In the week spanning from August 11-15, 2025, there were no roll call votes in either the House or the Senate of Massachusetts.
As the legislative session progresses, Beacon Hill Roll Call highlights attendance records for local representatives accumulated through August 15.
The House has conducted a total of 72 roll calls so far this session.
According to Beacon Hill Roll Call’s calculations, 107 representatives, comprising 66.9 percent of the total, did not miss any roll call votes and thus maintained a perfect 100 percent attendance record.
Conversely, 53 representatives, or 33.1 percent, missed one or more roll call votes.
Among them, Rep. John Lawn (D-Watertown) stands out for having missed the highest number, tallying 22 missed roll calls and achieving a roll call attendance record of 69.4 percent.
Beacon Hill Roll Call made multiple attempts to reach out to Rep. Lawn for comments on his absences, but he did not respond.
Following Rep. Lawn, several others also missed significant numbers of votes:
– Rep. Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick) missed 20 roll calls, resulting in a record of 72.2 percent.
– Reps. Christopher Flanagan (D-Dennis), Chynah Tyler (D-Roxbury), and Judith Garcia (D-Chelsea) each missed 19 roll calls, leading to records of 73.6 percent.
– Rep. John Gaskey (R-Carver) missed 17 roll calls, achieving a record of 76.3 percent.
– Rep. Patrick Kearney (D-Scituate) missed 16 roll calls (77.7 percent), while Mary Keefe (D-Worcester) and Tram Nguyen (D-Andover) each missed 15 roll calls (79.1 percent).
– Reps. James Murphy (D-Weymouth) and Alyson Sullivan-Almeida (R-Abington) each missed 14 roll calls (80.5 percent).
– Finally, Reps. Natalie Blais (D-Deerfield), Richard Haggerty (D-Woburn), Erika Uyterhoeven (D-Somerville), Susannah Whipps (I-Athol), and Kathleen LaNatra (D-Kingston) rounded out the list, having missed 11 roll calls and securing attendance records of 84.7 percent.
Subsequent to these figures, Beacon Hill Roll Call attempted to contact these representatives for explanations on their absences.
While several representatives did not respond, a few provided insights:
Rep. Nicholas Boldyga explained, “A couple of days were missed due to health-related issues in my immediate family.
My responsibilities as a father of three young children came first on those days.
Unfortunately, unlike the Senate that allows for fully remote participation on all levels, House rules make it difficult to even vote remotely.”
Rep. Judith Garcia remarked, “I missed two days due to illness and two days on official business with the Chelsea delegation, participating in the National All-America City competition in Denver, Colorado, which Chelsea won.
One of those four days included 13 roll calls, so it’s important for readers to know that multiple roll calls in a single day do not equal multiple absences.”
Rep. John Gaskey noted, “Thirteen roll calls were on the same day.
I was out of town and unavailable.
Three more roll calls were on the day [that I was] involved with a delicate constituent issue and chose not to attend, determining it was more important to assist constituents in need than to throw a ‘No’ vote at something I don’t think should be legal.”
Rep. Natalie Blais stated, “I was unable to be present in the House chamber for the sitting held on February 6, 2025, due to a family conflict.
My missing of roll calls that day was due entirely to the reason stated.”
Rep. Richard Haggerty also shared, “I missed a single day of voting this session on February 6, 2025, when I was unfortunately not able to attend a session due to a family commitment.”
Rep. Susannah Whipps explained, “The missed votes all pertained to the engrossment or amendments to one bill, H 57, a supplemental budget.
I headed out to Boston early but turned around after observing the conditions of the road.
Schools across my district were also closed that day – February 6, 2025.
In the ten years prior, I had only missed one vote.”
Rep. Kathleen LaNatra described her situation, “I missed those roll call votes because my husband was in the hospital undergoing emergency brain surgery.
While I take my responsibility to be present and vote very seriously, during that period my priority had to be with my family.
I have since returned to full participation in the House’s work.”
As of now, the session is continuing to address various legislative matters.
