The People's Blog

On January 1, 2025, I was sworn in to the Massachusetts State Senate for my fourth term representing the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district.  During the moving opening ceremony, I was […]

The 2023-2024 legislative session officially closed on December 31, 2024. Before the clock struck midnight, my colleagues and I worked to pass important health care-focused bills and send them to [...]

A love letter to the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district Last week, days before the close of the current 2023-2024 legislative session, the Governor signed an omnibus substance use disorder [...]

On December 19, the Massachusetts Legislature approved omnibus legislation to combat the opioid crisis. H.5143 — An Act relative to treatments and coverage for substance use disorder and recovery [...]

On November 21, Governor Healey signed An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity, and protecting ratepayers into law.  I have engaged deeply with the Healey-Driscoll Administration [...]

As we reflect on the 2023-2024 legislative session and look forward to the 2025-2026 session, please find our combo November and December newsletter below. This newsletter includes a legislative [...]

How do we know how much money we can spend in next year’s budget? What do recent economic trends, domestically and globally, mean for Massachusetts tax revenues? What will be […]

Twenty of our bills (almost 30%) were either signed into law (in whole or in part*) or implemented by the Administration or by ballot measure. A list of them follows, […]

On November 20, Governor Maura Healey signed into law An Act relative to strengthening Massachusetts’ economic leadership (H.5100), authorizing a nearly $4 billion infusion into the [...]

On October 30, $24.6 million in Food Security Infrastructure Grants (FSIG) were announced. These grants support farmers, food production and distribution, and help ensure fresh local food is [...]

On October 31, The Daily Hampshire Gazette published an op-ed that Dr. Stephen G. Sireci, Distinguished Professor and executive director of the Center for Educational Assessment at UMass Amherst, [...]

On Thursday, October 10, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) held a Hybrid Public Information Session on the 401 Water Quality Certificate (WQC) related to the [...]

On Friday, October 11, Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) Secretary Yvonne Hao, Undersecretary Ashley Stolba, and their team spent eight hours touring the Hampshire, Franklin, [...]

On Tuesday, October 8, I had the honor of offering a legislative welcome to the 24th Annual Massachusetts Book Awards, hosted by the Massachusetts Center for the Book.  In my […]

On Wednesday, October 2, I joined Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Senate President Karen Spilka, Senate Ways & Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, Executive Office of [...]

I wanted to share timely information about the Hybrid Public Information Session on the relicensing of Firstlight Power’s Turners Falls Dam and Northfield Mountain Pump Storage Project, held by [...]

On September 6, Governor Maura Healey signed a consequential long term care oversight bill,  An Act to improve quality and oversight of long-term care (H.5033), into law. This law substantially [...]

On August 29, I joined my colleagues in the Legislature to pass sweeping reforms to the long-term care and assisted living sectors, taking a powerful step towards delivering high quality […]

On August 15, I joined my colleagues in both the Senate and the House to unanimously pass a comprehensive maternal health bill, An Act promoting access to midwifery care and […]

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 […]

Sometimes, legislation doesn’t need to become a law in order to be implemented.  My team and I work diligently to introduce bills that capture necessary policy changes requested by constituents. [...]

Back in May (which seems at once like three years and three minutes ago), the Senate passed its version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget. Over four days of […]

On July 19 I joined farmers from across western Mass at a meeting to learn about the impact of the draft Clean Heat Standard regulations, which would require heating energy […]

On July 31 (really 9:57 a.m. on August 1), the Massachusetts Legislature technically finished its 2023-2024 formal legislative session.  Highlights of what passed the Legislature and is awaiting [...]

On July 30, the Senate passed legislation expanding support for residents coping with substance use disorder, and to address the opioid crisis which claims thousands of lives each year.  S.2898, [...]

The budget signed by Governor Healey puts an end to “home equity theft” — the process that happens when a property is taken by city or town by foreclosure due […]

On July 25, the Senate approved sweeping reforms to the Commonwealth’s long term care and assisted living sectors. The legislation, S.2889, An Act relative to long term care and assisted […]

On July 18, the Senate passed urgent reforms to the Commonwealth’s health care system to boost oversight and transparency in the market and improve patient access to prescribed medication and [...]

Today, July 26, 2024 marks the 34th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, we celebrate July as Disability Pride Month.  My team and I wanted […]

On Monday July 22, the Senate began its last full week in the 2023-2024 legislative session by passing four pieces of legislation.  Read on to learn more about what was […]

On Thursday, the Senate will debate a much-needed long-term care reform and oversight bill, S.2889 — An Act relative to long-term care and assisted living. You can read the bill […]

On July 25, the Senate will take up S.2889 – An Act relative to long term care and assisted living. Prior to debate, I shared the following with constituents regarding […]

On July 11, the Senate debated and unanimously passed omnibus economic development legislation.  The legislation, S.2856 — An Act Relative to strengthening Massachusetts’ economic leadership, [...]

In February, I wrote to you after the Senate passed its version of a comprehensive gun safety bill, S.2572 — An Act to sensibly address firearm violence through effective reform, […]

On July 10, I wrote to constituents ahead of the Senate’s debate on the economic development bond bill (S.2856).  Read on to learn more about the work I engaged in […]

On June 25, the Senate debated and passed omnibus clean energy legislation by a vote of 38 -2.  Thank you to everyone who emailed or called with advocacy on this […]

On June 27, I joined my colleagues in the Senate to pass comprehensive housing legislation, S.2834 — the Affordable Homes Act, authorizing $5.4 billion in borrowing and making policy changes […]

On June 27, the Senate will debate its version of the Affordable Homes Act, the housing bond bill originally introduced by Governor Healey last fall and debated by the House […]

The following is important news about the FAFSA application and financial aid in Massachusetts which I shared with superintendents. Please feel free to use these advocacy materials in your own [...]

On June 20, I joined my colleagues in passing S.2830 — An Act to reduce plastics.  Each year I participate in river cleanups in our district. As much as I […]

On June 21, I wrote to constituents with key updates about FirstLight Energy’s hydro relicensing process. Read on for the updates. ***** Energy Use A number of you have raised […]

On June 19, ahead of the Senate’s debate on a clean energy omnibus bill, I wrote to constituents about the work my team and I are engaged in on this […]

It’s hot outside!  Below please find a list of cooling centers across our communities that are open to the public throughout the summer months.  * Please visit their website or […]

On Thursday, June 13, my colleagues in the Senate and I voted unanimously in support of H.4671, An Act Honoring, Empowering and Recognizing Our Servicemembers and Veterans (HERO Act).  This […]

On Monday, June 10, District Director Elena Cohen and I were thrilled to welcome our State House-based staff to the district for a day filled with beautiful visits and important […]

On Thursday, May 23, just before the clock struck midnight and after a delay caused by a fire alarm, my colleagues and I unanimously approved the Senate’s fiscal year 2025 […]

On Monday, May 20, the Massachusetts Senate opened its debate on the fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget proposal.  As part of the opening day of debate, I offered remarks on […]

Monday, May 20 kicks off “budget week” in the Senate, the week where my colleagues and I will debate the proposed state budget for this coming fiscal year (FY 2025), […]

Two bills suggested by constituents that I had the honor of filing are making positive progress this session.  I am grateful to constituents for bringing important issues to our attention […]

On May 2, I joined Representatives Natalie Blais, Daniel Carey, Mindy Domb, Lindsay Sabadosa, and Aaron Saunders to submit a joint public comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [...]