During the final hours of the legislative session, the Massachusetts House and Senate enacted, An Act promoting awareness of sewage pollution in public waters.
The bill now sits on Gov. Charles Baker’s desk, where he has 10 days after the bill’s enactment to sign it.
This is an important step in protecting public health, our state’s water quality, and upgrading outdated water infrastructure. H.4921, sponsored by Rep. Linda Dean Campbell (D-Methuen), Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville), and Rep. Denise Provost (D-Somerville), will require water suppliers to establish a public notification system to let Massachusetts residents know when there’s been a sewage discharge in their area. Up until now, residents had no way to know when sewage was present in their local waterways, running the risk of unknowingly coming in contact with harmful bacteria and toxins that could cause serious health impacts. Increasing awareness about archaic infrastructure is the first step in the long journe
December 18, 2020
A group of Massachusetts state lawmakers is calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to shut down indoor dining, casinos, and other “nonessential indoor activities” to limit the spread of COVID-19 amidst the second surge.
However, the five Democratic legislators also say that particularly in the absence of additional federal support any such move should be accompanied by a state-level relief package funded by both existing and new revenue.
“In this time of public health emergency, economic hardship, and profound wealth and income inequality, we have a moral obligation to consider new taxes on wealthy households and large corporations,” Cambridge Rep. Mike Connolly, Acton Rep. Tami Gouveia, Framingham Rep. Jack Lewis, Brockton Rep. Michelle DuBois, and Somerville Rep. Denise Provost wrote in their letter Thursday.
By Chris Lisinski, State House News Service
January 7, 2021
Chris Lisinski, State House News Service
New Speaker Ronald Mariano addressed his colleagues on Dec. 30 after being elected leader of the Massachusetts House. Sam Doran/SHNS photo
The Ronald Mariano era is here, and there will be no gently paced transition period in the Massachusetts House.
Mariano, a 74-year-old Quincy Democrat and longtime deputy to now-departed Speaker Robert DeLeo, ascended to the speakership on Dec. 30 with only six days remaining in the unusual 2020-2021 lawmaking session, against the backdrop of a still-raging pandemic, and with three conference committees still working to find compromise on major bills, one of whom is “very far apart,” according to the speaker.
Amidst Crisis, Newly-Elected Speaker Ronald Mariano Plunges Into Top Mass House Job nepm.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nepm.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The House Speaker Ronald Mariano era is here, and there will be no gently paced transition period.Mariano, a 74-year-old Quincy Democrat and longtime deputy to now-departed Speaker Robert DeLeo, took the reins of the House on Wednesday with only six.