Mass. House

Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a bill designed to tighten security around abortion clinics in Massachusetts. Wednesday's signing comes a little more than one month after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 2007 state law that established a protest-free 35-foot ``buffer zone'' around the entrances to abortion clinics...

Republican candidate for governor Charlie Baker is backing an increase in the state's minimum wage to $10.50 per hour, but says it should be coupled with tax breaks for individuals and small businesses. Baker released a series of economic proposals on Monday while beginning a statewide campaign tour...

The state Senate has approved a bill that would increase the state's minimum wage while also offering business-friendly changes in the state's unemployment insurance. Thursday's action by the Senate was largely an attempt by Democratic leaders to break a procedural logjam with the House and allow negotiations to begin over an increase in the $8 per hour minimum wage, which has not changed in the p

The Massachusetts House is giving a boost to fishery research programs at UMass Dartmouth's School of Marine Science and Technology. Rep. Antonio Cabral of New Bedford has added an amendent to the state budget sending $450,000 to SMAST to study yellowtail flounder and cod populations...

The Massachusetts House has approved a limited tax amnesty program for delinquent taxpayers. The House voted overwhelmingly on Monday to add the measure, sponsored by Republican leader Brad Jones, as an amendment to the state's $36.2 billion budget for the state fiscal year that begins on July 1...

The Massachusetts House has unanimously approved a bill outlawing the practice of handcuffing women prisoners to hospital beds during childbirth. The bill approved Wednesday would create a uniform ban on restraining women during pregnancy, labor and delivery in state and county correctional facilities unless they present a specific safety or flight risk...

Massachusetts lawmakers are vowing to act quickly to pass legislation outlawing the taking of photographs up the skirts of women in public.       The sense of urgency on Beacon Hill comes a day after the state's highest court ruled that a man who took cellphone photos up the skirts of women riding the Boston subway did not violate state law...

The Mass. House of Representatives has expelled state Rep. Carlos Henriquez, who is serving a six-month jail sentence after being convicted of assaulting a former girlfriend.       The 146-5 vote came after less than two hours of debate...

Massachusetts House and Senate lawmakers are kicking off their annual budget deliberations with a hearing on Gov. Deval Patrick’s $36.2 billion spending plan for the 2015 fiscal year. House and Senate Ways and Means committees will hear testimony from members of the Patrick administration and other top Beacon Hill officials at Tuesday’s hearing, including state Treasurer Steve Grossman and Attorne

The Massachusetts Senate has voted to increase the state's minimum wage from $8 per hour to $11 by 2016 and tie subsequent increases to inflation.       The bill, approved by a 32-7 vote, would hike the wage for the state's lowest-paid workers in increments over the next three years, with the new wage kicking in next July.  ...