A Conference Committee Update

As we round out the month of July and look towards the fall, there are several House and Senate-passed bills that need to be reconciled by conference committees before a compromise version can be sent to the Governor.

Conference committees are comprised of two Democrats and one Republican from each chamber.

Take a look through the conference committees currently underway. You can find the contact information for all House members here and all Senators here.

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An Act to build resilient infrastructure to generate higher-ed transformation

Description of the bill
This bill, referred to as the BRIGHT Act, addresses the deferred maintenance and decarbonization of the Commonwealth’s 29 public college and university campuses. 

Conference committee details and progress update: 
I am leading this conference committee for the Senate, joined by my colleagues Senators Mike Rush and Kelly Dooner. On the House side, my Higher Education Committee Co-Chair Representative Dave Rogers is leading, joined by Representatives Mike Finn and Kelly Pease. The name symmetry is not lost on us! 

We are making good progress to come to a final bill that best supports our public higher education institutions. 

Phone-free schools 

Description of the bills
The House and the Senate passed different bills targeting students using phones in schools. The bill passed by the Senate, An Act to promote student learning and mental health, requires school districts to prohibit student phone use during the day. The legislation approved in the House, An Act promoting safe technology use and distraction-free education for youth, takes this a step further and limits minors’ access to social media platforms. 

Conference committee details and progress update
The conference committee is led by Senator Brendan Crighton for the Senate and Representative Alice Peisch for the House. The rest of the conferees are Senators Mike Rodrigues and Peter Durant and Representatives Frank Moran and David Vieira. 

I have heard from many constituents with concerns about the age verification provisions for social media use in the House’s bill. This is not included in the version that passed the Senate. 

 

An Act establishing the Massachusetts data privacy act

Description of the bill
This bill would protect Massachusetts residents from the exploitation of their precise GPS location, health care information, and biometric data such as face or fingerprint scans. It also guarantees increased protections for minors and allows people to opt out of being targeted by advertisers based on their personal data. 

Conference committee details and progress update
Led by Senator Cindy Creem and Representative Mike Moran, the conference committee includes Senators Barry Finegold and Patrick O’Connor and Representatives Tricia Farley-Bouvier and David Vieira.

 

An Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities

Description of the bill
This bill, known as the Mass Ready Act, or the environmental bond bill (EBB), makes critical investments to protect our natural and working lands, fortify infrastructure in the face of climate change and severe weather, safeguard drinking water, and strengthen environmental protection efforts across the Commonwealth. 

Conference committee details and progress update
Led by Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Mike Finn, the conference committee includes Senators Becca Rausch and Peter Durant and Representatives Christine Barber and Ken Sweezey.

My team and I are tracking several provisions in this bill to help ensure they are kept in the final bill that comes out of the conference committee, including funding for the Quabbin Watershed, Connecticut River Valley community provisions, and funding for accessible trails. 

 

An Act to save people money, repair the climate, and grow the economy

Description of the bill
This bill looks to address rising energy costs by cutting unnecessary fees, evening out price spikes that come during high-demand months, cracking down on predatory sales practices by energy suppliers, and steering the state away from expensive infrastructure projects that don’t deliver value for ratepayers. 

Conference committee details and progress update
Led by Senator Mike Barrett and Representative Mark Cusack, the conference committee includes Senators Cindy Creem and Bruce Tarr and Representatives Aaron Michlewitz and Brad Jones.

My team and I are tracking this legislation closely, mindful of the importance of this legislation to our constituents and for our climate. Read more about our advocacy here. 

 

An Act requiring health care employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence

Description of the bill
This bill responds to a concerning increase in violent incidents against health care workers. It requires annual reviews of security protocols and potential risks at health care facilities, helps law enforcement officials make timely arrests for assaults that take place at health care facilities, extends new support to health care employees who are assaulted on the job, and shields victims’ personal information from assailants.

Conference committee details and progress update
Led by Senator Cindy Friedman and Representative Mike Day, the conference committee includes Senators Joan Lovely and Kelly Dooner and Representatives Brandy Fluker-Reid and Hannah Kane.

 

An Act promoting pet equity, treatment and safety

Description of the bill
This bill, also known as the PETS Act, would curtail unnecessary animal testing for non-medical purposes; helping to end the inhumane puppy mill market; and make responsible pet ownership possible for more people. 

Conference committee details and progress update
Led by Senator Paul Feeney and Representative Jim O’Day, the conference committee includes Senators Jason Lewis and Bruce Tarr and Representatives Jack Patrick Lewis and Steven Howitt.

 

An Act improving campaign finance reporting for statewide ballot questions

Description of the bill
This bipartisan legislation requires ballot campaigns to routinely report to the public who is funding their campaigns and how the money is being used. 

Conference committee details and progress update
Led by Senator Sal DiDomenico and Representative Daniel Hunt, the conference committee includes Senators Jake Oliveira and Ryan Fattman and Representatives Alice Peisch and Paul Frost.

 

An Act relative to economic development in the commonwealth

Description of the bill
This bill invests deeply in the Commonwealth, supporting innovation, creating opportunities for more housing production, and lifting up scientific research programs and small businesses alike. 

There is much to celebrate about this bill, including the six amendments I filed that were successfully adopted in the Senate version. More on that here. My team and I are deeply engaged to ensure this bill invests equitably in our region’s economic growth. 

Conference committee details and progress update
Led by Senator Barry Finegold and Representative Aaron Michlewitz, the conference committee includes Senators Mike Rodrigues and Peter Durant and Representatives Carole Fiola and Michael Soter.

 

An Act relative to benefits for teachers

Description of the bill
This legislation allows eligible public school educators in the Commonwealth who missed enrollment in 2001 to opt into an enhanced pension program.  

Conference committee details and progress update
Led by Senator Mike Rodrigues and Representative Dan Ryan, the conference committee includes Senators Joan Lovely and Pat O’Connor and Representatives Carlos González and Kimberly Ferguson.

 

An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government

Description of the bill
This bill increases residents’ access to information about how decisions are made inside state government. The Senate’s version of the bill includes critical free press protections that allow journalists to protect their sources. 

Conference committee details and progress update
Led by Senator Cindy Creem and Representative Alice Peisch, the conference committee includes Senators Cindy Friedman and Kelly Dooner and Representatives Andy Vargas and David Muradian.

 

Strengthening primary care in the Commonwealth

Description of the bill
These bills look to strengthen access to and funding for primary care across the Commonwealth. More on the Senate’s bill here. 

Conference committee details and progress update
Led by Senator Cindy Friedman and Representative Aaron Michlewitz, the conference committee includes Senators John Cronin and Bruce Tarr and Representatives Meghan Kilcoyne and Hannah Kane.