With the clock ticking down on the current legislative session, Massachusetts lawmakers are in a rush to clear the decks. As reported by NBC Boston, over a dozen bills were recently passed by the State House and Senate just ahead of the New Year's deadline, with a variety of local and statewide impact measures heading to Governor Maura Healey's desk for signing.
Highlighted among the legislative surge were proposals including the allowance of school bus traffic cameras and the enforcement of bus-only lanes. According to WBUR, a bill advocating for bus-mounted camera systems to monitor dedicated bus lanes was thrust forward, a push to bolster public transit reliability and safety measures, especially for those with disabilities.
Other bills featured in the legislative flurry address diverse issues such as the renaming of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs to the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, amending licensure for foreign-trained dental hygienists, and shaping insurance coverage policies. Governor Healey's proposal exempting certain passenger vehicle offenses from influencing commercial license eligibility was also among key bills making strides towards enactment.
An act reinforcing animal welfare, specifically barring the sale of puppies and kittens under eight weeks old in various public venues, is part of the legislative package, as "quietly passed" by representatives, as per NBC Boston. Simultaneously, families affected by Down syndrome might see improved insurance coverage for therapies like Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) – crucial support for developing fundamental life skills – if related legislation receives the governor's signature.
With a hard stop coming December 31, the sprint to solidify these legislative efforts grips Beacon Hill. Any bills failing to fully traverse the legislative gauntlet before the close of the session will languish, resetting the whole process come the new term.
