<![CDATA[MICHELLE CICCOLO STATE REPRESENTATIVE

<![CDATA[MICHELLE CICCOLO STATE REPRESENTATIVE - Blog Posts]]>Sat, 24 May 2025 03:46:23 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Spring Updates from Beacon Hill]]>Thu, 13 May 2021 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.michelleciccolo.com/blog-posts/13may2021

Spring is springing, and that means the House of Representatives has passed our budget! As provided for by our Commonwealth's Constitution, the House is the first chamber to consider the budget, and earlier this month we did just that. There are many terrific measures detailed below that I urge my colleagues in the Senate to build upon.

Despite fears that revenue shortages would undermine FY22 spending, our better-than-expected revenue forecast allowed the House to pass a comprehensive $47.7 billion budget. Above all, this budget prioritizes targeted investments for an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately affected our most vulnerable populations. The House's commitment to supporting communities in need is reflected in the sweeping investments in labor and economic development, education and child care, health and human services, and mental health services, among other sectors. Below are some notable highlights.

In addition, I was pleased that my amendment providing $50,000 of funding was included for Lexington's working group on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution! This money will help our community prepare for what is expected to be tens if not hundreds of thousands of visitors to mark the occasion in 2025. The budget will now be considered by the Senate, and I will continue to advocate to see that this funding is included in the final version.

Vaccine Update

As of April 19th, all Massachusetts residents age 16 and up become eligible for the Coronavirus vaccine! Find out where you can get a vaccine here.

Zero Waste Caucus

In mid-April, the Caucus convened again to discuss composting in the Commonwealth. At this meeting, we were joined by some rockstars in the world of composting and food waste reduction. First, Gretel Clark from the Town of Hamilton spoke about municipal composting policy. (In case you missed it, on February 1st, 2021, Hamilton became the first Massachusetts community to mandate composting!) Next up, we heard from John Fischer from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, who spoke about his department's programs to reduce food waste, including The Green Team. And finally, we heard from Lor Holmes of CERO (Cooperative Energy, Recycling, and Organics) who spoke about commercial composting.

How are you reducing waste in your own life? Let me know by responding to this email, or by reaching me on Twitter @mciccolo or tagging me on Facebook @RepCiccolo using the hashtag #ZeroWaste.

]]><![CDATA[#StopAsianHate]]>Fri, 19 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.michelleciccolo.com/blog-posts/19march2021

In solidarity with the AAPI community.

Before diving in to my legislative update, I wanted to express my solidarity with our community as we join in mourning and outrage at the recent spate of violence against Asian Americans in our country, especially Tuesday's shooting in Georgia. To that end, I joined with my colleagues in the Progressive Caucus this week in issuing the following statement, which fully encapsulates the heartache and sadness I feel.

"The news and growing information on the shootings and murders in Atlanta on Tuesday night are devastating. Fueled by the heightened hateful rhetoric and misinformation around Covid-19 that increased anti-Asian sentiments, violence against people of Asian descent has been on the rise for over a year. We acknowledge that it did not begin, nor will it end, with this pandemic. It is critical that racism and xenophobia be repudiated and aggressively fought in all its forms.

As the Massachusetts House Progressive Caucus, we stand as allies with our colleagues in the House Asian Caucus and echo their call to the Atlanta Police to proceed with a full investigation to determine if these attacks were a hate crime. We seek to elevate the voices of those historically marginalized and to be active partners in denouncing and addressing discrimination, assault, racism, and hate against the AAPI community."

As we continue to center the needs of our Asian brothers and sisters as our efforts to stop the spread of hate move forward, it has also been a busy few weeks in the General Court. Below are some highlights of the legislation that we have passed in the House of Representatives.

Climate Change Legislation, S.9
Yesterday, the House passed S.9, An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy, a strong, progressive climate change bill that makes Massachusetts a leader among its peer states. As you may be aware, this is a bill that was vetoed by Governor Baker at the end of last session. Determined to pass meaningful climate legislation, the Legislature sent the same bill back to the Governor again in January, which Governor Baker then returned with modifications instead of outright vetoing. While there were some small positive tweaks offered by the Governor that the Legislature accepted, including improvements to the Environmental Justice language, we rejected the vast majority of his inexplicable attempts to weaken key provisions of the bill. Most importantly, we maintained the requirement to have a 50% reduction in emissions by the year 2030. I am proud of the efforts of my Lexington colleague Senator Mike Barrett, who, as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, played a key role in authoring the bill and shepherding it through the conference committee. This was a joint effort on the part of the full House and Senate, and I am grateful to the leadership and dedication of all of my fellow Representatives and Senate colleagues who worked tirelessly to get this bill back on Governor Baker's desk. I urge him to sign it quickly.

Vote by Mail Extension Legislation, H.73
Last week, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed H.73, An Act further providing for early voting by mail. This legislation extends mail-in voting and early voting options for elections held through the end of June 2021, which is essential to ensuring the health and safety of voters as the pandemic continues. Our vote-by-mail system is an accessible and secure method for Massachusetts residents to exercise their right to vote, and it ensures that all of our residents can perform their civic duty. I look forward to continuing to advocate for making vote by mail a permanent option for voters in the Commonwealth to cast their ballots.

Unemployment Insurance and PPP Loan Legislation, H.89
Last week, the House also passed H.89, An Act financing a program for improvements to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and providing relief to employers and workers in the Commonwealth. This bill would exclude the forgiveness of federal Paycheck Protection Program loans from Massachusetts personal income tax for taxable year 2020; create a tax credit for unemployment compensation received by taxpayers whose household income was 200% or less of the federal poverty level; provide COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave that may be taken by an employee who needs to miss work due to pandemic illness; and freeze employer unemployment tax rates, among many other actions. It is a terrific bill that will help both workers and small businesses alike. You can read more about the measure here and below. It passed the House overwhelmingly, and the Senate passed it yesterday with some changes, including pushing the tax-filing deadline to May 17th. The two chambers must now work quickly to come to an agreement and get this important, necessary legislation onto the Governor's desk.

April Office Hours

Join me for my next virtual office hours! On Tuesday, April 13th, I will be talking to constituents like you from 5:00 - 6:00 PM. You can sign up and submit questions ahead of time here.

Hearing from you helps me do my job better, and your input and thoughts are critical to informing my work on Beacon Hill.

