Beacon Hill News

Finegold, Payano, Vargas Keep or Assume New Leadership Roles Following Session Reorg

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During the biennial session reorganization Wednesday of Massachusetts House and Senate committees, a number of area legislators either held their committee leadership seats or took on new roles. Among joint committees of both houses of the legislature, Sen. Barry R. Finegold returns as the Senate chair of Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, serving alongside Rep. Carole A. Fiola. Finegold helped shepherd a $4 billion economic development bill through the legislature last fall. Rep. Andy X. Vargas becomes the House chairperson of Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses and will serve with Senate Chairperson Adam Gomez. Sen. Pavel M. Payano formally held the Senate chair, but now moves on as chairperson of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

Beacon Hill News

Tarr and Jones Push State Migrant Shelter Changes in Filing and Letter to Healey

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Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr, of Gloucester, and House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones Jr., of North Reading, said Tuesday they are following through on two promises made last month to address safety and sustainability of the state’s migrant shelter system. They sent a letter to Gov. Maura T. Healey and filed legislation on behalf of the House and Senate Republican Caucus. “House and Senate Republicans are advocating for a multi-faceted approach to address the many problems plaguing the state’s emergency shelter system,” said Jones. “The reforms we are calling for are long overdue, and will help to enhance transparency, accountability, public safety and fiscal responsibility within the program.”

An Act relative to public safety, fiscal responsibility and emergency assistance was filed Jan. 17 in the Senate.

Beacon Hill News

Sen. Payano Leads Trade Mission to Dominican Republic Tuesday; Could Attract Physicians

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State Senators, led by area Sen. Pavel M. Payano and Sen. President Karen E. Spilka, plan to visit the Dominican Republic Tuesday as part of a four-day trade mission. The delegation, which also includes of other senators, “will focus on strengthening economic relationships, with planned meetings with industry and government leaders across various sectors to explore trade, investment, and workforce development opportunities,” Spilka’s office said in a release. Specifically, her office said, among areas of focus is the new licensure pathway for internationally trained doctors to practice in Massachusetts, which became law as part of last year’s economic development package. “The visit will also celebrate the deep cultural ties between the Commonwealth and its Dominican community, one of the largest and most vibrant immigrant groups in the state. The Senate’s visit will build on cultural connections and explore ways to deepen the partnership between Massachusetts and the Dominican Republic,” the release added.

Beacon Hill News

Sen. Finegold to Address Business Trade Group on $4 Billion Mass Leads Act

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Sen. Barry R. Finegold is taking part in a discussion today on the recent $4 billion economic development law he helped shepherd through the legislature. Finegold, chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, and Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao address members of NAIOP Massachusetts, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. The forum will be moderated by NAIOP CEO Tamara Small about what has become known as the Mass Leads Act. The legislation, signed into law Nov. 20, is focused on job creation, supporting business growth, expanding workforce development programs and supporting regional economic development initiatives.

Beacon Hill News

Auditor DiZoglio Says Senate Democrats are Breaking the Law with Audit Response

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By Alison Kuznitz

The group of Senate Democrats tasked with handling Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s quest to probe the legislature agreed Monday to meet with her office. While senators said they are looking for “prompt and constructive engagement,” DiZoglio said the response to her audit launch is the latest example of lawmakers “breaking the law.”

In a five-page letter responding to DiZoglio’s repeated outreach, subcommittee chair Sen. Cindy Friedman and Sens. Will Brownsberger, Jo Comerford and Paul Feeney proposed three possible times to meet on either Jan. 29 or Jan. 30.

Beacon Hill News

Haverhill’s State-Mandated MBTA Housing Plan Wins Approval—Allows Max of About 10,000 Units

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Just days after Massachusetts’ highest court ruled communities with, or near, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority service must plan for multifamily housing, the Haverhill City Council will formally receive notice the city’s plan—which allows more than 10,000 housing units—is legal. Mayor Melinda E. Barrett’s notice to councilors will be heard during next Tuesday night’s regular City Council meeting. In her cover letter, the mayor said she is “pleased to inform the Council that the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities has issued a determination that the City of Haverhill is in compliance with the MBTA Communities Act under Section 3A of the zoning act.”

In a letter, dated Jan. 2, state Housing Secretary Edward M. Augustus Jr. notified Barrett that zoning within Haverhill’s Downtown Smart Growth and Merrimack Street Gateway Renaissance Overlay Districts are acceptable. The city’s plans, as WHAV has reported, date back to at least the spring of 2022.

Beacon Hill News

Following Swearing-In, Zeigler, Duff Assume Roles on Governor’s Council, Registry of Deeds

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(Additional photograph below.)

Two area women with long histories of elected public service formally started their new roles with the start of the new year. Eileen R. Duff, who served as 5th District governor’s councilor from 2013 to the end of 2024, was sworn in as Wednesday as Southern Essex Register of Deeds, while former Methuen City Council Eunice D. Zeigler was sworn in Thursday to take Duff’s place on the Governor’s Council. Both women won election in November to the posts. Gov. Maura T. Healey welcomed the new Governor’s Council in the House Chambers before a joint session of the Senate and House. Noting their constitutional duties to screen and approve the governor’s appointments of judges, among other responsibilities, Healey said councilors fulfill a “critically important role.” Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, the Council’s ex-officio member, explained the significance of the job.

Beacon Hill News

Legislature Set to Pass Bills Partly Responding to Collapse of Steward Health Care

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By Colin A. Young

Democrats, who have been negotiating separate health care industry oversight and pharmaceutical drug reform bills for months, said Friday night they resolved their differences and plan to put the bills up for votes this week in the final days of the two-year term. One bill promises to strength state oversight to guard against the kind of failure at Steward Health Care that threatened Holy Family Hospital campuses in Haverhill and Methuen, among other properties. Senate President Karen E. Spilka suggested the so-called Steward response bill will not be the legislature’s last word on the subject. “Additionally, the entry of private equity into the health care space has had profound and lasting effects on providers’ ability to deliver care, and we are still trying to understand its full impact. While it is vital that we continue to study those effects and take action in the future to further mitigate them, the market oversight bill begins to address the damaging role of private equity and put important initial guardrails in place to attempt to prevent another crisis like the one faced by Steward,” Spilka said.