Here’s where Jo is leading on issues that are vital to the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district.
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People Powered Progress
Senator Jo Comerford’s Legislation for the 2025 — 2026 Legislative Session
There is nothing more powerful than an informed, active, and engaged public. Nothing.
Our Commonwealth is staring down some of the most significant and acute challenges we have ever seen. The intensity of the issues we face must be matched — simply and unequivocally — by the level and focus of our work.
Starting in July 2024, my team and I began meeting with constituents and stakeholders to listen, learn, vet, and research new bills that respond to diverse and emergent concerns — while also refining critical bills from last session that have not yet passed.
Every bill we file and cosponsor is on behalf of you — the 175,000 constituents we serve across 25 cities and towns. Constituents help shape, sharpen, and drive our shared agenda. Your people power makes progress possible.
Taken as a whole, our 2025-2026 legislation is a mosaic of the hopes and concerns of our region.
Read on to learn more about the legislation we’ve filed on agriculture and food security; civil rights and protections; democracy and transparency; education; energy, environment, agriculture, and food security; families; health and health care; and housing, infrastructure, and economic development — much of which would have a direct impact on western and north central Massachusetts.
These are bold, necessary, timely bills, which build upon the success we’ve had and the momentum we’ve gained together.
Bringing this legislation to the finish line this session will take all of us. This moment needs your voices, your testimony, and your advocacy. Together, we can build a more just and equitable future for all.
Agriculture and Food Security:
An Act encouraging the donation of food to persons in need
Food insecurity levels across the Commonwealth remain high, with one in three households reporting experiencing food insecurity. At the same time, food waste accounts for more than one fifth of Massachusetts’ trash. Many farmers want to donate their excess crops, but donating excess crops requires storage, time, and labor, all of which cost money. My bill facilitates the donation of food from farms, grocery stores, and restaurants by extending liability protection in existing law to allow for direct food donations, and creates a tax credit of up to $25,000 for the donation of food to non-profit organizations.
An Act relative to an agricultural healthy incentives program
The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) provides Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) users with extra benefits each month when they buy healthy, local fruits and vegetables from participating farm vendors. HIP provides critical nutrition and food access for food insecure residents, essential revenue for farmers, and jobs and increased economic development activity in communities across the state. Despite its importance, HIP is not enshrined in statute and can experience abrupt funding cuts. My bill establishes a permanent, year-round Healthy Incentives Program in statute, ensuring stability for residents and farmers alike.
An Act relative to membership updates for the Massachusetts Food Policy Council
The Massachusetts Food Policy Council was established in 2010 to promote the production, accessibility, and consumption of Massachusetts-grown foods. The statewide Council, which includes legislators, executive agency representatives, and industry appointees, meets publicly at least four times each year and focuses on initiatives to increase local food access, protect resources, and support the economic viability of local food systems. My bill adds representatives from the Division of Marine Fisheries and the UMass Agricultural Extension to the Council and allows members of the Council’s advisory committee to receive compensation for their time, ensuring that the Council has representation from all food system stakeholders and that non-government members of the advisory committee are compensated equitably for their valuable time and participation.
An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts (the FARM bill)
Despite their essential role in the Commonwealth’s food system and economy, many farmers struggle to make a profit and keep their farms and businesses afloat. Between 2017 and 2022, Massachusetts lost farmland at twice the national rate, losing approximately 27,000 acres, and American Farmland Trust estimates that Massachusetts could lose an additional 89,000 acres of its remaining farmland by 2040 without significant new investments and policy changes. My bill makes a number of reforms to support farms and farmers and preserve valuable farmland, including directing the state to maximize the amount of local food that is distributed through state food assistance programs, creating a grant to support training for new farmers, allowing farmers to use state grants for used farm equipment, facilitating agritourism, and other initiatives to strengthen the state’s food systems and help farmers remain competitive and viable.
The state Constitution recognizes the importance of agriculture by allowing farmland to be taxed based on its value as agricultural or horticultural land, rather than as commercial or residential land. However, farms must be at least five acres to qualify under this provision. My constitutional amendment allows smaller-sized farm parcels to qualify. This change would benefit urban farmers who often pay exorbitant property taxes for small parcels of land, new farmers who cannot find or afford large parcels of farmland, and existing farmers who want to expand production to smaller and/or noncontiguous parcels.
