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By CHRIS LISINSKI

BOSTON — The climate crisis is fueling a steady growth in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather, and Massachusetts cities and towns face an increasingly common conundrum trying to respond to those emergencies.Many of the disasters that have...

By ALEXA LEWIS

A leading veterans agent in the region says an expansive bill soon to become law designed to improve the lives of Massachusetts veterans is “monumental” for its expanded inclusion efforts, benefits, and health care provisions, but the measure fails to...

By Colin A. Young

After years of working to pass legislation that would give certain terminally ill patients the legal option to end their lives with a doctor’s prescription, state Sen. Jo Comerford is as optimistic as she’s ever been about the chances of a bill...

By ALEXA LEWIS

A statewide proliferation in recent years of intoxicating, illegal hemp-based products — gummies, energy shot-like drink bottles and seltzers, to name a few — has raised concern among state officials and the cannabis sector alike. While these...

By Bob Katzen

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.This week Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on some of the bills that were approved by the 2023-2024 Legislature through February 9, 2024 and signed into law by Gov. Maura...

By Sam Drysdale

BOSTON — This Earth Week, the Healey administration is revamping what it calls the state’s “flagship climate resilience program” by planning to help 30 cities and towns upgrade their climate resiliency plans through an equity lens.The Municipal...

By Bob Katzen

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House and Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call examines the salaries and other benefits received by local state representatives. $73,655 BASE SALARY FOR ALL 158 REPRESENTATIVES —...

By Bob Katzen

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on the only roll call from the week of March 27-31. There were no roll calls in the House last week. $350 MILLION FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES (S 2375) — Senate 40-0, approved a bill...

By Bob Katzen

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of March 20-24. $388.6 MILLION FISCAL 2023 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET (H 3548) House 153-0, Senate 39-0, approved and sent to Gov....

By Sydney Ko

Western Massachusetts will have ample representation on a new legislative committee focusing on agriculture.Sens. Ann Gobi, D-Spencer, and Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, were named Senate chair and co-chair of the new Agriculture Committee while Rep....

By Bob Katzen

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of Feb. 6-10, 2023. There were no roll calls in the House last week. ADOPT SENATE RULES (S 17): Senate 37-1, approved the set of rules by which the...

By Chris Lisinski

BOSTON — Around the country, state legislatures use their public websites to publish reams of written testimony submitted in support or opposition to proposals, name special interest groups and people who offer formal feedback, and identify how...

By Bob Katzen

With today’s edition, the Gazette begins coverage of the 2023-2024 Massachusetts legislative session with our weekly Beacon Hill Roll Call report. This feature is a compilation of the voting records of local state representatives and senators.THE...

By LILLIAN ILSLEY-GREENE

BOSTON — Massachusetts could become the first state in New England to ban non-consensual pelvic examinations on women under anesthesia as outlined in bills filed by state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and state Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst.Pelvic...