I hope you’re enjoying the beginning of summer! It has been a busy spring for our family. Caitlin graduated from Endicott College with her undergraduate degree and is now working on her Master’s in Homeland Security, also at Endicott, while Patrick graduated from Saint John’s High School and will be off to Boston University in the fall to study Business. Jim and I are enjoying a summer with all three “kids” at home! 

Kerry and I were excited to welcome Shrewsbury residents Vasu Lakshmanan and Lagnajeet Panigrahi to the office as our summer interns. Vasu is a rising senior at Mass Academy of Math and Science and Lagnajeet is a rising senior at Shrewsbury High School. In addition to working in our office, the legislative internship program includes attending the twice daily speaker’s series where interns get to learn about how state government works from people who work in all three branches of government, as well as key external figures such as the head of the MA Taxpayer’s Foundation. 

I was proud to nominate Melanie Petrucci to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women as a 2024 Commonwealth Heroine. Melanie has been deeply involved in the Shrewsbury community, from her service in town government to her numerous, decades long, past and present volunteer activities for so many local organizations including the Shrewsbury Public Schools Foundation, SHS Robotics, Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, Shrewsbury Education Foundation, Shrewsbury Town Center Association, Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library and more. Melanie’s dedication to making a positive impact and helping whenever and however she can is amazing, and I am grateful for the all the time and hard work she has put into making our community an even better place to live!

Conversations with Hannah: I recently taped my show “Conversations with Hannah” with guests Congressman Jim McGovern, Jennifer Lemmeran the Chief Policy Officer at Project Bread, and Jean McMurray the Executive Director of the Worcester County Food Bank. We discussed our collective work to end hunger, including the White House Conference on Hunger, Health and Nutrition that Congressman McGovern led in making happen in September 2022, the state’s work and coalition to “Make Hunger History” convened by Project Bread of which I am both a Steering Committee and Strategic Advisory Committee member, and the high and still increasing levels of food insecurity- one in three people in MA is food insecure. Thank you to my guests for their work to end hunger. You can watch the show here.

Beacon Hill

Fiscal Year 2025 House Budget: The House passed a $58 billion FY2025 budget on April 26 on a vote of 153-4. FY25 is a difficult budget year, and the House Budget reflects these challenges. However, the House Budget includes $50,000 for Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, $10,000 for accessibility improvements to the bathrooms at Dean Park and $10,000 to restore the gazebo at the Shrewsbury Town Common. Representative Donaghue and I co-filed an amendment to provide $27,000 to Westborough to purchase radios for the town’s ambulances, which was also included in the House budget. In addition to these earmarks, the House budget includes $21,595,260 in Chapter 70 aid and $3,363,461 in local aid for Shrewsbury and $12,309,756 in Chapter 70 aid and $1,399,192 in local aid for Westborough.

To manage the costs of the state’s emergency housing program, I supported several amendments sponsored by Republican leadership to rein in spending and ensure that veterans and Massachusetts residents are able to receive assistance. These included an amendment to require the emergency housing program to be available only to Massachusetts residents who have lived in the Commonwealth for at least three months, one to give priority consideration to Massachusetts residents of at least twelve months who are on the waitlist, and one to prioritize honorably discharged homeless veterans. I also cosponsored an amendment to provide a one-year extension for communities to become compliant with the MBTA Communities Act, as well as an amendment to require the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to take into consideration and count all projects completed by a municipality within the last five years that would meet the requirements of the MBTA Communities Act toward that municipality’s compliance. However, none of these amendments were included in the final House budget.

The House and Senate currently have a Conference Committee negotiating the differences between the FY25 budget versions adopted in each chamber. Last week we passed and delivered to the Governor a 1/12th budget to address the fact that we do not have a final budget in place for the start of FY25 on July 1. 

I always enjoy seeing the NEADS dogs at the State House during budget week, and cosponsor the earmark to support their work filed by my colleague and friend Rep. Kim Ferguson.

FY 24 Supplemental Budget: I voted in support of H4790, An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2024 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects, which passed the House on a 153-1 vote on June 26. This supplemental budget for FY24 provides $564,065,819 in additional funding for several programs, including $5.1 million for the Healthy Incentives Program, $20,000,000 for Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) programs, and $2,130,571 to support the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Services program. The bill also includes $26,500,000 for grants to cities and towns to coordinate events related to the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. This legislation is now pending in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means.

