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Today on Beacon Hill

9:30am Committee for a Democratic Senate Fundraiser featuring Senate President Karen Spilka

10:00am Governor's Council Assembly, Governor's Council Chamber, Room 360, State House

11:00am Senate Session, Full Formal Session

11:00am "Ask the Governor" with Governor Maura Healey on GBH's Boston Public Radio, 89.7 FM or gbhnews.org

12:00pm House Session, Full Formal Session

Last day for formal sessions of the 2023-2024 legislative cycle

Must-Reads
MASSACHUSETTS

Disagreeable Dems Push Talks Into Final Formal » State House News Service

4 major policy changes in the new Mass. state budget, from child care to free community college » WBUR

Eng says MBTA becoming more and more reliable » Commonwealth Beacon

‘Incredibly overdue’: Mass. Senate passes updated parentage law that would expand protections for LGBTQ parents » Boston Globe

Amid migrant influx, cost of running Mass. emergency shelter system surpasses $1 billion » Boston Globe

For years, wealthy Martha’s Vineyard property owners have fought over a beach. Now, lawmakers are stepping into the fray. » Boston Globe

It’s official: MCI-Concord is closed for good with state budget signing » The Concord Bridge

Who Is Josh Kraft? » Boston Magazine

Beacon Hill feud breaks out over timing of Boston tax bill, safe injection sites » Boston Herald

Lottery Posts Record Revenue, Near-Record Profit » State House News Service

NATIONAL

JD Vance In 2021: 'We Have To Go To War' Against The Idea That Women Don't Have To Have Kids » Yahoo News

Lara Trump Compares Harris to a Fashion Designer’s Faux ‘Trash Bag’ » New York Times

Kari Lake wins Arizona Senate primary, teeing up showdown with Gallego » The Hill

With Harris, Georgia Democrats Say They See a ‘Fighting Chance’ » New York Times

‘You’re a fool’: Trump ramps up attacks on Jewish Democrats » Politico

How Kamala Harris Fought to Keep Nonviolent Prisoners Locked Up » The American Prospect

Behind the Curtain: The battle for Trump power » Axios

Tech industry sues Texas to overturn youth data privacy law » Pluribus News

"There’s no singular bombshell (like the nearly forgotten 62F tax-cap law that scrambled plans for tax relief at the end of last session) threatening to hold up major pieces of legislation this time. But each chamber’s competing priorities could cramp negotiations, especially given the handful of bills introduced in the last two days that were only taken up by one chamber. That’s on top of the nine bills currently in closed-door conference talks. And more could be added to the list after the Senate passed its versions of maternal health, LGBTQ+ parentage and drug treatment bills on Tuesday — roughly double the number of bills that sat in conference committee this time two years ago."

Kelly Garrity, Politico

Don’t count on an early night on Beacon Hill. Tensions between top Democrats are riding high as the final day of formal lawmaking for the session dawns. And it could result in some last-minute bills failing to make it across the midnight finish line.

News By Category
Beltway Politics

A speaking invitation to Donald Trump splits the most prominent American group for Black journalists » Boston Globe

Larson: Inflation Reduction Act hurts middle America » Boston Herald

Editorial: Progressives air wish list for Kamala Harris’s VP » Boston Herald

Business

At 25, Mass MoCA has secured its place in contemporary art. But has it lifted up North Adams? » Boston Globe

Judge grants new trial in Pegasystems-Appian $2B dispute » Boston Business Journal

Four years after closing its doors, Great Scott returns in a new location » Boston Business Journal

‘You can’t find this on Amazon’: In Roxbury, development threatens business hub for African immigrants » Boston Globe

Hundreds attend funeral for Jack Connors at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Chestnut Hill to honor his life and legacy » Boston Globe

Robotics company Symbotic sees stock plunge » Boston Globe

Springfield business weighs-in on online lottery legalization » Western Mass News

Cannabis & Psychedelics

Cannabis commission governance headed for legislative review » Commonwealth Beacon

Legislators Kick CCC Decisions Down The Road » State House News Service

Democracy

Opinion: Don’t just protect democracy. Complete it. » Boston Globe

Education

Following ‘mock slave trade,’ AG Campbell issues action plan for Southwick schools » Boston.com

Norton school budget woes eased somewhat » The Sun Chronicle

How free is ‘free’? Answers about new Mass. community college program » MassLive

Environment

Energy Lobby Urges Lawmakers To Salvage Siting Reforms » State House News Service

Federal

Editorial: Secret Service needs to focus on its core mission: protecting top officials » Boston Globe

Gaming

Jackpot: Mass. Lottery logged record revenue, prize money last year » MassLive

Here is what you need to know after Massachusetts online lottery and free community college signed by Governor Maura Healey » Fall River Reporter

Massachusetts authorises online lottery sales » Focus Gaming News

Online lottery charges toward legalization with some safety tweaks » CommonWealth Beacon

Health Care

Steward Health closing Nashoba Valley Medical Center puts "profit above people," lawmaker says » CBS News

Creditors Balk At Terms Of State's $30 Mil Steward Commitment » State House News Service

‘Daily tragedies’ at Massachusetts mental health hospital require immediate action, new report shows »

‘Callous, corporate greed’: Officials call out Steward Health Care after announced hospital closures » Lowell Sun

As Steward accelerates closure of its hospitals, tight-knit Nashoba Valley community fears the worst » Boston Globe

