The Massachusetts Legislature passed $627 million in funding for a sweeping economic recovery and development bill which will provide much-needed support to businesses, investments in infrastructure, and creation of new jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read More“As we begin our work this Senate session, we do so against a backdrop of national hardship – and those who would seek to divide us along political, ideological or racial lines. At this crucial, precarious time, however, there is no room in government for ‘us’ against ‘them.’ Here in Massachusetts, at least, there is no ‘them,’ there is only ‘us.’ And we will all rise and fall together.”
Read MoreThe Massachusetts Legislature on Tuesday, January 5, 20201, passed legislation aimed at eliminating racial inequities in maternal health.
Read MoreOn Monday, January 4th, the Massachusetts Legislature passed breakthrough climate legislation that overhauls the state’s climate laws, drives down greenhouse gas emissions, creates clean energy jobs, and protects environmental justice communities. The bill sets a 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions limit, as well as statewide limits every five years; increases the requirements for offshore wind energy procurement bringing the statewide total to 5,600 megawatts; requires emission reduction goals for MassSave, the state’s energy efficiency program; and, for the first time, establishes the criteria in statute that define environmental justice populations.
Read MoreOn Wednesday, December 23, 2020, Senate President Karen E. Spilka and House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, along with their colleagues in the Legislature, voted to pass An Act promoting a resilient health care system that puts patients first.
Read MoreOn Monday, December 21, 2020, the Massachusetts State Senate made changes to an amendment to An Act relative to justice, equity and accountability in law enforcement in the Commonwealth, sent by Governor Baker, thereby allowing the original bill to advance to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
Read MoreOn December 17, 2020, the Massachusetts State Senate passed S.2978, An act relative to sexual violence on higher education campuses.
Read MoreThe Massachusetts Legislature passed its Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) budget, which invests in programs and services across the Commonwealth on December 4th, 2020. The budget aims to address the sweeping effects of the global pandemic by making targeted investments in housing, food security, and substance use addiction services, as well as domestic violence, sexual assault treatment and prevention programs. The budget also invests in programs that provide COVID-related supports for students and increases funding for developmental services, early education and childcare, and public health.
Read MoreSenate President Karen E. Spilka voted to pass An Act relative to justice, equity and accountability in law enforcement in the Commonwealth. The legislation represents the most comprehensive and intentional legislative response to incidents involving police practices in Massachusetts communities. It creates an independent, civilian-led commission to standardize the certification, training and decertification of police officers, bans the use of chokeholds, limits the use of deadly force, creates a duty to intervene for police officers when witnessing another officer using force beyond what is necessary or reasonable under the circumstances, and takes steps to break the school-to-prison pipeline. It also creates a first-in-the-nation statewide moratorium on biometric surveillance systems, which include facial recognition technology.
Read MoreOn Thursday, November 12, 2020, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means announced a $45.985 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21). The Committee’s budget is a responsible and balanced plan that ensures fiscal stability and recommends targeted investments to protect access to core essential services, address urgent needs, and support efforts to build an equitable recovery for the Commonwealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read MoreOn October 29, the Massachusetts Senate passed legislation that would mandate insurance coverage for children with pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndromes (PANS) and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS). The bill, An Act relative to insurance coverage for PANDAS/PANS, would ensure that children with PANS or PANDAS receive optimal care by helping patients and their families access specialized diagnostic tests and effective treatments.
On October 14, 2020, Massachusetts State Senate President Karen E. Spilka nominated Hopkinton-based Lykan Bioscience for a ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ award, part of a series of awards given by the state legislature’s Manufacturing Caucus to companies across the state to promote “Made in Massachusetts.” These awards recognize companies across the Commonwealth which support outstanding innovation in the field of manufacturing.
On Monday, October 26, 2020, the Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives passed An Act relative to additional unemployment benefits for the neediest recipients currently excluded from the Lost Wages Assistance program, which Governor Charlie Baker then signed into law.
Read MoreOn October 20, 2020, the Massachusetts State Senate passed An Act to ensure safe patient access to emergency care, also known as “Laura’s Law,” in memory of Somerville resident Laura Beth Levis, who died in 2016 from an asthma attack just steps from an emergency-room door.
Read MoreInvests in food security, education, public safety accountability
Read MoreFree pop-up test site responds to virus spread in underserved communities
Read MoreThe Massachusetts State Senate passed a General Government, IT Bond Bill Conference Committee Report early Saturday, August 1, 2020 which authorizes $1.8 billion in investments to modernize the Commonwealth’s general government infrastructure.
Read MoreAlso establishes a Foster Parent Bill of Rights and Increases Access to Mental Health Care
Read MoreLegislation establishes commissions to study barriers to substance use treatment and address racial inequities in maternal mortality and morbidity; provides licensure for certified professional midwives
Read MoreThe Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday, July 30, 2020 unanimously passed legislation to criminalize the practice of female genital mutilation and cutting, also known as FGM/C.
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