April Emergency Housing Supplemental Budget: I opposed a supplemental budget proposal, H4460, that committed an additional $245 million in state funding to the emergency shelter system without addressing the causes of the program’s growing costs. This bill brings total spending on emergency housing assistance to over $820 million in FY24 alone, with $325 million allocated in the FY24 budget and another $250 million in another supplemental budget that was signed into law in December. Although the supplemental budget would put a time limit on how long people can stay in the emergency shelter system, it does not reduce the number of migrants coming to Massachusetts looking for services. Despite the 7,500-family cap implemented in October of 2023, the system remains overwhelmed by demand. I supported Republican amendments to limit services to people who have been Commonwealth residents for at least six months, allow low-income MA residents to qualify for the work training program currently limited to those in emergency shelter, and to subject funds expended for providing food through the emergency housing program to a competitive bidding process. Unfortunately, these amendments were not successful.

Mid-year 9C Cuts: As a result of early FY24 revenue shortfalls and growing shelter costs, the Healey Administration cut funding (termed 9C cuts) for several line items in the FY24 budget. Unfortunately, these cuts affected Shrewsbury and Westborough, along with many other towns and cities in Massachusetts. Funding for children’s furniture at the Shrewsbury Public Library was cut from $30,000 to $15,000, while the security camera installation at Westborough Town Hall and Senior Center was cut from $45,000 to $22,500. As we go forward into FY25, ensuring that the state responsibly manages the budget is a high priority so that mid-year cuts like those that affected the FY24 budget do not occur again.

Legislative Update

Our formal legislative session will come to an end on July 31^, and I have been working hard to advance my priority legislation that will need roll call votes. 

Massachusetts Parentage Act: The House unanimously passed H4672, An Act to ensure legal parentage equality, which is based on legislation I filed with Representative Sarah Peake. This bill updates the Commonwealth’s parentage laws to protect all families and children, including LGBTQ+ families and children born through assisted reproduction and surrogacy, by establishing clear standards for how to establish a legal relationship between a parent and a child. The ability to establish legal parentage is important because it allows individuals to play an important role in their child’s lives, giving them the power to make decisions impacting their child’s education and medical care. I spoke on the House floor about the importance of this legislation to families across the Commonwealth, including my own. You can watch my speech from the House floor here and read the Boston Globe coverage here.

This bill is not only a matter of extending the legal benefits provided by parentage, but a matter of affirming the value of every family in the Commonwealth. After engrossment by the House, the bill moved to the Senate, and is currently pending in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

Revenge Porn Bill: I joined my colleagues in the House in supporting H4241, An Act to prevent abuse and exploitation. This bill bans sharing sexually explicit visuals materials of another person without their consent, commonly known as “revenge porn.” This bill also increases the fine for criminal harassment from $1,000 to $5,000, amends the definition of abuse to include coercive control, and establishes an educational diversion program for minor offenders on the legal and non-legal consequences of possessing or disseminating explicit visual material. I supported a similar bill filed by former Governor Baker during the 2021-2022 legislative session, but although that bill was engrossed by the House, the Senate did not act until the last day of session, passing an amended version that could not be reconciled with the House bill before time ran out. The bill has been signed by Governor Healey.

Federal Infrastructure Funding: I voted to support H4445, An Act to provide for competitiveness and infrastructure investment in Massachusetts, which passed the House unanimously. H4445 uses interest generated by the state’s Commonwealth Stabilization Fund, also known as the Rainy-Day Fund, to provide matching funds for state and local infrastructure projects. This would improve Massachusetts’ chances of receiving additional funding from federal grant programs, such as the CHIPS Act and IRA. The bill creates a new Federal Matching and Debt Reduction Fund, which would be funded quarterly from interest generated by the Stabilization Fund so long as the balance of the Stabilization Fund has not decreased in the previous year and if the balance exceeds 10% of all budgeted revenues for all budgeted funds from the preceding fiscal year. The Secretary for Administration and Finance (A&F) would be authorized to expend up to $750 million per year from the Federal Matching and Debt Reduction Fund to leverage federal grant opportunities. The Senate passed its own version, S2554, and a conference committee is working on a compromise between the two bills.

$375M Municipal Transportation Bond Authorization: I voted in support of H4529 An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges, which passed the House 155-0. Under the Chapter 90 provisions of this bill, Shrewsbury would receive $986,757 and Westborough would receive $786,646 in road and bridge funding for FY25. This bill also provides $25 million for the rural road program, as well as $150 million for six grant programs focused on improving transportation infrastructure.

