House Session Summary – Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Back To The Future: Tax Relief Bills Heading To Conference Committee
6/20/23 12:14 PM
House and Senate tax relief bills were referred to a conference committee Tuesday, nearly a year after similar bills were shuttled to conference and never came out. Rep. Aaron Michlewitz and Sen. Michael Rodrigues will again chair conference talks, which will cover much of the same ground as last year as well as some new territory. Last year’s tax relief conference committee was part of talks over a larger economic development bill. Lawmakers ended up advancing major spending initiatives from the 2022 conference but held back on tax relief in deference to nearly $3 billion in tax rebates that Beacon Hill leaders had not seen coming. The House on Tuesday named Reps. Cusack and Soter to join Michlewitz on this year’s conference committee, and advanced a handful of local bills. The House will hold an informal session Thursday and is nearing two months without holding a formal session. – Michael P. Norton
CONVENES: Rep. Donato gaveled the House to order at 11:01 a.m.
PLEDGE: Members, staff and guests recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
RESOLUTIONS: The House adopted Rep. Arciero resolutions recognizing two individuals for their achievements, and a Rep. Muratore resolution recognizing the 34th anniversary of the literacy program at the Plymouth Public Library.
MENTAL WELL BEING OF MOTHERS: A Rep. O’Day bill (HD 4280) relative to the mental well being of new mothers facing criminal charges was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
TAX RELIEF BILLS TO CONFERENCE: The House suspended Rule 35 and non-concurred with S 2406, the Senate tax relief bill that came back to the House as an amendment to H 3770 to improve the commonwealth’s competitiveness, affordability, and equity.
The House, on a Rep. Michlewitz motion, appointed a conference committee.
Rep. Donato said the House appoints as conferees Reps. Michlewitz, Cusack and Soter.
HANOVER: The House ordered to third reading S 1302 changing the name of the board of selectmen of Hanover to select board.
LANCASTER: The House ordered to third reading H 2571 exempting the position of police chief in Lancaster from the provisions of the civil service law.
DONNA AND ROBERT LAWLER: The House ordered to third reading H 2649 authorizing the retirement board of the City of Boston provide certain retirement benefits to Donna Lawler, the surviving beneficiary of former Boston Police officer Robert Lawler.
HAVERHILL: The House ordered to third reading H 2677 authorizing the city of Haverhill to appoint retired police officers as detail police officers within said city for paid detail assignments.
WORCESTER: The House ordered to third reading H 3646, a Rep. Durant bill authorizing the Worcester Regional Retirement System to grant creditable service to Nelson Burlingame for the period of Jan. 1, 1974 to Dec. 31, 1985, for the purpose of determining his superannuation retirement allowance. The bill says Burlingame has “remitted the appropriate contributions and interest to the Worcester Regional Retirement System to receive credit for this service.”
ORDERS OF THE DAY: At 11:13 a.m. there was no objection to considering items in the orders of the day.
AMELIA ALEX: The House engrossed S 2383 establishing a sick leave bank for Amelia Alex, “an employee of the Department of Social Services.” The bill states: “Any employee of the department may voluntarily contribute 1 or more sick, personal or vacation days to the sick leave bank for use by Amelia Alex. If Amelia Alex terminates employment with the department or requests to dissolve the sick leave bank, any remaining time in the sick leave bank shall be transferred to the extended illness leave bank. Sick leave bank days shall not be used for absences unrelated to the illness or disability that necessitated the establishment of the sick leave bank as determined by the department.”
TIME OF MEETING: The House adopted a Speaker Mariano order to meet next on Thursday at 11 a.m.
ADJOURNS: On the motion of Rep. Frost, the House adjourned at 11:16 a.m. to meet next on Thursday at 11 a.m. Rep. Donato said it will be an informal session. The House last held a formal session on April 26.
Texas is bigger than most nations. Yet it’s legislative business is completed in six months. Pompous clowns in this state take advantage of the taxpayers by staying in session all year.
No help from the State House or our congressional delegation for the South Shore which is having a healthcare crisis due to the closure of Brockton Hospital and sudden closure of Compass Medical System. No help from AG Campbell or Gov. Healey to look out for patients rights. Working class people don’t matter to them.