Updates on the Hydro Relicensing of FirstLight Power
On Earth Day, I wanted to share a few updates with you regarding FirstLight Power’s hydro relicensing process. Read on to learn more. ***** As many of you are aware, […]
On Earth Day, I wanted to share a few updates with you regarding FirstLight Power’s hydro relicensing process. Read on to learn more. ***** As many of you are aware, […]
Written by Jared Freedman, Chief of Staff When Jo talks to groups of constituents or advocates, she always says “people power is what makes government work,” and “people most affected […]
On Tuesday, April 9, I was honored and humbled to receive the 2024 Distinguished Legislator of the Year award from the Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM) during Autism Advocacy […]
The Joint Committee Ways and Means began a series of hearings on February 7 that would take members across Massachusetts to unpack the Governor’s proposal and to inform the legislature’s […]
On March 21, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously voted to pass An Act to prevent abuse and exploitation. This bipartisan legislation would criminalize the sharing of sexually explicit images or [...]
During the second week of March, the Massachusetts Senate passed the Early ED Act. This bill proposes making childcare more affordable and better wages for those who care for our […]
I was honored to be invited to speak to a room of Children’s League advocates focused on the needs of transition-age youth. I spoke to the youth to let them […]
On February 7, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a major deadline in the 2023 – 2024 legislative session, known as “Joint Rule 10 Day.” This is the day by which all […]
During the Ways and Means hearing I co-chaired with Representative Andy Vargas at Greenfield Community College in early March, we heard comprehensive testimony from Healey-Driscoll Administration [...]
On Wednesday, March 6, I received a Legislator of the Year Award from the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) —- an organization dedicated to supporting people living with [...]
On February 10, an article listing 11 places in Massachusetts that could be ghost towns by 2100 came across my desk. Five of these 11 towns are in Franklin County. […]
This session we are going to make community college free in Massachusetts. It’s an incredible opportunity, and a very complex policy that we have to get right. As Senate Chair […]
Last week, the Joint Committee on Ways and Means kicked off hearings on Governor Healey’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposal. (Just as a reminder: The budget process begins with a […]
On February 1, the Senate debated a comprehensive gun safety bill, S.2572, An Act to sensibly address firearm violence through effective reform—the SAFER Act. The following is a summary of […]
This month, my team and I are celebrating five years of service to the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district — that’s 175,000 people in 25 remarkable communities within three counties in […]
Joe Tringali — a 45-year member of the Stavros Center for Independent Living; a passionate, beloved, and fierce leader in the disability justice movement — passed away on December 27. […]
Today, I spoke on the Senate floor in support of An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The bill passed the Senate with […]
Author Margaret Wheatley wrote, “Whatever the problem, community is the answer.” In that important observation, she captures my own love, appreciation, and respect for local service. [...]
With recent investments in college affordability, Massachusetts jumped from 26th in the nation to 12th in the nation in financial assistance rankings. Not surprisingly, news broke recently in [...]
One of the biggest expenses municipalities incur every year is road and bridge maintenance. Particularly with climate change making extreme weather more frequent and severe, the amount that [...]
On Monday, December 4, the Senate and House passed a conference committee report for a closeout supplemental budget. The $3.1 billion bill provides funds for a number of urgent needs […]
On October 30, I testified before the Joint Committee on Education in support of S. 2388 and H. 3567, An Act to provide a sustainable future for rural schools, which […]
This fall, my team and I are working with an incredible cohort of interns and fellows. Read on to learn more about the newest members of the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester […]
This summer I was honored to be selected by Senate President Karen Spilka to serve as the Senate Chair of the Massachusetts Commission on Agriculture in the 21st century. Below, […]
I offered the following testimony on October 20, 2023 for An Act relative to end of life options. You can watch the video here. *** Chair Decker and Chair Cyr: […]
I offered the following testimony on October 16, 2023 for An Act allowing spouses to serve as caregivers. You can watch the video here. *** Chair Kennedy and Chair Livingstone, […]
Our hearts are shattered by the wrenching and ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza. I am horrified by the terrorist assault by Hamas on Israeli civilians, the killing, torture, and […]
I delivered the following testimony before the Joint Committee on Education on October 4. *** Chair Garlick and Chair Lewis: I am glad to be here with Senator Miranda, Gomez, […]
On October 2, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary, Rebecca Tepper, and her team joined Representative Aaron Saunders, Senator Jake Oliveira, and me for a tour of the Quabbin Reservoir and [...]
The House and Senate Conference Committee charged with working out differences between the two branches’ tax relief proposals successfully negotiated a compromise bill. The bill is linked here. [...]
Alternative route announced during tunnel closure for a Hadley section of the Norwottuck Rail Trail. We heard from many of you with concerns about bicycle and pedestrian safety during the […]
On September 20, Mass Cultural Council announced the FY’24 recipients of their Festivals & Projects grant program, which included several organizations in our district! I’d like to thank the [...]
Cities and towns throughout the state do not have the tax base or borrowing ability to build new or upgrade existing public safety and municipal buildings. We have each seen […]
I offered these remarks at the 2023 Launch of the UMass Amherst School of Public Policy. Thank you to the School of Public Policy for inviting me to speak […]
On August 31, 2023, elected officials and community college presidents joined together at Greenfield Community College to celebrate MassReconnect, the administration’s program to provide free [...]
This week, August 6 – 12, marks the 24th Annual National Farmers Market Week! This is a great opportunity to show our local farmers some love, especially after the devastating […]
On the final day of July, both the House and Senate took up and passed a $56.2 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget. This is the last step in the […]
It has been a hot summer so far, and it is only getting warmer! Below please find a list of locations across our communities that are open to the public […]
On Thursday, July 27, the Legislature passed a bill that includes $375 million in funding authorizations for transportation needs across the state. Included in the bill is $200 million for […]
I offered the following remarks on July 27 during a floor debate on An Act relative to gender identity on Massachusetts identification *** This bill advances basic human dignity. The […]
On July 26, the Senate passed a $513 million supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), which included $20 million for natural disaster relief for farmers and growers affected by […]
On July 20, the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs and the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Resouces announced that 165 organizations across the Commonwealth will [...]
The following is a brief and very preliminary summary of the impact of significant and sustained rain on farms in the Commonwealth’s four western counties during the week of July […]
July is Disability Pride Month. My team and I wanted to take a moment to share some of the bills we’ve filed, in partnership with House members, thanks to the […]
Extraordinary and moving testimony from constituents Laurie Millman (executive director of Center For New Americans) and Asani Furaha in support of a bill I filed, S. 1336, An Act *Expanding* [...]
On Thursday June 29, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC) are unconstitutional in violation of the Equal [...]
I joined Representative Mindy Domb in nominating mother-daughter pair Debora Bridges and Anika Lopes for the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women’s (MCSW) annual Commonwealth Heroine [...]
Yesterday the Senate debated and voted to approve a $590 million tax relief bill. This bill was full of responsible changes to our tax code, focused on providing relief to […]
I was honored to offer the following remarks on June 10 at Franklin County Pride 2023 and to close by introducing Congressman Jim McGovern. *** Hello Franklin County Pride! Let’s […]
On May 31, my team and I met constituents across the Commonwealth from Beacon Hill to Greenfield. Chief of Staff Jared Freedman met with the Starlight Girls Club during their […]