IT Bond Bill: I voted in favor of H4642, An Act to provide for the future information technology needs of Massachusetts, which authorizes $1.235 billion in state bond funding to improve Massachusetts’ information technology and cybersecurity. The bill includes a $150 million capital funding authorization to help municipalities update their technology infrastructure and address cybersecurity, $25 million to enhance the quality and delivery of state services, and $30 million in competitive matching grants to assist municipalities and tribal governments with building fiber broadband infrastructure. H4642 also establishes the Information Technology Federal Reimbursement Fund, a non-budgeted special revenue fund to support IT projects related to health and human services. After being engrossed in the House on a vote of 152-2 on May 15, the bill moved to the Senate for consideration.

HERO Act: I supported H4661, An Act honoring, empowering, and recognizing our servicemembers and veterans, also known as the HERO Act. This bill proposes an increase in annuities paid to disabled veterans and their dependents, from $2,000 per year to $2,250 on July 1, 2024 and to $2,500 on July 1, 2025. To promote hiring of veterans, the HERO Act increases the Work Opportunity Credit available to eligible entities from $2,000 to $2,500 for each veteran hired, and increases the excise tax credit available to businesses under the Work Opportunity Credit by the same amount. The bill also requires retirement systems to inform veterans of the availability of creditable service for their military service upon entry into a public service position, and gives veterans who are members of a retirement system a one-time option to purchase their creditable service within one year if they failed to do so previously. To address healthcare for veterans, the HERO Act ensures coverage of medical, dental, and behavioral health costs after all private, state, and federal benefits have been utilized, and creates a working group to study mental health treatments for veterans. The bill waives all veterans and Gold Star Families license plate fees, ensures veterans will not be deemed ineligible for service-related benefits due to cost-of-living increases to Social Security benefits. The bill also requires Massachusetts veterans and servicemembers to be notified of their eligibility to participate in the Department of Veterans Affairs Burn Pits Registry, and establishes a state database to ensure communication with veterans and servicemembers exposed to toxic airborne chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits and other airborne hazards. This bill was engrossed by the House on May 22 on a vote of 156-0, and moved to the Senate for consideration.

Health Care Reform: I voted in support of H4653, An Act enhancing the market review process. This bill, which was developed in part in response to the crisis at Steward Health Care, was engrossed by the House on May 16th on a vote of 152-1. H4653 requires hospitals to provide notice 90 days’ notice to the Department of Public Health (DPH) before the closure of the hospital or discontinuation of essential health services and authorizes the Health Policy Commission (HPC) to perform an essential service closure impact assessment. Additionally, the bill increases financial data reporting requirements, expands the Attorney General Office’s oversight over in the health care market, and establishes both a Division of Health Insurance and Health Resource Planning Council. H4653 also extends liability for False Claims Act (FCA) violations to people who have an ownership or investment interest in any person who violates the FCA, knows about the violation, and fails to disclose it to the state within 60 days. During floor debate, I introduced an amendment to require the proposed Health Resource Planning Council to include rare diseases care within the scope of specialty care units, which was successfully adopted. The bill now awaits consideration by the Senate.

Westborough Charter Amendment: Governor Healey signed H4202, An Act amending the charter of the town of Westborough, into law on April 30. I co-sponsored this bill alongside Representative Kate Donaghue, and Senator Moore supported this bill in the Senate. This bill amends Westborough’s town charter to give the Select Board the authority to allow the Westborough Housing Trust to act as an appointing or reforming agency for the Housing Partnership Committee. The Committee had numerous vacant seats in recent years, preventing a quorum for the Committee to meet or act. By allowing the Trust to act as the Committee, or restructure it to include members of the Trust and members of the public, H4202 enables Westborough to work more effectively with developers seeking to build affordable housing.

Maternal Health Omnibus: I voted in support of H4773, An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options, which passed the House unanimously on June 20. This bill establishes a formal licensing process for certified professional midwives and lactation consultants, requires the Division of Medical Insurance to provide coverage for midwifery care regardless of where the care is delivered, expands access to postpartum depression screening, and requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to promulgate regulations governing the operation of freestanding birth centers. This legislation also establishes a task force on maternal health access and birthing patient safety to study the increasing number of birthing facility closures, directs the Commissioner of Public Health to develop and distribute materials on pregnancy loss and appropriate treatment options, and requires MassHealth to cover cell-free DNA-based testing for chromosomal abnormalities. The bill is now pending in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

Housing Bond: I supported H4707, An Act relative to the Affordable Homes Act, which passed the House on a vote of 145-13 on June 5. This $6.5 billion bond bill is intended to address the Commonwealth’s housing shortage by providing financial resources to local housing authorities, supporting policies that promote housing production, and promoting home ownership and rental opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents. The bill does not include a real estate transfer tax or provisions to make it easier to seal eviction records, both of which were in the legislation originally filed by Governor Healey. 

