Representative Michael Soter Named to Economic Development Bill Conference Committee

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative Michael J. Soter (R-Bellingham) to serve on a six-member conference committee that will work to reconcile the differences between two comprehensive economic development proposals recently passed by the House and the Senate.

House Bill 5576 was engrossed by the House of Representatives on a vote of 148-2 on July 8, while the Senate passed its version of the bill, Senate Bill 3228, on a voice vote on July 24. The House bill allocates $561 million in spending authorizations, which is less than the Senate’s total authorization of $575.4 million, but some of the biggest differences between the two bills relate to major policy issues.

The Senate, for example, redrafted the 1986 voter-approved tax rebate law known as Chapter 62F, which requires the state to return excess tax revenues to taxpayers when certain conditions are met and was last triggered in Fiscal Year 2022. While the House chose to leave the current law intact to uphold the will of the voters, the Senate opted to revise the existing formula to cap excess state revenues at 7.5% of total state personal income, which would make future tax rebates much harder to trigger.

The Senate bill also contains provisions giving cities and towns the option to reinstate “happy hour” discounted alcohol sales, which have been banned in Massachusetts since 1984 due to concerns about binge drinking and drunk driving. The Senate bill would allow municipalities to regulate happy hours through local ordinances and would also authorize communities to designate specific districts for outdoor public alcohol consumption. The House bill does not include either proposal.

“As the Ranking Minority Member of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, Mike has been a longtime advocate for supporting local businesses and implementing statewide policies to promote job creation and help make Massachusetts more competitive,” said Representative Jones. “I am confident that he will use his position on the conference committee to help further these goals and to deliver a final economic development package that will positively impact the entire Commonwealth.”

Joining Representative Soter on the conference committee are Representatives Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston) and Carole Fiola (D-Fall River) and Senators Barry Finegold (D-Andover), Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) and Peter Durant (R-Spencer).

In addition to serving as the Ranking Minority Member of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies and the Joint Committee on Higher Education, Representative Soter is also a member of the House Committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement and the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy. He represents the 8^th Worcester District, which is comprised of his hometown of Bellingham, along with the towns of Blackstone and Millville, Precinct 1 in Medway and Precincts 1A, 2, 3, and 4 in Uxbridge.

Representative David DeCoste Appointed to Home Care Agency Licensure Conference Committee

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative David F. DeCoste (R-Norwell) to serve on a six-member conference committee tasked with reviewing a legislative proposal to enhance state oversight of home care agencies operating in Massachusetts.

Both the House and Senate have endorsed plans for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to establish and administer a formal licensing process for home care agencies, which are currently unlicensed in Massachusetts. House Bill 4706, An Act to improve Massachusetts home care, was given initial approval by the House of Representatives on November 5, 2025, when it was engrossed on a vote of 153-1. The Senate passed its version of the bill, Senate Bill 3183, on a voice vote on July 16, 2026.

“Without a formal licensing process in place, it is extremely difficult to ensure these agencies are providing quality services to their clients and not exposing them to unnecessary risks,” said Representative Jones. “As a member of the Joint Committee on Aging and Independence, David is committed to protecting the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents, and I am confident he will do everything he can to help broker an agreement on legislation containing strong and effective protections for recipients of home care services.”

Both the House and Senate versions of the bill direct EOHHS to work in consultation with the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, the Department of Public Health, and a newly created Home Care Oversight Advisory Council to develop rules and regulations for the licensing and conduct of home care agencies. The House bill explicitly mandates that the home care licensure, reporting, and oversight requirements align with requirements across the long-term care services and support system.

While House Bill 4706 and Senate Bill 3183 both empower EOHHS to revoke or suspend a license and to issue fines of up to $500 per day if an agency does not comply with the new regulations, only the Senate version includes provisions giving home care agencies the opportunity to appeal the suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew a license. Another key difference is the Senate’s proposal to create a special commission to explore the possibility of establishing a statewide long-term services and supports benefit program, which would include an analysis of the demands on the long-term care workforce and how it can be prepared to meet future needs, language which is not included in the House proposal.

Joining Representative DeCoste on the conference committee are Representatives Thomas Stanley (D-Waltham) and Frank Moran (D-Lawrence), along with Senators William Brownsberger (D-Belmont), Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville) and Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton).

In addition to serving on the Joint Committee on Aging and Independence, Representative DeCoste is also a member of the Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion. He currently serves as the Ranking Minority Member on the Joint Committee on Housing; Joint Committee on Public Service; and the Joint Committee on Transportation.

