Beacon Hill News

Rep. Vargas Reports ‘Robust’ Talks on Immigration Bill That Would Limit Helping Feds

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Black and Latino Caucus Sees State Role In ‘Maintaining Trust In Our Communities’
By Katie Castellani

As federal immigration enforcement activities disrupt cities and towns across the nation, members of the Legislature’s Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, led by Haverhill Rep. Andy X. Vargas, unveiled legislation aimed at boosting protections for immigrant communities in Massachusetts. The caucus announced it filed a bill known as the “PROTECT Act”—an Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment. It is sponsored by Reps. Vargas of Haverhill and Judith Garcia of Chelsea and offers safeguards for court proceedings, aims to ensure consistent due process and empowers the state attorney general with enforcement authority. The legislation is the culmination of almost a year of work by the caucus, including its Immigration Task Force established in August 2025, as well as engaging with stakeholders and immigrant families, Vargas said.

Beacon Hill News

Healey, Trahan Urge Noem to Resign Over ‘Lies,’ Moulton Calls ICE Killing ‘Gestapo-Type Stuff’

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By Sam Drysdale and WHAV Staff

Gov. Maura Healey demanded Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem resign on Monday, following outrage that erupted around the nation this weekend after federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, was killed Saturday during an encounter with federal immigration agents amid a surge of Immigration Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol activity in Minnesota. He was the second U.S. citizen fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis this month; Renee Nicole Good was killed earlier during a separate encounter. Despite rhetoric by Noem and White House adviser Stephen Miller, Massachusetts officials said video footage shows Pretti holding a cellphone, not a gun, in his hand. They also said Pretti had already been disarmed and was laying on the ground when he was shot.

Beacon Hill News

State of the Commonwealth: Healey Plans To Cut Winter Electric, Natural Gas Bills

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By Sam Drysdale

Gov. Maura Healey plans to announce tonight the state will spend $180 million as part of a bid to temporarily reduce residential electric and gas bills this winter. Under the plan, electric bills would be reduced by 25% and natural gas bills by 10% for “every Massachusetts residential utility customer” in February and March 2026, with the state covering the cost of some of the reductions. The proposal, unveiled by the governor’s office early today ahead of Healey’s State of the Commonwealth address, comes as energy affordability has become a central policy and political issue on Beacon Hill and is shaping early debate around the 2026 gubernatorial race. “I called on the utilities to lower bills this winter, and now relief is on the way,” Healey said in remarks released by her office. Some of the relief is truly temporary, and it only applies to residential customers of National Grid, Eversource, Unitil, Liberty Gas and Berkshire Gas.

Beacon Hill News

Audit Law ‘Standoff’ Flares Up With Complaints, Allegations; DiZoglio Accuses AG of Part of a ‘Cover Up’

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By Ella Adams

Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell again suggested Tuesday the future of the legislative audit law is in the hands of Auditor Diana DiZoglio, who in turn accused Campbell of “public corruption,” continuing a saga that has metamorphosed since more than 70% of voters cast ballots in favor of the review more than a year ago. “I hope the voters get exactly what they voted for,” Campbell said when asked on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” whether voters would “get what they voted for” should the audit back-and-forth continue between her and DiZoglio. “I hope the auditor stops the standoff,” Campbell added. A majority of voters passed the DiZoglio-backed law enabling her office to audit the Legislature in November 2024. Top Beacon Hill Democrats have pointed to concerns about the constitutional validity of the law ever since, and Campbell and DiZoglio have gone back-and-forth during respective media appearances about each others’ roles in the process.

Beacon Hill News

Sen. Payano Calls Bill Shifting Credit Card Fees to Shoppers ‘A Practical Path Forward’

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By Katie Castellani

Consumers could pay more when they use their credit cards after state senators last week advanced a bill to allow businesses to pass along those processing costs. Sen. Pavel M. Payano, co-chair of the Committee on Consumer Protection, said the bill offers “a practical path forward.”

“One that supports our small businesses while making sure consumers are clearly and proactively informed about surcharges,” he said in a statement to State House News Service. Senators drafted the bill that would allow sellers to charge customers paying with a credit card a fee that is no greater than the seller’s cost to process the payment. If the bill passes, Massachusetts would join most states with laws allowing businesses to charge credit card surcharge fees. Five senators voted to advance the bill and Sen. Kelly Dooner didn’t vote “yes” or “no.”

The bill, which draws from three proposals, also requires sellers to notify customers of the credit card surcharge for in-person, online purchases and transactions made over the phone.

Beacon Hill News

State Health Insurance Signups Slightly Outpace Those Who Dropped Coverage

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By Alison Kuznitz

The number of Massachusetts residents who dropped insurance accessed through the state Health Connector was roughly balanced out by those who signed up for plans through the state exchange. Nearly 23,000 Bay Staters terminated their coverage so far this open enrollment cycle, while 23,596 people newly signed up for plans through the Connector, said spokesperson Jason Lefferts. The volume of residents who chose not to renew for 2026 is more than double the decline that the Health Connector recorded at this point last cycle, when 11,300 people dropped their coverage, Lefferts said. It is unclear where those members may have alternatively sought insurance, though Executive Director Audrey Morse Gasteier has warned people may be tempted by junk coverage. The number of new enrollees is about 2,000 fewer than at this point last year, according to the Connector’s open enrollment dashboard.

Beacon Hill News

Mass. Flu Levels ‘Very High,’ 35% Have Received Flu Shots

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By Alison Kuznitz

The state’s top public health official is urging Bay Staters to get their flu shot as an influenza strain causes huge case spikes across the globe. “We’re concerned about this new variant that is circulating,” Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said on WCVB’s “On the Record” show Sunday. “We saw it circulating in Europe and Japan and other parts of the world, and it’s here in Massachusetts,” Goldstein continued. “The thing that people should know is that it’s not too late to get vaccinated. Getting vaccinated protects you from severe disease, from ending up in the hospital, from death from flu.”

Subclade K, a mutated strain of the influenza A virus, is driving widespread cases across Europe.

Beacon Hill News

Healey Explores Options to Cover Residents Losing Health Insurance

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By Alison Kuznitz

As thousands of residents drop coverage or hunt for higher-priced plans through the Massachusetts Health Connector, Gov. Maura Healey said Tuesday officials are exploring how to connect residents with other insurance options. “We’ve seen premiums expected to increase two or three times,” Healey said on GBH News’ Boston Public Radio. “Now the good news—and I hope to be out with more word on this soon—we’re working to see how we can come up with ways to cover people.”

Tuesday marked the Health Connector’s deadline for Bay Staters to sign up for plans that start on Jan. 1. It’s been a tumultuous open enrollment cycle, with more than 10,000 people already dropping coverage as they grapple with sticker shock from premium spikes.