Bringing Beacon Hill to You

January wasn’t just the start of a new year but the start of a new legislative session on Beacon Hill. I’m honored to be representing the Norfolk & Plymouth District in the 194th General Court. Thus far, it’s been a busy few weeks, which is why this update is coming a bit later than normal.

Here's a look at some of what we have been working on.  

A new session means legislative offices have filed new bills and refiled returning bills, kicking off the process by which they will all attempt to become law. Of the thousands of pieces of legislation currently active on Beacon Hill, I filed 47 bills that range from local focus to statewide impact.

Staying on the public health theme, I am particularly looking forward to working on a new bill we have named the Bettor Health Act.

Since the Commonwealth legalized sports betting, I have had conversations with representatives from the gambling industry, public health experts, and individuals struggling with gambling addiction. What I have learned is that this industry is leading us into a new, significant public health crisis. Gambling addiction is on the rise, and we have to take steps to address it.  



The Bettor Health Act would address this in a variety of ways, including increasing the state’s tax on the revenues of sports betting companies from 20% to 51%. Massachusetts’ current rate ranks among the lowest in the region, with New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire all having already adopted 51% rates. It’s also important to note that this would be a tax on corporate revenues, not the winnings any customer may earn through the bets they are placing.  

This bill would also require sports betting companies to double their contributions to the Commonwealth’s public health trust fund, which helps support treatment for gambling addiction, and to restrict the types of bets (in-game and proposition) that public health experts warn increase the risk of developing a gambling addiction. 

The bill also declares certain types of advertising as deceptive under the Commonwealth’s existing consumer protection statute and would prohibit gambling ads from appearing during broadcasts of sporting events. Additionally, the bill would require sports betting companies to provide the Massachusetts Gaming Commission with anonymized customer data so state health officials can track problem gambling trends.

 

To view a more comprehensive list of the components of the Bettor Health Act, please visit senatorjohnkeenan.com or malegislature.gov.  

The Senate began the year with a vote for Senate President, and I was the only Democrat not to vote to re-elect Senate President Karen Spilka. I did so because I believe Massachusetts both needs and deserves a change in how the Legislature operates.

During the last legislative session, both the House and Senate missed deadlines, held up legislation, and restricted the ability of legislators and the general public to weigh in on key bills. We have too little transparency and too many clashes between the Senate and House of Representatives. An increasing number of people feel our government has lost touch with the people it represents, which has been made abundantly clear in recent reporting in the local media.

I recently co-authored an op-ed in The Boston Globe with Republican Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr on this issue. In it, we requested that senators get more time to review legislation prior to voting on it, and for senators to be present in the Senate Chamber when a bill is voted upon.

 

Regarding transparency, I recently signed on as a cosponsor to Sen. Rebecca Rausch’s bill to apply the Commonwealth’s public records law to both the Legislature and the Governor.  

January saw a variety of events and meetings throughout the district, focusing on so many different projects and traditions, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I once again attended Quincy’s annual MLK breakfast, which is always a great opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s many contributions to our nation. There was also Braintree’s MLK Citizen of the Year Award ceremony, which this year recognized Justine Huang for her numerous efforts to host cultural events and enrich our community through her work with recent immigrants from China.     

I also recently met with Susan Coakley, the new CEO of Aspire Health Alliance, at the clinic’s Quincy facility. It was a great conversation that helped me learn a lot more about the work Aspire does locally, as well as the current need for behavioral health services across the South Shore. Around that same time, I also met with local officials in Hanover to discuss the proposed thru road connecting Route 53 and Route 123. 

In Braintree, Senator William Driscoll, Representative Mark Cusack, and I recently met with Mayor Erin Joyce and Superintendent of Schools Jim Lee to get an update on issues affecting the school system and what we can do to support students. We later hosted students from Braintree at the State House during a meeting with the Braintree Community Partnership, an organization working to reduce alcohol and substance use among youth. I am always incredibly inspired to see young people engaging in the legislative process and I know the work of these Braintree students will continue to have a positive impact among their peers and in our communities.

Congratulations are due to South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School on the strong vote they received in support of building a new school. I have visited with Superintendent Thomas Hickey, members of the School Committee, staff, and students on many occasions and have always been so impressed with the quality of instruction at the school. Having a state-of-the-art facility to complement instruction means future students will be even more prepared to step into the workforce. 

Good government means getting as many people involved as possible. We need all perspectives and that means meeting people wherever they are.

For years, I've used Instagram as a fun activity to share my explorations of the world. It's a place for me to post pictures and videos of the things I encounter in my day-to-day life and, dare I say, get to exercise some creativity.

With all that said, I can't discount the role Instagram also plays in the public discourse. That's why I have created a second account, @statesenatorjohnfkeenan, which I will use to provide updates on the things my office is working on. Check it out if you like to engage in politics through Instagram.

If you would rather just view the curiosities I come across, follow me on my personal account, @senjohnfkeenan.