Beacon Hill News

State Senate School ‘Bell-to-Bell’ Cellphone Bill Leaves Key Details to Local Districts

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Chris Lisinski

The Senate is gearing up for the next step in a growing debate over the benefits or harms that come with cellphones in K-12 classrooms.

Senators on the Education Committee Tuesday advanced legislation that would largely prohibit cellphones in public schools from the first bell of the day to the last, with carveouts for certain groups or activities that could soften the policy. Committee co-chair Sen. Jason Lewis expects the full Senate to take up the bill, which already has the support of Senate President Karen E. Spilka, by the end of the month. If the measure finds support from the House and Gov. Maura T. Healey, Massachusetts would join roughly half of the states that have already cracked down on phones in classrooms.

“We just have reached the point where we have really compelling evidence that use of cellphones by young people causes a number of harms for them in terms of their ability to learn, their ability to collaborate and communicate with their peers, [and the impact] on their mental health,” Lewis said in an interview. “We think that’s particularly true when the devices are used while students are actually in school.”

All six senators on the Education Committee—Lewis, Patricia Jehlen of Somerville, Sal DiDomenico of Everett, Robyn Kennedy of Worcester, Pavel M. Payano of Lawrence, and Patrick O’Connor of Weymouth, the lone Republican—voted in favor of advancing the bill, according to an aide. Many Massachusetts districts have already acted to put new limits around devices including cellphones, according to Lewis.

Beacon Hill News

White House Holds Up $108M for Local After School Programs, Absenteeism Help, Other Ed Money

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Michael P. Norton

State officials said Monday that $108 million in federal education grants that were expected to arrive July 1 are now instead under review “to make sure they align with President Trump’s priorities.”

Gov. Maura Healey’s administration said local school districts were counting on the funding for summer and after-school programs, behavioral and mental health supports, bullying prevention and intervention, reducing chronic absenteeism and buying materials and supplies for classrooms.

“Every day that goes by without this education funding hurts children, educators, communities and our economy,” Healey said in a statement. “Without this funding, districts are going to be forced to lay off staff, delay or cancel programs and services, and disrupt learning. Our schools were promised this funding, and the Trump Administration needs to deliver it.”

The U.S. Department of Education notified states on June 30 that certain programs would not be issuing grant award notifications on July 1, Healey’s office said. The administration added that the department “also communicated that they are withholding funds for the Integrated English Language and Civics Education programs, as well as the Adult Basic Education Grants to States program.”

“Congress appropriated these funds, and they need to be issued to states,” Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler said. “Intentionally withholding this funding is going to have detrimental impacts on every state and all communities, especially for some of our most vulnerable students.”

ABC News on July 2 reported that the Trump administration had “paused” more than $6 billion in education funding, writing that funding decisions concerning this academic year have “not yet been made.”

In statements released by the governor’s office, House Speaker Ron Mariano called the Trump administration actions “reckless and mean-spirited” and Senate President Karen Spilka said Trump “must respect the separation of powers and Congress’s Constitutional authority to appropriate funding.”

“I urge him to release these funds immediately—and I urge Congress to stop ceding their power to this President,” Spilka said.

Beacon Hill News

Healey Makes Vetoes, Delays Local Projects to Ready State Budget for Federal Financial Rollbacks

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Some local projects and programs dependent on earmarks inserted into the state budget by area legislators may have to wait after Gov. Maura T. Healey Friday vetoed $130 million before signing a $60.9 billion spending plan. It was not immediately clear which, or whether all, pet projects added to the original House-and Senate-approved budget were cut. A release from the governor simply said the administration is “delaying payment on earmarked funds for local projects in the budget totaling approximately $125 million until later in the year when more is understood about their affordability.”

“We are also signing this budget in a moment of great dysfunction in Washington. The president is poised to sign a bill that’s going to kick hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents off their health care, increase energy and groceries prices and cost people their jobs,” Healey said in a Friday release. State Reps.

Beacon Hill News

New $61 Billion State Budget Earmarks $650,000 for Local Orgs, Restores Fed Food Cuts, More

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Haverhill’s legislative delegation says the state’s pending $61 billion budget replaces lost federal food aid and sets aside $650,000 for several familiar nonprofits in addition to paying for some city projects and backing increases in public school aid. In a joint release, state Reps. Andy X. Vargas and Ryan M. Hamilton and Sens. Pavel M. Payano and Barry R. Finegold said the spending plan put before Gov. Maura T. Healey gives $500,000 to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank to support food distribution across Essex County. They said it helps restore more than 400,000 meals lost to federal cuts.

Beacon Hill News

Massachusetts Senate Adjourns Session in Memory of Late Firefighter Deschenes

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The Massachusetts Senate adjourned its session Wednesday in memory of 54-year-old North Andover Firefighter Jeffrey Deschenes. Senators approved the motion for memorial adjournment offered by Sens. Barry R. Finegold of Andover, Pavel M. Payano of Lawrence, Bruce E. Tarr of Gloucester, Sal N. DiDomenico of Everett and John F. Keenan of Quincy. Deschenes died unexpectedly May 29 after a medical emergency at his home.

Beacon Hill News

Healey Signs Public Employee Health Insurance Bill as System Nearly Runs Out of Money

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Editor’s note: Haverhill city employees are among those that rely on the state Group Insurance Commission for health insurance coverage. The prospect of the system running out of money alarmed employees who contacted WHAV. By Colin A. Young, State House News Service

Gov. Maura Healey gets 10 days to act on legislation that reaches her desk, but she used no more than four hours of that time to sign the Group Insurance Commission financing bill sent to her Thursday afternoon. Healey’s office said around 4:15 p.m. that she signed the bill, appropriating $240 million to cover claims for the rest of the fiscal year at the GIC, which oversees health insurance for 460,000 public employees. The House passed the bill Monday, the Senate followed suit Thursday and the two branches coordinated to get it to Healey’s desk shortly after noon Thursday.

Beacon Hill News

Buyers Brokers Only Supports Rules to Ensure Homebuyers May Have Home Inspections

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Haverhill-based Buyers Brokers Only this week reiterated its support for proposed state regulations that would make it illegal for home sellers to require or encourage buyers to waive a home inspection as a condition of purchasing a property. Richard J. Rosa, co-founder of Buyers Brokers Only, called the problem an affordability issue, especially for first-time homebuyers. “They save for a down payment, they save for closing costs, but it’s just still a bridge too far when you then feel pressured to waive a home inspection not knowing what costs you’re not going to know about,” he explained. Buyers Brokers Only emphasized that while the regulation protects a buyer’s right to inspect a home, it does not obligate sellers to make repairs or concessions following the inspection. The proposed regulation from the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities stems from legislation passed in August 2024 as part of a housing bond bill.

Beacon Hill News

UTEC Asks Legislators to Support Mattress Recycling, Jobs in Bill Filed by Vargas, Kennedy

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UTEC, a nonprofit operating in Haverhill, Lawrence and Lowell, and one of three organizations selected by the state Department of Environmental Protection as an approved mattress recycler, sent representatives to testify Wednesday in favor of an act to promote the future success of mattress recycling in the state. The bill, filed by Lowell Sen. Edward Kennedy and Haverhill Rep. Andy X. Vargas, creates a state commission to assess and improve the state’s mattress disposal practices, supports recycling partnerships with nonprofits and social enterprises that provide employment for returning citizens and individuals facing high barriers to employment and covers costs through a mattress recycling fee. Jamie Vazquez told legislators the Mattress Recycling Social Enterprise at UTEC has had a “huge impact” on his life. “My journey with them actually started while I was still incarcerated. After coming home, I did everything I could to find a job.