Voters will cast ballots for a presidential candidate and vote for party representation in many districts across the commonwealth.

On Thursday, the Massachusetts Senate will take up a bill to reform and codify the state's framework for sexual health education. The chamber has passed similar legislation four times previously.

The confirmation hearing for Gabrielle R. Wolohojian on Wednesday will be the second Supreme Judicial Court pick by Gov. Maura Healey of a nominee from eastern Mass. The last SJC justice from western Mass, Francis Spina, stepped down in 2016.

An attempt by Congress to sort out the immigration issue fell apart last week. The question of how Massachusetts' governor will handle the ever increasing number of unhoused families seeking shelter in the Commonwealth, continues to be top-of-mind for many across the Baystate.

There are a number of key differences between the bill approved by the Massachusetts House last fall, and what the Senate passed last week. That could lead to a lot of work for a conference committee between early February and late July.

Massachusetts Senate lawmakers will put gun safety laws to debate this week, countering the House gun bill passed in October with legislation containing a number of key differences.

Following her State of the Commonwealth address, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has begun offering a sketch of areas where she feels the state still has enough money to deliver critical improvements. She will file her budget with the Legislature by Wednesday.

There have been many reactions to Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey's mid-year spending cuts of $375 million dollars ahead of Healey's "State of the Commonwealth" address this week.

A major environmental experiment will require new construction and major renovations to embrace fossil fuel-free infrastructure for heating and cooling in some Massachusetts communities — none yet in the western part of the state.

In this edition of Beacon Hill in 5, we hear about some new laws — and what's ahead for Massachusetts lawmakers.