11:00am House Session, Formal Session

11:00am Senate Session, Informal Session

11:45am House Session, Joint Session: Swearing in of Governor's Council

Birthdays: State Senator Bruce Tarr

Senate president hints at rules, policy changes at session’s dawn » Sentinel & Enterprise

Governor Maura Healey orders an 11 percent increase to lawmakers’ base salary, hiking top Democrats’ pay to $224,000 in 2025 » Boston Globe

Fiscal watchdog calls on Massachusetts lawmakers to accept an audit before they take a pay raise » Boston Herald

Mass. teachers want paid parental leave, an issue that has driven teachers to picket lines » Boston Globe

Campus no-confidence votes are a sign of widening divide between university executives and faculty members » Boston Globe

‘Very new’: Doctors are unionizing, from Mass General Brigham to Beth Israel. Here’s why. » Boston Globe

Top Beacon Hill Democrats blast local press for ‘persistent negative’ media narrative » Boston Herald

With New Term Dawning, Spilka Eyes K-12 Funding Reform, Primary Care Overhaul » State House News Service

$1M lawsuit: 'Humiliation' over firing led to New Bedford fire chief's breakdown, shooting » South Coast Today

Democratic-led states still grapple with housing migrants » Politico

Johnson allies warn that a speakership battle could delay Trump’s victory certification » CNN

Schumer backs Wikler for DNC chair » The Hill

How NOLA attack could impact Senate confirmation of Trump noms »

As Scott Brown Hints at ’26 Senate Race, NRSC Chief Puts NH on Pick Up List » NH Journal

Jim Justice to delay Senate swearing-in to avert knotty succession in West Virginia » Roll Call

Progressives face an existential crisis under Trump » The Hill

Protracted GOP speaker fight could complicate Electoral College count » Roll Call

Trump Falsely Suggested New Orleans Suspect Was an Immigrant » New York Times

Texas sues to impose bigotry on the rest of the country » Public Notice

Lucas: Carter, Kennedy antagonists on same side of aisle » Boston Herald

Trump tests Supreme Court power with TikTok intervention » Boston Globe

Boston’s startup economy is poised for growth in 2025 » Boston Globe

Data center industry watching for more state incentives in ‘25 » Pluribus News

As marijuana use grows, effect on road safety remains a blind spot » Boston Globe

Jewish communities in Mass. concerned as antisemitic hate crimes increase for third straight year » Boston Globe

Everything you need to know about MCAS heading into 2025 » MassLive

Mass. teachers want paid parental leave, an issue that has driven teachers to picket lines » Boston Globe

Lawrence petition could have impact on Southbridge schools exit from receivership » Worcester Telegram

When abandoned fishing nets, traps become 'ghost gear': 'No place in our environment' » Cape Cod Times

2024 in review: South Coast responds to changing climate with planning, restorations » The New Bedford Light

Last-minute health care bills make needed reforms » Boston Globe

No Action, But Healey Encouraged By Arrival Of Health Care Bills » State House News Service

Nurses licensed in 42 other states and jurisdictions will soon be eligible to practice in Mass. » Boston Globe

Editorial: Last-minute health care bills make needed reforms » Boston Globe

Mass. Gov. Healey reviewing bill aimed at averting future Steward-style hospital meltdowns » MassLive

Survey shows Amherst residents burdened by high costs of housing » Gazette Net

A second Pittsfield YMCA staffer is placed on leave pending a DCF investigation » Berkshire Eagle

Safety net weaver steps down: Over 44 years, ServiceNet CEO Sue Stubbs has overseen tremendous expansion of social supports » Gazette Net

Mass. Year in Review: Migrant crisis spills into another year » The Eagle Tribune

Allison Cartwright, victor of Boston’s hottest race, sworn in as $190K Suffolk SJC clerk » Boston Herald

Jabrill Peppers to Karen Read: 10 Mass. criminal cases to watch in 2025 » MassLive

194th General Court begins » News 22 WWLP.com

Fiscal watchdog calls on Massachusetts lawmakers to accept an audit before they take a pay raise » MSN

Mass. legislative leaders begin new session with promises to improve transparency, efficiency » Boston Globe

Bill on Healey's desk would hike fines for Boston code violations » Dorchester Reporter

Mariano Targets Changes to Legislative Calendar » State House News Service

Governor Maura Healey orders an 11 percent increase to lawmakers’ base salary, hiking top Democrats’ pay to $224,000 in 2025 » Boston Globe

