Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from budget vetoes by Gov. Maura Healey. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.

$3 million for professional development for early educators (H 4800)

The House, 154-2, overrode Gov. Healey’s veto of $3 million (reducing funding from $8 million to $5 million) for a program that provides professional development and higher education opportunities and supports for statewide recruitment and training needs of early educators.

“I am reducing this item to the amount projected to be necessary,” Healey said in her veto message. “Due to substantial resources made available in this budget for MassEducate, critical wrap-around supports for students, and new early educator scholarship and loan forgiveness programs, the portion of funding vetoed here is no longer needed to meet the purpose of this item.”

The Senate did not act on the veto so the veto stands and the $3 million was eliminated.

A “Yes” vote is for the $3 million.

Rep. Natalie Blais — Yes

Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes

Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes

$300,000 for UMass Center in Springfield (H 4800)

The House, 134-24, overrode Gov. Healey’s veto of the $300,000 for a reserve fund for the UMass Center in Springfield, a satellite of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where academic programming is offered.

Healey said the veto brought the budget for this line item back in line with her fiscal year 2025 budget recommendation and what the administration understood to be necessary for the operation of the center in FY25.

The Senate did not act on the veto so the veto stands and the $300,000 was eliminated.

Sen. Adam Gomez and Reps. Carlos Gonzalez and Orlando Ramos, the three legislators who represent different parts of Springfield, did not respond to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them to comment on the veto and override.

A “Yes” vote is for the $300,000.

Rep. Natalie Blais — Yes

Rep. Aaron Saunders — Yes

Rep. Susannah Whipps — Yes

Also up on Beacon HillAudit the Legislature

State Auditor Diana DiZoglio sent a letter to top Beacon Hill Democrats, including House Speaker Ron Mariano, D-Quincy, and Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, demanding that they comply with her plans for an audit of the Legislature. DiZoglio’s letter comes after voters in November approved Ballot Question 1 asking them if they favor allowing the state auditor to audit the Legislature.

“Our audit will cover all of the topics we were unable to fully review in our previous audit, due to your [earlier] refusal to participate in the audit process,” DiZoglio wrote. “Our work will start with a review of high-risk areas, such as state contracting and procurement procedures, the use of taxpayer-funded nondisclosure agreements and a review of your balance forward line item — including a review of all relevant financial receipts and information.”

Mariano’s opposition to the audit goes back several years. In March 2023, he wrote in a letter to DiZoglio, “That your office has the legal authority to conduct an audit of the General Court is a claim entirely without legal support or precedent, as it runs contrary to multiple, explicit provisions of the Massachusetts Constitution and is wholly unnecessary as the public currently has full and ready access to the House’s financial information.”

A new debate recently began about when the voter-approved law actually takes effect. DiZoglio at a press conference said it takes effect on Dec. 5, marking 30 days from the Nov. 5 election. Secretary of State William Galvin disagrees and maintains the law takes effect on Jan. 4 — 30 days from the Dec. 4 certification of the November election results.

Raise the required minimum auto insurance coverage (H 5100)

The Senate adopted and sent to the House a Gov. Healey amendment changing the effective date of a new law that increases the minimum amount of liability auto insurance a driver must purchase, from $5,000 for property damage to $30,000; and for bodily injury from $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident to $25,000/$50,000. The law approved by the Legislature was scheduled to take effect immediately. Healey’s amendment would delay the effective date to July 1, 2025.

Gov. Healey said she supports the increases.

“The current amounts have not been updated in over 30 years and the proposed increases would provide meaningful coverage for those who experience personal injury or property damage due to a motor vehicle accident,” Healey said. “But I also recognize that the language as currently drafted would become effective immediately upon my signature, providing insurance companies inadequate time for implementation. Insurers must update current policies and submit new forms and rates to the Commissioner of Insurance for review and approval before implementing these changes. Based on feedback from industry stakeholders, pushing out the effective date to July 1, 2025 will ensure that these changes take place in an orderly way.”

$294.8 million for clean water

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust approved $294.8 million in new low-interest loans and grants to help communities build or replace water infrastructure that enhances ground and surface water resources.

Supporters said the funds will ensures the safety of drinking water, protect public health and develop resilient communities.

$5 million to protect forest lands

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced more than $5 million in grants to protect forest land that will be managed as reserves. These projects are designed to fight climate change and allow forests to mature, strengthening how these habitats store carbon. The grant program, a result of the Forest as Climate Solutions initiative, aims to designate 10% of Massachusetts forests as reserves, where active management is limited and natural processes play out.

“Forests are our best natural carbon sinks,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “As trees age, they absorb and store more carbon dioxide — crucial in helping us fight climate change. By supporting community and land trust efforts to limit land conversion and increase permanent land conservation, we are preserving forests for generations to come.”

Universal health care

The Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care (Mass-Care) announced the official results of its Question 6 (or 7), depending on the district, which was on the November ballot in 11 state representative districts. The question was approved in all 11 districts with an average “yes” vote of 64%.

The ballot question specifically asked, “Shall the representative for this district be instructed to vote for legislation to create a single-payer system of universal health care that provides all Massachusetts residents with comprehensive health care coverage including the freedom to choose doctors and other health care professionals, facilities and services and eliminates the role of insurance companies in health care by creating an insurance trust fund that is publicly administered?”