July 26 marks the 35th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act — the centerpiece of Disability Pride Month.
My team and I wanted to share some of the bills we’ve filed, in partnership with House members, and thanks to the stellar and unparalleled advocacy of constituents — who have made us smarter on a range of related issues and urged us to take meaningful action.
Below are five pieces of legislation filed in their name and thanks to their work, with thanks also to the many allies working in partnership to pass these bills into law.
#1 Establishing a Driving Program for People Who Are on the Autism Spectrum
For drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), being stopped by a police officer can be particularly challenging. Law enforcement officers or other first responders may have had little or no training in best practices for communicating with people with ASD.
The bill creates a voluntary program to make available special “blue envelopes” that hold the driver’s license, registration, and insurance cards, as well as specific instructions for the officer on the driver’s diagnosis and possible impairments or triggers. The envelope also includes space for the driver to provide emergency contact information.
I first filed this bill in 2021. In 2024, the Massachusetts State Police implemented the Blue Envelope Program. The first batch of the envelopes went quickly, and since then, 8,500 envelopes have been distributed through the program. The bill enshrines this program in law.
I am happy to report that on Thursday, July 24, the Senate once again passed this legislation unanimously.
#2 Trails for All
An Act expanding access to trails for people of all abilities
Outdoor trails connect people with nature, promote active lifestyles, and protect natural spaces while fostering community. Unfortunately, many public trails remain inaccessible to people with disabilities and mobility limitations — of the nearly 4,000 miles of trails in state parks, only 7.5 miles meet accessible trail guidelines.
In 2023, I filed legislation to create a working group of state agencies, disability advocates, and conservation organizations to assess trail accessibility and recommend effective access policies. Governor Healey recognized the value of this legislation, and in 2024, launched the Trails for All Initiative, implementing many provisions from my bill. The image below is from the launch event for the Initiative.
I have refiled this legislation to codify in law this policy to maximize equitable access to trails, outdoor spaces, and outdoor recreational activities for people of all abilities, permanently establish an advisory council to advise the state on trail access, and create a state fund to support this important work.
This bill is currently being considered by the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. It has not yet had a public hearing.
#3 Paying Family Members to Serve as Caregivers
An Act supporting family caregivers
Family caregivers provide care and support for a relative with a physical or mental health problem, allowing their loved one to receive dignified care and remain in their home. While providing this essential care and service, family caregivers often experience hardships including a loss of income if they have to leave their job, workplace discrimination, and their own mental and physical health challenges.
The bill creates new benefits and policies to support family caregivers and their loved ones, including providing a tax credit to family caregivers, allowing spouses to be paid as caregivers by MassHealth, expanding unemployment insurance eligibility to people who leave their job to care for a relative, protecting family caregivers from workforce discrimination, and creating a permanent advisory council on family caregiving.
This bill is currently being considered by the Joint Committee on Revenue. It has not yet had a public hearing.
#4 Expanding Equitable Access to Community-Based Care
An Act to support equal access to community care for elders and persons with disabilities
Providing care to people in their homes allows them to live with dignity and receive care in the community, while reducing strain on an already over-stressed nursing home system. But current law makes seniors and people with disabilities ineligible for home care if their income goes just a penny above the income limit — a policy often called the “cliff effect.”
The bill allows otherwise eligible people to receive MassHealth home and community-based care even if their income is over the program income limit, if they pay a premium equal to their income above the limit.
This bill is currently being considered by the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. It was heard at a public hearing on July 1, 2025.
#5 Strengthening transitional planning
Massachusetts provides a transition planning process for young adults with disabilities as they turn 22 or graduate from high school and age out of youth services and into adult services. This process is essential for helping these individuals and their families smoothly transition into a new phase of life, but many families report struggling to receive timely or transparent information and guidance from the state during this process.
The bill requires that transition plans be developed at least one year in advance of a young person’s transition to adult services so that families have more time to prepare for and adjust to any changes. The bill also requires better reporting and communication about program costs to ensure that sufficient funding is appropriated to meet the need, and sets up a commission to comprehensively address the needs of transition-age youth and their families.
This bill is currently being considered by the Joint Committee on Education. It has not yet had a public hearing.
