Through a series of laws passed over the last several sessions, the Legislature took major steps to develop a thriving offshore wind energy sector. We put in place many of the key policy elements necessary to maximize our opportunity to harness this affordable, renewable energy source.…
Blog Archives
Driver’s License Bill Clears the House
In a victory for public safety, our economy, and human dignity, the House passed H.4461 – An Act Relative to Work and Family Mobility. This legislation allows anyone in Massachusetts to apply for a driver’s license, regardless of immigration status. The reality is…
The VOTES Act
I am pleased to report that we are expanding access to the ballot by making permanent a series of important reforms we passed during the pandemic in 2020. These reforms led to record-shattering turnout in both the primary and general…
State Policy Making in 2021
As we start the second year of the two-year legislative session, this month’s newsletter takes a look at the progress made on Beacon Hill so far in this session. I am pleased to report that the House has enacted a…
The American Rescue Plan Act
One of the most remarkable developments in the Legislature this year was the availability of federal relief funds, through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). These funds are designed to offset the negative impacts of the pandemic and make important…
The Need for a Digital Privacy Law
“We don’t search Google; Google searches us,” so says trailblazing Harvard Professor Shoshana Zuboff in her game-changing book, “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism.” The full scope of the personal information collected by many online companies is just beginning to dawn…
Sickle Cell Disease
The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the many inequalities and barriers in our health care system. One illness that has long suffered from the impact of this basic unfairness is Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). SCD is an inherited blood disorder affecting…
Air Quality and Asthma
Throughout my time serving in the legislature, I have tried to bring attention to an issue that has been slow to gain traction, until now – indoor air quality. As students around the Commonwealth are beginning to return to the…
The Fair Share Amendment
I voted in a Constitutional Convention to advance the Fair Share Amendment to the 2022 ballot. As a result, next November the citizens of Massachusetts will be given a chance to vote the amendment into law and thereby add it…
Sweeping Climate Legislation is Now Law
In a major development, the Legislature has passed An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy and it has been signed into law. The new law is truly a landmark breakthrough, profoundly impacting our Commonwealth and perhaps serving as a…
