The People's Blog

For decades, sewage sludge — a byproduct of wastewater treatment — has been promoted as a safe, sustainable fertilizer.  But striking evidence shows that spreading sewage sludge can poison [...]

On March 31, I was honored to share a few words with the new inductees to the Pi Sigma Alpha organization at UMass Amherst, which is the National Honors Society for Political Science. Read on for [...]

The Joint Committee on Ways and Means has now held six hearings on Governor Maura Healey’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget.  #1 – March 6: Initial hearing in Gardner Auditorium in the State [...]

On March 24, I had the opportunity to host and Chair a Joint Committee on Ways and Means hearing at UMass Amherst focused on the education and local aid funding in Governor Healey’s fiscal year [...]

I’m writing to share an update on the relicensing of FirstLight, one month before MassDEP’s deadline to issue, deny, or waive a final 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC).  Because of [...]

Throughout the week of March 17, better known as Ag Week, my team and I partnered with Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) to spotlight farms in the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester [...]

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic and our world flipped upside down.  As a first-term Senator, I learned lifetimes-worth of lessons in the early [...]

Throughout the second week of February, the State House rumbled with the advocacy of constituents from the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district and beyond. On Tuesday, my team met with waves [...]

There is a great deal of turbulence at the federal level making our work at the state level that much more important. And the need for the House and Senate to work effectively, efficiently, and [...]

On January 24, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) published a DRAFT Water Quality Certification (WQC) decision for FirstLight Power’s Turners Falls Dam and [...]

On January 28, District Elena Cohen and I traversed the roads between Erving and Athol, and back again, as we met with nonprofit, state, and municipal leaders to speak about the vital Meals on [...]

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 the impact of a [...]

Twenty one 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, with a short description [...]

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 welcome, I was [...]

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 and safe [...]

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 out-of-hospital birth [...]

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 [...]

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 debate and 43 roll call votes, our [...]

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 suppliers to replace [...]

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 to the homeowner owing back taxes. [...]

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 living, [...]

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 to share [...]

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 passed.  ****** S.1506 — [...]

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 here. (It [...]

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 the work my team and [...]

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, also called the [...]

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 to ensure rural [...]

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 legislation. We heard from more [...]

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 with [...]

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 earlier this month.  [...]

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 [...]