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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · 6d

NEW: First Middlesex District Sen. Ed Kennedy has died, per Senate President Spilka's office. Spilka in an email to senators called Kennedy, 74, a "champion for education, environmental sustainability, cultural development and, of course, his beloved hometown of Lowell." #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · 15d

NEW: Dogged by rival bidder Global Partners, Applegreen walks away from lease talks with the state over its winning bid to operate 18 highway service plazas in Massachusetts. #mapoli

pro.stateaffairs.com/ma/transport...

Applegreen ends talks with state over service plaza contract

The winning bidder in the controversial procurement for a highway service plaza concession contract is walking away from lease talks with the state.

pro.stateaffairs.com

State House News Service @statehousenews.com · 20d

NEW: Treasurer Deborah Goldberg is dropping her appeal of Shannon O'Brien's reinstatement as chairwoman of the Cannabis Control Commission, her office said, a decision that likely spells an end to the two-year legal and political saga. #mapoli

pro.stateaffairs.com/ma/regulated...

Goldberg drops legal effort to prevent O’Brien’s return to CCC

Treasurer Deborah Goldberg is dropping her appeal of Shannon O'Brien's reinstatement as chairwoman of the Cannabis Control Commission, her office said, a decision that likely spells an end to the…

pro.stateaffairs.com

State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Jul 30

NEW: New legislative spending bill accord attempts to address pay concerns of bar advocates, who have stopped taking new cases representing low-income criminal defendants. #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Jun 30

STATE BUDGET ON THE MOVE: The $61 billion annual state budget accord filed Sunday afternoon on its way to Gov. Maura Healey's desk following approval votes Monday of 139-6 in the House and 38-2 in the Senate. #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Jun 27

NEW: The Federal Reserve Board reported late Friday that its annual bank stress test "showed that large banks are well positioned to weather a severe recession, while staying above minimum capital requirements and continuing to lend to households and businesses." #mapoli

State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Jun 27

BUDGET DEAL REACHED: Lead House and Senate negotiators say they have reached an annual state budget deal. No details announced. Plans call for the consensus budget to be filed this weekend, with floor votes Monday ahead of start of fiscal 2026 on Tuesday. #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Jun 12

IT'S ON: The Senate just agreed with the House to set Aug. 9-10 as the dates of this year's sales tax holiday weekend. #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Jun 12

SALES TAX HOLIDAY: The House just voted to hold this year's sales tax holiday weekend on Aug. 9-10. Senate has not weighed in yet but remains in session. #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · May 20

PARTY RESERVE: Mass. House Democrats are getting behind a bill calling for a $15 million reserve to support celebrations of the U.S. semiquincentennial (250th) anniversary. #mapoli

State House News Service @statehousenews.com · May 12

NEW: As winter energy bills surged, Gov. Healey on Feb. 26 signaled plans to file legislation to help residents and businesses. She plans to unveil it at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Leominster. #mapoli

State House News Service @statehousenews.com · May 6

NEW: Chief legal counsel Paige Scott Reed is leaving Gov. Healey's office this month to return to the private sector. Deputy chief legal counsel Jesse Boodoo, formerly of the AG's office, the T and Ropes & Gray, was just announced as her successor. #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · May 6

NEW: Facing uncertainty on economic and federal funding and policy fronts, Senate Ways and Means Committee offers a $61.32 billion annual budget, calling for a 6.3% increase in spending backed up by $1.2 billion in one-time revenue supports. #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · May 5

NEW: State tax collections in April were up by over a half billion dollars compared to April 2024, and are running $2.65 billion or 7.8% over FYTD collections with two months left in fiscal 2025. #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Apr 27

NEW: On threatened Medicaid cuts, the Hill reports that the "rubber meets the road" on May 7 when a key committee plans to mark up its portion of a reconciliation bill. #mapoli

thehill.com/policy/healt...

GOP Medicaid debate intensifies as Republicans search for cuts

House Republicans are under the gun to get specific on how they will offset President Trump’s domestic policy agenda, and they will soon need to decide if they will touch the political stove …

thehill.com

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Apr 8

NEW: Gov. Healey, Mass. business leaders plan to discuss Trump tariff impacts Wednesday at the State House. #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Apr 2

HEALTH CARE COSTS ⬆️ : In January, the state Group Insurance Commission indicated a budget shortfall of more than $100 million. On Wednesday, Gov. Healey asked for $240 mil more for the GIC. #mapoli

Health care cost surge adds to Mass. affordability woes

Health care costs in Massachusetts surged at "unsustainable" levels in 2023, adding more pressure to already-strained household budgets, according to new state data.

www.statehousenews.com

State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Mar 6

NEW: "The policies of this new federal administration are going to do a lot of damage on our economy here in Massachusetts," Secretary of State Galvin tells lawmakers at annual budget hearing. #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Mar 6

NEW: With more than 2 million people in Massachusetts covered by Medicaid, Healey budget chief Matt Gorzkowicz flags concerns over health care costs and says there are 260,000 more people enrolled in the health insurance program than before the pandemic. #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Mar 6

NEW: Gov. Healey tells lawmakers at budget hearing that she's "hearing" a federal executive order is coming Thursday "dismantling the Department of Education." #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Mar 6

NEW: More midyear spending. At annual fiscal 2026 budget hearing, Gov. Healey budget chief Matthew Gorzkowicz says another fiscal 2025 spending bill is coming from the administration. #mapoli

State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Mar 6

NEW: In budget testimony, Gov. Healey pledges to protect interests of state residents but says federal funding threats are a major factor this year. "The landscape is shifting every day and every state is facing fiscal disruption," Healey tells lawmakers at the State House. #mapoli

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State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Mar 6

NEW: Top Democrats kicked off state budget hearings by citing federal funding threats from and a recent uptick in state tax collections. "We certainly have our work cut out for us," says House budget chief Aaron Michlewitz, citing speculation about federal support levels. #mapoli

State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Feb 25

NEW: Both House and Senate Democrats have caucuses scheduled for Wednesday, which may mean that long-awaited leadership and committee assignments are on deck. #mapoli

State House News Service @statehousenews.com · Feb 25

NEW: Mass. House rejects a proposed rule change that would have forced the chamber to submit to an audit by Auditor DiZoglio's office in compliance with a voter-approved law. The 24-127 vote broke along party lines with all Democrats but one opposed to the audit. #mapoli

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