Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on the only roll call from the week of May 26 to May 30. There were no roll calls in the House last week.

$189.6 million for child care (S 2521)

The Senate approved by a 39-0 vote, the House approved on a voice vote without a roll call and Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a $189.6 million fiscal year 2025 supplemental budget that provides $95.6 million for the Department of Children and Families, and Department of Transitional Assistance-related child care, and another $94 million for income-eligible child care.

Supporters said the additional funding is necessary because of the difficulty of precisely funding, in advance, these child care accounts that are “caseload driven.”

“Without the authorization of such spending, our providers will not receive their scheduled June child care financial assistance,” said Senate Ways and Means Chair Sen Mike Rodrigues, D-Westport.

“Passing this supplemental budget ensures families across Massachusetts continue to receive the affordable, high-quality child care they depend on,” said Sen. Dylan Fernandes, D-Falmouth. “Investing in early education and care isn’t just about helping children thrive — it’s about supporting working parents and building a stronger economy.”

The Senate approved the bill as Rodrigues was showing visiting New Bedford fourth graders around the Senate chamber. “Just like that, we spent $189 million,” Rodrigues told them.

A “Yes” vote is for the $189.6 million for child care.

Sen. Joanne Comerford — Yes

Sen. Paul Mark — Yes

Also up on Beacon Hill Contagious diseases and police, firefighters and emergency personnel (H 2961)

The Public Service Committee held a hearing on a bill that would provide that police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel making claims for death, disability or medical services from contagious diseases — who did not show any such condition at the time of entry into service — will be presumed to have acquired these contagious conditions in the line of duty. If it can be shown that non-service-connected risk factors, accidents or hazards caused such incapacity, the presumption can be rebutted.

The list of diseases includes COVID-19, Hepatitis A, B or C, TB, HIV and other conditions found by the public health commissioner to have a statistically significant correlation with police, fire or emergency medical service.

The bill would expand a current law that establishes that disability or death of public safety personnel resulting from certain conditions of cancer, as well as disease of the lungs/respiratory tract, is presumed to be caused in the line of duty.

Co-sponsor Rep. Greg Schwartz, D-Newton, said that as a physician, he understands the increased risk these public service workers face of contracting infectious diseases.

“We ask our first responders to engage with the public in situations that often carry increased risk of personal harm to the responder,” Schwartz said. “They perform invaluable, often lifesaving service to strangers in the line of duty. It is the least we can do to acknowledge the risk to themselves that they take on to serve others in times of need, and we should support them when that service likely is the cause of disease, disability or death.”

PTSD and police, firefighters and emergency personnel (S 1821)

Another bill before the Public Service Committee would require that the disability or death of police, fire or various other public safety personnel resulting from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is presumed to have been suffered in the line of duty.

“This legislation is needed to safeguard the health and well-being of our public safety personnel who are on the front lines daily to protect their community members,” said Sen. Sal DiDomenico, D-Everett. “Thanking these public servants is not enough. We need to put action behind our words and make real improvements by passing bills … which would support those dealing with PTSD and reduce stigma around mental health.”

Four-day work week pilot program (S 1330)

The Labor and Workforce Development Committee held a hearing on legislation that would create a voluntary four-day work week pilot program in Massachusetts. Participating employers would transition employees to a four-day work week without any reduction in pay, status or benefits. Private employers that complete at least one year in the pilot program and meet reporting requirements may qualify for tax credits. Public employers can participate but are not eligible for tax credits.

“Americans are overstressed and overworked,” said Sen. Dylan Fernandes, D-Falmouth. “The data shows that a four-day work week creates a happier workforce, fuels company productivity and helps businesses attract top talent. This pilot program studies its efficacy in Massachusetts to determine whether the four-day work week could benefit commonwealth employees and businesses.”

Paid prenatal leave (S 1361)

Another proposal heard by the Labor and Workforce Development Committee would require employers to provide up to 24 hours of paid prenatal leave per year for pregnant individuals, and up to 10 hours for their partners, to support attendance at medical appointments and related care. The proposal, which is modeled after a similar policy adopted in New York, aims to provide more flexibility for working families to access critical prenatal care.

“I sponsored this bill because expanding prenatal leave helps ensure healthier pregnancies and better birth outcomes,” said sponsor Sen. Jake Oliveira, D-Ludlow. “When we give families the time they need for early care, we strengthen not just individual health but also public health and workplace stability.”

Insurance companies must notify drivers (H 1200)

The Financial Services Committee held a hearing on legislation that would require insurance companies to provide a written notification to customers when the company charges a fee to process an electronic payment transaction for an automobile insurance policy.

“I filed this bill after hearing from a constituent who was being charged by their insurance company for making online payments and had never been notified that they would be subject to these fees,” said sponsor, GOP Minority Leader Rep. Brad Jones, R-North Reading. “This is a pro-consumer bill that will help to ensure that insurance companies provide full disclosure to their policyholders on any additional fees they may assess for conducting these types of transactions.”

Expired inspection stickers (H 1195)

Another measure before the Financial Services Committee would remove an expired inspection sticker violation from being a moving violation, which add points to an individual’s driving record and sometimes surcharges, and instead make it a non-moving violation, with no points or surcharge.

“I filed this consumer-oriented bill to correct, what I feel, is an unfair insurance surcharge assessed to Massachusetts drivers,” said sponsor Rep. Steve Howitt, R-Seekonk.