Katie Lannan

Massachusetts

State House Reporter at GBH News (Boston, MA)

state house reporter for @gbhnews. #mapoliwithanimals superfan. alumna of @statehousenews + @lowellsun. president, mass. state house press association.

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Articles

State lawmakers poised to open up ‘black box’ of committee votes

5 days ago | wgbh.org | Katie Lannan

June 23, 2025 Massachusetts residents could soon gain new insight into where state lawmakers stand on the bills they review and what arguments are being made to sway those lawmakers. House and Senate Democrats announced Monday that, for the first time since 2019, the two chambers have reached an agreement on a shared set of rules shaping the flow of legislation through Beacon Hill.
Northeast governors, Canadian premiers pledge collaboration despite trade war and tourism slide

1 week ago | nhpr.org | Katie Lannan

This story was originally produced by WGBH. NHPR is republishing it in partnership with the New England News Collaborative. Maine’s 176 craft breweries are already feeling the impacts of tariffs on aluminum and other packaging materials from Canada. Canadians’ reservations at Vermont hotels are down by 45%. And in Massachusetts, where nearly 2,400 Canadians study each year, Gov. Maura Healey is wondering about the impacts on research institutions and teaching hospitals.
Northeast governors, Canadian premiers pledge collaboration despite trade war and tourism slide

1 week ago | wgbh.org | Katie Lannan

June 16, 2025 Maine’s 176 craft breweries are already feeling the impacts of tariffs on aluminum and other packaging materials from Canada. Canadians’ reservations at Vermont hotels are down by 45%. And in Massachusetts, where nearly 2,400 Canadians study each year, Gov. Maura Healey is wondering about the impacts on research institutions and teaching hospitals.
Trump is trying to ban states from regulating AI. State lawmakers are pushing back.

3 weeks ago | wgbh.org | Katie Lannan

June 06, 2025 A group of Beacon Hill lawmakers is resisting federal efforts to put a 10-year pause on state regulation of artificial intelligence. They warn the policy could bar them from adopting consumer protections and election integrity measures.
Mass. House votes to overhaul Cannabis Control Commission

3 weeks ago | wgbh.org | Katie Lannan

June 04, 2025 State representatives outlined their vision of a more efficient and accountable Cannabis Control Commission as they passed a bill Wednesday that would overhaul the embattled agency and make other changes to the way marijuana is regulated in Massachusetts. The bill won unanimous support in the House, though advocates for equity in the marijuana industry cautioned some provisions could threaten the survival of small, local businesses.
Healey says 250,000 people in Massachusetts could lose insurance under GOP’s proposed cuts

1 month ago | wgbh.org | Katie Lannan

May 27, 2025 Elected officials in Massachusetts are warning that cuts approved by the U.S. House last week could cost 250,000 Bay Staters their health insurance and tear a hole in the fabric of the state’s broader health care system. U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey joined Gov.
Four things to watch as state lawmakers negotiate a new $61 billion budget

1 month ago | wgbh.org | Katie Lannan

May 22, 2025 A $61 billion state budget passed the Massachusetts Senate on a 38-2 vote Thursday night, setting the stage for a round of legislative dealmaking that will chart the state’s course on liquor licensing, transportation funding, vocational schools and more. The Senate budget and the version the House passed in April have similar bottom lines – both would raise state spending more than 6% over the current budget – but differ in the specifics of how they allocate some of that money.
Healey freezes state hiring amid federal funding cuts

1 month ago | wgbh.org | Katie Lannan

May 14, 2025 Gov. Maura Healey on Wednesday announced a forthcoming hiring freeze across state agencies, while also rolling out a new online dashboard tallying the scope of federal funding cuts to Massachusetts.
Former MBTA chief Brian Shortsleeve joins GOP race for governor

1 month ago | wgbh.org | Katie Lannan

May 12, 2025 Venture capitalist and Marine veteran Brian Shortsleeve on Monday became the second Republican to officially line up for a chance to challenge Gov. Maura Healey in 2026. Shortsleeve’s campaign launch video touts his time helping to lead the MBTA under former Gov. Charlie Baker. His tenure at the transit agency and its subsequent performance with Healey’s team at the helm are likely to become focal points as the race unfolds. “A few years ago, the MBTA was falling apart.
Medicaid funding fears loom over Massachusetts state budget

1 month ago | wgbh.org | Katie Lannan

May 06, 2025 Top Democrats in the Massachusetts Senate are seeking to boost state spending by more than 6% next year. Despite that increase, they say non-negotiable rising costs left them little wiggle room in crafting their budget. The $61 billion budget plan unveiled Tuesday by Senate leaders is slightly smaller than the version already passed by the House, and diverges from it in areas like transportation funding and vocational school admissions policies.