Vaccine Update

While this year marks another Patriot's Day celebrated apart, there is reason to be hopeful because on that day, April 19th, all Massachusetts residents age 16 and up become eligible for the Coronavirus vaccine. I encourage you to preregister, and you can find more information about the remaining groups of Phase 2 below and at the state's COVID-19 Updates and Information page.

Zero Waste Caucus

For our second meeting of this session, the bipartisan, bicameral Zero Waste Caucus (ZWC) convened last week, and we were joined by over 60 legislators and staff to hear from several representatives from the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA), Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), and Conservation Law Foundation (CLF). Our presenters briefed us on the state of municipal trash and recycling in the Commonwealth, and it was an informative and helpful meeting in framing the policy issues that need to be addressed in this arena. We look forward to continuing these efforts! You can view the full roster of Zero Waste Caucus members here.

While there is much to be done at the producer level to reduce the waste that we interact with as consumers, we can all do our part now as well. How are you reducing waste in your own life? Let me know by responding to this email, or you can also reach me on Twitter @mciccolo or tag me on Facebook @RepCiccolo using the hashtag #ZeroWaste.

Honoring Betty Taymor

This Sunday, we have the honor of celebrating the 100th birthday of the trailblazing Betty Taymor, who was instrumental in founding the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy (CWPPP) at UMass Boston. I am a proud graduate of this program, which emphasizes electoral representation and intersectional public policy analyses relating to the economic, health, and social well-being of women in Massachusetts.

At an early stage, Betty's commitment to advancing women's leadership played an influential role in my career. In fact, I received the Women in Politics and Government graduate certificate from Boston College, which was founded by Betty (I still have the certificate hanging in my office!). As I have navigated many public roles throughout my career—from my time in municipal management to my current position as a state level elected official—I owe a great deal to the tireless work that Betty dedicated to ensuring that women have an elevated voice in politics and public policy.

If you would also like to join the celebration, you can register here! I hope to see you there.

]]><![CDATA[Beginning the 192nd General Court]]>Tue, 02 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.michelleciccolo.com/blog-posts/2mar2021

As we head into spring, I wanted to check in and provide you with an update about what is happening in the House of Representatives.

The 192nd session of the Massachusetts General Court is already moving quickly, and within the first few weeks, a lot has happened. First of all, I am pleased to announce that I was appointed by Speaker Ron Mariano to serve on four joint committees for this session.

As a second term member on both Elder Affairs and Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, I am excited to continue my efforts on these two committees. For my two new appointments, I am looking forward to learning more about these areas of policy and being an active participant in the committee hearings as we closely examine the proposed legislation that comes before them.

Office Hours

Join me for my next virtual office hours session! On Tuesday, March 9th, I will be talking to constituents like you from 5:00 - 6:00 PM. You can sign up and submit questions ahead of time here.

Hearing from you helps me do my job better, and your input and thoughts are critical to informing my work on Beacon Hill.

Legislation

The bill filing deadline for this session recently passed, and although it was a race to the finish line, I filed a total of 17 bills this session covering a wide range of issues, including keeping seniors in their homes, transportation, waste reduction and recycling, the environment, Black history, progressive revenue, energy efficiency, and more.

REVENUE
HD.3648 An Act to generate revenue to expand transit options

This bill provides for Transit Improvement Districts (TIDs), which will generate revenue to establish public-private partnerships for first mile / last mile transit connections, such as small shuttle bus systems. Modeled off of the Business Improvement Districts statute, this mechanism would allow cities and towns to work together with the private sector and MassDOT to develop efficient transportation systems in their communities.

Next month, I will be presenting this concept at Town Meeting (Article 26) in order to establish a pilot program in Lexington. Before implementing TIDs on the state level, it is important to demonstrate the program’s mechanics at work in the community. Article 26 will seek approval for the Town to petition the General Court for a “Home Rule” to have the option to create TIDs. Ultimately, this pilot program would provide a dependable funding source for Lexington’s highly successful Rev Shuttle.

HD.1156 An Act establishing a tax revenue fairness and implementation commission

In 2013, the Tax Revenue Fairness Commission was charged with analyzing a broad array of the Commonwealth’s tax laws, focusing specifically on the equity of current tax policies. Ultimately, the Commission issued a comprehensive report with several recommendations. This legislation would reconvene a similar Commission to evaluate the status of the recommendations of the report and make further recommendations on implementation, while also examining our tax code in light of recent federal tax reform.

HD.324 An Act relative to taxes due upon the death of active duty personnel and the elderly

The Commonwealth provides qualified seniors the ability to defer part or all of their property taxes until such time as the title to the property is transferred. The interest rate on the deferred taxes is approved by the town and is capped at 8%. However, under the current law, if the person deferring the taxes passes away without a surviving spouse, the interest rate immediately goes to 16%, the same as if there were no deferral and the taxes had not been paid. This bill would provide a one year delay or grace period before the interest rate goes to 16% in order to allow time for the deceased person’s will to go through probate and allows the heirs to plan for the additional financial burden.

WASTE REDUCTION
HD.3596 An Act to reduce single-use plastics from the environment

This bill includes a wide range of provisions to work toward eliminating single-use plastics, including the reduction of plastic straws, nips, water bottles, and polystyrene, among other provisions.

HD.3604 An Act to support restaurants and reduce single-use plastics in the environment

Also included as a part of HD.3596 and filed as a stand-alone bill, this measure requires that restaurants only provide customers with single-use utensils and other takeout materials (straws, stirrers, cup sleeves, condiment packets, etc.) if the customer asks for them. If customers request these materials, restaurants are then required to charge a small fee that the restaurant is then able to retain.

HD.3651 An Act to encourage plastic bottle recycling

This bill requires all plastic bottles to contain at least 30% true post-consumer recycled material by 2030, ramping up by smaller increments in the intervening years.

HD.2946 An Act to strengthen reuse, repurpose, recycle

Co-filed with Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, this measure creates a special legislative commission to make recommendations for how the Commonwealth can create a market to support a robust and competitive recycling industry in Massachusetts.

TRANSPORTATION
HD.2387 An Act providing for a corporate transportation excise tax - (Pending House Counsel Edits to last year’s bill and thus filed as a Placeholder)

This legislation will levy an annual progressive excise fee on corporations with 100 or more Massachusetts-based employees; raise up to a total of $300,000,000 annually; dedicate the funds to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund (the so-called "transportation lock box"); include non-profit and educational institutions in the requirement to pay the fee (hospitals, universities, and other large non-profits); credit corporations and institutions back for any transit subsidies provided by the employer to employees; and calculate the exact annual fee based on both the amount of levy in each tier and the annual number of employees in a given tier.