Gov. Healey orders pay increases for Massachusetts lawmakers » Fox 25 News

In last gasp of session, Mass. Legislature sends Healey nearly 100 bills » Boston Globe

House and Joint Session Summary - Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 » State House News Service

Springfield City Council reelects president, selects new vice president in preliminary vote » MassLive

Northampton Neighbors helps bridge digital divide at Walter Salvo House » Gazette Net

How Springfield will use $21M in new federal grants » MassLive

The Year in Springfield, 2024 » Western Mass. Politics and Insight

Adams officials to lead effort for Greylock Glen Commission this year following explosive town meeting » Berkshire Eagle

Cost and compatibility questions remain for White Stadium proposal » Boston Globe

Roxbury lost its recreation center for a time. Now the challenge is to reconnect it to the community. » Boston Globe

Crocker Farm School’s Memory Pole project inspired by Indigenous peoples » Gazette Net

Map: What did the BPDA board approve in your neighborhood in 2024? » Boston Globe

Hudson Cultural Alliance continues Armory on the Assabet project » Community Advocate

House and Senate Kick Off 194th Session » iBerkshires

Here’s how much Mass. spent on mail-in voting this year » MSN

State report details mail-in voting costs » Newburyport News

House Speaker Ron Mariano lists legislative calendar reforms, Trump response as early priorities » Berkshire Eagle

Healey takes a different tack on Trump 2.0 » Politico

Senate Session Summary - Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 » State House News Service

Mike Kennealy, former cabinet secretary for Charlie Baker, ‘seriously considering’ running for governor in 2026 » Boston Herald

Rep. Brad Jones reelected House Republican leader after beating long-shot challenger » MSN

$12 million state initiative aims to help students pursue behavioral health careers » WBUR

Ex-Boston Police commish: ‘We can’t let the terrorists win’ with New Orleans attack » Boston Herald

Editorial: NoLa attack a security wake-up call for cities » Boston Herald

Lawmakers pass bill to allow school bus traffic cams in Massachusetts » WGBH

Unexpended Bond Funds to Help Pay for New Capital Projects » Revere Journal

Lions and taxes and parents, oh my! A look at what new Massachusetts laws take effect in 2025 and who they impact. » Boston Globe

Healey task force misses deadline for report on transportation funding » WGBH

Push from Peabody helps pass school bus camera bill » Salem News

Massachusetts shifts gears: New Mass Save plan targets rental units for green upgrades » Boston Globe

Eversource Starts Construction on Greater Cambridge Energy Program, Including Only Underground Substation of its Kind in the U.S. » Eversource

MTA statement on NAEP scores » Mass. Teachers Association

Pioneer Institute Study Compares MA Workforce Development System to Those in Peer States » Pioneer Institute

Public Service Unions File Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration Efforts to Politicize the Civil Service » American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

Neal Statement on Trump Administration Rescinding OMB Memo & Federal Judge Granting Restraining Order » Office of Congressman Richard Neal

Announces $19 Million for Statewide Digital Equity Efforts » Mass. Tech Collaborative

Urge Your Legislators to Take Climate Action » Environmental League of Mass.

The future of Offshore Wind is blowing in the wind » Mass Fiscal Alliance

State Ethics Commission Finds Auburn Water District Foreman Scott Callahan Violated Conflict of Interest Law » MA State Ethics Commission

MassDOT Launches Naloxone Pilot Program for Public Safety and Health » Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles

Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission Offers New Resources for Community Impact Fees, Host Community Agreements » Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission

Trump administration orders federal funding freeze on all public loans, grants and other aid » Providers' Council

Statement from the Boston Teachers Union on Trump’s Federal Grant Freeze » Boston Teachers Union

Governor Healey Appoints Lori Streeter as Interim Franklin County Sheriff » Office of Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll

AFSCME’s Saunders on the federal funding freeze: This is a blatant overreach straight from Project 2025 » American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

Statement on the Federal Funding Pause » MassBudget

Secretive, spending ways… » MassGOP

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Nearly $600,000 in Grants to Strengthen Watershed Protection and Public Water System Resilience » Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

AG Campbell Sues to Stop Trump Administration from Withholding Essential Federal Funding » Office of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $325K to Restore Critical Wildlife Habitat » MA Department of Fish and Game