Western Mass appears to have its first open legislative contest of the 2026 cycle. Deerfield Rep Natalie Blais announced last week that she would be resigning on January 19 to take a job with UMass-Amherst. It is unclear whether there will actually be a special election for the seat. Either way, a large field could easily bubble up from the 18 communities the sprawling 1st Franklin District.
BOSTON—In her second State of the Commonwealth address, which solemnly nodded at the coming national change, Governor Maura Healey celebrated legislative accomplishments and restated 2025 goals. Among these were her $8 billion transportation plan. It was a laundry list and a pep rally that, as
BOSTON—The first sign may have been the duller than usual roar in the hours before legislators took the oath of office—COVID-era ceremonies aside. The galleries in the Senate chamber were busy, but not packed. The schmoozing wrapped up early. Little more than an hour after
Last week, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio announced her supporters had gathered enough signatures to put a question on next year’s ballot that would let her audit the legislature. The was a massive boost to her campaign promise to increase scrutiny of the legislature, her onetime
It is all but certain that the annual spending plan will be the most significant piece of legislation of the 193rd General Court of Massachusetts. When compared to Democratic trifectas in that took office in some Midwest states, that record is, at best, modest.
The Massachusetts state budget, which both legislative chambers on Beacon Hill passed Monday, was late. It passed 31 days after the last budget expired on June 30. A 10-day period for Governor Maura Healey has begun when she will review the document and issue any vetoes.
On Thursday, following commonwealth’s upper legislative chamber’s announcement, the Massachusetts House of Representatives released committee assignments for the 193rd General Court. For the 413, the changes ranged from minimal to dramatic.
BOSTON—There was no outdoor swearing-in ceremony in the cold. No members received admonitions to stay away. There was a feast in the Great Hall and cake in the Senate reading room at the inaugural festivities of the 193rd General Court that formally installed the House and Senate.
by Adam Bass Correspondent-intern State Representatives and Senators have expressed growing frustration and concern over the rollout of the vaccination program that Governor Charlie Baker’s administration has undertaken. When the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines received approval, Baker said the state could distribute these shots in
BOSTON—Under the cloud of the coronavirus, Massachusetts legislators took the oath of office marking the start of the 192nd General Court. Some reps and senators—all returning incumbents—took the oath of office through the miracle of Zoom. Others, universally masked, did so in person albeit in