'Forgetting people like me': Patients of Nashoba Hospital fearful over Steward Health Care shut down » Worcester Telegram

Trahan calls for fed probe of Steward finances » The Eagle Tribune

Lawmakers, nurses to push back against Steward Health Care hospital closure in Ayer » NBC Boston

Protestors fight to keep 2 Steward hospitals open amid hearing to expedite closures » Fox 25 News

Housing

What the state's new 5-day shelter stay limit means for those seeking housing and providers » WBUR

Governor signs ban on home equity theft » The Recorder

Boston’s office-to-apartment makeover initiative hits a wall » Boston Globe

Marshall: It takes a community to help homeless seniors » Boston Herald

Fiscal 2025 state budget includes ban on home equity theft » Gazette Net

Western Mass. housing advocates protest state's new limits on shelter stays » NHPR

Human Services

Operation HOPE aims to eradicate veteran homelessness » The Somerville Times

Immigration

Migrant shelter costs expected to exceed $1B for the next several years, state predicts » Boston Herald

Opinion: ‘Czar’ or not, Kamala Harris bungled immigration » Boston Globe

Judiciary

How much money has Somerset spent trying to collect $3.5M fine from Brayton Point? » The Herald News

Hearing held at WNEU for Hampshire County’s Deepika Shukla, associate justice nominee for Mass. Superior Court » WAMC

Land Taking

For years, wealthy Martha’s Vineyard property owners have fought over a beach. Now, lawmakers are stepping into the fray. » Boston Globe

Legislative

Spilka Turns Mariano's Words Back On Speaker » State House News Service

Beacon Hill feud breaks out over timing of Boston tax bill, safe injection sites » Boston Herald

Spilka throws Mariano’s own words back at him » Commonwealth Beacon

NRA says it’s suing over new Mass. gun law targeting ‘ghost guns’ » Boston.com

Massachusetts lawmakers need to tackle housing, economy bills in last session » Axios

MA Senate Unanimously Passes Parentage Act » glad.org

Mass. lawmakers reach final day of session — with a lot on the to-do list » WBUR

It’s crunch time on Beacon Hill. Here are 3 big things to watch » MassLive

Hours remain before formal lawmaking ends on Beacon Hill. Here’s what’s in play » Boston Herald

Local Government

A Lenox School Committee member has resigned, citing ‘verbal bullying’ and ‘personal attacks’ by another member » Berkshire Eagle

Retirement age extension for head of Springfield, Mass. police clears legislature, heads to Healey for signature » WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Politics

Mail-in ballots bombshell » Lowell Sun

For girls in the Pittsfield-based group ROPE, meeting Vice President Kamala Harris was a memory of a lifetime » Berkshire Eagle

Fight to the finish line » Politico

Deval Patrick: Democrats should focus on future, not just Trump » WBUR

Howie Carr: What’s in a name? $174,532 court clerk job is » Boston Herald

Dem Senators Will Find Time to Fundraise on Final Day » State House News Service

Public Health

MA Senate passes ban on PFAS in firefighter turnout gear. Will House act? » Worcester Telegram

Senate Vote Sets Up Tricky Talks On Opioid Bills » State House News Service

Mass. lawmakers could approve overdose prevention centers after last-minute amendment » Boston.com

Public Safety

NRA challenges Massachusetts firearms law, claims it restricts freedom » Berkshire Eagle

NRA takes aim at new Massachusetts gun law, promises 'challenge' » WCVB

Massachusetts leaders brace for NRA challenge to gun law: "Bring it on" » Axios

‘Daily tragedies’ at Bridgewater State Hospital require immediate action, new report shows » Boston Herald

State lawmakers defend gun bill against NRA challenge at bill signing ceremony » News 22 WWLP.com

Massachusetts gave $3 million in grants to outfit police with body cams. Here's where. » Worcester Telegram

Massachusetts Democrats want gun law opponents threatening lawsuit to ‘bring it on’ » Boston Herald

Dial 911 in Cambridge? Now social workers, rather than police, are responding to some calls. » Boston Globe

Reproductive Rights

Local leaders, reproductive rights advocates speak out against abortion bans » news3lv

State Finance

Rep. Gordon Joins Legislature to Pass Fiscal Year 2025 Budget » The Bedford Citizen

State Government

The lottery’s going online. Here’s what to know. » Boston.com

Senate passes bill to phase out PFAS in firefighting protective gear » Mass PIRG

Taxation

After Wu Agrees To Changes, House Plans Vote on Boston Tax Bill » State House News Service

Boston mayor’s commercial tax rate plan clears the House, but hits a wall in the Senate » Boston Herald

Boston mayor’s commercial tax rate plan clears the House, but hits a wall in the Senate » The Lawton Constitution

In big win for Wu, Mass. House approves property tax home rule petition after agreeing to compromise » Boston Globe

Boston property tax shift bill passes House with one day left in session » MassLive

Transportation

Slow zones are disappearing from the T, but longest subway shutdown still looms » Boston Globe

City getting $3.5M for South Coast Rail land » New Bedford Light

The Mass. State House Has One More Day to Pass Bus Lane Enforcement Legislation » Streets Blog

MBTA agrees to pay New Bedford $3m more for land »

New Bedford settles lawsuit with MBTA over land-takings » WPRI.com

Utilities

As VP Harris’ hubby stumps on Nantucket, residents fight for answers on Vineyard Wind » Boston Herald


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