Statehouse Spotlight: Bills move ahead of state primary election

BOSTON (WWLP) – This week at the State House in Boston, a few priority bills moved in quiet sessions ahead of election excitement next week.

In the House, a senate-approved bill that would change the statute of limitations in child sex abuse cases was passed.

A long-term care industry care bill was sent to the governor’s desk.

One bill made it all the way to a signing ceremony this week, which looks to improve maternal health outcomes.

Advocates say the changes it will make–like increasing access to doula and midwife care–could improve severe maternal morbidity rates, which are especially prominent for women of color.

“As a black woman and a labor and delivery nurse, I’ve seen the disparities in maternal health outcomes up close,” said Tiffany Vassell, a registered nurse from Neighborhood Birth Center. “I’m clear that the whole system, from patients to payers, benefit when we have equitable access to the midwifery model of care.”

Looking ahead to next week, the state primary is on Tuesday.

Massachusetts’ election overseer is the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Bill Galvin.

Galvin’s office is responsible for printing November ballots that will include presidential candidates.

“We’re hoping that we’ll have a successful primary on Tuesday. I’m personally hoping there are no really close races because that will effect the ability of us to print a ballot right away which is what we want to do,” said Galvin at a press conference on Thursday.

He says his office is expecting significant voter turnout–likely totaling half a million Democrats and 250 thousand Republicans.

Western Massachusetts voters can hit the polls from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday to elect the officials that will shape future Statehouse Spotlights.

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