In a significant development, a law that took effect on August 1 mandates landlords, instead of tenants, to cover the costs associated with broker fees unless the tenant was the one who initially hired the broker.
This regulation was part of the $60.9 billion fiscal 2026 budget enacted by Gov. Maura Healey in July.
In light of this change, Gov. Healey stated, “This is about saving you money, thousands of dollars you can now spend on whatever you need or put it away for the future.
And this is just one way I’m lowering costs and getting after high housing prices.”
Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll echoed similar sentiments, saying, “Between first and last month’s rent, a security deposit and a broker’s fee — moving to a new apartment was breaking the bank for far too many Massachusetts residents.”
Additionally, the House has given initial approval to a bill that would enable local licensing authorities to grant temporary licenses to charities, allowing these organizations to accept wine, beer, and alcohol donations for their events.
Supporters of the bill noted that these licenses were permitted under legislation in 1997 but have since expired.
Sponsor Rep. Joan Meschino (D-Hull) emphasized, “Today, more than ever, nonprofits are in need of charitable donations to stay afloat.
This bill would allow for safe and regulated alcohol licensure for nonprofits in order to raise revenue at charity events by partnering with alcohol manufacturers.”
Moreover, there is a hearing set for September 15 regarding legislation that would mandate government entities to equip first responders with Narcan, an opioid antagonist utilized for emergency treatment of opioid overdoses.
The bill stipulates that Narcan must be available in responders’ emergency vehicles or directly on their person.
Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem), the bill’s sponsor, commented, “Delays in the administration of opioid antagonists can be deadly.
We cannot be sure which category of first responder will be the first to arrive on the scene, and training and providing all first responders with opioid antagonists will ensure we are able to effectively treat overdoses and save lives.”
Furthermore, Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s Citizen Information Service has released a brochure titled “Low and No Cost Options for Higher Education,” aimed at promoting new financial aid programs accessible to Massachusetts students in public colleges and universities.
Galvin stated, “In the last few years, Massachusetts has created several new pathways to affordable learning, but students and their parents may not be aware of these options.
This publication is meant to educate the public about grants and scholarships that may be available, to help alleviate the burden of student loans.”
In another development, the Healey Administration announced a substantial investment of $46 million aimed at expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure throughout Massachusetts.
This funding is intended to address identified gaps in charger availability, particularly along secondary roadways and for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper remarked, “We’re making it easier for everyone to get around as more Massachusetts residents choose to drive electric.
Not only are these vehicles fun to drive, but they are typically less expensive to maintain than their gas- and diesel-powered counterparts.
We are committed to building a cleaner environment and vibrant economy for everyone.”
Bonnie Heiple, Commissioner of the Mass Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), also commented: “This funding allows MassDEP to cut air and noise pollution in communities across the state — driving real change for a healthier Massachusetts.”
In the meantime, Beacon Hill Roll Call keeps track of the time spent in session by the House and Senate each week.
It is commonly noted by legislators that while sessions are vital, a considerable amount of important work is executed outside the chambers.
This work includes committee engagements, research, and constituent outreach—factors essential for their districts.
Critics argue, however, that the limited frequency and duration of the sessions can lead to an ineffective legislative process characterized by rushed decisions and late-night sessions just before the conclusion of an annual session.
During the week of August 11-15, the House convened for a total of 26 minutes, while the Senate met for slightly longer at 27 minutes.
Specifically on Monday, August 11, the House was in session from 11:01 a.m. to 11:12 a.m., and the Senate from 11:12 a.m. to 11:31 a.m.
Subsequently, there were no House or Senate sessions held on Tuesday, August 12, and Wednesday, August 13.
On Thursday, August 14, the House convened from 11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., while the Senate met from 11:01 a.m. to 11:09 a.m.
The week concluded with no sessions on Friday, August 15.
In conclusion, as the summer session continues, attendance patterns, legislative changes, and updates on key issues such as housing, public health, and educational access remain pivotal topics for both representatives and constituents throughout Massachusetts.
image source from：franklinobserver