Resolve promoting equity in agriculture
The state has an obligation to provide all Massachusetts residents with an equal opportunity to farm and to succeed in farming. We know Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color are significantly underrepresented among Commonwealth farmers, but we do not have the data, understanding, or plans needed to increase diversity and expand access to the agriculture sector. My bill establishes a Commission on Agricultural Equity to develop recommendations for investments, policies, and practices that promote racial equity in agriculture in the Commonwealth.
Civil Rights and Protections:
An Act establishing a jail and prison construction moratorium
Jails and prisons in Massachusetts are operating overall at 60-80% of their capacity, as the Commonwealth has seen a significant decline in incarceration over the last decade. Massachusetts must continue to reduce the number of people incarcerated in jails and prisons, address the root causes of incarceration, and invest in community-based alternatives to prison and after-incarceration support. My bill imposes a five-year moratorium on the construction or expansion of jails, prisons, and other correctional facilities. A state-wide pause will allow the Commonwealth to consider and implement the research on investing in incarceration versus a range of proven alternatives and community-based support. This moratorium does not affect necessary maintenance and upkeep on existing correctional facilities.
An Act establishing an Indigenous Peoples Day
Indigenous people in the Commonwealth and across the United States have been working to educate the public about Christopher Columbus, the impact of colonization, and the longstanding and continued injustices perpetrated against Native Americans. Thanks to their efforts, 34 states and territories recognize the day in a different way or not at all, with some observing Native American or Indigenous Peoples Day in addition to or in replacement of Columbus Day. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, Massachusetts is one of only 16 remaining states to still singularly observe the second Monday in October as Columbus Day. My bill directs the Governor to declare the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day to acknowledge the history of genocide and discrimination against Indigenous peoples in our Commonwealth and nation, and to celebrate the thriving cultures — past, present, and future — of Indigenous people and tribal nations in Massachusetts.
An Act providing for gender-neutral bathrooms
Sex-segregated restrooms fail to accommodate all people, posing special difficulty to transgender and gender-nonconforming people. Research from the Gay & Lesbian Straight Education Network shows that nearly 45 percent of LGBTQ+ students avoid school bathrooms for this reason. In 2023, I filed a bill directing changes to the state building code to allow gender-neutral bathrooms without the need for a special permit. Thanks to great partners in the Healey-Driscoll Administration, these changes have now been made to the building code regulations. As “bathroom bills” continue to be filed in states across the country, and state legislatures attempt to limit an individuals’ right to use the restroom associated with their gender identity, I am refiling this legislation to enshrine these changes in statute, ensuring that the new building code cannot be reversed by future administrations.
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. In 2024, Governor Healey launched the Trails for All Initiative, implementing many provisions from my bill. I am refiling this legislation to codify in law a 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.
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. My 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 2023, the Massachusetts State Police implemented the Blue Envelope Program. My bill enshrines this program in law.
An Act prohibiting the use of Native American mascots by public schools in the Commonwealth
Indigenous leaders in the Commonwealth and the Indigenous Legislative Agenda are calling for an end to public school mascots that make caricatures of Native American words, symbols, and culture. Decades of social science research has shown that these one-dimensional Native American mascots have damaging psychological and social consequences for Native American and non-Native students alike. My bill bans athletic team names, logos, and mascots that refer to Indigenous peoples or cultures and creates a process for phasing out any remaining Native American mascots.
An Act protecting personal security
People who apply for a legal name change in Massachusetts are currently required to post their name change in a local paper. While some judges waive this antiquated requirement, not all do and gender-nonconforming and transgender individuals as well as survivors of domestic violence risk harm or discrimination if a judge does not waive the requirement or if they do not know that they can ask for the requirement to be waived in the first place. My bill strikes the publication requirement and further provides people seeking a legal name change with the option to request that the records of their name change be segregated from public records if a court determines that an open record would jeopardize their safety.
An Act relative to trans-inclusive health care access
Gender-affirming care is health care. Yet currently, insurance coverage for gender-affirming care services is subject to additional prior authorization requirements, creating barriers for individuals seeking this care. My bill requires insurance companies to cover gender-affirming care upon receipt of one letter from a qualified mental health professional, aligning state law with the accepted World Professional Association for Transgender Health standard and reducing unnecessary administrative burdens on providers and individuals seeking this care.
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. My resolution 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.
