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Mass. Lawmakers Confirm Agreement on Police Reform Bill
Massachusetts lawmakers finished their work on a compromise police reform bill Monday, filing an updated version of the landmark legislation that Democratic leaders praised as “one of the most comprehensive approaches to police reform and racial justice” in the country. Details of the conference committee’s bill — crafted in closed-door negotiations over the last four months — were not immediately…
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State Leaders Reach Agreement on Police Reform Bill
Massachusetts lawmakers finished their work on a compromise police reform bill Monday, filing an updated version of the landmark legislation that Democratic leaders praised as “one of the most comprehensive approaches to police reform and racial justice” in the country.
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Mass. Senate Unveils Plan for Sweeping Police Reforms
A bill moving through the Senate Ways and Means Committee would create a new Police Officer Standards and Accreditation Committee that would certify law enforcement and be able to revoke or modify that certification, along with investigating misconduct complaints. Officers would need to be re-certified every three years, under the bill, and the committee would have to maintain a publicly…
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Gov. Baker Introduces Police Reform Bill
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker addressed calls for police reform with new legislation.
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New Bill Would Eliminate Plastic Bags in Massachusetts
Massachusetts would eliminate carry-out plastic bags from retail stores around the state under a new bill set for debate this week in the State Senate. Released on Monday, the proposal would expand on measures already adopted in over 100 cities and towns across the commonwealth, according to the office of Senate President Karen Spilka.
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Non-Binary Gender Designation Now Available in Massachusetts
Massachusetts residents can now have a non-binary gender designation on state driver’s licenses. The state’s Registry of Motor Vehicles says it now recognizes three gender designations: “male,” “female,” and “non-binary.” The change took effect Tuesday.
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Distracted Driving Bill Activists Demand Change From Mass. Lawmakers
Flanked by pictures of a dozen Massachusetts residents killed or injured in distracted-driving crashes, residents demanded Thursday that the Legislature take up a simple handheld device ban as soon as possible if negotiators can’t reach a compromise Thursday on a bill that also includes language aimed at monitoring for racial profiling. Speakers told harrowing stories of loss, recounting loved ones...
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2 Top Dems Say They're Sticking With Markey Endorsement
The state’s two top Democratic legislative leaders say they’re sticking by their earlier endorsements of U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, who is facing a possible Democratic primary challenge from U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy. Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Robert DeLeo both said Monday they’re not wavering in their support of Markey.
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Gov. Baker: I'll Take Cue From Commission on Pot Law Changes
Gov. Charlie Baker is saying he’ll take his cues from the state’s Cannabis Control Commission on any proposed changes to the state’s marijuana law. The Republican was asked Monday if any changes were needed after Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia was arrested last week on charges he conspired to extort hundreds of thousands of dollars from companies seeking to operate...
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Massachusetts Lawmakers Could Weigh in on Graduated Income Tax
The Massachusetts Legislature may renew a longstanding debate over whether the state should move to a graduated income tax.
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More Tolled Roads in Mass. Deserve Consideration: Lawmaker
Expanding road tolls across Massachusetts and to the state’s borders could be a way to generate new revenue to address growing transportation woes, Senate President Karen Spilka said Thursday. In remarks at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce breakfast Thursday, Spilka, an Ashland Democrat, told business leaders that tolls similar to those along Interstate 90 deserve consideration for other places.
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Massachusetts Senate Approves Alternative Gender Designation
The Massachusetts Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill Thursday to allow state residents to make a gender-neutral designation on their driver’s licenses and birth certificates. The bill, which passed by a 39-1 vote, would allow people to choose “X” rather than “M” or “F” on the state documents.
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Bill Allows Non-Traditional Gender Designation on Mass. State IDs
The Massachusetts Senate has scheduled a debate on a proposal that would allow an individual to list a non-binary gender designation on their driver’s license. The bill on the calendar for a Senate session on Thursday would provide a choice of listing gender as “X” instead of male or female. In addition to driver’s licenses, the proposed change would also...
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A Morning Full of Laughs at Annual St. Patrick's Day Breakfast
It was a morning full of laughs at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast in Boston. Sen. Nick Collins (D-MA) hosted the event. It was the first time the senator took over hosting duties. It was also the first time the event was held at Flynn Cruiseport on South Boston’s waterfront.
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Mass. Gov. Baker Proposes Lifting Welfare Cap on Kids
Though he vetoed a similar measure last year, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is proposing the elimination of a welfare rule that denies benefits to children born into families already receiving public assistance.
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Gov. Baker Readying Proposal to Help Federal Workers
Gov. Charlie Baker is preparing to present lawmakers with ideas about how Massachusetts could help federal workers who are furloughed or working without pay because of the partial federal government shutdown.
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New Legislative Session Begins With ‘Different Political Dynamic' in Massachusetts
As they exited their first meeting of 2019, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Karen Spilka put up a cohesive front.
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Members of Massachusetts Legislature Begin New 2-Year Session
Members of the Massachusetts Legislature have been sworn-in to a new two-year term on Beacon Hill. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker first administered the oath to 40 senators in the ornate Senate chamber that reopened Wednesday for the first time in more than 18 months after undergoing a $20 million renovation.
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18-Foot Menorah to Be Lit in Statehouse to Mark Hanukkah
Gov. Charlie Baker and other top state politicians are planning to join representatives of Massachusetts’ Jewish community to light an 18-foot (5.5-meter) menorah in the Statehouse to mark the beginning of Hanukkah.
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Massachusetts House Votes to Repeal Old Anti-Abortion Laws
The Massachusetts House has voted to repeal a series of antiquated state laws, including a ban on abortion with origins dating to 1845. Supporters describe the move as a hedge against possible future rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court. Republican President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the court has raised the possibility the 1973 Roe v. Wade...