I successfully advocated for the inclusion of $1,000,000 for the construction of a connector street between Green Street and South Street to support the construction of 300 new units of housing and $250,000 for the Shrewsbury Housing Authority for capital improvements in public housing. Representative Donaghue and I also secured $500,000 for the Westborough Affordable Housing Trust for capital improvement projects and affordable housing production. 



During floor debate, I supported three amendments to assist communities struggling to address the requirements of the MBTA Communities Act. One provided an exemption for communities that already reached the 10% affordable housing threshold under the state’s 40B law, another required the state to consider the total net units of housing created by qualifying construction projects completed within the past five years for determining compliance, and the third would require the Department of Housing and Livable Communities to develop and promulgate regulations allowing communities to appeal for relief from the provisions of the MBTA Communities Act. However, all three amendments were defeated. 

Substance Use Disorder Treatment: H4743, An Act relative to treatments and coverage for substance use disorder and recovery coach licensure, was engrossed by the House on a 153-0 vote on June 13th. I joined my colleagues in supporting this bill, which creates a licensure process for recovery coaches and establishes a recovery coach advisory council within DPH to assist and support the department in carrying out the new licensing requirements. Additionally, the bill requires health insurance carriers offering policies in Massachusetts to provide coverage for prescribed or dispensed opioid antagonists by designating such prescriptions as medically necessary, and prohibits insurers from requiring prior authorization to obtain them. The bill also mandates that health plans provide coverage for recovery coach services offered by a licensed coach, regardless of the setting where these services are provided, requires the contractual rate for these services to be no less than the prevailing MassHealth rate, and prohibits these services from being subject to deductibles, co-pays, or out of pocket costs. During floor debate, I supported an amendment filed by House Republican Leadership to establish a special commission that will study and make recommendations for addressing the public health and public safety threat posed by contamination of the Commonwealth’s illicit drug supply, which was successfully adopted. The bill now awaits consideration in the Senate.

Home Equity Theft: I voted in support of H4791, An Act relative to municipal tax lien procedures and protections for property owners in the Commonwealth, which passed the House unanimously on June 26th. This bill protects Massachusetts homeowners facing foreclosure due to a municipal tax lien on their property. Under current Massachusetts law, cities and towns can foreclose on a property to settle an unpaid tax debt and retain the full value of the property once it is sold, not just the amount of the original debt. Current laws also allow municipalities to sell tax liens on delinquent properties to private investors, who can file for foreclosure with the Land Court once the debt is six months old and then keep any profits from the sale of the property. In 2023, the US Supreme Court ruled that a Minnesota statute similar to Massachusetts’ was unconstitutional because it denied reasonable compensation to a homeowner for the taking of their property. More recently, a judge in Hampden County ruled that current practices violate Article 10 of the Massachusetts Constitution’s Declaration of Rights and the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution. This bill creates more favorable terms for the debt payment plans a taxpayer can enter into with a municipality to pay off their debt and creates a process by which a former owner would be able to recover their excess equity following a foreclosure. In addition, the House bill strengthens the notice requirements municipalities must provide to homeowners and taxpayers related to property takings for nonpayment of taxes, and calls for the establishment of a special commission that will conduct a comprehensive study relative to current law and practice around the collection of delinquent property tax revenue by cities and towns in the Commonwealth, with a report due by December 31, 2025. The bill has moved to the Senate for consideration.

Briefings and Forums

Farmland Action Plan Briefing: I was happy to speak at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ briefing on the Massachusetts Farmland Action Plan. Farms are an essential part of our communities, but farmland is being lost at an alarming rate. By protecting farmland, improving access for beginning and underserved farmers, and helping farms stay in business, we can ensure agricultural land stays in production and create a stronger food system.

Restaurant Meals Program: The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) launched the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) last year, which allows elderly, homeless, and disabled SNAP clients to purchase meals at participating restaurants using their EBT card. In March, Abby’s House in Worcester hosted a celebration of the RMP to highlight this innovative program. RMP gives food insecure people who have difficulty preparing or storing their own food a way to access healthy meals, and supports local restaurants and food trucks as well. While Massachusetts is one of nine states that operates RMP, we are the only one that includes food trucks, giving SNAP clients even more places to access food. I am pleased that Massachusetts continues to be a leader in expanding access to food, while supporting small business.