Democracy and Transparency:
An Act increasing government accessibility for persons who are blind or visually impaired
Dial-by-name phone directories are used to help callers navigate large agencies and organizations, including offices within state government. However, dial-by-name directories can be inaccessible for people who are blind or who have visual impairments and cannot see the phone dial-pad. My bill requires all state government offices that utilize a dial-by-name directory to either replace or supplement the directory with an accessible method of routing calls.
Resolve increasing representation of all commonwealth residents in the state house art collection
The Massachusetts State House hosts one of the oldest public art collections in the nation, with pieces dating back to the eighteenth century. The State House Art Collection tells the story of the Commonwealth, depicting historical figures and events through paintings, murals, artifacts, and more. However, the collection does not represent the Commonwealth’s full history nor the diversity of its residents. My bill creates a special commission to review and make recommendations for updating the State House Art Collection to honor contributions from underrepresented and marginalized groups and celebrate the state’s cultural and geographic diversity, so that all Commonwealth residents can see themselves and their histories represented in their state capitol.
An Act providing for transparency and geographic equity in all state grant funding
Appropriating grant funding is a key function of state government. Grant funds are used to support education programs, environmental conservation work, public health services, community development efforts, municipal infrastructure projects, and much more. Despite the importance and prevalence of these funds, Massachusetts does not track nor report on grant funding in aggregate, making it impossible to evaluate the impact of state funding or assess whether grants are distributed equitably. My bill directs the Executive Office of Administration and Finance to create an interactive, publicly accessible dashboard with data on all state grant funding, including information on how much grant funding is distributed each year to every county and every municipality in Massachusetts. The bill also requires an annual report evaluating geographic equity in the distribution of state grant funding, with recommendations for how the state can improve geographic equity in the following year.
An Act relative to state employment postings
Massachusetts should have equal opportunity and access in hiring practices. The state falls short of this goal because there is no requirement that open state jobs be posted publicly online. My bill directs state officials to create a single, comprehensive online system and to require that all state job openings are posted in the online system.
Education:
An Act ensuring tuition equity at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture
The Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst hosts a unique associate degree (AS) program for students interested in pursuing a career or further education in agriculture. Stockbridge’s AS program sets students up for success, with most students finding employment after graduation or transferring to a bachelor program within the University system. However, enrollment in the Stockbridge AS program has dropped precipitously over the last 20 years. One significant factor is the high cost of a Stockbridge associate degree compared to a similar degree from a Massachusetts community college. MassEducate, the state’s newly launched free community college program, makes this differential even wider. My bill expands MassEducate to include the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, enabling students to pursue an associate degree in agriculture without worrying about the cost.
An Act establishing the Massachusetts farm to school program
Providing fresh, local food to schools promotes nutritious eating, supports farms and fisheries, and gives an important financial boost to local economies. The Massachusetts FRESH grant program has been successful in enabling schools and early education programs to serve high-quality meals made with locally grown foods, while at the same time educating students about nutrition and where the food they eat comes from. My bill establishes a new Massachusetts Farm to School Program, codifying the existing FRESH grant program in state law and adding a local food incentive to provide matching funds to schools for purchasing locally grown food.
An Act establishing the official sedimentary structure of the Commonwealth
Armored mud balls are rare Jurassic period sediments found scattered across Franklin County. My bill makes armored mud balls the official sedimentary structure of the Commonwealth, properly recognizing these structures for their geologic significance and providing increased opportunities to educate Massachusetts residents about the state’s rich geologic history.
An Act expanding access to higher education tuition and fee waivers for adopted foster children
When a family adopts a child from the foster care system, the child is entitled under Massachusetts law to free tuition at state universities, colleges, and community colleges. However, a loophole in our financial aid system has meant that this tuition waiver does not cover courses taught at night or by faculty who are not full time. My bill allows students to use financial aid tuition and fee waivers for any course offered by a state institution of higher education.
An Act to facilitate student financial assistance
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA, is the free application that students and their families must use to apply for federal financial aid for college or career school. The FAFSA determines a student’s eligibility for grants, work-study funds, loans, and scholarships and can help families understand their options for financial aid at different schools. Despite the FAFSA’s importance, only 55% of high school seniors in Massachusetts completed their application in 2024. My bill requires all high school students to complete the FAFSA, unless a student’s parent or guardian submits a waiver. It also requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide guidance and funding to school districts to assist school staff and administrators with implementing this new requirement.
