When the House and Senate gavel back in Tuesday after their Fourth of July break there will be less than four weeks remaining until the end of formal sessions, including two weeks when legislative leaders have agreed to release members to attend national political conventions in Cleveland and Philadelphia. The House and Senate each have scheduled one formal session, on Thursday, with the House planning to take up an economic development bill and the Senate considering parole, probation and education bills.
Details of an accord reached on veterans legislation are expected to surface and it’s possible that a conference committee could produce a consensus bill governing public accommodations for transgender individuals. Gov. Charlie Baker could also sign the fiscal 2017 budget (H 4450) and announce his vetoes and amendments, although he has until Monday, July 11 to announce his decisions.
Outside of the legislative arena, the Governor’s Council on Wednesday interviews Superior Court Judge Frank Gaziano, kicking off the first of three hearings in the coming weeks on Baker’s Supreme Judicial Court nominees. Wednesday is also the deadline for sponsors of four 2016 ballot questions to file their final rounds of signatures with Secretary of State William Galvin, who is locking down the final details of the November 8 general election ballot.
