This is the hardest blog I’ve had to write this session.
I believe an honest accounting of our work for the 2023-2024 legislative session must include an accounting of bills that I filed that did not advance to the Senate floor for passage.
Here’s a heartbreak round up. The following doesn’t include all the bills you may care about. Please email jo.comerford@masenate.gov if you have questions.
End of Life Options
S.1331 — An Act relative to end of life options, allows someone who is terminally ill to choose a peaceful death by requesting medication from a doctor that may be self-administered at a time of their own choosing. The bill had 18 Senate cosponsors and made more progress this year than it ever has, being approved by both the Public Health and the Health Care Financing Committees. However, it did not make it to the Senate floor for a vote, and I’m determined to pick it up next time and build on the momentum from this session.
End Native mascots
S.245 — An Act prohibiting the use of Native American mascots by public schools in the Commonwealth, directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to require schools with names, mascots, or logos that refer to, represent, or are associated with Native Americans to select a new name, mascot or logo. Social science research is definitive: Native mascots perpetuate harmful stereotypes that have been proven to have serious negative psychosocial consequences for Native Americans, especially Native youth, including generating stress, producing negative emotions, lowering self-esteem, and reducing future aspirations. This bill was approved by the Education Committee but stalled and was not taken up by the full Senate.
Nuclear bills
Enough nuclear weapons currently exist to end human life on earth forever. The United Nations has moved to address this existential threat, and although the United States continues to produce and stockpile nuclear weapons, our Commonwealth can and should be part of the solution.
I filed S.1487 — A Resolution to embrace the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and move the U.S. back from the brink of nuclear war, which declares the Commonwealth’s support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and directs the legislature to take action towards the elimination of all nuclear weapons.
I have also introduced a Resolve S.1488 — Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to the existential threats posed by nuclear weapons and climate change to the commonwealth of Massachusetts, which creates a commission to explore ways to protect the residents of the Commonwealth from the threat of nuclear weapons and to work towards the total elimination of these weapons from all countries.
Both of these bills advanced this session to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, but did not go further.
Local option real estate tax for affordable housing
Every day more and more people are getting priced out of their homes and out of the Commonwealth due to a lack of affordable housing options. The sharp increase in housing prices has exacerbated racial and economic disparities. I filed legislation, S.1771 — An Act granting a local option for a real estate transfer fee to fund affordable housing, to create a flexible, local option that allows a municipality, if it chooses, to place a limited transfer fee on high-end real estate. Funds raised by the fee would be retained locally, to fund local affordable housing needs. Despite a robust coalition of support, the bill attracted powerful organized opposition from real estate interests and was not able to move out of committee.
Pause construction of new prisons and jails
The Commonwealth has no need for extra capacity for incarceration, with jails and prisons operating overall at 50-60% of their capacity. This bill, S.1979 — An Act establishing a jail and prison construction moratorium, puts a 5-year pause on construction of new correctional facilities and any expansion or conversion of existing correctional facilities that would increase capacity. The bill does not prohibit routine maintenance or improvements for food service or medical services at existing correctional facilities. The bill is powered by incredible advocates and attracted strong support as it was approved by committee late in the session, but it did not advance to the floor.
End high-stakes testing
I believe in accountability and academic excellence, as does every educator I know. But I do not believe in allowing a single, deeply flawed test to determine whether or not a student receives a high school diploma — regardless of whether that student has passed all their requisite coursework. We should not punish individual students for systemic shortcomings. A disproportionate number of Black, Latino, low-income, and English Learner students, as well as students with disabilities are denied diplomas due to failing one of the MCAS tests, even when they have fulfilled all local graduation requirements. My bill S.246 — An Act empowering students and schools to thrive, would not eliminate statewide MCAS testing, but take it out as the sole factor determining if a student graduates. The bill stalled as attention shifted to a statewide referendum on MCAS on the ballot this fall, which I support.