An Act to modernize the endowment match program for community colleges
The Commonwealth provides an endowment matching program for all public higher education institutions to encourage and assist with private fundraising. However, for a donation to be endowed, it typically has to be $25,000 or larger. Donations made to community colleges are often smaller than those given to state colleges and universities, so community colleges are rarely able to take advantage of the state endowment funding match. My bill allows any privately raised donations — regardless of amount — to count toward a community college’s match potential. The bill maintains that matched funds continue to go into a community college’s endowment to allow the funds to grow over time.
An Act relative to student mental health
The state’s most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that, in 2021, an alarming 18.4 percent of students seriously considered suicide, with 14 percent making a plan and 7.6 percent attempting suicide. Further, only 11.3 percent of students asked for help from a doctor, counselor, or hotline before their suicide attempt. My bill directs that newly printed school ID cards for public school students in grades 6-12 and students in public colleges and universities include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline directs all callers to trained call takers who are available to provide free, confidential emotional support for those in crisis.
An Act to provide a sustainable future for rural schools
Rural schools face many structural challenges, including declining enrollments, stagnating local tax bases, disproportionately high transportation and special education costs, and a state funding formula that favors schools with dense populations and larger enrollments. My bill addresses these and other issues by providing funding for regional schools, school building construction and renovation, and exceptional transportation and special education costs; supporting shared services among regional schools and looking for ways to reduce their health care costs; and establishing commissions to review and update special education regulations and funding to better support rural schools. The bill also ensures representation from western Massachusetts on the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education so that our communities have a voice in the state’s decision-making body.
Energy and Environment:
In 2024, the legislature passed significant and necessary clean energy legislation (An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity and protecting ratepayers). However, provisions in the new law amended the way the state defines a clean energy generating source to newly include both nuclear fusion and pumped hydro storage power plants. Nuclear fusion, the process used to generate energy from nuclear power plants, is not a clean energy process — uranium mining, disposal of radioactive waste, and far-reaching consequences from nuclear power accidents represent serious risks and challenges to environmental and human health. Similarly, the construction of dams and reservoirs for pumped hydro storage facilities can affect local ecosystems, displace people and wildlife, and produce methane emissions, among other concerns. My bill removes nuclear fusion and pumped hydro storage from the definition of clean energy, and also prevents existing energy storage systems from being eligible for state procurements — ensuring that the state meets its climate goals by procuring new energy storage, and not by providing additional incentives for existing storage facilities.
Our current mosquito management system, based on a statute enacted in 1918, is woefully out of date. The structure is fragmented, does not reflect current scientific understanding, provides no opportunity for public input, and uses environmentally toxic pesticide spraying as the primary response to mosquito-related threats. My bill updates the state’s mosquito control system to prioritize education, monitoring, and habitat modification and allows pesticide use only for disease control. The bill prohibits aerial spraying of pesticides and completely bans the use of chemicals containing PFAS. The bill also allows residents and municipalities to opt out of ground-level spraying, unless the Governor has declared a state of emergency.
An Act investing in natural and working lands
When a parcel of forest, farmland, or a wetland is developed and permanently converted to another use, biodiversity, local food systems, and public and environmental health are negatively impacted, and the Commonwealth’s ability to fight climate change now and into the future is reduced. Although Massachusetts’ natural and working lands are critical to prevent runaway global warming, the state does not currently have a ‘no net loss’ goal or requirement. My bill gives the Commonwealth the mission to preserve our natural and working lands and wetlands. It directs state agencies to prevent the permanent conversion of these lands, and recognizes the financial burden on the municipalities that are stewarding the lands that we all need to survive. It also updates the threshold for an environmental impact review to grapple with modern day developments like solar and battery facilities.
An Act maintaining the state disaster relief and resiliency trust fund
In 2023, after a summer of devastating storms, I filed legislation to create the state’s first permanent disaster relief fund. Thanks to the work and partnership of the Governor and great colleagues, most of that policy was signed into law and the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Trust Fund was established. This fund will provide financial assistance to municipalities, organizations, farms, businesses, and individuals to recover from natural disasters. However, the language signed into law did not include a dedicated revenue stream for the fund. My bill protects the fund’s long-term sustainability by redirecting ten percent of the state’s excess capital gains taxes to the fund, ensuring that state support is always available to help our communities in the wake of future natural disasters.
