The month of December was a busier time than usual on Beacon Hill. Under the new rules governing the House and Senate, early December marked the deadline for committees to decide the fate of many of the nearly 7,000 bills filed during the 194th legislative session. Legislators found out which of their bills received a favorable report and have a chance at becoming law and which were sent to study, ostensibly meaning they will not cross the finish line this legislative session.

“It has been heartening to see some of the important legislation I have put forward around child welfare, veteran services, and local initiatives gain momentum,” said state Rep. Joan Meschino, who represents Hull, Hingham, and Cohasset. “This is the time of the year where you find out what has legs.”

Home-rule (local) petitions

When addressing specific municipal-level issues, members of the legislature file home-rule petitions. Meschino and Senator Patrick O’Connor have jointly filed five this legislative session.
“Home-rule petitions are not always the most glamorous, but they are the bills that directly impact municipal operations and your daily life,” Meschino said.

- H.4247 allows Hull to increase parking fines from $50 to $100, to manage the deluge of summer visitors and the effects on the residential and business community. The bill received a favorable report and is now in front of the Committee on Steering.

- H.4739 updates the operating structure of Hull’s municipal light plant by removing the town manager as light plant manager. The bill had a hearing in late November and sits in front of the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.

- H.4314 allows Hingham to use municipal property as a location for a center for active living. The bill was engrossed in the House and is headed to the Senate for approval.

- H.4244 modernizes the permitted methods Hingham uses for publication of legal notices. The bill received a favorable report and sits in the Committee on Third Reading.

- H.4561 authorizes Cohasset to issue five additional alcohol licenses to drive the local economy. The bill received a favorable report and resides in the Committee on Third Reading.

FY26 budget recap

Meschino secured $100,000 for the South Shore Art Center to build institutional capacity to broaden community impact, as well as $5,000 for South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School for equipment upgrades to the graphic design visual communication and allied health programs.

Statewide legislation

Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day: H.4862, filed alongside O’Connor, designates September 22 as Military Service Member and Veteran Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day. The legislation was brought to their offices by the Partyka family of Hingham, who lost their son, US Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew Partyka, to suicide. The bill was signed by Governor Maura Healey on November 19.

“We brought forward this legislation in direct response to the tragedies that have left holes in the fabric of our communities and in order to build awareness to prevent future tragedy,” Meschino said. “H.4862 is an important step in offering support to both our active service members and veterans.”

Legal protection for children in foster care: H.267 ensures that a child’s attorney is alerted ahead of a new placement or hospitalization, and immediately following any arrest or disciplinary action. Children in foster care deserve stability, but most experience multiple placements, causing lasting harm.

“Legislation mandating timely communication protects children, strengthens advocacy, and improves outcomes,” Meschino said.

The bill was included as part of H.4644, a larger children and families bill, which passed the House. It will now go to the Senate for consideration.

Meschino has multiple other bills that have received favorable reports, including bills focused on minimizing trauma for children in foster care (H.266), keeping siblings together in foster care (H.268), securing adequate parental visitation (H.269), and ensuring consideration of a child’s identity during proceedings (H.270).

Sustainable funding for community media: H.91/S.41 and H.106 provide funding for community media centers by imposing a fee on digital streaming providers using public rights of way in order to sell their services to Massachusetts residents. This follows the model of fees for cable franchises.

“As we see a statewide call for transparency and trustworthy local media, this bill offers an answer,” Meschino said. “Community media centers play a crucial role in our communities and yet many are on the brink of collapse due to funding shortages. This legislation is timely and relevant.”

The bill received a favorable report from the House and Senate committees and is now in front of the Ways and Means committees for consideration.

Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women: Meschino and O’Connor’s bill, H.2313, addressing a technical error in the commission’s enabling legislation regarding how the town of Hull is listed, was signed by the governor on October 30.

Climate policy that meets the moment: One of Meschino’s top priorities remains effective climate policy. This session, she has filed legislation focused on drought management (H.1003), building decarbonization (H.3529), protecting our natural and working lands and waters (H.1005), and creating a statewide climate bank (H.3937), among other legislation.

“We are at a pivotal point in our state. It is imperative that we recognize the long-term affordability and sustainability that come with investment into clean energy, natural and working lands, and effective climate policy,” Meschino said. “Other states look to Massachusetts as a leader in climate. We must continue to be that beacon.”

Keeping affordable housing affordable: H.4063, which Meschino filed in response to rental increases at The Preserve in Cohasset, works to preserve the affordable housing that exists in our communities. Many tenants are on fixed incomes and still saw yearly rental increases as high as 30 or 40%. H.4063 caps annual rental increases at 3.5%, mandates increased affordable housing data, and increases tenant legal protections.

“If we do not make legislative change, equity firms will continue to buy up properties, siphon out value, and leave a husk of a property behind,” Meschino said. “It is past time we properly preserved our affordable housing.”

The bill had a hearing on November 19 and is in front of the Committee on Housing.

Promoting youth democratic engagement: A then-17-year-old in Meschino’s district, Samantha Bevins, first brought this proposal forward six summers ago. She was concerned that because she would be 17 during the primary election, but 18 during the general election, voters in this small age bracket would not have a voice in the primary election to select the eventual party nominee for the presidential election. Bevins proposed legislation based on data that demonstrates that voting is habitual. Now, more than ever, promoting these habits is necessary to strengthen our democracy.

“We have already seen a good deal of movement on legislation thus far, but there is a lot more opportunity ahead of us. I will continue to fight for effective policy for the Third Plymouth District both in the legislature and in local matters,” Meschino said.

The legislative session will continue for the duration of 2026. A full list of Meschino’s legislation can be found at https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/J_M1.

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