MASSPIRG calls for action on pending bills

With just a few weeks left in this legislative session, MASSPIRG calls for passage of the following key bills which enjoy overwhelming support and have made significant process though the legislature. 

The Pollinator Protection Bill, filed by Representative Dykema and Senator Eldridge to protect bees and other pollinators from the harmful pesticides known as neonicotinoids by restricting its use. H.763 is pending before the House Ways and Means Committee. More information here.

The Student Loan Borrowers’ Bill of Rights, filed by Senator Lesser and Representative Higgins, will protect borrowers from unfair, predatory, and deceptive lending and loan servicing companies by establishing common-sense consumer protections, licensing loan servicers, and establishing an ombudsman to assist borrowers. The bill is currently pending as part of the Economic Development bill, in conference. (S.2874, H. 4887).  More here. 

An Act Relative to Energy Savings Efficiency (Energy SAVE), filed by Representative Cutler and Senator Lewis. The bill updates energy and water efficiency standards for common household and commercial appliances. Efficiency standards ensure that the products we purchase use less energy and water while preserving quality and affordability. The bill is included in S.2500, the climate bill, currently in conference committee.

Surprise Out of Network Billing, protects consumers from receiving “surprise” bills for out-of-network care that they did not or could not intentionally choose to receive. The practice should be prohibited permanently, and extended for all procedures, as part of the Health Care Bill,  S 2796 and H 4916 currently in conference committee. 

An Act to Protect Children, Families, and Firefighters from Harmful Flame Retardants, HB4900 and S2349, filed by Representative Decker and Senator Creem. These bills phase out the use of harmful toxic flame retardants in children’s products and residential furniture. The bill passed both houses last session but was sent back with changes by Governor Baker too late for action. Currently, the bills have passed the House and Senate and are awaiting final action.  

An Act Authorizing and Accelerating Transportation Investment, H.4547, S.2813. The “Transportation Bond Bill” is an opportunity to authorize major, much needed investments in a modern transportation network for Massachusetts. We also support including some of the provisions from H.4530, An Act relative to transportation finance, which increased transportation user fees  and other revenue sources to raise a projected $500-$600 million annually for transportation. The bond bill is pending before a conference committee.

An Act to Accelerate the Transition of Cars, Trucks, and Buses to Carbon-Free Power, S.2498. This bill would require the MBTA purchase only zero-emission buses starting in 2030, limit state purchases or leases of vehicles to zero-emissions starting in 2024, study the electrification of municipal, school and Regional Transit Authority fleets, permanently authorize the MOR-EV rebate program, and require the installation of charging stations at all rest stops on the Mass Pike. This bill passed the Senate and is pending in the House Ways and Means Committee.