An Act protecting consumers from unreasonable utility rate increases
Constituents are struggling with high costs for electricity and home heating. In 2023, Massachusetts had the fourth-highest average retail electricity rates in the nation. The gas and electricity rates that we pay to utilities must be approved by the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), and current rules allow utilities in Massachusetts to make higher profits than utilities in other states are allowed. My bill protects electricity and gas consumers by prohibiting the DPU from approving a rate request that would result in a utility earning a higher profit than what is allowed in neighboring states.
An Act protecting our soil and farms from PFAS contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals that build up in our bodies and do not easily break down in the environment — which is why they are known as “forever chemicals.” Very small doses of PFAS have been linked to cancer, reproductive and immune system harm, and other diseases. When PFAS is introduced to soils used for growing crops, it contaminates the food grown in that soil and can then pass on to farmers and consumers. PFAS contamination in soil happens most frequently from the application of fertilizers made from treated wastewater, or sewage “sludge.” My bill bans the land application of sludge, requires manufacturers to test fertilizer for PFAS, provides important legal and financial protections for farmers, and provides funding to help farmers address PFAS contamination and pay for alternative fertilizers. My bill also requires the Department of Environmental Protection to create a plan to support municipalities in reducing and disposing of toxic sludge.
An Act providing for energy assistance during the summer months
As heat waves become longer and summers become hotter, there has been an increase in the number of heat-related deaths, with heat in the U.S. killing more people than any other type of extreme weather. The Massachusetts Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides funding to eligible households to pay a portion of their home heating bills, helping low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities stay warm during the cold winter months. My bill directs the state to also pay for a portion of eligible residents’ energy bills during the summer so that Massachusetts residents can stay safe and healthy during periods of extreme heat.
An Act relative to solar and battery decommissioning and recycling
Solar panels and batteries contain metals and chemicals like silicon, cadmium, copper, lithium and more. Massachusetts is counting on solar and battery facilities to meet its renewable energy goals and emission reduction requirements, but does not have a plan for decommissioning or recycling this infrastructure. My bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection, in collaboration with a stakeholder working group, to develop a statewide plan with preferred methods for managing solar and battery end-of-life, including reuse, refurbishment, recycling, and procedures for the disposal of any hazardous waste. The bill also tasks the working group with considering whether any fees on installers or manufacturer take-back programs are needed to help decommission and recycle retired systems.
An Act relative to the Quabbin watershed and regional equity
Nearly 87 years ago, the state disincorporated and flooded four towns so that eastern Massachusetts could have reliable access to pristine drinking water. The communities that surround (what’s now known as) the Quabbin Reservoir steward an invaluable resource, but they cannot access Quabbin water and receive minimal compensation for their sacrifice. My bill creates a Quabbin Host Community Development Trust Fund, into which the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) will deposit $35 million annually, indexed to inflation. These funds will be provided to Quabbin watershed communities for municipal needs and to non-profit and cultural organizations that serve the health, welfare, safety, and transportation needs of Quabbin watershed communities. The bill also provides payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for the land under the Quabbin reservoir and adds representatives from Quabbin watershed communities to the MWRA board. Lastly, the bill prohibits the MWRA from approving any new transfer of water from the Quabbin Reservoir until they have completed a study and evaluation on providing Quabbin water to surrounding communities in western and north central Massachusetts.
An Act to reform payments in lieu of taxes for state-owned land
The state-owned land “PILOT” (payments in lieu of taxes) program reimburses municipalities for the loss of property tax revenue due to tax-exempt state-owned land within their borders. However, the state-owned land PILOT reimbursement formula dramatically shortchanges western Massachusetts cities and towns and disproportionately rewards urban and suburban communities in eastern Massachusetts. My bill rebalances the formula for distributing PILOT funds based on recommendations from a 2020 State Auditor report to achieve fair reimbursements to western Massachusetts cities and towns. For the first time this session, my bill also proposes that we value the “ecosystem services” provided by our natural and working lands, like clean air, water, and carbon sequestration — those services that allow for life on earth.
Families:
An Act establishing a bill of rights for children in foster care
Every child in foster care should have the rights inherently belonging to all children. In addition, because of their temporary or permanent separation from birth parents and other family members, children in foster care require special safeguards and resources. My bill codifies the rights of children in foster care in state law and requires that foster children and their caregivers are provided with a simplified, centralized resource outlining their rights.
