Beacon Hill News

MassHealth Outreach Campaign Money to Go to MBTA, Not Local News Outlets

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When. Gov. Maura Healey came to Haverhill last month with her “Keep Your Coverage” campaign, officials said there would be a messaging campaign aimed at reaching MassHealth-eligible residents who risk losing health insurance. As of now, though, residents in Haverhill, Methuen and Lawrence—three Gateway communities with vulnerable populations—won’t get the state’s paid messages about paperwork help and resources from any local news outlet. The nonprofit charged with carrying out the campaign told WHAV Wednesday, the money will instead go to the MBTA, which operates commuter rail locally. “There are no radio advertising buys as part of this campaign.

Beacon Hill News

Lawmakers Move To Honor Dolly Parton with ‘9 to 5 Day’

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By Ella Adams

Massachusetts lawmakers are seeking to designate Sept. 25 as “9 to 5 Day” in honor of American icon Dolly Parton under a bill filed Thursday by Provincetown Sen. Julian Cyr and Boston Rep. Sam Montaño. Parton, a country music legend and philanthropist, died Aug. 25 at the age of 80 in Nashville, Tenn. The lawmakers said the bill follows the lead of counterparts in Tennessee who recently introduced a bill to designate Sept.

Beacon Hill News

Payano Amendment Would Allow Charities to Hold Wine Auctions, Sell Drinks at Events

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The state House of Representatives this past Monday went along with an amendment offered by Sen. Pavel M. Payano that would allow charities to hold wine auctions and sell alcoholic beverages to be consumed at events. Payano, representing Haverhill, Methuen and Lawrence and chairman of the Senate Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, authored the rewrite the House agreed to adopt. The bill, which still requires formal House and Senate votes and agreement by the governor, would allow local licensing boards to grant temporary licenses to nonprofit charitable corporations or joint applicants, as long the charity benefits from sales. Further, those granted such temporary licenses would also be permitted to accept donations of alcoholic beverages by an individual, a person licensed to manufacture alcoholic beverages or a person licensed to sell alcoholic beverages wholesale or retail. Temporary licenses would be valid for not more than 20 total days in a calendar year and on non-consecutive days during each period.

Beacon Hill News

Don’t Mail It Now, Galvin Tells Voters as Primary Turnout Climbs

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Secretary Projects Roughly 800,000 Democratic and 280,000 Republican Ballots
By Sam Drysdale

Massachusetts will see higher turnout in next Tuesday’s primary elections than it did in 2022, Secretary of State William Galvin predicted Thursday while urging voters who have not yet returned their mail-in ballots to avoid putting them in the mail and instead vote in person or use a drop box. Speaking at a press conference in the State Library, Galvin said 2026 turnout is difficult to project because voting habits have changed significantly since the last midterm primary. More voters now favor voting by mail or early and in person, he said, making comparisons with 2022 less precise. Still, early numbers point upward. As of Thursday morning, the state received about 364,000 Democratic ballots through early in-person voting and vote by mail, along with about 73,000 Republican ballots, Galvin’s office said.

Beacon Hill News

Legislature Votes to Allow Duffy to Take Firefighter Exam for Haverhill

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Sean Duffy of Haverhill is expected to be allowed to take the state civil service examination for firefighter despite being older than the maximum age to take the test. The city’s home rule petition was approved by the state House of Representatives last March and by the Senate this past Monday is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Maura Healey. As WHAV reported last Sept. 16, the Haverhill City Council, with the support of Mayor Melinda E. Barrett, approved the city’s home rule petition as Duffy was four years older at the time than the 32-year-old maximum age. The Haverhill Fire Department has been in the midst of an historic hiring surge that began in the fall of 2023 with receipt of a $4.1 million federal grant to add 16 positions to fill a second ladder truck and the need to replace retiring firefighters.

Beacon Hill News

Cheers Drown Out Healey as She Signs Immigrant Protection Bill

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Governor Says Massachusetts is ‘Standing Up for What’s Right’ As Republicans Argue It Undermines Cooperation with Federal Authorities
By Katie Castellani

It was hard to tell whether Gov. Maura Healey hosted a party or bill signing ceremony when she signed legislation Wednesday that the governor and lawmakers say provides the strongest immigrant protections in the country. The new law, known as the PROTECT Act, arose as a top priority for lawmakers and the governor amid intensified immigration law enforcement efforts led by President Donald Trump. The law expands protections against warrantless civil immigration arrests at courthouses as well as public schools, childcare centers and healthcare facilities. “I think we can agree that we need immigration reform in this country. We can agree we need controls at the border.

Beacon Hill News

Immigrant Protection Accord Includes State, Local Enforcement Rules

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Lunn Decision Codified in Agreement Designed to Keep ICE Away from Newly Designated ‘Sensitive Places’
By Sam Drysdale

Legislative negotiators this week unveiled a compromise on the closely watched bill that would broaden protections against federal immigration enforcement, while preserving one key area of cooperation with federal authorities—the Department of Correction’s existing partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Rep. Andy X. Vargas said keeping the (Department of Corrections) agreement was consistent with the original proposal developed by the Black and Latino Caucus after hearing concerns from immigrant communities. “We heard feedback that, hey, they were coming to look for some guy that we knew committed a serious crime, but in looking for him, they picked up all these other people that just happened to be in the vicinity,” Vargas said. Asked why the existing corrections department agreement remains intact, Rep. Daniel Cahill said lawmakers thought it reduced the likelihood that ICE would conduct enforcement operations in neighborhoods while searching for people already facing deportation after serving felony sentences. The conference committee was tasked with reconciling differences between bills the House and Senate approved this spring.

Beacon Hill News

Auditor: Senate’s ‘Poison Pill’ Could Undermine Question 1 Public Record Reforms

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Auditor Blasts ‘Sole and Exclusive Remedy’ Language In Senate Bill
By Sam Drysdale

Auditor Diana DiZoglio says the Senate’s public records bill includes a “poison pill” designed to undercut November’s Question 1 before voters even cast their ballots. As senators prepare to vote Thursday on their version of a legislative public records bill, DiZoglio contends language declaring it the Legislature’s “sole and exclusive remedy” for obtaining records is intended to block any broader public records law approved by voters from ever applying to Beacon Hill. She called it an “unconstitutional” attempt to preempt the ballot initiative before Election Day, telling the News Service she would take it to court if necessary. “What stands out clearly is a poison pill the Senate is trying to pass along that makes it so any other law, including those passed at the ballot, wouldn’t be able to update their proposed changes,” DiZoglio said in an interview. The provision she points to says that “Notwithstanding…