Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from recent sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.

Housing production (S 3)

The Senate, 40-0, approved an amendment that would commission a series of studies by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to explore new tools to jumpstart stalled housing projects.

The studies would include a potential construction sales tax exemption for multifamily housing developments delayed by federal tariffs or economic volatility; the use of third-party inspectors to fast-track permitting for manufactured, off-site and multifamily housing; and whether affordable housing projects should be exempt from Proposition 2½ tax levy limits — a factor that often discourages local approvals.

“Together, these provisions are aimed at cutting red tape, lowering costs and accelerating the production of housing — particularly in high-need, geographically isolated regions like the Cape and Islands,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro. “Massachusetts was averaging 30,000 new homes annually as recently as the 1980s, when our population was much smaller. That number currently sits at about half, despite the increased need. The amendment passed unanimously … in a great show of bipartisan support.”

A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.

Sen. Joanne Comerford — Yes

Sen. Paul Mark — Yes

Scientific research (S 3)

The Senate, 39-0, approved an amendment that would establish a Scientific Research Fund to provide research grants in the fields of science, medicine, public health, mental health and other biological or behavioral areas.

Supporters said the amendment would provide at the state level the investments in scientific advancement that previously had been provided at the federal level by the National Institutes of Health.

“Some of the best educational and research institutions in the world are located right here in Massachusetts, and their globally significant innovations drive our state and regional economies,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch, D-Needham. “This Scientific Research Fund offers a critical opportunity for state government to support science and step up for research funding infrastructure as the federal government steps away. I am proud and grateful that this amendment passed the Senate by unanimous vote, showing that scientific inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge are, and always should be, nonpartisan.”

A “Yes” vote is for the amendment.

Sen. Joanne Comerford — Yes

Sen. Paul Mark — Yes

$800,000 for Boys and Girls Clubs (S 3)

The Senate, 39-0, approved an amendment increasing funding for Boys and Girls Clubs by $800,000 (from $2.2 million to $3 million.)

“This funding will support the Boys and Girls Clubs’ mission of assuring that success is within reach of every young person by providing a safe environment and social, academic and health services that club members may not otherwise receive,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Lowell.

A “Yes” vote is for the $800,000.

Sen. Joanne Comerford — Yes

Sen. Paul Mark — Yes

Also up on Beacon HillSales tax holiday (S 2530 and H 4220)

The House and Senate approved measures designating Saturday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 10, as a sales tax holiday weekend for Massachusetts, allowing consumers to buy most products that cost under $2,500 without paying the state’s 6.25% sales tax. State law currently calls for a two-day sales tax holiday every year. This bill simply sets the specific dates.

“The sales tax holiday is a wonderful opportunity for our residents to get out into their communities, support local businesses, get their kids ready for school in the fall or make a purchase that they’ve been putting off,” said co-sponsor Sen. Adam Gomez, D-Springfield, Senate chair of the Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses. “I am glad that our leaders here in the Legislature have been able to work and get this done again for our residents this year, and I look forward to hearing how residents are able to make the most of the tax reprieve.”

“I was proud to sponsor the legislation establishing this year’s sales tax holiday that helps boost our economy and provides support and relief for our residents and small businesses,” said co-sponsor Rep. Carole Fiola, D-Fall River, House chair of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. “This is an important weekend that helps bolster our economy and I applaud my colleagues in passing this legislation to provide individuals, families and businesses across the commonwealth with some relief.”

Age of consent (S 1104)

The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on legislation that would change the current law under which someone who just turned 16 years old can be prosecuted for statutory rape for having a sexual relationship with someone under 16.

The bill establishes a close-in-age exception (often called a “Romeo and Juliet” clause) for certain sexual offenses involving minors, ensuring that consensual relationships between teenagers close in age are not subject to severe criminal penalties. The bill amends laws on indecent assault and battery and statutory rape to prevent prosecution when the defendant is no more than two years older than a minor who is at least 13 years old. It also mandates that juvenile defendants be processed through the juvenile court system rather than adult court when applicable.

“In Massachusetts, someone who just turned 16 years old can be prosecuted for statutory rape for having a sexual relationship with someone just under 16 years old,” said sponsor Sen. Dylan Fernandes, D-Falmouth. “While the intent of protecting young people is a good one, the way the law currently exists can cause unintended consequences for young people who are in love. Rather than arbitrarily lowering the age of consent, my bill creates a framework that looks at the nature of the age gap between young people and establishes a two-year age difference between the consenting young adults as the determinant of whether criminal charges can be brought.”