An Act transferring foster care review responsibilities to the Office of the Child Advocate
In 2023, there were 7,853 children in placements outside their homes and in state custody due to complex issues facing their birth families. Foster care reviews are required every six months to provide oversight and make sure that each child’s service plan is appropriate. Currently, these reviews are performed by the state Department of Children and Families, which also manages the foster care system, creating an inherent conflict of interest. My bill transfers responsibility for foster care review to the Office of the Child Advocate, an independent state agency with oversight and ombudsperson responsibilities, and addresses chronic, systemic oversight issues within the foster care system.
An Act protecting benefits owed to foster children
As a longstanding practice, Massachusetts intercepted monthly Social Security (SS) payments and veterans benefits paid to foster children whose parents have died or have become disabled, reappropriating the funds through the state’s annual budget. As a result, around $5.5 million in SS benefits meant for these vulnerable youth were siphoned away each year for the state’s own use, rather than being available to these children for future use. Thanks to incredible advocates, the state stopped this practice in 2024. My bill codifies this change and directs state officials to preserve these funds for the child to use when they transition to adulthood and independent living. The bill also requires that each child is provided with financial literacy training beginning by age 14, and it establishes a reporting and accounting system to track the receipt and use of these funds.
An Act relative to toxic-free kids
Young children are particularly vulnerable to chemical exposures, including an increased risk of the development of cancer and other disabling health conditions. My bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection and the Toxic Use Reduction Institute to create a list of toxic chemicals to be prohibited in any children’s product, and it establishes processes to ensure that manufacturers report on and remove any toxic chemicals in their children’s products. The bill also bans PFAS from being intentionally added to any children’s products, ensuring that children are safe from these toxic, forever chemicals.
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. My 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. My 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.
Resolve establishing a special commission on paid family and medical leave for public employees
The Commonwealth has one of the strongest Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) programs in the country, providing most employees in Massachusetts with up to 26 weeks of combined family and medical leave each year. However, because PFML is funded through employer and employee contributions, the law does not require municipalities or school districts to participate, as the contributions required would be unworkable for small municipalities and would represent an unfunded mandate from the state. My bill creates a commission to study and make recommendations on how to extend and fund PFML for all public employees.
Health and Health Care:
An Act establishing peer-run respite centers throughout the Commonwealth
Peer respites provide effective alternatives to conventional mental health interventions for people experiencing a mental health crisis, especially for people whose needs are not met in traditional mental health clinical settings. My bill requires a peer respite center in each county, including at least two centers to specifically serve members of the LGBTQIA+ community and two centers to specifically serve Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color. The centers will be staffed and managed by trained individuals who have lived experience with the mental health system and who identify with the communities that their center serves.
An Act expanding loan repayment assistance for primary care physicians
Massachusetts has a primary care crisis, driven by a significant shortage of primary care physicians and providers across the Commonwealth. A 2025 report revealed that employment in physician office settings in Massachusetts has only increased by 1 percent since 2019, compared to more than 10 percent growth nationally. Relatedly, Massachusetts residents reported that they experienced worsening access to primary care each year from 2019 to 2023. To help address the provider shortage, my bill expands the eligibility criteria of the MA Repay Program, the state’s main medical loan repayment program, to help additional providers qualify for loan repayment assistance and to encourage them to enter and remain in the primary care workforce.
An Act protecting patients and health care workers from exposure to surgical smoke
“Surgical smoke” is the term for the vapor produced by the destruction of tissue by lasers or electrosurgical devices during surgery. Surgical smoke can contain toxic gasses and vapors such as benzene, hydrogen cyanide, and formaldehyde, as well as dead and live material, including blood tissue particles, bacteria, and viruses — posing serious health risks to nurses, surgeons, and other operating room personnel. My bill requires all hospitals and freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities to use smoke evacuation systems to protect against exposure to these toxic contaminants and plumes.
An Act providing for safe and consensual sensitive examinations
There is growing concern regarding informed consent and patient safety during pelvic and other sensitive exams. While many providers have stopped this harmful practice, some providers practice non-consensual sensitive exams on unconscious patients in clinical settings, often for teaching purposes. In other instances, patients have reported being coerced into receiving sensitive examinations by their providers. To protect patient safety and bodily autonomy, my bill prohibits doctors, medical students, and other health care providers from performing intimate exams on anesthetized or unconscious patients without first obtaining written informed consent, unless the exam is required for the patient’s care. My bill also gives patients the right to request a medical chaperone during intimate exams and requires that providers notify patients of this option.
