Recent Accomplishments

Here are some of my proudest achievements from the last few years:

New Food Allergy Rules for Restaurants

Working with one of my constituents and Senator Cynthia Creem, I advocated for sorely needed legislation to  update  the Commonwealth's food allergy awareness training requirements, which were fully adopted by DPH in 2024

Commission to Study Veterans Tax Benefits

I worked with Senator Brownsberger to successfully pass legislation creating a special commission to study and recommend ways to modernize and increase property tax abatements and exemptions for veterans and surviving spouses. This language was adopted as part of the HERO Act,  the most comprehensive and expansive legislative package dedicated to the welfare of veterans in Massachusetts history. 

Permanent Authorization for Remote Notarization  

Governor Healey signed a Supplemental Budget in 2023 which included a bill I sponsored allowing documents to be notarized online and completely digitally, without requiring physical stamps and signatures. This legislation outlines specific requirements for valid online notarization. 

Passed a bill to support employee-owned businesses in the Commonwealth

The legislature passed the language from my bill, H.511, An Act enabling the Massachusetts center for employee ownership (MassCEO) in an economic development package. This change will empower workers around the Commonwealth by substantially expanding MassCEO and establishing an employee ownership advisory board for the Governor. 

The new board will have seats for 19 stakeholders, including 13 for companies with employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), worker cooperatives and advocates, in addition to relevant state agencies, would advise the Governor and MassCEO’s director on matters related to employee ownership policy.

This legislation placed MassCEO within the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, allowing MassCEO to retain unused funds for expenditure in future fiscal years, and required that the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development hire a full time director for MassCEO.

Rail Trail Acquisition

I successfully advocated with Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa to remove red tape that was preventing municipalities from utilizing Community Preservation Act funds for the purchase of land for rail trails. The language change was passed as Outside Section 10 of the Commonwealth’s FY2022 budget.  

Local Funding in the FY25 Budget

• $62,500 - Prior authorization continued (PAC) for a FY24 Budget earmark for the GoSudbury! Program which subsidizes rideshare and taxi rides for seniors, persons with disabilities, low-income families and other individuals to visit the Doctor, get groceries, and get to other important appointments.
• $62,000 – Funds for the town of Sudbury to purchase kitchen equipment for the emergency shelter located at the new Fairbank Community Center. 
• $150,000 – Funds for the town of Lincoln to mitigate the costs of educating the children of retired military families located at Hanscom A.F.B. 
• $25,000 – Funds for Quiet Communities, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in Lincoln, to help them promote quiet as a valuable natural resource and reduce harmful noise pollution.
• $25,000 – Funds for Rail Trail improvements in the Town of Wayland. 
• $50,000 – Funds to assist the City of Marlborough in purchasing an outreach vehicle.
• $75,000 – Funding for temporary speed bumps and signage for the City of Marlborough.
• $35,000 – Funds for a pavilion in Ghiloni Park in the City of Marlborough.
• $30,000 – Funds for security cameras for the Marlborough Housing Authority.
• $35,000 – Funds for a dog park in the City of Marlborough.
• $25,000 – Funds for a replacement boiler at Marlborough City Hall.
• $200,000 – Funds for the Marlborough Economic Development Council's Commuter Shuttle Service.
• $725,000 – Funds for the town of Concord to assist in the redevelopment planning process for the parcel of land that is currently used by MCI-Concord.

Funding for Compensatory Services for Special Education Students

I strongly advocated with Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian for the legislature to act to help our students with disabilities that lost out on crucial services during the pandemic. I am proud that we were successful in receiving an appropriation of $10 million in line item 1599-2037 of the ARPA spending bill (H.4269).

Acquired funding for a Commission to study the herbicide Glyphosate

The Commonwealth's FY22 budget included an amendment by my office to fund a Commission to examine the scientific literature surrounding glyphosate and prepare a report detailing the chemical’s medical and environmental impacts for the State’s Pesticide Subcommittee. This will enable the Pesticide Subcommittee to make important regulatory changes that promise to save countless lives and prevent illness. 

I was also proud to vote in favor of several landmark pieces of legislation in the 193rd session: 

Climate Omnibus Bill

This legislation will accelerate clean energy development, improve energy affordability, create an equitable infrastructure siting process, allow for multistate clean energy procurements, promote non-gas heating, expand access to electric vehicles and create jobs and support workers throughout the energy transition.   

Learn more: https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-signs-climate-law-to-advance-clean-energy-transition-create-jobs-and-lower-costs

The Affordable Homes Act

The historic legislation authorizes $5.16 billion in spending over the next five years along with nearly 50 policy initiatives to counter rising housing costs, including allowing accessory dwelling units, support for the conversion of vacant commercial space to housing and support for sustainable and green housing initiatives.

Learn more: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/the-affordable-homes-act-smart-housing-livable-communities

Wage Equity and salary Transparency

This legislation increases equity and transparency in pay by requiring employers to disclose salary ranges and protecting an employee’s right to ask for salary ranges.

Learn more: https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-healey-signs-wage-equity-legislation

FY25 Budget

Thanks in large part to revenues from the Fair Share Amendment, the FY25 Budget made key investments in critical programs including: 

• Free Community College for all Massachusetts residents.
• Increased service and fare free ridership on the Commonwealth's RTAs.
• Funding for an MBTA low-income fare program. 
• A pilot program to provide low-income tenants and low-income owner occupants with legal representation in eviction proceedings. 

Learn more: https://massbudget.org/2024/07/29/fy2025-budget-showcases-fsa/