Press Room

Today the Massachusetts Legislature passed comprehensive reforms to lower the cost of prescription drugs at the pharmacy counter and improve oversight of the state’s pharmaceutical industry.

Today, the Massachusetts Legislature passed legislation that will close loopholes in the health care market regulatory process exposed by the collapse of Steward Health Care, increase financial transparency by gathering more information regarding hospital finances, and assist in maintaining a more stable and sustainable health care system. 

In December 2024, a conference committee of the Massachusetts House and Senate reached agreement on An Act relative to treatments and coverage for substance use disorder and recovery coach licensure. This compromise legislation widely expands access to opioid reversal drugs, bolsters non-opioid pain treatments, and strengthens treatment for Massachusetts residents going through recovery.

Today the Massachusetts Legislature approved legislation to combat the opioid crisis and support residents living with substance use disorder (SUD).

Today, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a sweeping economic development bill authorizing a nearly $4 billion infusion into the Commonwealth’s economy while making wide-ranging policy changes to make Massachusetts more competitive.

Today the Massachusetts Legislature passed sweeping climate legislation to empower the state’s fight against climate change and accelerate progress towards the state’s goals of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Massachusetts may be the home of American democracy, but it is also the community we call home—and I take the responsibility to protect our community—and its residents—very seriously.

This week the Massachusetts Senate passed two bills expanding services that must be covered by health insurers in the state. One requires that insurers provide coverage for the treatment of Down syndrome through speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and applied behavior analysis services. The other requires insurers provide coverage for diagnostic examinations for breast cancer.

Today the Massachusetts Senate passed a supplemental budget closing out Fiscal Year 2024, fulfilling the state’s obligations to critical programs and services used by residents statewide

 An Act relative to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act would simplify custody jurisdiction laws and bring Massachusetts into conformity with other states around the country. By so doing, the Commonwealth would be creating a more streamlined process for families going through challenging times while supporting the safety and well-being of children who find themselves in custody challenges.

Today, the Massachusetts Senate will take up legislation to simplify and modernize child custody jurisdiction laws in the Commonwealth.

Massachusetts State Senators today celebrated the official launch of MassEducate, universal tuition-free community college for Massachusetts. Senate members joined the Healey-Driscoll administration and higher education leaders to officially launch the program at an event at Massachusetts Bay Community College in Framingham.  

Today the Massachusetts Senate passed legislation to ensure families can foster a child regardless of the breed of dog in the foster home.

A delegation from the Massachusetts Senate today joined a roundtable of Worcester’s early education and care leaders to discuss the impact of the historic $1.5 billion investment made in the sector in the Legislature’s Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget.  

On Thursday September 26, the Massachusetts Senate will take up legislation to ensure families can foster a child regardless of the breed of dog in the foster home.

Today the Massachusetts Senate gave final passage to compromise legislation adding 225 new alcohol licenses for the City of Boston over the next three years.. The licenses would be distributed across 13 Boston zip codes, expanding equity for restaurant owners in historically underrepresented parts of the city and boosting economic opportunity in communities of color that have been systemically excluded for decades.

The Massachusetts State Senate announced today that Kathryn A. Bethea-Rivera, Ph.D., has been hired as the new Human Resources Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Senate.

Today the Massachusetts Senate passed legislation to rename the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) to MassAbility, a change that will define the agency’s role in supporting residents with disabilities live independently.