Representative DeCoste has been a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2015. He represents the 5^th Plymouth District, which is comprised of the towns of Hanover and Rockland, Precinct 1 in Hanson, and Precincts 1 and 2 in Norwell.

Rep. Hannah Kane to Serve on Workplace Violence Prevention Conference Committee

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury) to serve on a six-member conference committee charged with implementing strong workplace protections for Massachusetts health care workers.

In making his appointment, Representative Jones cited Representative Kane’s longtime focus on public health issues, which earned her the American Nursing Association of Massachusetts’ Friend of Nursing Award in April of 2017 and the Massachusetts Public Health Association Legislative Leadership Award in November of 2019 for her efforts to promote a more effective, efficient and equitable local public health system. She also received the Vic Karaian Award from the Massachusetts Environmental Health Association in May of 2022 in recognition of her leadership and primary sponsorship of the Statewide Accelerated Public Health for Every Community Act (SAPHE 2.0).

“Throughout her time serving in the Legislature, Hannah has displayed a steadfast commitment to promoting bipartisan consensus on a wide range of public health issues,” said Representative Jones. “With statistics showing that health care workers in Massachusetts hospitals are experiencing physical and verbal threats and abuse every 36 minutes, it is clear that something needs to be done to help protect these frontline workers. I am certain that Hannah will be focused on working closely with her colleagues to achieve a consensus bill that maintains the strongest possible protections for the Commonwealth’s health care workers.”

On November 19, 2025, the House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 4767, An Act requiring health care employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence. The Senate passed its version of the bill, Senate Bill 3184, on July 16, 2026.

“Too often, the health care workers who care for us and our loved ones are subjected to violence,” said Representative Kane. “My daughter Madison, her friend Skyler, and my middle daughter’s girlfriend Cassidy are all new RNs, and have already faced patients trying to physically attack them and others, even witnessing a patient punch a pregnant co-worker in the stomach. Violence in health care settings puts hardworking caregivers at risk of injury, disrupts operations, and contributes to low morale and high staff turnover. Protecting health care workers is not only the right thing to do, but a safe workplace will also improve retention and recruitment in health care settings and help staff deliver care efficiently.”

As a member of the conference committee, Representative Kane will now help to reconcile the differences between the two proposals and negotiate compromise legislation that can be sent to Governor Maura Healey. Joining her on the conference committee are Representatives Michael Day (D-Stoneham) and Brandy Fluker-Reid (D-Boston), along with Senators Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington), Joan Lovely (D-Salem) and Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton).

Both the House and Senate bills include provisions requiring facility-specific risk assessments to be conducted annually by public health employers and directing them to implement employee training and reporting procedures as part of a plan to minimize the dangers of workplace violence. All incidents of workplace violence are to be reported to the Commissioner of Public Health and the local district attorney, with protections provided to employees who report incidents of workplace violence.

The primary difference between House Bill 4767 and Senate Bill 3184 is how they would punish individuals who assault a health care worker. Under the House bill, such assaults would be considered a felony carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The Senate bill, however, would classify these assaults as misdemeanors.

Representative Kane represents the 11th Worcester District, which includes her hometown of Shrewsbury as well as Precinct 4 in Westborough. In addition to serving as a member of the House Committee on Steering, Policy & Scheduling, she is also the Ranking Minority Member on the House Committee on Ethics; the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing; the Joint Committee on Public Health; and the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

Representative Sweezey Appointed to Serve on Environmental Bond Bill Conference Committee

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative Kenneth P. Sweezey (R-Duxbury) to serve on a six-member conference committee that will conduct negotiations on a multi-billion dollar environmental bond bill designed to provide cities and towns with the resources needed to address the impacts of climate change.

House Bill 5518, An Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities, was engrossed by the House of Representatives on a vote of 151-0 on June 17. The bill is a redraft of Senate Bill 3064, which passed the Senate on April 15 by a vote of 36-3.

Both versions of the bill include funding to assist municipalities in addressing a variety of environmental concerns, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in drinking water, dam repair and removal, coastal resilience, flood mitigation, and habitat restoration. In addition to determining final funding levels, the conference committee will reconcile several key policy differences between the House and Senate bills, including proposals related to Sunday hunting, plastic bag regulations, paint stewardship, and other environmental initiatives.

The Senate version, for example, includes a controversial proposal to ban single-use plastic bags by retailers and limit the use of disposable utensils and other plastic items in the food service industry. The Senate has also proposed a new fee on paint sales to fund a statewide paint recycling program. Neither of these proposals were included in the House bill. The House also adopted language repealing the Commonwealth's longstanding prohibition on Sunday hunting, which supporters argue would expand recreational opportunities, improve wildlife management, and bring Massachusetts in line with nearly every other state. The Senate bill does not include this provision, making it one of several policy differences to be resolved in conference.

