Good morning,

Good news: the legislative staff union has finally been assigned a hearing! An Act relative to collective bargaining rights for legislative employees (H2093/S1343) will be heard by the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development this upcoming Tuesday at 10 am. 

This bill is a key part of Act on Mass’ Good Government Agenda. Legislative staff are the backbone of our legislature, providing research on legislation, support to rank-and-file members, and outreach to constituents. Too often, they are overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated. Amid Beacon Hill's steep hierarchies, an empowered state house staff would mean a stronger rank-and-file and better constituent representation. And: like every other workplace in the state, they simply deserve the right to organize for better working conditions. 

If you’re wondering why you’re only learning about the hearing now, here’s the bad news: after making legislative staff wait 10 months for a hearing date, legislators violated their own rules and scheduled the hearing with only 8 days' notice. Under new rules approved this year, committees are required to provide 10 days notice before scheduling bills for a hearing. 

Legislative staff need a show of support! You can submit written testimony in support of their efforts to this email: labor.workforce.development@​gmail.com. Find their guidelines for submitting testimony here. They are also gathering sign-ons for a letter in support of their efforts. Please sign today. 

SIGN TO SUPPORT STATE HOUSE STAFF TODAY>>

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State House Scoop

In my first ever campaign job, on a Congressional campaign in Virginia, my campaign manager constantly reminded us that “all politics is personal.” I’ve carried this mantra with me since then. Although this may not have been her intention, it was a similar feeling that inspired me to move back to Massachusetts and start working for change here, where the decisions of the powers-that-be have a direct impact on the communities closest to my heart.

This line was on my mind this week as I received a text from a childhood friend who also recently moved back. Like many homes in Massachusetts, her new apartment is supplied by Eversource, and she was flabbergasted by the cost of energy: “the ‘delivery fees’ are insane!!” She asked me if I had any intel on the problem. “Is the legislature close to passing something to regulate them?” 

As autumn leaves drop on sidewalks across the Commonwealth and sweaters and jackets start to appear on the streets, such questions are on many minds right now. Let's investigate. 

As winter approaches, will state leaders act to rein in energy costs?  

Last winter, residents were shocked by huge spikes in energy costs, prompting alarm from state officials. Utilities companies blamed the high prices on a particularly cold winter and the costs of the Mass Save energy efficiency program. However, Eversource also recorded a 29% jump in profits last winter, raising eyebrows from some groups. 

In February of this year, Sen. Jake Oliveira reported “the number one issue that we hear from constituents is the rising cost of energy bills.” The sky-high prices prompted rare mid-winter action from the state’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU) which forced utilities companies to cut customer’s energy bills. Unfortunately, this relief only kicked in for March and April, once the worst was already over. 

After that experience, you'd think energy affordability would be a top priority for our state’s leaders in planning for next winter. For Pete’s sake, it’s New England! Winter happens at the same time every year! Indeed, in April, Speaker Mariano indicated (paywall) that energy costs would be a top priority of the House. 

Alas, 6 months later, I had little to report to my friend’s inquiry. Governor Healey filed energy affordability legislation in May (H.4144), a mix of proposals purported to save ratepayers $10 billion over the next decade. The bill was heard at a hearing in June, with concerns raised by people on both sides of the issue, including environmental groups and legislators. 

Since then, it has sat without action. House and Senate leadership have been described as “cool”towards Healey’s bill (pun not intended!), but no alternatives have been proposed. Formal sessions for this year are scheduled to conclude November 19th, giving legislators less than a month to get any potential legislation out of committee, passed by the House and Senate, and to the governor’s desk. 

As federal shutdown threatens to block benefits, state response still muted 

Meanwhile, the federal shutdown is throwing another wrench into the mix as we move into the 4th week without federal funding. There are a number of federal programs administered by entities within Massachusetts that rely on a monthly influx of federal funds. As the November 1st date approaches, states have been warned that they may have to stop providing programs like SNAP food assistance and rental assistance.  

Some states are responding proactively to the anticipated pause of funds. New Hampshire announced Thursday (paywall) that it has plans in place to use state funds to ensure that SNAP benefits will continue through November. Meanwhile, in MA, Governor Healey hosted a press conference Friday warning that 1 million Bay Staters will lose their SNAP benefits starting next week, placing blame squarely on the Trump administration. Healey highlighted a program launched by the nonprofit United Way to make up for the cuts, but did not mention plans for a state-backed response. State House News Service reported that the state was “seeking donations.” 

Members of the Massachusetts Senate did take some action on the shutdown this week, as they passed their version (S.2655) of the FY2025 supplemental budget passed by the House last week. Senators unanimously approved the “Federal Employees and Service Members Relief Act” as an amendment to the $2.3 billion spending package. The amendment adds additional eviction and foreclosure protections for furloughed federal workers. Its filer, Sen. Lydia Edwards, described it as the “broadest shutdown protection in the nation.”

The House version of the supplemental did not contain this provision, and differed from the bill passed by the Senate this week on other aspects, including funding for the 2026 World Cup (paywall). The two chambers will now assign a 6-person “conference committee” to iron out the differences between the bills, an occurrence that has become more frequent as legislators rely more and more on large omnibus bills to pass policy changes. 

