WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2024 

Dear Cambridge and Somerville Constituents —

I'm here at the State House for the final evening of the 2023-24 formal legislative session.

Technically speaking, formal sessions end at 11:59 pm this evening — although two years ago at this time, we ended up waiting until 10 am the following day for the final legislative compromises to come together.

Earlier today, we took roll call votes to override several of Governor Healey's budget vetoes, and we've also been voting on various "Article 97" land-use bills. I'm currently working on one such bill that would allow the Riverside Boat Club in Cambridge to reorient the layout of their facility, for example.

Before I head back to the House Chamber for the next round of votes, I want to share this update of where several important items stand at this hour. Right now, House and Senate negotiators are attempting to iron out differences with respect to:

• The multibillion housing bond bill (a.k.a. The Affordable Homes Act), which includes proposals for ADUs by-right, a social housing pilot program authorization, eviction sealing, and much more.
• The multibillion economic development bill (which includes relief for an Everett soccer stadium, support for local Project Labor Agreements, a local option for the return of happy hour, and hundreds of millions of dollars of investments in our local economy)
• Hospital reform legislation (in part to address the outrageous situation caused by the Steward bankruptcies)
• Clean energy siting and permitting reform legislation (which also includes a proposal I've co-sponsored to update the state's bottle bill)
• And several other bills I've covered in previous newsletters, including proposals to address Veterans Services reform, Substance Use Disorder, Maternal Health, Long-term care supports, Prescription Drug Pricing (more about this below), and Parentage Equity.

Governor Healey signs Pay Transparency bill

Last week, I joined with my House Colleagues to pass H.4890, An Act relative to salary range transparency. This legislation requires employers with 25 or more employees to disclose a salary range when posting a position and protects an employee’s right to ask their employer for the salary range for their position when applying for a job or seeking a promotion.

Across the Commonwealth and the country, women and people of color are generally paid less than their coworkers, and this issue starts with the job listing itself. With this new law we are one step closer to realizing the goal of equal pay for equal work. Governor Healey signed this bill into law today. There's more about this here on my State House blog.

House passes prescription drug access legislation

Last week, I joined with my House colleagues to pass H.4891, An Act promoting access and affordability of prescription drugs. This bill protects patients and independent pharmacists by regulating the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry; by banning many of the industry’s worst business practices; by increasing transparency into PBMs and drug manufacturers through the Health Policy Commission (HPC) and the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA); and by reducing or eliminating copays for certain chronic conditions.

We know patients are paying way too much for the lifesaving medicines they need, often because of corporate greed. I was proud to vote to both reign in certain tactics deployed by PBMs to unscrupulously increase their profits and vote to cap the price of certain drugs to help patients save money.

In addition, this bill included an amendment I co-sponsored to task the Health Policy Commission with surveying the state for so called "pharmacy deserts" where residents don't have good access to pharmacies. Some constituents may recall we faced something of a pharmacy desert back in September 2022 when three Walgreens were closed due to staffing and IT issues. At that time I sounded the alarm in the press and made a formal complaint to the Department of Public Health. I'm pleased to see these concerns translated into legislation that passed the House last week. 

There's more about this bill here on my State House blog. The Senate has also passed its own bill to address prescription drug pricing, and at this hour House and Senate conferees are attempting to resolve the differences between the two branches.

The Future Tech Act is now on Governor Healey's desk

Last week I joined with my colleagues to enact the FutureTech Act, a $1.26 billion bond authorization to modernize the Commonwealth’s digital infrastructure and create safer and more accessible experiences for residents and employees alike.

Funding included in H.4889, An Act to provide for the future information technology needs of Massachusetts, would allow state agencies to deliver services more efficiently, enhance cybersecurity on statewide platforms, and broaden access to services used by hundreds of thousands of residents statewide. The bill would also invest in emerging technologies and artificial intelligence and create a fund to secure anticipated federal funding to bolster health and human services-related projects.

There's more about this here on my State House blog.

House passes legislation to promote animal welfare

As a "Cat Dad" and all-around animal lover, I believe the Commonwealth has a responsibility to ensure animal welfare. That's why I was proud to take multiple votes last week to advance a wide spectrum of animal welfare issues, including protecting large mammals from exploitation by the entertainment industry, increasing canine kennel safety, and ensuring better data reporting. Several of these bills were ones that I co-sponsored, including:

• H.4915, An Act relative to the use of elephants, big cats, primates, giraffes and bears in traveling exhibits and shows

• H.4919, An Act to increase kennel safety, aka Ollie's Law

• H.4911, An Act relative to animal welfare and reporting of animal cruelty, abuse or neglect

• H.4917, An Act relative to a commission to study the intentional misrepresentation of a service animal

• H.4912, An Act regulating the practice and licensure of veterinary technicians

For more details on each of these bills, see this post on my State House blog.

Upcoming Events and Community Notes

On Thursday August 1st at 6:30pm the Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committeewill hold a hybrid meeting, more information including agenda and sign up procedures can be found here.

On Thursday August 1st at 6pm the Somerville Historical Society will be holding a guided tour of Milk Row Cemetery, more information here.

Learning English? On Friday August, 2nd at 11:30am, join the ELL Conversation Group at the Somerville Public Library, info here.

On Wednesday August 7th at 11am attend the final installation of the Somerville Public Library’s Storytelling Hour series with Kamishibai Japanese Paper Theater Storytelling (recommended for children age 3 or older). More info here.

The City of Cambridge is currently contemplating renegotiations with Harvard University relative to their Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT). If you would like to participate in these discussions the Economic Development and University Relations Committee will be holding a hearing August 5th at 10:30am virtual and in the Sullivan Chamber, more info here.

Are you a business owner or entrepreneur interested in connecting with and supporting Black-owned businesses in Cambridge? Attend the kickoff of National Black Business Month hosted by the Cambridge Community Development Department, Thursday August 1st at 4:30pm at DX - 33 Dunster St, Cambridge. More info here.

On Thursday August 8th at 11am at the Central Square branch of the Cambridge Public Library join Mass Audubon wildlife ambassadors and discover the amazing adaptations that help animals survive in the wild. Ask questions and learn what you can do to protect the wildlife of Cambridge. For children of all ages and their caregivers. More information here.

Thank you, once again, for being an informed and engaged constituent. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Yours in service,

Rep. Mike Connolly