Worcester County Farm Bureau Legislative Breakfast: The Worcester County Farm Bureau Legislative Breakfast is a valuable opportunity to connect with local farmers and learn more about the issues affecting the agricultural community in Central Massachusetts. Thank you to Hollis Hills Farm in Fitchburg for hosting and Kerry for attending on our behalf.

Ag Day: April 3 was Ag Day at the State House, where stakeholders in the state’s agricultural system can connect with elected officials and staff. This year, the Food System Caucus hosted a press conference to bring attention to recent accomplishments and legislative developments in food policy. I am happy to say that all the Caucus’ priority bills and most of our endorsed bills continue to move through the legislative process. Furthermore, two agriculture omnibus bills have been introduced in the House and Senate, H4387 and S2570.

H4387, An Act strengthening the Commonwealth’s farms and food systems, is the House’s omnibus agriculture legislation. This bill would:

• Grant MDAR purchasing power to preserve farmland
• Establish a $3M agricultural workforce grant program
• Create a circuit rider program to provide on-site guidance to farmers
• Require plans for emergency food supply chain disruptions
• Create a commission on equity to increase the attainability of farming for all Commonwealth residents
• Codify HIP, the Healthy Incentives Program, into law
• Encourage food donations from farms and businesses to nonprofit distributors
• Improve the quality of education at agricultural high schools by allowing hoisting demonstrations and classes
• Allow for community gardens and farmers’ markets at approved locations on DCR land

As one of the co-founders and co-chairs of the Food System Caucus, I look forward to seeing the progress of this bill through the legislative process. The food system relates to food security, the climate, economic development, and many other areas. By taking action to strengthen the food system, we can ensure Massachusetts can meet the challenges of the future.

Make Hunger History Coalition: On April 4, the Make Hunger History initiative launched with the goal of ending hunger in Massachusetts. A coalition of advocates, policymakers, and other leaders have formed the Make Hunger History Coalition to create the changes needed to ensure every family has access to fresh, nutritious food. I serve on the Coalition’s Steering Committee alongside Representative Vargas, Senator Comerford, and Senator DiDomenico, and we are currently working with other Massachusetts partners who share our commitment to ending hunger by 2030. Massachusetts has often led on anti-hunger programs, and I look forward to working with the Coalition to make Massachusetts the first state to end hunger.

Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators: The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators (MCWL) hosted a briefing with the Health Equity Compact in January to discuss racial and gender inequities in healthcare. The Compact is a coalition made of 80 leaders of color from hospitals, academic institutions, and other organizations with the goal of advancing health equity in Massachusetts. Health inequity costs Massachusetts $5.9 billion each year, as Black and Hispanic/Latino residents face worse health care outcomes that result in avoidable healthcare spending, lost productivity, and premature death. As one of the Caucus’ strategic priorities for the current legislative session is addressing racial and gender inequities in healthcare, conversations about the impact of health inequity on residents and the health care system help guide the MCWL’s work. 

The board of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators also met with Minority Leader State Representative Brad Jones and Speaker Ron Mariano to share our Caucus priorities and discuss areas of common interest.

The Caucus hosted Women In Government (WIG) on April 2 to talk about the terrific conferences, forums and collaborative opportunities that WIG provides to women legislators from across the U.S. I am proud to serve as a Co-chair of the Women’s Caucus and as a State Director for WIG.

Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) Advocacy Day: On March 26, food system advocates came to the State House to encourage elected officials to support full funding for HIP in the FY25 budget. The Massachusetts Food System Collaborative hosted a briefing for HIP Advocacy Day, where I spoke about the importance of HIP to people struggling with food insecurity and to local farmers. Advocacy is an important part of the legislative process, and expressing support for HIP shows how important the program is to Massachusetts residents.

Easterseals Legislative Roundtable: The Center for Living and Working and Easterseals Massachusetts hosted a legislative roundtable in January to discuss issues affecting people with disabilities at the local and state level. This annual event is always a valuable opportunity to discuss legislative and budget priorities for people with disabilities and the organizations that support them.

Letters About Literature: Shrewsbury resident Omar Ahmed, a 7th grade student at Al-Hamra Academy, won 3rd place in Level II honorees for the 2024 Letters about Literature! Omar, an incredible young man, read his powerful letter and received his award in the Great Hall at the State House with his family and I proudly watching. Al-Hamra Academy students Raseel Abujrida and Aliya Sadozai were also recognized as the second place winner and honorable mention for Level I. 

