Life as a New Legislator

​It has been an exciting whirlwind of a first month in office!  Read on to see what I have been up to including news and info regarding February's office hours, my Legislative Committee assignments, submitted Legislation and more.

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Community Office Hours

​It has been an exciting whirlwind of a first month in office! As such, I am pleased to announce my first office hours as your State Representative for the 15th Middlesex District. Come join me to talk about what's happening on Beacon Hill, let me know your thoughts, and get help with state agencies.

Lexington

• February 25, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
• Cary Memorial Library, Large Conference Room, 1874 Massachusetts Ave

Woburn

• March 1, 10:00 am - 11:00 am 
• Woburn Senior Center, 144 School Street

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Committee Assignments

Last Thursday, I received my four committee assignments, which I believe are an optimal combination for me to effectively serve the people of the 15th Middlesex District.  To find out more about what each of my committees does, click on the name below and explore the committee's charge, legislation, and membership.

• Joint Committee on Elder Affairs
• Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
• Joint Committee on Financial Services
• Joint Committee on Public Health

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Legislation

The deadline for submitting legislation was January 19, and I filed seven bills that will make critical changes to help keep both the district and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts moving forward.

The deadline for submitting legislation was January 19, and I filed seven bills that will make critical changes to help keep both the district and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts moving forward.

• Transit Improvement Districts (HD3816)

 Establishes an innovative new funding mechanism to assist cities and towns in the creation of first mile/last mile transit options, providing sustainable ongoing funding that can be used in conjunction with RTAs and TMAs to deliver more transit services.  This bill is an essential step for connecting commuters to larger transit options, and it is critical to increasing ridership of commuter rail, traditional bus routes, and bus rapid transit (BRT), and to reducing the presence of single occupancy vehicles (SOVs). Senator Cindy Friedman is a cosponsor and has introduced identical language in the Senate as SD2135.

• Residential PACE Program (HD1128)

 Directs the Department of Energy Resources to establish a Residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program to help home owners make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes. The bill is modeled after the Commercial PACE program, and it is critical to ensuring that the residential sector moves more rapidly toward clean energy heating and cooling. Senator Pacheco is a cosponsor and has introduced identical language in the Senate as SD164.

• Right to Charge Electric Vehicles (HD1135)

 Ensures access to charging stations for electric vehicles. It is modeled after recently approved Boston Home Rule legislation, which prevents condominium associations from outlawing charging stations. In addition, this legislation includes historic districts and neighborhood conservation districts as entities that can "reasonably regulate," but not prohibit, charging stations.
 
I have also submitted legislation relative to the following:

• Senior & Active Duty Military Personnel Tax Relief (HD1131)
• Municipal Master Plans (HD1167)
• Establishing a Tax Revenue Fairness Commission (HD3187)
• Form Based Codes (HD3255)

 
Additionally, the deadline for electronically cosponsoring legislation for the two year session of the 191st Great and General Court was February 1, 2019. As there were thousands of bills filed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate by the bill filing deadline of January 19, 2019, I did my best to evaluate those to which I might wish to lend my support. While I was not able to get to every bill in that two week window, I did cosponsor many initiatives.  Click HERE to read more about my cosponsored bills.

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Resolution Honoring Jay Kaufman

My first measure passed!  I was pleased to partner with Senators Barrett and Friedman to pass a joint resolution, which both the House of Representatives and the Senate approved unanimously, honoring my predecessor, Representative Jay Kaufman!