“As the Ranking Minority Member on the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, Ken is well-versed on the issues impacting communities that the environmental bond bill seeks to address,” said Representative Jones. “I am confident he will work with his fellow conferees to build consensus on a final bill that allocates state resources prudently and effectively to help achieve positive results for our cities and towns.”

Representative Sweezey enters the conference committee following a successful House debate in which he secured and supported several investments benefiting the 6th Plymouth District. The House version of the bill includes $400,000 for the North and South Rivers Watershed Association to support permitting and early construction related to the Chandler Pond Dam removal project in Marshfield. It also includes $320,000 for the Association's River Center public access project in Pembroke, $550,000 for the replacement of the Park Street culvert in Pembroke, and $40,000 to support the North River Commission's enforcement of the North River Protective Order.

“I want to thank Leader Jones for entrusting me with this important responsibility,” said Representative Sweezey. “This legislation has the potential to make meaningful investments in clean water, coastal resilience, PFAS remediation, dam safety, and environmental restoration across the Commonwealth. I'm especially proud that the House bill already includes several priorities for our district, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to preserve those investments while reaching a balanced final agreement.”

Representative Sweezey most recently served on a conference committee that negotiated a $1.56 billion supplemental budget agreement allocating surplus Fair Share surtax revenues for a variety of education and transportation initiatives across the state. That bill was enacted on June 4 and signed into law by Governor Maura Healey on June 12 as Chapter 101 of the Acts of 2026. 

This appointment marks Representative Sweezey's second conference committee assignment during his first term in the House of Representatives. Based on available records, it is believed to be the first time a freshman member has been appointed to two conference committees in a single legislative session.

Rep. Sullivan-Almeida Appointed to Conference Committee on Child Welfare Protection

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida (R-Abington) to serve on a six-member conference committee charged with resolving the differences between the House and Senate’s versions of child welfare protection legislation.

In an effort to improve communication and coordination among state agencies working with the families of children in foster care or receiving state services, the House approved House Bill 4646, An Act enhancing child welfare protections, on October 22, 2025. The Senate passed its own version (Senate Bill 3121) on June 11, 2026, with the differences between the two bills now subject to negotiation by the conference committee.

“Children are among our most vulnerable residents, and it is critically important that the Commonwealth provide them with the appropriate support services needed to help them thrive,” said Representative Jones. “Alyson is committed to strengthening state laws and programs to support and protect children, and her longtime advocacy on these issues will help guide the conference committee in its work.”

The House version of the bill establishes a special commission to study the development of a digital education portfolio system to support the stability and well-being of foster children and youth in the Commonwealth. The commission will be required to file a report and recommendations by November 30, 2026. House Bill 4644 also allows the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) to request data for research purposes from the trial court.

The Senate version of the bill establishes a network of community-based services and family resource centers to assist families and children experiencing chronic absenteeism or behavioral challenges. It also requires schools and probation officers to exhaust these community-based support options and multidisciplinary interventions before a child requiring assistance petition can be formally filed in juvenile court. Senate Bill 3121 also creates a youth engagement program within OCA “to ensure that the voices and experiences of youth in congregate care and other out‑of‑home placements inform statewide policy, oversight, and program improvement.”

Joining Representative Sullivan-Almeida on the conference committee are Representatives Jay Livingstone (D-Boston) and Judith Garcia (D-Chelsea) and Senators Joanne Comerford (D-Northampton), Robyn Kennedy (D-Worcester) and Patrick O'Connor (R-Weymouth).

Representative Sullivan-Almeida is currently the Ranking Minority Member of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, as well as the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs. She also serves as a member of the House and Joint Committees on Ways and Means, the Joint Committee on Education, and the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.

First elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2018, Representative Sullivan-Almeida is currently serving her fourth term in office representing the residents of the 7^th Plymouth District. In addition to her hometown of Abington, the district is also comprised of the town of Whitman and Precincts 1, 2 and 3 in East Bridgewater.

HAPPY 250TH BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

These inspiring words appear in the Declaration of Independence, which was signed on July 4, 1776 by members of the Second Continental Congress, marking the original 13 colonies’ decision to break free from British rule and establish a sovereign nation. Two hundred and fifty years later, these words continue to serve as a beacon of hope and promise for all who read them.

Today, the Massachusetts House Republican Caucus joins with Americans everywhere to celebrate the signing of this historic document that gave birth to the United States of America. The caucus wishes everyone a very Happy Fourth of July!