House Session Summary – Monday, Jan. 3, 2022
State House News Service
The House tied a bow on the first year of the 192nd General Court Monday after advancing a number of bills establishing commemorative days, weeks, or months like Shelter Dog Month (H 3102), Building Trades Recovery Week (H 3177), and Massachusetts Emancipation Day (H 3117). On Wednesday, the House will convene at 11 a.m. to kick off the second half of its two-year session with lawmakers set to ramp up fiscal 2023 budget deliberations in the coming months and deal with the ongoing pandemic, among a wealth of other issues left over from the first year. Representatives on Monday also enacted legislation concerning liquor licenses in Easton and engrossed bills pertaining to land in New Bedford and Wayland’s form of government. – Chris Van Buskirk
To track a bill’s legislative history or view its text, click here and enter the bill number. The News Service features gavel-to-gavel summaries of all sessions and audio of formal sessions on our web page: http://www.statehousenews.com.
CONVENES: The House convened at 11 a.m. with Rep. Donato of Medford presiding. Rep. Wong of Saugus was also present.
PLEDGE: Members and staff pledged allegiance to the U.S. Flag.
RESOLUTIONS: The House adopted congratulatory resolutions from Rep. Roy of Franklin.
WETLANDS, WATER RESOURCES: The House ordered to a third reading H 2198 relative to the preservation of wetlands and water resources in Chapter 40B applications.
The bill text reads, “Section 23 of Chapter 40B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the last sentence in the first paragraph the following:- The denial of waivers from provisions of municipal natural resource protection bylaws or ordinances adopted and approved pursuant to section 32 of chapter 40 and administered by a municipal conservation commission established under section 8C of chapter 40, and any regulations properly adopted thereunder, shall be presumed to be consistent with local needs, provided that the purpose of said provisions of such bylaws, ordinances or regulations is the protection and/or promotion of Waters of the Commonwealth as defined in section 26A of chapter 21 and any regulations adopted thereunder, including wetlands, surface waters and groundwater.”
RARE DISEASE DAY: The House ordered to a third reading H 3101 designating the last day of February as rare disease day in the Commonwealth.
SHELTER DOG MONTH: The House ordered to a third reading H 3102 designating the month of October as adopt a shelter dog month.
QUOCK WALKER DAY: The House ordered to a third reading H 3117 designating July 8 as Massachusetts Emancipation Day a.k.a. Quock Walker Day.
PLASTIC POLLUTION ACTION DAY: The House ordered to a third reading H 3122 establishing plastic pollution action day in the commonwealth.
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS DAY: The House ordered to a third reading H 3147 designating inflammatory breast cancer awareness day.
BUILDING TRADES RECOVERY WEEK: The House ordered to a third reading H 3177 establishing building trades recovery week.
ROSA PARKS DAY: The House ordered to a third reading H 3189 relative to Rosa Parks Day.
DOMESTIC WORKERS’ RIGHTS DAY: The House ordered to a third reading H 3206 designating Domestic Workers’ Rights Day.
EASTON LIQUOR LICENSES: The House enacted H 4116 authorizing the town of Easton to grant an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages.
ORDERS OF THE DAY: There were no objections to proceeding with the orders of the day.
NEW BEDFORD LAND: The House engrossed S 29 authorizing the city of New Bedford to convey certain land acquired for open space and playground purposes.
WAYLAND GOVERNMENT: The House adopted a Rep. Garlick amendment to and then engrossed H 4087 creating select board/town manager form of government in the town of Wayland.
ADJOURNS SINE DIE: The House adjourned sine die at 11:10 a.m. The second annual session of the 192nd General Court convenes on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in an informal session.
