State House Spotlight: The 193rd General Court in review

2023 2024 legislative session has ended 22 News State House reporter Olivia Ray breaks down some of the laws put into place this session State lawmakers adjourned until the new session let's dive into some of the major policies they passed into law this year nearly every goal on state leadership's agenda was achieved this session from the hero act that supports and uplifts Veterans to the parentage ACT that protects the legal rights of lgbtq plus parents a job creating Bond bill was signed into law that pumps funding into the life sciences sectors and pays for economic development projects in individual communities from medical discoveries to climate Solutions we are ready to invest in people communities ideas and companies that will grow our economy lawmakers passed a massive housing bill that seeks to make living in Massachusetts more affordable that was a big deal for western Massachusetts what sometimes gets left unsaid is that housing crisis manifests itself differently depending on where you're located in the state perhaps the most controversial bill of the session is a gun law that cracks down on ghost guns and expands on the list where guns are not permitted although several lawsuits have been filed Governor Healey told 22 News she is not worried this is a smart sensible law it looks out for the rights of gun owners and uh it will withstand any challenge that comes its way Governor Healey still needs to sign some bills for for them to become law including healthc care bills like one that increases accessibility to prescription medication and one that improves Hospital oversight once signed these bills will join healthc care laws like a bill that expands long-term care options for elderly people and a bill that seeks to improve maternal Health outcomes the 194th General Court kicks off on New Year's Day and state lawmakers will start the drafting process for the next set of major Massachusetts laws working for you from the state house in Boston I'm Olivia Ray 22 News