Based on Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development data from March of 2017, the fees will come out to approximately $101 per employee for companies ranging in size from 100-499 employees, $222 per employee for companies ranging in size from 500-999 employees, and $364 per employee for companies with 1,000 or more employees (approximately the monthly cost of a Zone 7 Commuter Rail pass). Companies with fewer than 100 employees pay no fee at all.

HD.3677 An Act relative to a resilient transportation system

This bill was developed in collaboration with MAPC and would direct MassDOT and the MBTA to assess and report on the cost of making its entire system climate resilient.

HD.3705 An Act relative to automated enforcement

This legislation allows cities or towns, in limited circumstances, to install an automated road safety camera system as a means of promoting traffic safety.

QUOCK WALKER DAY
HD.272 An Act designating July 8 as Massachusetts Emancipation Day a.k.a. Quock Walker Day

Filed as companion legislation to Senator Cindy Friedman's initiative in the Senate, this bill would designate July 8th as Massachusetts Emancipation Day a.k.a. Quock Walker Day. On that day in 1783, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the Constitution of the Commonwealth’s Declaration of Rights rendered slavery unconstitutional. Quock Walker, who was born to enslaved Black parents in Massachusetts, was the driving force behind this ruling. After being promised his freedom on multiple occasions, Walker self-emancipated, eventually being found a free man by a jury. This critical decision served as the precedent that ended slavery in the Commonwealth on constitutional grounds and led to Massachusetts becoming the first state in the nation to abolish slavery.

ENVIRONMENT
HD.1154 An Act relative to electric vehicle charging stations

This legislation prohibits a variety of organizations from forbidding or unreasonably restricting electric vehicle charging stations. It is modeled after approved Boston Home Rule legislation, which prevents condominium associations from outlawing charging stations. In addition, this legislation includes Historic District Commissions (HDCs) and Neighborhood Conservation Districts (NCDs) as entities that cannot unduly restrict this critical infrastructure.

HD.3466 An Act to establish a grant program for low noise, low emissions landscape maintenance equipment

This bill requires the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to establish a grant program to provide incentive funds to cities and towns to transition municipal landscape maintenance equipment to low noise, low emissions equipment and encourages EOEEA to also develop a zero-interest loan program for landscape companies.

HD.3476 An Act establishing a Residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (R-PACE) Program in the Commonwealth

This legislation authorizes the Department of Energy Resources, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, to establish a residential sustainable energy program similar to the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program. Financing from this program would go to residential property owners for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements.

HD.3501 An Act to expand eligibility for the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program

This bill redefines projects that are eligible for the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program. Eligible projects would include any new construction, renovation, or retrofitting of a qualifying commercial or industrial real property to reduce energy consumption, or installation of renewable energy systems to serve qualifying commercial or industrial property.

HD.1155 An Act regarding municipal master plans

This legislation would streamline the process for developing a master plan by reducing the number of required elements from nine to five. It would also modernize the process by adding concepts like climate mitigation and adaptation. By lowering the number of required elements, each municipality can choose the highest priority issues to address for their communities and a scope that is consistent with their situation (e.g., size, rural vs urban, etc).

Zero Waste Caucus

As you may know, Senator Jason Lewis and I co-founded the bi-partisan, bi-cameral Zero Waste Caucus last session, which drew over 30 members in just its first year. This session, we are looking forward to building on our strong start and continuing to advocate for laws and policies that reduce and eliminate solid waste in Massachusetts through legislative action, state and local collaboration, information gathering, education, and public outreach. We are partnering with the environmental community and working strategically to maximize our impact.

We had our first meeting last week, where Senator Lewis and I delivered remarks before we heard from our colleagues with bills pertaining to Zero Waste. I am extremely excited by the tremendous work being done by so many in the Legislature, and I look forward to continuing to grow the Caucus this session! You can view the full roster here.

While there is much to be done at the producer level to reduce the waste that we interact with as consumers, we can all do our part now as well. How are you reducing waste in your own life? Let me know by responding to this email, or you can also reach me on Twitter @mciccolo or tag me on Facebook @RepCiccolo using the hashtag #ZeroWaste.

]]><![CDATA[Black History Month]]>Mon, 08 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.michelleciccolo.com/blog-posts/8feb2021

Happy Black History Month! Read more about how our community is celebrating.

Happy Black History Month! While we must commit ourselves to being consistently mindful of the the integral, irreplaceable, and ongoing role of the Black community in our nation’s development, February affords us a dedicated chance to set aside time to collectively focus on it. In this month, we celebrate and honor the lives of Black heroes both living and past who have had and continue to have to work twice as hard for half the acknowledgement for their achievements and contributions.

Black leaders and innovators have helped assemble many of the modern institutions that we hold dear, and through this trailblazing work, they have made our nation stronger. In a very real way, Black Americans quite literally saved our democracy this past election, and it is especially important this year that we center ourselves around the fact that Black history IS American history.

Although progress in our democracy often crawls along far slower than we would like, this year marks a momentous juncture in our nation’s history. Vice President Kamala Harris was just inaugurated as the first Black person and first woman to ever assume the second highest office in the land, and I know that she will inspire millions of young women, especially women of color, to follow in her footsteps.

While it is critical that we reflect on the national events that show we continue to make progress despite the reprehensible actions of those who would take our nation backwards, I wanted to take a moment to update you on what is going on locally to celebrate the month as well.

The Black History Project of Lexington Portrait Banners

Throughout February, if you are in or around Lexington Center, I encourage you to check out the The Black History Portrait Banners. Compiled by the Association of Black Citizens of Lexington (ABCL), these banners feature 24 prominent Black citizens, both local and beyond, who have shaped the history and culture of Lexington. These visual tributes were unveiled at a wonderful virtual ceremony put on by ABCL in January, and you can watch a recording of the event on LexMedia’s website here. As a part of the festivities, I was honored to speak about Shirley Chisholm, an "unbought and unbossed" activist who was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. You can find my full remarks included below.

This session, I am excited to have introduced HD.272, An Act designating July 8th as Massachusetts Emancipation Day a.k.a. Quock Walker Day. This legislation is identical to a bill that was originally crafted and filed by Senator Cindy Friedman last session (refiled this session as SD.141), and I am thrilled to be working alongside her to advance it in the House.

