Just days left for tricky Beacon Hill compromises

Massachusetts State House lawmakers are scrambling to finish at least some of the work they assigned themselves this year before recessing in six days for the remainder of the year.

Why it matters: House and Senate members leave most of the heavy lifting until the very end of their two-year session.

• Deals are worked out between the branches until and beyond the 11th hour, but there's usually one or two major pieces of legislation that won't pass simply because elected officials ran out of time.

The big picture: There's plenty more work in front of the top Democrats that schedule votes and negotiate compromises.

• They need to iron out differences between the branches in the much-touted housing bill meant to spur home construction and relieve price pressure in one of the most expensive markets in the country.

They'll also have to wrap up a massive economic development bill that would double down on the state's investments in the burgeoning life science sector.

Friction point: The House wants more state borrowing and bigger tax breaks for companies than the Senate, which prefers a more modest package that's almost a billion dollars cheaper.

• Also hanging in the balance is authorization for a new soccer stadium to be built in Everett.

State of play: They've made some progress this week. Both chambers approved a bill yesterday to require that companies with more than 24 employees post pay ranges when publicizing job openings.

• Advocates want to make it easier for workers to know what their labor is worth in a competitive job market.
• It would also make companies with over 100 workers file equal employment data to let local officials identify employment gaps based on race, gender and other distinctions.

The House and Senate also signed off on a final compromise for the $1.3 billion information technology borrowing bill that will enable state investment in artificial intelligence and health care tech, as well as allow the state to upgrade cybersecurity and public-facing portals.

What's next: Beside housing and economic development, lawmakers are looking to cut final deals on prescription drug reforms and climate and clean energy legislation before they turn into pumpkins Aug. 1.