Representative Kaufman and his wife, Cathy, give remarks at his retirement celebration

Final resolution (text to the right) signed by me, Senators Barrett and Friedman, House Speaker DeLeo, and Senate President Spilka

U.S. Senator Ed Markey and U.S. Representative Katherine Clark make remarks at Rep. Kaufman's retirement celebration

​HONORING JAY R. KAUFMAN ON HIS BRILLIANT CAREER IN THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE
 
           WHEREAS, JAY R. KAUFMAN HAS, SINCE JANUARY 1995, REPRESENTED LEXINGTON AND NEARBY COMMUNITIES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS; AND
           WHEREAS, JAY HAS, SINCE 1989, ALSO SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE TOWN MEETING OF LEXINGTON; AND
          WHEREAS, EARLY IN HIS LEGISLATIVE CAREER, JAY PUSHED FOR SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS RIVERS PROTECTION ACT, SAFEGUARDING THE VITALITY OF THE COMMONWEALTH’S WATERWAYS AND FISHERIES; AND
          WHEREAS, TO EXPAND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN, JAY HAS BEEN A PASSIONATE CHAMPION OF THE METCO PROGRAM, SECURING MUCH-NEEDED FUNDING AND A TIMELY REDESIGN OF THE ORGANIZATION; AND
          WHEREAS, JAY, UPON BEING NAMED TO A SPECIAL TAX EXPENDITURE COMMISSION IN 2011, PROVIDED INVALUABLE COUNSEL AS A VOICE FOR PROGRESSIVE TAXATION, CURBING UNNECESSARY LOOPHOLES AND SIMPLIFYING THE TAX CODE; AND 
          WHEREAS, AS A TIRELESS PROPONENT OF CIVICS EDUCATION, JAY SAW A REFORM BILL SUCCESSFULLY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AND SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR IN THE CLOSING WEEKS OF 2018; AND

     WHEREAS, JAY HAS BEEN DEVELOPER, PRODUCER, AND ON-CAMERA HOST OF “OPEN HOUSE,” A PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAM ON CABLE TELEVISION THAT HAS EARNED NATIONAL RECOGNITION, EDUCATING AND ENGAGING THOUSANDS OF VIEWERS OVER 24 DISTINGUISHED SEASONS; AND                           WHEREAS, AS AN OBSERVER, A THINKER, AND A TEACHER, WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES AND THE BEACON LEADERSHIP COLLABORATIVE, JAY HAS BEEN A MENTOR TO COUNTLESS COLLEAGUES AND A STIMULATING ANALYST OF THE TENETS OF SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP; AND
           WHEREAS, JAY HAS MADE UNPARALLELED CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITIES HE HAS REPRESENTED, TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND TO MASSACHUSETTS; NOW THEREFORE BE IT
           RESOLVED, THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS GREAT AND GENERAL COURT HEREBY EXTENDS ITS CONGRATULATIONS TO JAY R. KAUFMAN FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE; AND BE IT FURTHER
           RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THESE RESOLUTIONS BE TRANSMITTED FORTHWITH BY THE CLERKS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO JAY R. KAUFMAN. ​

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A Month of Meetings, Events, and Fun!

​As enrichment is critical from an early age, I was thrilled to join my colleagues Representative Rich Haggerty (far right) and Senator Cindy Friedman (center) in welcoming Woburn Creative Start to the State House. I cannot wait to display the artwork from their students in my office!

On February 13th, I joined dozens of my colleagues in wearing red to show our support for funding lifesaving research that will end heart disease and stroke in women.

Home for Families visited the State House to highlight the importance of the Mass Housing Rental Voucher program in combating homelessness. From left to right, Rep. McGonagle, Rep. Meschino, Rep. Honan, Sen. Chandler, me, and Sen. Eldridge.

With two boys who were deeply engrossed in Scouting, I know the dedication involved in reaching the level of Eagle Scout. Congratulations to Nick Keim for putting in the many hours of hard work required to attain this distinctive honor!

As the parade passed by the State House, I was able to sneak out for a bit to catch part of the crowd celebrating the Patriots' Super Bowl win with my aide, Mason Heilman. Go Pats! 

My colleague, Rep. Mindy Domb (far right) from Amherst, and I met with several UMass Amherst students (among them, Lexington resident and current UMass Amherst student, Irina Costache, second from left) about college affordability and Massachusetts' investment in higher education.