An Act regulating the sale of hemp products to protect public health
Hemp is a cannabis plant that naturally contains cannabidiol (CBD) and less than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of marijuana. Hemp is used to create a multitude of consumer products including paper, rope, linen, textiles, and soaps, as well as ingestible and topical CBD products. Recent scientific advancements have allowed manufacturers to derive synthetic chemicals that mimic THC from hemp and create intoxicating, psychoactive hemp products that currently skirt legal boundaries. These products have been found in gas stations and convenience stores across the Commonwealth, packaged in wrappers that appeal to children and teenagers, sending children and adults alike to the hospital. My bill bans synthetic hemp products and ensures that all ingestible hemp products containing CBD are regulated and sold only in licensed cannabis dispensaries. My bill also clarifies state laws dealing with hemp to ensure public safety, provide clear guidelines for businesses and local boards of health, facilitate equitable market conditions for Massachusetts hemp farmers, and ensure consistent enforcement across jurisdictions.
An Act relative to end of life options
As Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee for four years, I had the opportunity to thoroughly research medical aid-in-dying and listen deeply to Commonwealth residents. The Committee heard harrowing stories from people whose relatives suffered during their last days and weeks of life and about the need to provide a voluntary medical option for terminally-ill people to control the timing and manner of their death. My bill allows someone who is terminally ill to choose a dignified, peaceful death by requesting medication from a doctor that may be self-administered at a time of their own choosing, should suffering become unbearable. This bill safeguards patients and medical professionals, affords dying people autonomy and compassion during the most difficult time, and protects potentially vulnerable people from coercion.
An Act relative to menstrual product ingredient disclosure
Menstrual products are used by millions of people in the Commonwealth, with the average menstruating person using more than ten thousand of these products over their lifetime. There is growing concern about chemical exposure from certain components and additives in menstrual products with recent studies uncovering PFAS chemicals and heavy metals, including arsenic and lead, in various products. Current federal Food and Drug Administration guidelines do not require manufacturers of menstrual products to disclose their ingredients, limiting the ability of consumers to make informed choices and of researchers to understand the effects of sustained exposure. My bill requires ingredient disclosure on any menstrual product sold within the Commonwealth.
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. My 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.
An Act to address medical debt through hospital financial assistance reform
Though nonprofit hospitals are required by federal law to have a written financial assistance policy for their patients, the law gives hospitals discretion in determining their own eligibility criteria and assistance amounts. As such, when uninsured or underinsured Massachusetts residents go to a hospital, there is no guarantee that they will receive financial assistance or that the financial assistance they do receive will be the same at every hospital. In 2023, one in eight Massachusetts residents reported holding family medical debt and one in seven reported trouble paying family medical bills. My bill standardizes financial assistance policies across all hospitals by establishing a standard eligibility floor, standard discounts, and a uniform financial assistance application.
An Act to reduce incidence and death from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is estimated to be the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Massachusetts in 2025. In 2019, I served on a Special Commission to Study Pancreatic Cancer, which was created to identify areas of unmet need in pancreatic cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as to make recommendations for additional legislation or support to meet these needs. My bill follows the Commission’s recommendations to establish a comprehensive pancreatic cancer initiative within the Department of Public Health to provide coordinated pancreatic cancer prevention, screening, education, and support programs.
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.” My 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.
Housing, Infrastructure, and Economic Development:
An Act creating a Municipal and Public Safety Building Authority
Buildings such as town offices, fire stations, police stations, and highway facilities are critical to the operation of a municipality. Yet, many small towns in western Massachusetts and throughout the state do not have the tax base or the borrowing capacity to build or upgrade their aging or inadequate municipal buildings. My bill creates an independent public authority, similar to authorities that help finance municipal school buildings and libraries, to provide matching funds for local municipal and public safety buildings.
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) employees who perform highway and street construction and maintenance are often placed in extremely dangerous situations while performing this critical road work. However, in the state’s Employee Retirement System, these workers are classified as Group 1 retirees, which largely includes employees with office and/or indoor responsibilities, rather than Group 2 retirees, which includes employees with hazardous occupations. My bill reclassifies MassDOT highway workers as Group 2 retirees, thereby providing them with the benefits owed to Commonwealth employees who risk physical harm during state service.