It is little known that on July 8th, 1783, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the Constitution of the Commonwealth’s Declaration of Rights rendered slavery unconstitutional. Quock Walker, who was born to enslaved Black parents in Massachusetts, was the driving force behind this ruling. At 28 years old, after being promised his freedom on multiple occasions, Walker self-emancipated. When his former enslaver then found him, Walker sued for his freedom, and in the subsequent trial, the jury found that Walker was a free man. This critical decision served as the precedent that ended slavery in the Commonwealth on constitutional grounds and led to Massachusetts becoming the first state in the nation to abolish slavery. In light of his significant place in our history, it is altogether fitting that we should officially mark this monumental step toward justice each year.

Shirley Chisholm Remarks

Note: these remarks can be viewed starting at 24:35 on the video stream, "20210114-ABCL-BlackHistoryPortraitBannerUnveiling" found on LexMedia's website

As an elected official, I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me. As an elected official from Lexington, I feel a special obligation to my work given the pivotal role our community played in the founding of our democracy. And as a female elected official, I owe the courageous suffragettes and women who have been elected to office before me a special debt of gratitude.

“Firsts” in the realm of politics open the eyes of the public to what is possible. Seeing oneself reflected in one’s elected officials sparks the imagination and provides a model for others to follow. Being the “first” takes courage. It takes resolve. There is always resistance to the “first” because it is new. It means those who have always held power previously might now hold less.

The courage and resolve required to be the “first” cannot be overstated. While I am the first woman to represent Lexington in the State House, my journey was far easier than the journey that U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm had to make. I joined a strong and numerous cohort of women already serving as elected officials in the State House, whereas Shirley Chisholm was only the second Black woman ever elected to the New York State Legislature when she took her seat in 1964.

She could have stopped there, satisfied with being at the vanguard of women of color taking their places in the halls of power in Albany, but as she showed time and again throughout her life, there was more work for her to do. So, she took her drive to improve her community and make life better for folks like her and got herself elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. There, she truly was the “first,” the only Black woman ever elected to that body, at that time.

Over the past two years, I have looked to Congresswoman Chisholm as a role model for how I have operated. To quote her describing her thoughts on the notion that first term Reps should just lay low, she said, and I quote, “I have no intention of just sitting quietly and observing. I intend to focus attention on the nation’s problems.” As women in public life, we are often told to wait our turn, we are taught to be seen and not heard. As a Black woman in public life in the 60’s, Congresswoman Chisholm certainly heard these discouraging messages time and again. But to quote her campaign slogan, Shirley Chisholm was the “unbought and unbossed” Congresswoman who often referred to herself as “fighting Shirley.” She used this motivation and her leadership opportunities to fight for legislation that advanced racial and gender equality. She fought to protect federal support for education and daycare programs, including Head Start.

Born into a working-class family in Brooklyn to immigrant parents, Chisholm started off as a nursery school teacher in the 1940s and, bucking the norms of her day, advanced through her life to eventually run for President in 1972. Her candidacy helped to forever change the conversation and open the doors of what is possible. Over the course of her career, she co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Women’s Caucus, as well as the National Women’s Political Caucus—all of which are still active to this day.

Her work during her time in Congress, her work during her campaign for president, and her work in retirement remain the gold standard model for women in public life today. If it were not for Shirley Chisholm and other pioneering female leaders, I undoubtedly would not be where I am today and we would not be standing on the verge of inaugurating our nation’s first female African American and Asian American Vice President. It is with a great sense of pride and optimism that I honor Shirley Chisholm’s career and her example, and I thank you all at ABCL for your hard work in putting together this terrific event this evening to celebrate our Nation’s African American heroes.

]]><![CDATA[Urgent Climate Action Needed]]>Wed, 13 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.michelleciccolo.com/blog-posts/13jan2021

Contact the Governor to ask that he sign this important piece of legislation!

Landmark Climate Change Legislation at Risk

One of my proudest votes last session was for bold climate legislation, S.2995, An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy. It is now on Governor Charlie Baker’s desk for his consideration, and there are signs he is considering NOT signing the legislation. I write to urge you to contact Governor Baker TODAY to ask that he sign this critical bill by sending him a note here.

The bill went to Governor Charlie Baker's desk nine days ago, and if he does not sign it tomorrow it will not become law.

The Boston Globe wrote an editorial asking Governor Baker to sign this important legislation. I would ask again that you let the Governor know how you feel before it is too late.

As a reminder, if Governor Baker signs this ambitious legislation into law, Massachusetts would once again be the national leader in confronting the devastating effects of climate change.

Among other provisions, this bill:

Establishes a statewide net zero limit on greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and mandates emissions limit checkpoints every five years to ensure progress toward that goal. It also sets limits for specific sectors of the economy, including transportation and construction.
Codifies environmental justice provisions into law, defining environmental justice populations and providing new tools and protections for affected neighborhoods.
Requires an additional 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind procurement.
Sets appliance energy efficiency standards for a variety of common appliances, including plumbing, faucets, computers, and commercial appliances, among others.
Increases the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by three percent each year from 2025 to 2029, resulting in 40 percent renewable energy by 2030.
Establishes $12 million in annual funding for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center in order to create a pathway to the clean energy industry for environmental justice populations and minority- and women-owned businesses.
Adopts several measures aimed at improving gas pipeline safety, including increased fines for safety violations and regulations related to training and certifying utility contractors.
Prioritizes equitable access to the state’s solar programs by low-income communities
Establishes an opt-in municipal net zero energy stretch code, including a definition of net zero building.
Provides solar incentives for businesses by exempting them from the net metering cap to allow them to install solar systems on their premises to help offset their electricity use and save money.

]]><![CDATA[House Wraps Up Productive, Progressive 191st Session]]>Wed, 06 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.michelleciccolo.com/blog-posts/6jan2021

Despite the many challenges throughout 2020, the House followed through on a very progressive agenda.

Happy New Year to you and yours! As we turn the page on 2020 and my first term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, I wanted to share some of my accomplishments on Beacon Hill and uplift some glimmers of hope that have emerged amid the past year’s challenges. It has been inspiring to see so many people--from impromptu mask-makers to heroic health care workers, and from compassionate food bank volunteers to determined teachers--working tirelessly and unselfishly to overcome the myriad of hardships 2020 threw our way. It is humbling to see our community exhibit such generosity, and we all know someone who has gone above and beyond in these difficult times. These heroes are the true “Silver Lining” of 2020.

