Senate Session Summary – Monday, Sept. 26, 2022
State House News Service
The Senate whisked four local bills through the chamber Monday before adjourning with plans to hold another informal session Thursday, continuing a stretch of light activity with no movement toward reviving a stalled economic development and tax relief bill. The Senate passed measures authorizing a new liquor license for the Arcos Market on Main Street in Milford (H 4663), making changes to Nantucket’s town charter (H 3792), and establishing the Framingham Economic Development Corporation (H 4352, amended by President Karen Spilka as S 3118). The chamber also sent Gov. Charlie Baker a bill authorizing Chelsea to create a new linkage fee to be paid by developers of certain projects into a Community Impact Linkage Fee Fund (H 4789). The city could put those funds toward affordable housing, social services, workforce development, youth recreation, and certain other expenses, according to the bill. – Sam Doran
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 Senate convened at 11:10 a.m. with Sen. Brownsberger of Belmont presiding. Sen. O’Connor of Weymouth was also present.
PLEDGE: Members, staff, and guests pledged allegiance to the U.S. Flag.
SICK LEAVE: On a 2-0 standing vote the Senate adopted an emergency preamble to H 5098 establishing a sick leave bank for Julie A. Hall, an employee of the Trial Court of the Commonwealth.
RESOLUTIONS: The Senate adopted resolutions by Sen. Finegold relative to the Oct. 1 observance of Ostomy Awareness Day, and by Sen. Moran congratulating Gosnold Inc. on its 50th anniversary.
ORDERS OF THE DAY: On three successive items, there was no objection to considering a matter from the Orders of the Day.
MILFORD LIQUOR: The Senate ordered to a third reading and engrossed H 4663 authorizing the town of Milford to grant an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be consumed on the premises.
NANTUCKET: The Senate adopted a Sen. Cyr amendment to H 3792 amending the charter for the town of Nantucket, then engrossed the bill as amended.
FRAMINGHAM: The Senate adopted a Sen. Spilka amendment inserting a new text (S 3118) in H 4352 establishing the Framingham Economic Development Corporation. The Senate then engrossed the bill as amended.
CREDITABLE SERVICE: The Senate concurred in referring to the Committee on Public Service a Rep. Durant petition HD 5030 for legislation to authorize the Worcester Regional Retirement System to grant creditable service to Nelson Burlingame.
ENACTS TWO BILLS: With a single vote, the Senate enacted two bills:
- CHELSEA LINKAGE FEE: H 4789 authorizing the creation of a linkage fee for development in the city of Chelsea;
- SICK LEAVE: H 5098 establishing a sick leave bank for Julie A. Hall, an employee of the Trial Court of the Commonwealth.
TIME OF MEETING: The Senate adopted an order scheduling its next session for 11 a.m. Thursday.
ADJOURNS ‘TIL THURSDAY: The Senate adjourned at 11:18 a.m. to meet next on Thursday at 11 a.m. without a calendar.
DISCLAIMER: Bill texts and histories are available at http://www.malegislature.gov/. All votes are voice votes, unless otherwise noted. Bills ordered to third reading have been given initial approval. To engross a bill is to pass it and send it to the other branch. The last of three votes taken on bills that reach the governor’s desk is the vote on enactment. So, it’s third reading (initial approval), engrossment (passage) and enactment. The News Service coverage of legislative debate is an accurate summary of remarks, not a verbatim transcript.
