Legislature

Since Rep. Chynah Tyler took over the Caucus, many of the body’s longstanding practices have been upended. The body has not agreed on an agenda for the year, has not held regularly scheduled meetings and has passed up opportunities to weigh in on key issues.

Part of activists’ push for fairer housing, the HOMES Act, as well as updates to Boston’s zoning code and new tenant protections, were all sent to the governor’s desk last week. The bills move affordable housing forward and signal the state’s urgency around protecting tenants during the pandemic.

Debates on the Fiscal Year 2021 budget in each branch of the state Legislature have come to a close, and legislators are getting ready for conference committees to start deliberating on a final product. Activists have been following the process closely, and after the House of Representatives finished its debate, pushed for their amendments to pass in the Senate version.

Although the Legislature was scheduled to wrap up its business on Friday, July 31, the House and Senate agreed on July 29 to extend the session.