If they make it through negotiations and become law, these protections will apply to roughly the 62,000 federal workers, service members, and reservists in Massachusetts. This is good news: federal workers deserve protections as politicians in D.C. gamble with their livelihoods. 

However, it is disappointing to continue to see little action from our state leaders on large social programs threatened by the shutdown. 1 in 6 Massachusetts residents rely on SNAP or WIC to feed their families. In last week’s “Budget Scoop,” we talked about the extra money legislators baked into the budget this year; we have backup funds for cases like this. If New Hampshire’s Republican legislature and governor can get creative with state funds to ensure that food will keep coming, our Democratic supermajority leaders have no excuse. 

For more info on impacts to SNAP in Mass and the legislature’s response, keep an eye on this guide by the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, which also includes calls to action. 

Shutdown also has implications for energy affordability 

Circling back to energy costs, the government shutdown is also expected to impact winter heating bills for some Massachusetts residents. 125,000 households in the Bay State rely on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for assistance on winter heating bills. The program usually disburses winter funds on November 1st to last until mid-March. If the government is still shut down next week, it is anticipated that these funds will lapse. 

Under state law, Massachusetts has a “winter shutoff moratorium” which prevents utility companies from shutting off electricity and gas to grid-connected households during winter. However, there are still many households in the state– particularly in older housing stock– that rely on deliveries of oil, propane, or wood to heat their homes from furnace. These “deliverable sources” are not covered by the shutoff moratorium. 

Last year, amid surging energy costs, LIHEAP saw a record number of people applying for assistance. With gaps in federal assistance and no relief on energy prices, families risk being left without proper heating for winter, unless the state acts. 

Last week, perhaps giving up on legislative action, Governor Healey ordered utilities regulators at DPU to “start combing through gas and electric bill charges line by line to reduce or remove any that don't provide a benefit to ratepayers.” Key word: “start.” It’s almost November! Meanwhile, the clock continues to tick on Beacon Hill, with the end of formal sessions just a few weeks away. I’ve made it this far without a Halloween reference but I'll make one now: spooky!

Here’s what I told my friend: if you live in a town that has one, try to get on the “Community Choice” energy plan. This program allows your municipality to negotiate collectively with the utility for better rates and is usually cheaper than buying directly from the utility. And most importantly: contact your legislator to let them know that we want action on energy bills before winter. 

Politics is still personal, and my friend’s text was a reminder why the work we do is so important– and so meaningful. When the utilities’ lobbies are allowed veto power over legislation, it is our friends who pay the price. While Eversource reports record profits in one of the coldest winters of the decade, it is our neighbors who dip into their savings to keep the heat on. And, when our political leaders fail to act, we keep each other safe. Please use your power today on behalf of your community!

TELL YOUR REP: WE NEED ACTION BEFORE WINTER>>

Worth reading: more stories from this week

Some other stories from this week: 

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Syd's Sprinkles

Syd’s Sprinkles: Maternal Health and Criminal Justice Reform Converge in New Bill

I have to admit that I wish I was giving more concrete good news, like the announcement of the passage of a new bill into law, but alas I am glad that scouring the news this week has introduced me to a new bill. 

Well, a bill that was at least new to me. 

The bill is S.1171 - An Act relative to the well-being of new mothers and infants, which was presented by Senator Joan Lovely this session. 

This bill, or at least similar bills with the same name and lead sponsor, has been presented in a number of previous legislative sessions, but died in committee session after session.

Unfortunate, but a fate that many bills have faced for years, even if there has been public support in hearings and otherwise. 

Luckily, public testimony for the bill was able to be heard this session in a recent hearing held this past Tuesday for the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. You are still able to submit written testimony by the looks of the Legislature’s website, but before you do that, I should probably let you know what the bill entails.  

This bill, if passed, would require newly postpartum mothers – those who have given birth within 12 months – who are charged with crimes to be screened for postpartum related mental health disorders such as postpartum psychosis, with the intention that findings could be used as evidence in court. In addition to this, defendants would also have access to treatment for postpartum related mental disorders post-screening and those who have already been charged and who are serving time also have the option to appeal for new sentencing to a judge. 

There is a lot of evidence supporting the need for the measures that this bill would implement into legal proceedings, especially for mothers of color. Much of the testimony given on Tuesday focused on the need for better and more expansive resources when it comes to maternal health in general. 

This bill would support our communities and the new mothers within them across the state at the intersection of maternal health and criminal justice. 

Given that it is one of the only pieces of legislation like it across the country, this bill would not only increase access to maternal health resources here in Massachusetts, but could also serve as an example for other states to make similar changes to their legal systems.

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Missed a Scoop or two? You can find a full archive of all past Saturday Scoops on our blog.

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Take Action

Rein in Reckless Utility Bills - People Over Energy Profits

Our friends at Mass Power Forward are continuing their "People Over Energy Profits" campaign from last winter! Contact your legislator today to let them know: we need action now to rein in reckless utility bills. 

TELL YOUR REP: TAKE ACTION ON ENERGY COSTS>>

Take action to get stipend reform on the ballot!

We are a month out from our deadline to get 75,000 signatures! Help us get across the finish line by pitching in in your own community. 

PITCH IN TO GET STIPEND REFORM ON THE BALLOT>>

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Thanks for reading, stay warm out there! 

In solidarity,

Scotia

Scotia Hille (she/her)

Executive Director, Act on Mass