Members of the Massachusetts Senate return to Beacon Hill for the second and shortest of three stretches of formal sessions during the 2015-2016 General Court. The House doesn’t have a formal session planned next week but representatives will be back on the Hill for a slew of public hearings on issues such as regulation of ride-sharing services, access to early education, expungement of criminal records of juveniles, free community college, trafficking of fentanyl, and a mandate for police to file reports on use of force.

Governor Charlie Baker and legislative leaders focused nearly exclusively over the first seven months of formals on state budget issues, a perennial concern, and efforts to improve operations at the MBTA. The rest of the legislative agenda awaits, and the coming stretch of formal sessions – the branches have kept to a schedule of one per week – will run until November 18th before lawmakers take another breather that will run into January. Legislative leaders keep specific agenda items relatively secret, but action is expected soon on a budget bill to wrap up fiscal 2015, which could have an impact on how much UMass students pay in tuition.  Lawmakers are actively considering changes to energy policies, a title-clearing bill for foreclosed properties, public records access issues, and policies to address growing rates of addiction to opioids and heroin.  Senators this week outlined an opioid bill that they’ve been working on for months and which could emerge for a floor vote in the next few weeks.  It would also not be surprising to see movement soon on a transgender rights bill given growing levels of support and lobbying on behalf of that legislation.

To hear Henry Epp’s conversation with State House News Service reporter Matt Murphy, click on the audio player above.