Although the timeline is uncertain, it appears that we are turning the corner in our fight against COVID-19. Over the course of a few weeks, we received promising news about multiple vaccines (including the Moderna vaccine, which was developed right here in Massachusetts) and subsequent approvals by the FDA. More information about the vaccine rollout in our state can be found here. As vaccine distribution accelerates, our priority should remain protecting one another and safeguarding our public health: although there’s light at the end of the tunnel, I urge you to remain vigilant over the next few months, continuing to practice social distancing and avoiding gathering with those outside of your bubble.

FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET

Despite the unique financial constraints of 2020, the Legislature passed one of the most progressive budgets in recent memory, with an emphasis on supporting services that have provided instrumental relief against Coronavirus. Among these are significant investments in housing, food security, education, health and human services, and of course, public health infrastructure. Some highlights include:

Housing

$50 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), as well as emergency changes to the RAFT program to increase the maximum amount of rental assistance that a household can receive from $4,000 to $10,000 and allow eligible households facing a housing crisis to access both RAFT and HomeBASE. More details about RAFT assistance can be found here.
$180 million for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters.
$135 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP).

Food Security

$30 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program.
$13 million for the Healthy Incentives Programs.
$1.2 million for Project Bread to support the Child Nutrition Outreach Program and the Food Source Hotline.

Education

$307.7 million for community colleges.
$15 million for Head Start grants.
$4.8 million for the STEM Starter Academy to support underrepresented students in STEM fields at community colleges.

Health and Human Services

$501.1 million for adult services for autism and disabilities.
$94.8 million for children’s mental health services.
$36.4 million for early intervention services.

Public Health Infrastructure

$10 million for grants to support local boards of health to combat COVID-19.
$1.7 million for the State Action for Public Health Excellence (SAPHE) program to support a more effective local and regional public health delivery system.
$1 million for a COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan program, focused on equitable vaccine distribution.

Economic Development

$94 million for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs).
$46 million for adult basic education services.
$17.5 million for community development financial institutions.

ROE ACT
I believe that all health care decisions should be made between a patient and their doctor. For that reason, I was pleased to support the inclusion of language similar to the ROE Act when it came to the House floor for a vote. Although the Governor originally returned the measure with amendments, I stood firm alongside my colleagues in the House and rejected these changes that would have weakened the intent of the bill. The Legislature overrode the Governor’s veto, and the bill is now law, providing critical protections in ensuring safe, accessible, and equitable abortion care in the Commonwealth.

POLICE REFORM

Earlier this year, we witnessed the urgent and compelling nationwide protests and calls for justice following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement. In response, the House and the Senate overwhelmingly passed significant police reform legislation. After four months of negotiations, the conference committee delivered its compromise version of the long-anticipated bill, An Act relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth.

The General Court approved the compromise legislation in response to the pressing need to begin to dismantle systemic racism in policing. Not surprisingly, the Governor returned the original bill the Legislature passed with changes of his own. You may have read that the initial bill was unable to garner a 2/3rds majority when the measure passed the House of Representatives by a still-significant margin in November. Thus, lacking the votes to override the Governor, we were compelled to compromise in order to make progress and have a chance at passing meaningful legislation this session.

In this context, I have mixed feelings about the bill. While it was unable to do everything the Legislature wanted it to, it is still a real step forward on a number of important issues. Moreover, I believe some progress is better than no action at all. The bill makes some major changes; for instance, it:

Creates a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, which is a civilian-led board with oversight of officers, which will certify them and have the authority to decertify those facing complaints of misconduct or certain other violations;
Bans racial profiling, chokeholds, and tear gas at large demonstrations; and
Restricts the use of no-knock warrants where a child or a person over age 65 is home, unless that child or older person is at risk.

As a result of alterations made by the Governor as part of his amendments returned with the bill, it now:

Gives joint responsibility of setting use-of-force standards to the state’s municipal police training committee and the independent oversight commission (the original legislation would have had the POST Commission set the use-of-force standards); and
Changes the definition of bias-free policing, allowing officers to take into consideration someone’s race, ethnicity, gender, and other aspects of one’s identity if it is relevant to the crime.

While not perfect, this legislation is a significant step forward. Indeed, it is a start, but is in no way the last word on the issue. I especially want to acknowledge the significant efforts undertaken by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus as well as the Association of Black Citizens of Lexington throughout the development and consideration of this legislation.

In the 192nd session of the General Court, I look forward to continuing to collaborate with my colleagues in the Legislature and my constituents to ensure that all are treated fairly within the criminal justice system.

LANDMARK CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION

From the beginning of this session, bold climate legislation has been one of my top priorities. After months of negotiations, the General Court overwhelmingly passed S.2995, An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy.

When this ambitious legislation becomes law, Massachusetts will once again be the national leader in confronting the devastating effects of climate change.

Among other provisions, this bill:

Establishes a statewide net zero limit on greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and mandates emissions limit checkpoints every five years to ensure progress toward that goal. It also sets limits for specific sectors of the economy, including transportation and construction.
Codifies environmental justice provisions into law, defining environmental justice populations and providing new tools and protections for affected neighborhoods.
Requires an additional 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind procurement.
Sets appliance energy efficiency standards for a variety of common appliances, including plumbing, faucets, computers, and commercial appliances, among others.
Increases the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by three percent each year from 2025 to 2029, resulting in 40 percent renewable energy by 2030.
Establishes $12 million in annual funding for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center in order to create a pathway to the clean energy industry for environmental justice populations and minority- and women-owned businesses.
Adopts several measures aimed at improving gas pipeline safety, including increased fines for safety violations and regulations related to training and certifying utility contractors.
Prioritizes equitable access to the state’s solar programs by low-income communities
Establishes an opt-in municipal net zero energy stretch code, including a definition of net zero building.
Provides solar incentives for businesses by exempting them from the net metering cap to allow them to install solar systems on their premises to help offset their electricity use and save money.

PUTTING PATIENTS FIRST

In a year that has stretched our public health system to its limits, the Legislature recognized the need for comprehensive health care reform. Amid the surging pandemic, the House and Senate passed An Act promoting a resilient health care system that puts patients first, which was signed into law by the Governor on January 1st. This landmark legislation is a major step forward in providing adequate health care for patients during the current crisis and beyond.