Middlesex DDS Citizens Advisory Board Legislative Breakfast: I also attended the Metro West DDS Citizens Advisory Board Legislative Breakfast, where Senate President Spilka provided opening remarks. People with disabilities, their families and providers, and other members of the community discussed the types of supports and services people with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or autism need to be healthy and thrive, and I appreciated speaking with attendees about their needs and experiences.

Central MA DDS Citizens Advisory Board Legislative Breakfast: I joined my friends, neighbors, colleagues and advocates at the Central MA DDS Citizens Advisory Board Legislative Breakfast on April 8 in Worcester. Through my time representing Shrewsbury and Westborough, and as a Trustee for Seven Hills and member of the Human Rights Core Committee, I have learned so much about the workforce, pay and access to programs challenges that parents and individuals face, and how I can be an effective advocate. I have also met amazing caregivers and advocates and I am grateful for all they do! Great to see my friends and wonderful advocates, Bonnie and Bryce!

Cancer Awareness Caucus: The Cancer Awareness Caucus, which I co-founded and co-chair, hosted a legislative briefing on prostate cancer screening on June 10. Prostate cancer affects one in seven men, and disparities in access to care result in higher mortality rates among Black men. By understanding barriers to care and engaging in community outreach to increase access to prostate cancer screening and treatment, hospitals and community organizations can improve outcomes and quality of care for men of color. 

WPI Climate Tech Cluster: On June 4, I joined a strategy session hosted by Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) about the opportunity to grow the climate tech cluster in Central MA. Great conversations with corporate partners, higher ed institutions and public institutions/government partners about the challenges and opportunities for economic development around the regeneration and recovery aspects of climate tech.

World Farmers: Kerry joined a delegation of folks visiting World Farmers in Lancaster to learn about their incredible work. This farm was one stop on a tour of farms involved in the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), a Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources program which supports farmers and emergency assistance food providers. By supporting immigrant and refugee farmers, World Farmers increases access to culturally relevant food and helps farmers become more financially resilient, and the LFPA program helps the farm achieve these goals. 

Speaking Engagements

Irish Unity Summit: I had the opportunity to attend the Irish Unity Summit on March 1st and participate in a panel on bipartisan support for Irish unity in the U.S. with New York State Senator Tim Kennedy. This event marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which lays out a path for Irish unification. This is an exciting moment as the possibility of Irish unity gains momentum, and I am honored to have participated in this event.

Suffolk University Panel: Suffolk University hosted a panel on running for office, where I was able to speak alongside current and former elected officials about my experience on how and why I ran for State Representative. This panel was part of the “Congress to Campus” program, which brings two former members of Congress to universities to promote public service and bipartisanship and connect students to their government. I enjoyed sharing my thoughts with students who wanted to learn more about running for office!

Shrewsbury Women’s History Month: The Shrewsbury Senior Center hosted a celebration of Women’s History Month where women elected to state and local office could share their thoughts and experiences on serving in government. I was honored to speak alongside former Lt. Governor Karyn Polito; Council on Aging Director, Hollie Lucht; Select Board Chair, Beth Casavant; and Select Board Members Theresa Flynn and Michelle Conlin at this event. 

UMass Chan Medical School Students: In March, I spoke to medical students from the UMass Chan Medical School about SAPHE 2.0, legislation I filed to strengthen local public health systems. These students came to the State House to advocate for legislation that supports public health, and I appreciated being able to speak to them about the importance of this bill.

Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators (MCWL) & Fulbright Panel Discussion: I joined Senator Joan Lovely, Representative Priscila Sousa and Representative Dawne Shand to speak to a group of Fulbright scholars visiting the State House. This event, which was organized by the MCWL, gave our guests an opportunity to learn more about how state politics in the U.S. relate to global issues and how the Caucus has worked to advance gender equity in Massachusetts. 

Community Events and Celebrations

PI Groundbreaking: Physik Instrumente (PI) is building a new manufacturing facility in Shrewsbury, and I attended the groundbreaking on February 28. This facility will be used to produce technology used in semiconductor manufacturing, telecommunications, astronomy and other scientific applications. Science and engineering are important to Massachusetts’ economy, and having businesses like PI in Shrewsbury connects the town to this valuable sector. 

Firefighter Shawn Green: Shrewsbury Fire Department Firefighter Shawn Green was celebrated by the MA Department of Fire Services for saving fellow Firefighter Mark Turner from falling off a roof during a house fire last year. Shawn’s quick action to grab Mark as he started going off the roof prevented Mark from being even more seriously injured or potentially receiving life-ending injuries. Thank you Mark for nominating Shawn for this recognition and thank you Shawn for your selfless actions!