Fernandes continued, “Thus, if someone is one month shy of age 16 and has a sexual relationship with someone older, that older person cannot be charged criminally as long as they are no more than two years older than the younger partner — in this case, one month shy of age 18. My bill takes into account the current realities for young adults in Massachusetts and removes the extreme jeopardy of the law as currently written, which provides penalties of up to life imprisonment even for a 16-year-old, who has a sexual relationship with someone just under 16.”

Juvenile offenders and their victims (H 1792)

Another measure before the Judiciary Committee would direct the state’s courts to make all reasonable efforts to ensure that victims of crimes perpetrated by juvenile offenders receive restitution, and that juvenile offenders be required to repair, replace or otherwise make restitution for any damage or loss caused by their crime. This bill also requires that the juvenile court make restitution a condition of release, placement or parole for the juvenile offender.

“Crime victims face many hardships, not only as they deal with the emotional toll of the crime itself, but also with the related financial repercussions,” said sponsor Rep. Brad Jones, R-North Reading. “We should not compound their suffering by adding to their financial burden but should instead make it easier for them to receive restitution, which is what [my bill] seeks to do.”

Municipalities and Regional Government Committee hearings

The Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hearing on several bills, including:

Exempt local bills from requiring the Legislature’s approval (S 1471): Would remove the current requirement that the Legislature review and approve of routine home rule petitions, filed in the Legislature by local cities and towns, that have minimal or no statewide impact, such as liquor license increases, charter changes and individual personnel exemptions from the state civil service law.

“State legislative review of home rule petitions with limited to no statewide impact unnecessarily adds more red tape to established local processes,” said sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch, D-Needham. “It hinders our partners in municipal government from doing the jobs they were elected to do and restricts and confuses community members. Simply put, we just don’t need more confusion or longer wait times to implement what voters want in their own communities. My bill … would streamline the routine home rule process by eliminating state legislative review, thereby uplifting local decision-making so the right solutions for each of our 351 municipalities can be timely implemented.”

Require training of members of local city and town boards (S 1432): Would require mandatory, standardized annual training for new members of key local boards in cities and towns, including boards of health, conservation commissions, planning boards and zoning boards of appeals. The training programs would be developed in consultation with the Massachusetts Municipal Association and would require all new board and commission members to complete these trainings prior to beginning their service.

“I filed [the bill] because we rely on volunteers to make consequential decisions on local boards that shape everything from housing to public health, yet we don’t give them the training they need,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro. “This bill creates a simple, no-cost, standardized training so new board members understand the laws they’re upholding and can serve their communities effectively from day one.”

Raise fines for animal cruelty (H 2247): Would amend current law that imposes up to a seven-year prison sentence and/or $5,000 fine for a first offense of animal cruelty and a 10-year prison sentence and/or $10,000 fine for a second offense. The bill leaves the prison sentences as they are but raises the fines to $5,500 for a first offense and $11,000 for subsequent offenses. It also creates a special account where up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for subsequent offenses would go to fund improvements to animal shelters in the city or town in which the violations occurred.

The proposal received initial House approval in 2021 but then died in committee because of lack of further action by the House.

Sponsor Rep. Bruce Ayers, D-Quincy, said that Massachusetts in 2024 took a big step forward in animal rights and protection with the passage of Ollie’s Law that established rules and regulations for dog kennels.

“This bill seeks to build on that momentum by increasing penalties for animal cruelty to further deter abuse and neglect, while directing any additional revenue generated from these increased fines toward financial support for local animal shelters where the violation occurred,” Ayers said.

Local tree wardens (H 2195): Would require that every city and town’s tree warden have sufficient training and certification; change the penalty paid to communities for someone who illegally removes shade trees from $500 to the often higher value of actually replacing the tree; and update antiquated laws, including the one that fines anyone who damages a tree or plant by driving an animal into it, but does not mention a car or truck because the current law was passed before the popular use of the automobile.

Supporters said that a well-maintained tree canopy can act as a buffer against climate change and protect public health. They noted that the U.S. Forest Service estimates that neighborhoods with well-shaded streets can be up to 10 degrees cooler and that tree canopies not only reduce energy costs but also mitigate the urban heat island effect, directly preventing heat-related illnesses and deaths.

“Public shade trees are a valuable resource in our fight against the impact of climate change,” said sponsor Rep. Steve Owens, D-Watertown. “The laws protecting them and empowering the tree wardens who care for them have not been materially updated in more than a hundred years. This bill makes sure that wardens have the tools they need to protect and nurture our public shade trees.”