Public hearings on bills that have been filed this session are well underway — 64 of the 68 bills we filed on your behalf this session have now had a hearing and will continue into the fall.
If you would like to be notified about opportunities to testify on legislation, sign up to be added to an email list corresponding with your priority issue area(s).
Below are hearing summaries from October. Remember, these are just the bills I filed, not the bills I’ve cosponsored like RetirementPlus, Regulations for Crypto Machines, etc.
Expanding access to trails for people of all abilities
On October 7, the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources heard a bill I filed in partnership with Representative Michelle Ciccolo, S.548/H.915 – 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.
Read my testimony here.
Watch my testimony here.
Maintaining the state Disaster Relief and Resiliency Trust Fund
On October 7, the Joint Committee on Revenue heard a bill I filed in partnership with Representative Natalie Blais, S.1936/H.3030 – 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, to help 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.
The bill redirects 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.
Read my testimony here.
Watch my testimony here.
Supporting trans-inclusive health care access
On October 14, the Joint Committee on Financial Services heard a bill I filed in partnership with Representatives Natalie Higgins and Christine Barber, S.681/H.1188 – An Act relative to trans-inclusive health care access.
Gender-affirming care is health care, and it is increasingly under attack in our country.
Yet currently, insurance coverage for gender-affirming care services is subject to additional prior authorization requirements, creating barriers for individuals seeking this care.
The 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.
Read my testimony here.
