Ways and Means advances bills on disability protections, fentanyl test strips and affordable car rentals to third reading

The Massachusetts Senate received committee reports from Ways and Means and advanced several policy bills to a third reading, including a bill described on the floor as an update to “Nikki’s Law” addressing protections for individuals with disabilities (Senate No. 165), a bill relative to fentanyl test strips (Senate No. 1057), and an affordable car rentals bill (Senate No. 2367, substituted by Senate No. 2603). The clerk announced the committee reports and senators asked unanimous consent to suspend rules so the matters could be considered forthwith.

On each item, the presiding officer asked if there was objection to suspending the rules; the chair recorded none when no objections were voiced and the rules were suspended. The Senate then ordered each bill to a third reading. For the affordable car rentals bill, the committee report recommended that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft; the chamber adopted the committee amendment and ordered the bill, as amended, to a third reading.

The transcript records procedural floor action — committee reports, motions to suspend rules, adoption of committee amendments and orders to third reading — but does not include floor debate on the substantive content of the bills, fiscal notes, or amendment text. The transcript lists the committee names and senate bill numbers as read into the record; to evaluate policy implications, full committee reports and bill drafts should be consulted.