts and many other basic services that many take for granted.

Last week, sponsor Sen. Robyn Kennedy, D-Worcester, told Beacon Hill Roll Call, “This bill reflects a continued commitment to addressing homelessness, building on the work of my predecessor and in collaboration with the Coalition for the Homeless. It represents an important step in supporting our most vulnerable residents, and I appreciate the efforts of all advocates and stakeholders involved. As it moves forward this session, I look forward to working with colleagues in the Senate to pass it again. I defer to my colleagues in the House to get it passed in their chamber.”

Menstrual products (S 2491)

On Oct. 26, 2023, the Senate, 38-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that would require all prisons, homeless shelters and K-12 schools to maintain free menstrual products, including sanitary napkins, tampons and underwear liners in private and public restrooms and to make them available in a “convenient manner that does not stigmatize any persons seeking the products.” The House took no action on the bill and it died.

Supporters said that according to the Massachusetts Menstrual Equity Coalition, approximately one in seven children in Massachusetts is living in poverty and struggles to pay for menstrual products. They argued that research shows the inability to access menstrual products affects students’ class attendance.

They also noted that women facing homelessness or who are incarcerated face high barriers to access, with Massachusetts shelters reporting that menstrual products are among the least donated items. They argued that restricted access in shelters and prisons means that products can be used as bargaining chips and tools of control for people in vulnerable circumstances.

Last week, sponsor Sen. Pat Jehlen, D-Somerville, told Beacon Hill Roll Call, “I refiled the bill and am hopeful for its passage.”

HIV prevention drugs (S 2480)

On Oct. 26, 2023, the Senate, 38-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that would allow pharmacists to prescribe, dispense and administer a short-term supply (60 days once in a two-year period) of HIV prevention drugs, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), to a patient without a prescription. The House took no action on the bill and it died.

The bill requires pharmacists to provide counseling to the patient regarding the use of PrEP, to inform the patient’s primary care doctor that the pharmacist has prescribed the drug, to connect patients without a primary care provider with a health care provider for ongoing care and to obtain a prescription for PrEP.

Under the bill, pharmacists could only prescribe PrEP to patients who have tested negative for HIV within the past seven days, do not have HIV symptoms and are not taking medications that are unsafe to use with PrEP.

Supporters said PrEP is a lifesaving medication that is 100% effective in stopping the transmission of HIV. They note that under current law, individuals who take PrEP must make an appointment and go through their doctor, a barrier that can stand in the way for people who need the medication on short notice, cannot make an appointment or cannot access medical care.

Last week, sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro, did not respond to Beacon Hill Roll Call’s requests for comment on the bill dying in the House and whether he has refiled it.

Also up on Beacon Hill Local options including tax hikes for municipalities

Gov. Maura Healey filed legislation, dubbed the Municipal Empowerment Act, that would allow cities and towns to increase local taxes on meals, lodging and vehicle registration; permanently authorize municipalities to permit hybrid public meetings; change state procurement laws; and create enforcement mechanisms to push utility companies to more promptly remove double poles.

The tax hike provisions include giving local cities and towns the option to increase the maximum local option lodging tax on hotel, motel and other rentals from 6% to 7% in most communities, and 6.5% to 7.5% for Boston; increase the local meals tax ceiling from 0.75% to 1%; and add a new local option surcharge of up to 5% on motor vehicle excise bills that can be dedicated to local stabilization funds.

“Every Massachusetts resident deserves to live in a community with high-quality local services, from safe roadways to access to good jobs and schools,” Healey said. “Our administration knows that city and town officials know their communities the best, and that’s why we want to empower them with the tools to make the choices they need to provide the best local services that meet the unique needs of their communities.”

“At a time when Massachusetts is already struggling with affordability and large-scale out-migration of people and wealth, the last thing we need is another round of tax hikes,” said Paul Craney, executive director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. “These proposals will make it even more expensive to live, work and do business here, pushing more families and employers to states with lower taxes and fewer regulations.”

$712,500 for well-being of first responders

The Healey-Driscoll administration announced the awarding of $712,500 to support the well-being of first responders. The grants are designed to ensure that services are available to members of law enforcement and other emergency responders in the aftermath of a traumatic incident in the line of duty.

“When police officers encounter life-threatening dangers as they work to protect communities, we have a duty to ensure they have access to services and supports as they cope with the trauma they’ve experienced,” Healey said. “These grants help ensure that first responders across Massachusetts can access these critical — and often lifesaving — resources.

“These grants are an investment in the well-being of law enforcement officers and other first responders,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. “The funding allows us to support critical incident stress management services that will ensure those who protect our communities have access to the vital services they’re entitled to.”

$6 million for providing prisoners with tech skills

Tech Goes Home (TGH) and Ameelio, two nonprofits dedicated to closing the digital divide, announced the receipt of a $6 million grant with more than $4 million earmarked to bring digital skills courses to more than 3,600 adults and youth housed in county jails and Department of Youth Services facilities.

Most prisons have limited and outdated technology, making it difficult for individuals to acclimate to the rapidly advancing digital world upon release.

“We’re incredibly proud that this new partnership, made possible through critical funding provided by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, will make it possible for us to provide incarcerated young people and adults in the commonwealth with digital skills training and tools that will expand access to workforce, community engagement and education opportunities,” said Dan Noyes, CEO of Tech Goes Home. “This grant is a big step forward for digital equity and justice in Massachusetts.”

April Feng, CEO of Ameelio said, “This grant will enable us to extend our reach and provide critical digital literacy resources to Massachusetts’ incarcerated individuals, enabling them to develop skills that will allow them to reintegrate into society as responsible and contributing members. This is a significant step toward our mission: building a more rehabilitative and humane justice system.”

Unclaimed Property Day

State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg announced that Feb. 1 is Unclaimed Property Day. She urges all residents to go to findmassmoney.gov or call 888-344-MASS (6277) to see if they can claim any of the $3.4 billion the state is holding in unclaimed money.

Unclaimed property includes forgotten savings and checking accounts, uncashed checks, insurance policy proceeds, stocks, dividends and the contents of unattended safe deposit boxes. Most accounts are considered abandoned and are turned over to the state after three years of inactivity. There is no time limit for a person to recover their property and, in many cases, claimants will receive interest.

In 2024, the treasury processed more than 131,000 claims and returned $191 million in property to its rightful owners.

“Take a minute to check for your name or a family member, a friend, and even a business that might be listed,” Goldberg said. “Our team is ready, willing and able to walk you through the process and reunite you with your property.”

$325,000 to restore critical wildlife habitat

The Healey-Driscoll administration announced $325,000 in grants to restore roughly 520 acres of wildlife habitat across the state. The Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Fisheries and Wildlife is awarding grants to several organizations through the Habitat Management Grant Program, which provides financial assistance to private and municipal owners of conserved lands to improve habitat for wildlife, steward biodiversity, enhance climate resiliency and promote public recreational opportunities.

“Partnership and collaboration are essential for meeting our ambitious biodiversity and climate goals,” said Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “Most forests and other wildlife habitats in Massachusetts are not state-owned, and we rely on conservation organizations, cities and towns, private landowners and other partners to greatly expand our impact. This program provides us with the unique opportunity to improve habitat for at-risk wildlife while also bolstering outdoor recreation opportunities for all.”