The new law includes the following key provisions:

Requires insurance coverage of telehealth services, including behavioral health care.
Expands the scope of practice for Advanced Practice Nurses and Optometrists.
Increases disclosures around provider costs and network status to protect consumers from surprise medical bills.
Removes barriers to accessing urgent care centers for MassHealth members.
Extends insurance coverage and access to COVID-19 testing and treatment.
Directs a study and report of the impacts of COVID-19 on the health care system.

FEDERAL STIMULUS

Finally, although this is not a state level issue, I wanted to update you on some developments at the Federal level. A few weeks ago, Congress finally agreed on a COVID-19 relief package after House Democrats had passed various versions of a bill as far back as May. It is not perfect nor nearly adequate, and there is more work that must be done to protect the American people, but this relief effort includes many essential allocations, such as:

Enhanced unemployment insurance benefits through the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, providing an additional $300 per week to supplement all state and federal unemployment benefits;
One-time direct payments of $600 for individuals making up to $75,000 and $1,200 for couples making up to $150,000, as well as an extra $600 per eligible child dependent;
Extends the CDC rental eviction moratorium through January 31, 2021
$284 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and extends PPP through March 31, 2021
$69 billion for COVID-related health care spending, including vaccine procurement and distribution, testing and contact tracing, community health and health care provider support
$54.3 billion for Public K-12 schools
$25 billion for a new rental assistance program, helping families who are struggling to pay upcoming rent or have accruing back rent
$14 billion for transit agencies to cover substantial COVID-related revenue shortfalls
$13 billion to combat food insecurity across the country
$10 billion for child care providers

LOOKING AHEAD

As I close out my first term as your State Representative for the 15th Middlesex District, there is plenty to reflect on. I am incredibly grateful for those who have taken the time to provide guidance and feedback to me along the way. As expected, these two years in office have been a learning curve, but I have found that one of my most helpful tools in navigating the job is input from constituents. I benefit from learning about which issues matter most to you because it gives me a local perspective on complex topics. For that reason, I encourage you to share your ideas on possible legislation and policy for the upcoming session using this short survey.

]]><![CDATA[MBTA Proposes Service Cuts]]>Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.michelleciccolo.com/blog-posts/20nov2020

Due to historically low ridership, the MBTA is proposing major service cuts as part of its Forging Ahead plan.

The proposed service cuts will affect the entire Commonwealth, including Lexington and Woburn. While we all understand that ridership has experienced significant temporary declines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe that it is crucial to maintain our public transit systems in Massachusetts. Transit enables essential workers to get to their jobs, patients to get to medical appointments, and residents to access services, shopping, dining, and more.

Given how difficult it is to restart transit once it is decreased, I have real concerns that if these cuts are implemented, we may lose services for a long time to come, some possibly permanently. This is exactly the wrong direction for a time when now, more than ever, we need to transform our transportation systems to provide clean, efficient, and frequent transit to decrease our reliance on cars and fossil fuel burning modes. I want to make sure my constituents' voices are heard, so I urge you to weigh in with MassDOT on its proposal to cut our transportation systems.

Ways to be Heard
The MBTA held a listening session specifically for our area (Region 2) last week, and you can watch a recording here.

There is one more general listening session where you can provide feedback:

DECEMBER 2, 2020, 6:00 PM

You can also provide feedback online.

In addition to letting the MBTA know your thoughts, I would ask that you share them with me as well. Courtesy of my colleague Senator Cindy Friedman who came up with these questions, please let me know how you feel about the following:

Do you use public transportation?
Pre-COVID-19, what did you use public transportation for?
During COVID-19, what do you use public transportation for?
If you use public transportation (pre- or post-COVID-19), which bus lines, T stops, or commuter rail stations do you use most often?
What do you think of the MBTA's proposed reductions in service? What is the plan missing?
Please share any other comments you have regarding public transportation and/or feedback on the MBTA's proposed reductions in service.

If you want to learn more about the plan, you can view it and additional information at the MBTA's website.

Fiscal Year 2021 Budget

Last week, the House debated and passed its Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) budget, which had been delayed due to the pandemic. It is a budget to be proud of that increases funding for the social safety net funding to help support our most vulnerable residents, especially those hard hit by the pandemic. Among other highlights, the roughly $46 million measure, which passed overwhelmingly, contains increased funding for housing assistance, food security, community day and work programs, substance addiction services, domestic violence and sexual assault treatment & prevention, and legal assistance.

The House budget includes $301.7 million for environmental protections, a $12 million increase over last year. As House Chair of the Zero Waste Caucus, I pushed for these funds because they are critical for addressing our ongoing environmental crisis, and I am pleased to see them included in the final bill.

Additionally, in July, the Legislature and the Administration agreed to level fund Unrestricted Local Aid (UGGA) and Chapter 70 (adjusted for inflation). This budget lives up to those commitments and also includes increased investments in school transportation as well as additional school grants for remote learning. It makes targeted investments into rental and housing assistance to help combat the eviction crisis, and it renews the House’s commitment to combating homelessness.

Finally, the budget continues to dedicate substantial resources toward supporting our public higher education institutions and increases scholarship funding so that students will receive the support they need. It also contains increased funds for adult education.

I was also pleased to support an amendment offered by Judiciary Committee Chair Claire Cronin that protects access to reproductive health care for women across the Commonwealth. In light of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death, it is now more important than ever that we diligently protect the rights of women in Massachusetts to make their own decisions about the health care they need.

The budget is now in conference committee with the Senate.

Economic Development Initiatives

This Wednesday, the Woburn Business Association held their annual celebration. While I was unable to attend myself, I wanted to share with you the remarks I sent, which detail some of the measures underway on Beacon Hill to support economic development and small businesses in Massachusetts. A big thank you to Executive Director Chris Kisiel and the entire WBA for letting me be a part of your evening!

Good evening,

I regret that I am unable to join you in person tonight, and due to some technical difficulties I am unable to join you virtually either. As we have become all too familiar with during the pandemic, flexibility is the name of the game this evening!

To begin, I want to let you know that my thoughts are with all of the small businesses and small business owners across Woburn and the Commonwealth as you struggle during these difficult times. Please know that I am looking for every opportunity to find ways to support your efforts on Beacon Hill as you work to adapt and cope. Groups like the WBA are all the more important during times of crisis, as they strengthen the business community and enable small business owners to engage in a broader dialogue at the state level to help us in the Legislature understand what specific needs you have.

I wanted to quickly update you on some legislation related to economic development that is under consideration in the Legislature. As part of a sweeping economic development bill, the House passed legislation to provide supports to small businesses and at-risk populations and make investments in affordable housing. This legislation is now in a conference committee where House and Senate members are working out differences between both bills.

