Massachusetts Senate Passes Home-Rule Bills, Enters Scouting Report Into Journal

BOSTON — April 23, 2026 — Massachusetts Senate enters annual scouting report into its official Journal and passes four local bills at informal session. The Senate, with Senator Sal N. DiDomenico serving as acting president and Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr presiding over the ceremonial program, voted unanimously to print the 2025 Scouting America report in the Senate Journal following a floor address by Eagle Scout Molly Murphy of Woburn's Troop 502, who earned her rank October 23, 2025. Murphy reported that Massachusetts scouts in 2025 contributed 203,738 hours of community service valued at $3,056,070, with 482 scouts attaining Eagle rank across 872 units statewide. The Senate also passed to final enactment a Marblehead means-tested senior property tax exemption (House No. 4225) and a Malden special police officer bill (House No. 4584), and engrossed amended home-rule measures for Fairhaven and Haverhill. Governor Maura T. Healy's proclamation designating April 23, 2026, as Scout Appreciation Day was read into the record and copies distributed to all six council delegations.