Westborough Cultural Council Grant Award Ceremony: Representative Kate Donaghue and I attended the Westborough Cultural Council Grant Award Ceremony to see many talented people and organizations receive grants for this year. Always love the vibrancy and diversity of the grantee programs!

Memorial Day: On May 27, I attended the Memorial Day Parades held in Shrewsbury and Westborough. Shrewsbury and Westborough Memorial Day parades and remembrances are always moving, poignant and powerful reminders of the service and sacrifice of our fallen servicemen and women. God Bless our brave military members honored for their selfless sacrifice, and protect those serving our nation today. Thank you to Marine Corps Lt. Colonel John Griffin for your impactful words in Shrewsbury, and sharing Ray and Doug’s stories of sacrifice. Westborough native and Navy Lieutenant Bonnie Rae Ellis, who served as a nurse, spoke of the “heroes of heroes,” the military doctors, physicians, nurses, medics and orderlies who cared for those injured on the battlefields.

UMass Chan Medical School Legislative Briefing: On May 7, the Central MA Caucus met with Chancellor Michael Collins at the UMass Chan Medical School for a legislative briefing and tour of the almost completed new Education and Research Building. It was amazing to see an aerial photo of the area from 50 years ago, almost all open farmland, compared to the footprint of the medical school and hospital campus now. We are so fortunate to have the medical school here: #1 in New England for primary care education, #1 in MA medical schools for NIH research funding and voted a Boston Globe top place to work!

NERB Ribbon Cutting: I joined the celebratory ribbon cutting of the New Education and Research Building at UMass Chan Medical School on June 7! This building is a state-of-the-art facility that will add academic, research, and conference spaces to support UMass Chan Medical School’s growing campus and facilitate groundbreaking biomedical research. As Chancellor Collins said, “In Worcester, for the world!”

2024 Teacher of the Year: Sarah Monica, a beloved preschool teacher from Little Colonials Preschool in Shrewsbury Public Schools, was named a 2024 Teacher of the Year Semifinalist! I am proud of Shrewsbury's excellent teachers, paraprofessionals, staff and leadership, and I was so pleased to see one of our fabulous educators being recognized by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for their hard work and dedication. 

Local Funding

Genocide Education Grant: Shrewsbury received a $19,320 Genocide Education Grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. These funds will be used to develop meaningful learning experiences on the history of genocide.

Resident Service Coordinator Grants: The Shrewsbury Housing Authority received $60,000 from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for a Resident Services Coordinator, while the Westborough and Upton Housing Authorities received $70,000. 

Workplace Safety Training Grant: The Department of Industrial Accidents awarded $6,000 to MA Restoration from the Workplace Safety Grant program to train five workers by June 2024.

AEDs in Emergency Response Vehicles: The Shrewsbury Police Department was awarded $2,085 from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to purchase automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) for emergency vehicles. Immediate access to an AED is critical for first responders to effectively support someone undergoing cardiac arrest, and placing AEDs in emergency vehicles saves valuable time when seconds matter. I was happy to see Shrewsbury receive additional funding for these lifesaving devices, after I was able to previously secure $15,000 in the FY24 state budget for the town to purchase AEDs for recreation programs and athletic fields. 

Firefighter Safety Equipment Grants: The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security awarded the Shrewsbury Fire Department $25,000 and Westborough Fire Department $18,965 from the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program, which reimburses local fire departments for the cost of new or upgraded equipment. Firefighting is a dangerous job, and investing in equipment helps make firefighters and their communities safer. 

Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act Grant: Shrewsbury was awarded $35,000 from the Massachusetts Office on Disability Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act Grant. This funding will allow the town to install assistive listening devices in Town buildings, improving accessibility for people with disabilities.

Supporting Students’ Social and Emotional Learning, Behavioral, and Mental Health and Wellness Grant: The MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education awarded Shrewsbury $22,855 from the Supporting Students’ Social and Emotional Learning, Behavioral and Mental Health, and Wellness Grant program. Mental health is an important part of students' wellbeing, and I was pleased to see Shrewsbury will receive additional funds to support mental health resources in our schools. 

Career Technical Initiative Grant: The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) awarded Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School District $809,930 from the Adult Career Technical Initiative grant program. This funding will be used to train and place 100 unemployed or underemployed adult individuals in construction, trades, and manufacturing careers. Adult vocational training is an important part of meeting Massachusetts' workforce needs and I was pleased to see this funding awarded.

