Issues

INVESTING IN OUR COMMONWEALTH

During the 193rd legislative session, the Senate worked diligently to support all residents of our Commonwealth, passing a $58 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025 which maintains fiscal responsibility while delivering historic levels of investment in every level of education, transportation regional equity, workforce development and health care, reflecting the Legislature’s ongoing commitment to delivering on affordability for residents and economic competitiveness for the Commonwealth. This spending package delivered targeted support to workers and businesses, as well as housing, health care, mental and behavioral health, climate preparedness, education, and workforce development, with a focus on making equitable investments. In addition, the Legislature passed several supplemental budgets to provide for the continued operation of the Commonwealth and focused support for programs in need of additional funding.

Legislation:

    EQUITY, ACCESS & INCLUSION

    Throughout the 193rd session, the Senate advanced several pieces of legislation to increase equity, access and inclusion in the Commonwealth. In the 192nd session I was very proud that the Legislature enacted my bills to create a Women’s Rights History Trail in Massachusetts, and to establish the third Saturday in July as Negro Election Day. The Legislature also passed bills to prohibit discrimination based on hairstyles by incorporating hair texture, hair type and protective hairstyle into the definition of race in the Massachusetts General Laws

    Legislation:

    EDUCATION

    During the 193rd session, the Senate advanced legislation to expand access to affordable early education and care, along with passing tuition free community college for all with MassEducate. The Senate's efforts also ensured today’s students are educated on the history of genocide and human rights, and to provide greater access to free breakfast and lunch for students. The Legislature has continued to fully fund the Student Opportunity Act, which passed in 2019, to ensure public schools have adequate resources for high-quality education to students across the state, regardless of zip code or income level.

    Legislation:

    HEALTH CARE &  PUBLIC HEALTH

    Increasing access to health care has long been a priority of the Senate. In the 193rd session we reaffirmed that commitment by passing comprehensive legislation addressing barriers to mental and behavioral health care, lowering the cost of prescription medications, and increasing access to postpartum and maternal care. In addition, the Legislature enacted a bill to better support our local and regional public health system, upon which we greatly depended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Legislation:

    ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOB CREATION & WORKERS’ RIGHTS 

    In the 193rd session, the Legislature’s commitment to supporting businesses, workers, and the overall health of our economy endures. Massachusetts took a strong step towards closing the gender and racial wage gap in the Commonwealth by passing An Act relative to salary range transparency. The legislation requires employers with 25 or more employees to disclose a salary range when posting a position and protects an employee’s right to ask their employer for the salary range for their position when applying for a job or seeking a promotion. In July of 2022, the Legislature enacted sports betting legislation to allow Massachusetts residents to place wagers on professional and most college sports, which the Governor signed on August 11, 2022.

    CHILDREN, FAMILIES & PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 

    In the 193rd legislative session, the Senate took steps to make early education and care more accessible and affordable for families across Massachusetts with the EARLY ED Act. In addition the Senate passed wheelchair warranty reform to provide crucial supports and protects for users, along with passing the "Blue Envelope" bill to to improve communication during traffic stops involving a person with Autism Spectrum Disorder. To support children and families, I am proud to have previously  filed legislation that was enacted to increase access to kinship adoption, and I was honored to advance legislation to give adoptees access to their original birth certificates.

    HOUSING

    Lack of affordable housing continues to be one of the most pressing issues in our Commonwealth. During the 193rd session, the Massachusetts Legislature passed the Affordable Homes Act, the largest housing investment in Massachusetts history and a powerful first step in tackling the state’s housing affordability crisis.

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

    With worsening storms and climbing temperatures, it is clear the climate crisis is more pressing than ever.  The Legislature acted last session to pass two substantial climate packages to set key emissions and clean energy goals, expand offshore wind and address emissions in the transportation and building sectors. The Senate also passed legislation that builds on the state’s climate and environmental leadership by banning single-use plastic bags, making straws and plasticware available by request only, and making it easier to recycle.

    TRANSPORTATION 

    To support the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure, last session the Legislature passed the annual Chapter 90 funding bill, including a total of $375 million in bond authorization. Every city and town in the Commonwealth received a share of $200 million in funding to be used on maintenance and construction of roads and bridges, including nearly $4 million for the Second Essex district. Separately, $150 million was allocated equally to six programs targeting specific transportation infrastructure.

    ELECTION SAFETY, INTEGRITY & ACCESS

    In June of 2022, the Legislature enacted the VOTES Act, which permanently codifies the popular mail-in and early voting options used in Massachusetts in 2020, increases ballot access for voters with disabilities and service members overseas, and takes steps to modernize the Commonwealth’s election administration process. At a time when democracy is under attack across the United States and across the globe, the VOTES Act implemented vital measures to protect and expand voting rights here in Massachusetts.

    ANIMAL WELFARE

    As an animal lover, I am proud the Senate took steps throughout the 192nd session to further protect our furry friends by passing several pieces of key legislation. This included legislation that encouraged research facilities that use dogs and cats to offer these animals up for adoption after finishing research, rather than automatically euthanizing them. This bill, which I was proud to co-sponsor and help advance, was signed by the Governor on August 8, 2022. In addition, the Senate passed legislation to ensure the safety of puppies and kittens during breeding, sale and boarding, and to discourage the illegal hunting and sale of game animals, including endangered species.