The House also passed our budget last week for FY21, which, among other measures, provides funding for small business development, the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, and $50 million for economic development including a local Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), community development financial institutions, matching grants for capital investments by small businesses, and small business technical assistance grants.

Again, thank you for all that you do to build and strengthen our community, and as always please don't hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance. It is a pleasure to serve the City of Woburn on Beacon Hill!

All my best for a successful event,

Michelle

]]><![CDATA[VOTE! Election 2020]]>Thu, 22 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.michelleciccolo.com/blog-posts/22oct2020

With early voting for the 2020 General Election well underway in Massachusetts, make sure you're aware of the multiple ways you can cast your ballot.

Voter Information

First and foremost, the voter registration deadline for Massachusetts residents is this Saturday, October 24th. So, if you or someone you know is not yet registered, there’s still time! You can register to vote online HERE.

Vote By Mail
If you have already received your ballot, send it in now, or take it to a Drop Box (see below). Mail-in Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (November 3rd) and received by November 6th to be counted, so the earlier you send it in, the better! Before submitting your ballot, review the official vote by mail instructions, which should also be included in the packet you received from your town’s election office. Once you have submitted your ballot by mail or Drop Box, you can track it HERE to make sure it has been received.

With less than two weeks until November 3rd, please consult your Town or City Clerk before requesting a mail-in ballot. At this point in the election cycle, you may find it more prudent to vote early due to the turnaround rate of mail processing.

To ensure that you ballot is received in time, use your town’s Drop Box:

Lexington - 1625 Massachusetts Avenue (Across from Town Office Building, in circular driveway)
Woburn - 10 Common Street (At rear accessible entrance)

For those not in the 15th Middlesex District, a complete statewide Drop Box list can be found HERE.

Vote Early In-Person
Early voting is happening now and continues every day through Friday, October 30th. If you were unable to get a mail-in ballot, this is a great way to avoid the larger expected crowds on November 3rd. You can find your polling information, including location and schedule, HERE.

Early Voting Locations:
Lexington: Cary Memorial Building - 1605 Massachusetts Avenue at these times.
Woburn: Old Wyman School - 679 Main Street at these times.

Vote In-Person on Election Day
Polls will be open on Tuesday, November 3rd from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Find your polling location by filling in your address HERE.

Additional Resources

Massachusetts Attorney General - Protecting Your Right To Vote
Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division
Lexington Town Clerk
Woburn City Clerk

Office Hours
Join me for virtual office hours on Tuesday, November 10th from 5:00 - 6:00 PM. Please RSVP to my State House email at Michelle.Ciccolo@mahouse.gov for the Zoom meeting ID and to submit any questions you might have ahead of time.

]]><![CDATA[Remote Internship Opportunities!]]>Fri, 04 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.michelleciccolo.com/blog-posts/4sep2020

Apply for a remote internship to assist with Representative Ciccolo's Lex-Celebrate-Suffrage project.

I am seeking two college level, volunteer interns with a passion for womxn’s rights. In light of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment and the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, I am celebrating womxn’s suffrage by highlighting Lexington’s female leaders of yesterday and today. As an intern, you will assist with the modern aspect of the ‘Womxn’s Suffrage Project,' which focuses on highlighting Lexington’s current female leaders. Specifically, you will help with research, writing, community outreach, and social media, among other tasks as assigned. Descriptions of the two roles can be found at the link below.

https://lexsuffrage.wixsite.com/celebrate/join-the-team

NOTE: These are remote internship opportunities. The minimum time commitment is 10 hours per week. The internship will begin as soon as possible and end when intern availability ceases or the project is completed.

]]><![CDATA[Forward Progress in the General Court]]>Thu, 20 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.michelleciccolo.com/blog-posts/20aug2020

A busy, but productive, summer for the House of Representatives.

Happy August, I hope this note finds you and yours well as the summer starts winding down and we look forward to the fall. I wanted to provide you with a Legislative update as it has been a busy summer. The final weeks of July were a whirlwind as the General Court met in eight consecutive formal sessions in order to move many important pieces of legislation forward, and I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on what we passed in the State House.

An abbreviated list can be found here, and check out below for a more in-depth description of each bill, plus other news and highlights from my office.

Extending Formal Sessions, H.4910.
Police Reform, H.4860.
Putting Patients First Act, H.4888.
2050 Road Map to achieve MA's net-zero emissions goal, H.4912.
Economic Development, H.4879.
IT Bond Bill, H.4932.
Natural Hairstyle, H.4930.
Combined Sewer Outflow Notification, H.3976.
Three Month Budget Through October, H.4905.

Legislation Summaries

Extending Formal Sessions

Given the many urgent pieces of legislation still working their way through the legislative process and the time lost this spring to the ongoing pandemic, I joined with my colleagues in both chambers to support and unanimously pass an order allowing the General Court to meet in formal session past the traditional July 31st deadline.

Police Reform, An Act relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth

I joined my colleagues in the House of Representatives in passing this legislation, which will improve policing in Massachusetts by establishing a certification process, creating an independent and empowered oversight board, and codifying restrictions on use of force measures, among other measures.

The bill follows extensive discussions with members and stakeholders, including the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus as well as law enforcement organizations. It seeks to improve governance of police and addresses a number of key items aimed at making our system more equitable, including the elimination of the chokehold and addition of an officer’s duty to intervene in cases where a colleague improperly uses excessive force.

It also establishes the Massachusetts Police Standards and Training Commission, a seven-person board responsible for certifying, restricting, and, following due process, revoking and suspending certification for police officers. The bill removes qualified immunity for individuals who have been decertified by the MPSTC and limits the use of facial recognition technology. It also forms the Division of Training and Certification to devise appropriate training and certification standards for police. Finally, the bill creates a number of commissions to investigate structural racism in correctional facilities, the parole process, and probation services.

Additionally, the bill:

Establishes restrictions on the use of force, including
- Prohibiting physical and deadly force except in certain extremely limited circumstances;
- Banning Chokeholds;
- Limiting the discharge of a firearm into a fleeing vehicle; and
- Restricting the use of tear gas, rubber pellets, and dogs.

Sets Massachusetts on a path for reform and investigation of
- The Civil Service System
- Structural racism in
  - Correctional Facilities
  - Parole Process
  - Probation Services
- Law enforcement body camera use

Sets up permanent commissions on the status of African American, the status of Latinos, and the status of persons with disabilities to ensure that historically underserved communities equitably benefit from and have access to government services in the same manner as others in the Commonwealth.