MBTA Technical Assistance: Shrewsbury received a $15,000 grant from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership’s MBTA Communities Direct Technical Assistance Program. This program provides funding to assist communities with planning efforts to comply with the MBTA Communities law.

SAFE and Senior SAFE Grants: The Shrewsbury Fire Department was awarded $7,200 and $2,600, and Westborough Fire Department $5,700 and $2,400, from the Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) and Senior SAFE programs. These funds support programs to promote fire safety and education for children and older adults, preventing injuries and deaths due to fires and fire-related hazards.

Municipal Cybersecurity: Westborough received an award from the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) Municipal Cybersecurity Awareness Training Grant Program. The award consists of seats in the 2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Training Program, which will help municipal employees recognize and avoid cybersecurity threats.

Local Events

Chinese Spring Festival: I attended the Chinese Spring Festival on February 4 to celebrate Chinese New Year. The Chinese Spring Festival is always a beautiful display of Chinese culture - thank you to all the performers and organizers.

India Society Annual Meeting: As a member of the India Society of Worcester, I was pleased to attend our annual meeting. Congratulations to Shaimin Melville, Sahdev Passey, Sarita Deshpande, Ragoo Raghunathan and Poonam Hingorany for being elected to serve on the Executive Board.

Eagle Scout Award Ceremony: Congratulations to the newest Shrewsbury Troop 4 Eagle Scouts Jack Edwards, Teddy Flynn, Noah Johnston and Dylan Lowy! The new Eagles had terrific projects they completed that benefitted Paton and Floral Elementary Schools and Saint John’s High School. I was happy to attend and present citations to the young men, as well as Andrea and David Lowy, Ali Johnston, Rebecca Edwards and Sean Flynn for all of their work to support Scouting.

Ascend Elements: Governor Healey and members of the Administration visited Westborough to tour Ascend Elements and Kerry Shea my Legislative Aide attended on behalf of our office. Clean tech is an amazing opportunity for Central Massachusetts, creating jobs and providing other benefits to households and municipalities in the region. Central MA has much to offer tech businesses as well, from an educated workforce to affordable office and lab space.

Shrewsbury Town Center Association: On May 30, I attended the Shrewsbury Town Center Association’s second Meet and Greet, an opportunity for residents to learn more about the Association’s goal of creating a thriving downtown. It was wonderful to connect with other members and supporters, and to discuss the opportunities in the year ahead!

Cornerstone Bank: I celebrated the grand opening of Cornerstone Bank at 195 Main Street with Select Board members Beth Casavant, Michelle Conlin and Carlos Garcia, as well as members of the Corridor 9/495 MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, on April 27. Always great to see new businesses opening up in Shrewsbury!

Eagle Scouts: Congratulations to Jonathan Colebourn for reaching the rank of Eagle Scout! For his Eagle Scout Project, Jonathan built new bog bridges to enhance hiking trails along Fisher Street in Westborough. 

Westborough Library Trustees: Rep. Donaghue and I visited a Westborough Public Library Trustees meeting to congratulate and thank James Holmes for his nearly 30 years on the WPL Board of Trustees and Karen Fay for her 15 years. What wonderful devotion to serving the community!

Paul Garrity Retirement: Firefighter Paul Garrity retired after 30 years of selfless service at the Shrewsbury Fire Department. Paul saved two lives over is long career - rescuing an elderly woman from a house fire on Christmas Day many years ago, and rescuing a person who jumped from the bridge into Lake Quinsigamond. I was happy to join in the celebration to thank Paul for long and dedicated service to keeping the residents of Shrewsbury safe!

Firefighter Brendan Bernard: I presented a citation to Brendan Bernard, who recently graduated from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Firefighting Academy’s Call/Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Class #110. I am so pleased and grateful that Brendan chose to serve his hometown Shrewsbury Fire Department.

Contacting My Office

As a reminder, if we can be helpful to you, please reach out to my Legislative Aide, Kerry Shea, who can be reached at my office at 617-722-2810 or Kerry.Shea@mahouse.gov. I can also be reached at Hannah.Kane@mahouse.gov.

While this email is not inclusive of all my work, I hope the information is relevant and helpful. My prior update emails can be found here on my website in the “Updates from Hannah” section and I will continue to post regular updates on my State Representative Facebook page. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out if I can be of assistance.

With sincere gratitude,

Hannah Kane

State Representative

11th Worcester District