An Act facilitating cost efficient transportation
Rural towns are unnecessarily burdened by the cost of hauling their recycling and trash, as multiple trips due to weight limits imposed on trucks require driving longer distances. Currently, Massachusetts allows trucks to weigh up to 85,000 pounds. Larger trucks can safely carry more materials and will save rural towns from expensive and unnecessary costs. My bill allows tandem trucks operating on approved public roads to weigh up to 99,000 pounds if they have a permit, reducing the need for multiple trips.
An Act enabling a local option for a real estate transfer fee to fund affordable housing
Skyrocketing rents, first-time homebuyers being shut out of the market, long waitlists for affordable housing: Massachusetts has a housing crisis. Last session, Governor Maura Healey and the Legislature partnered to pass a $5.1 billion housing investment bill, but even this hefty sum won’t build the 200,000 units that experts say we need. My bill gives cities and towns the option to levy a local fee on the transfer of luxury real estate, with the money generated from the fee going into that municipality’s affordable housing trust fund.
An Act prohibiting video recording or broadcasting while driving
Driving safely requires a driver’s full attention, yet in recent years there has been an increase in video calls and video blogging, or “vlogging,” while driving. My bill addresses a loophole in the current law by banning drivers from recording or broadcasting video of themselves, or from using an augmented reality device, while driving. This bill honors Charlie Braun, a gifted and beloved musician and community leader who was killed when he was struck by a car while riding a bike in Northampton. Tragically, the driver was distracted by a FaceTime video call while she was driving.
An Act promoting geographic equity in state-funded housing development
In August 2024, Governor Maura Healey signed the Affordable Homes Act (AHA) into law, authorizing a transformative $5.1 billion investment in housing production over the next five years. It is imperative that the Commonwealth track where the funds are disbursed to ensure maximum impact and equitable distribution throughout the state. My bill requires the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) to publicly report on all funding and housing production resulting from the AHA, as well as any other state funding distributed for housing production. The bill also requires HLC to ensure geographic equity in the state’s Qualified Allocation Plan, the document which helps guide how and where to allocate federal funding for affordable housing.
An Act providing for timely reimbursement of cities and towns for veterans’ benefits
Local veterans’ service officers provide critical, often life-saving resources and services to veterans across the Commonwealth. The state shares the cost of veteran’s services with municipalities, however, cities and towns often wait a full year to be reimbursed by the state, imposing a significant strain on local budgets, particularly in small towns. My bill directs the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services to reimburse municipalities within six months of any expenditure being certified so that municipalities can better support veterans and not be burdened financially awaiting reimbursement.
An Act relative to historic districts and commissions
The Commonwealth’s historic buildings contribute to its economy, character, culture, and quality of life. However, the tools for preserving historic buildings haven’t changed in 50 years. My bill implements best preservation practices, provides support to local historic commissions, and aligns historic preservation with state climate goals and sustainability efforts.
An Act relative to regional planning agencies
Regional planning agencies (RPAs) provide indispensable services to the Commonwealth’s 351 municipalities, helping local governments address complicated, cross-jurisdictional challenges involving water and wastewater systems, housing, transportation, workforce training, services for elders, economic development and more. My bill ensures that RPAs remain financially solvent so that they can be strong and prepared for the important work ahead.
An Act relative to the efficient management and operation of the registries of probate
The Probate and Family Court is a department within the Commonwealth’s court system, tasked with delivering timely justice to the public by providing an equitable, accessible forum to resolve legal matters including divorce, custody, wills, estates, trusts, and more. There are 14 Probate and Family Courts across Massachusetts, each with their own Register of Probate. Since the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code was implemented in 2012, probate courts have experienced an increase in cases and petitions and accordingly have hired additional assistant registers to enable the courts to continue their work in an expeditious manner. My bill updates the statute that structures probate courts to reflect these changes.
An Act relative to transparency in credit card fees
Massachusetts is one of only four U.S. states where it is illegal for businesses to impose a surcharge when a customer uses a credit card to make a purchase. Credit card processing fees for businesses are typically between 1.5% and 3.5% of the transaction total, and they can add up to substantial sums, disproportionately hurting small businesses. My bill permits Massachusetts businesses to charge customers a fee to cover only the credit card processing fees, provided that the surcharge amount is posted prominently on their premises and website.