Promotes solutions that address the impact of discrimination against African Americans and Latinos and assesses programs and practices in all state agencies as they affect both groups using a racial equity framework

Establishes a statewide law enforcement officer cadet program and corrections officer training and certification.

Throughout the legislative process, we recognized that qualified immunity reform is a complex topic that affects many sectors and could benefit from additional study. Therefore, the House bill creates two separate and parallel tracks. To wit, it removes qualified immunity for those police officers who are decertified by the commission after due process and continues to study qualified immunity more broadly.

Forbids public agencies other than the Registry of Motor Vehicles from using facial recognition technology, and only permits law enforcement to access facial recognition after obtaining a warrant or making a written determination that an emergency with an imminent risk of death or serious injury exists.

Creates a process around the use and training of School Resource Officers and imposes limits on student record sharing by schools with law enforcement.

Prohibits officers from having sexual intercourse with a person in custody and creates strong penalties for such conduct.

Makes it a crime for an officer to submit a false timesheet.

Requires that a no-knock warrant be issued by a judge (previously left to a clerk magistrate) and stipulates that one can only be issued if the affidavit supporting the request establishes probable cause that if the officer announces their presence, their life or the lives of others will be endangered, and only if no minor child or person over 65 is believed to be present in the building. An officer may only enter a residence without a no-knock warrant if there is a credible risk of imminent harm.

The bill is now in conference committee.

Putting Patients First Act

This bill requires telehealth coverage for individuals covered under the GIC, MassHealth, Insurers, Hospital Service Corporations, Medical Service Corporations, HMOs, and PPOs. It also expands Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Nurse scope of practice, granting the independent practice authority for prescriptions. Finally, it deals with certain provisions specific to COVID-19, including the expiration of temporary licenses for healthcare professionals granted under the Governor’s executive orders, rates for out-of-network emergency services, and copay-free, in-patient treatment for Coronavirus in 2021.

The bill is now in conference committee.

An Act to create a 2050 roadmap to a clean and thriving commonwealth

Backed by science and supported by climate justice activists, this bill touches all sectors of Massachusetts’ economy. It lays out a path to achieve at least net zero emissions by 2050 by updating the Global Warming Solutions Act to match current climate science.

This bill is transformative–it builds the policy infrastructure to get us to our aggressive climate goals while remaining centered around issues of environmental justice. With the passage of this bill, we further establish ourselves in the Commonwealth as leaders in the climate movement, creating the tools to fight climate change, bring our economy along as a partner in the solutions.

Specifically, the legislation:

Updates the state greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction limit to net zero by 2050, requiring interim targets of at least a 50% decrease from 1990 levels by 2030, and a 75% decrease by 2040.
Requires a backcast analysis of pathways to net zero, with environmental justice (EJ) considerations as well as public modeling and data.
Necessitates that the 2050 emissions reduction roadmap plan to be updated every five years.
Provides for the promulgation of regulations for implementation one year after publication of 2050 Roadmap Plan.
Creates a Municipal Light Plant Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standard.
Establishes a Clean Energy Equity Workforce and Market Development Program to create programs to improve access by low-income and EJ populations to the benefits of the green economy.
Ensures low-income participation and equitable access in future solar programs, as well as auditing of climate resiliency and energy-efficiency updates to affordable housing by DHCD.
Creates a Future Utility Grid Commission to make recommendations about grid modernization.

It is now in conference committee.

Economic Development, An Act enabling partnerships for growth

This legislation facilitates housing development and provides more than $450 million in state funding to spur growth. It pairs initiatives to improve the housing market for buyers with providing protections for tenants, and authorizes “Housing Choice,” which reduces the voting requirement for a range of smart growth housing-related zoning changes and special permits at the local level, from a two-thirds threshold to a simple majority. The legislation also creates a local option for the tenant right to purchase/first right of refusal to purchase buildings landlords put up for sale, increases the low-income housing tax credit from $20 million to $40 million, and requires DHCD to notify tenants they have a right to mediation with landlords prior to the eviction process.

The legislation also creates a Cultural Council Recovery Commission to review and develop recommendations for the recovery, promotion and continued growth and vitality of the cultural and creative sector in the commonwealth.

Finally, the bill additionally provides for $459M in bond authorizations, which are far-reaching investments in the commonwealth's economy.

It is now in conference committee.

Information Technology Bond Bill

This legislation authorizes up to $1.7 billion in spending for the improvement of information technology equipment and related projects in Massachusetts.

It is now before the Governor for his consideration.

An Act prohibiting discrimination based on natural hairstyles

This legislation bans workplace discrimination based on an employee wearing a natural hairstyle, which will prevent especially Massachusetts workers, especially Black individuals, from being forced to get often expensive hair treatments or otherwise style their hair if they choose not to do so.

It now awaits consideration by the Senate.

An Act promoting awareness of sewage pollution in public waters

Currently in Massachusetts, the public has no way to know when bacteria-laden sewage discharges make our waterways unsafe for recreation. This bill institutes a statewide sewage discharge notification system to alert residents when rivers are unsafe as a result.

It now awaits consideration by the Senate.

Three Month Budget Through October, An Act making certain appropriations for fiscal year 2021 before final action on the General Appropriation Bill

This measure, which has been signed by the Governor, keeps state government funded through October 31, allowing the General Court to more fully and accurately assess what state tax receipts will look like for Fiscal Year 2021, allowing us to craft a realistic, progressive, and responsible budget for the Commonwealth as we continue to grapple with the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The budget level funds local aid and provides Chapter 70 school aid at no less than what a community received last year, adjusted to include an increase for inflation. It also directs additional federal recovery funds to school districts and municipal budgets.

]]>

Vaccine Update

Zero Waste Caucus

April Office Hours

Vaccine Update

Zero Waste Caucus

Honoring Betty Taymor

Office Hours

Legislation

Zero Waste Caucus

​The Black History Project of Lexington Portrait Banners

Shirley Chisholm Remarks

Landmark Climate Change Legislation at Risk

​FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET

POLICE REFORM

LANDMARK CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION

PUTTING PATIENTS FIRST

FEDERAL STIMULUS

LOOKING AHEAD

Voter Information

Legislation Summaries​

The Black History Project of Lexington Portrait Banners

FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET

Legislation Summaries