State House

The MBTA will need roughly $300 million to resolve pressing safety problems federal investigators flagged as the most critical immediate steps, and the price tag will likely swell once the probe wraps up, the agency’s chief said Monday. Kicking off a series of oversight hearings into glaring faults at the MBTA, General Manager Steve Poftak told the Transportation Committee his…

Road closures and side walk restrictions can be expected near the State House and McCormack Building today because of a generator drop-off. The new back-up generator is being transported into the McCormack Building via a helicopter airlift. According to the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, the helicopter will go through six trips from Beacon Street in front of…

The Maine State House closed on Monday because of a burst water pipe. A spokesperson for House Speaker Ryan Fecteau advised State House workers that the water system problem caused the temporary closure of the building. A notice also went out Monday morning telling staff to work remotely until more information becomes available. Committee meetings were still scheduled to happen…

A small group of people attempted to enter the Massachusetts State House without showing proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result early Tuesday afternoon, leading state police to arrest and physically remove two people and deny entry to about six others. Massachusetts State Police said the group was protesting the proof of COVID-19 vaccination requirement. State police confirmed…

The State House has been closed for more than 700 days, and when the doors reopen, there will be COVID-19 protocols in place.

The Massachusetts State House will reopen to the public next week, legislative leaders announced Monday. The State House will reopen Monday through Friday on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

The Massachusetts State House will reopen to the public next week, legislative leaders announced Monday. The State House will reopen Monday through Friday on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Masks will be required, as well as proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test from no more than one day before entry. “With public health data constantly evolving, we will review these…

The pandemic changed our way of life, in many ways making it more difficult, but some state lawmakers say one adjustment that should remain is the way we vote. Today, lawmakers in Massachusetts will debate the “Votes Act,” which would permanently expand early voting and make voting by mail a standard option in upcoming elections. Currently, voters must be registered…

Parents rallied at the State House Wednesday to call for change as COVID cases surge in Massachusetts schools. The group, called Families for COVID Safety, is calling on Boston Public Schools and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to “take proactive steps to stop COVID spread in our schools and communities, including fixing testing, contact tracing, and ventilation.” “Parents…

Rhode Island dropped “Providence Plantations” from its name a year ago, but not from its buildings. Providence Plantations is written in the script in marble near the State House dome and on bronze plaques in the entryway. The state seal with the full former name is on the rotunda floor, the elevator doors, door numbers and directional signs. It’s...

The Massachusetts State House is the only state capitol in the country to remain closed to the public since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill (H 3999) prohibiting schools from punishing students with meal debts and requiring districts with large shares of low-income students to provide free breakfast and lunch.

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering changes to a 2016 animal welfare law that sets living standards for egg-laying hens and some livestock to avoid a possible egg shortage.

Lawmakers are taking up legislation Monday that would allow safe drug use sites to open in Massachusetts. Two bills decriminalizing possession of controlled substances (S 1277 and H 2119) and three bills calling for safe drug consumption sites (S 1258, H 2088, and S 1272) are on the agenda for a Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery virtual…

Massachusetts’ House of Representatives voted Thursday to require all members and staff to be fully vaccinated if they want to work out of the State House, agreeing to strict new COVID-19 health protocols that will put it mostly in line with the Senate and Gov. Charlie Baker’s policies on employee vaccination. The measure is intended to be the first...

Lawmakers will take up a vaccine mandate for themselves and workers here at the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill. House leaders propose anyone who wants to work from the state house will need to be vaccinated. Some republicans have come out against the mandate saying that they work for the people, not the legislature and should be allowed in…

House leaders have proposed that anyone who wants to work from Beacon Hill will need to be vaccinated.

MassINC Polling Group found that about 70% of people support or strongly support bringing back happy hour in Massachusetts, while only 20% oppose.

The vast majority of Massachusetts residents want to bring happy hour back, a new poll shows. MassINC Polling Group found that about 70% of people support or strongly support bringing back happy hour in Massachusetts, while only 20% of people were against it. The numbers were pretty similar across the board. Republicans were slightly more likely to support happy hour,…

Lawmakers will introduce a decade-long pilot program Friday to establish at least two safe injection sites in Massachusetts, a place where people can inject illicit drugs under medical supervision. Reps. Dylan Fernandes and Marjorie Decker, Sen. Julian Cyr and the Massachusetts for Supervised Consumption Sites Coalition will host a virtual briefing at 1 p.m. on the legislation. The proposed 10-year…