Bringing Beacon Hill to You

June and July were busy months in the State House and the district. Here’s a look at what we were able to get done on the Senate floor, as well as everything else we’ve been working on. 

In June and July, the Senate considered a range of topics from health care to cell phones in schools. First, we voted to approve a $532 million supplemental budget to bolster financially strained hospitals and health centers. Many of these community health centers serve residents in low-income areas or individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. I am pleased to support the centers that were on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to deliver essential care that federal policies increasingly threaten. 

A week later, on June 26, the Senate passed An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth (S.2543), which enhances license protections for anyone providing or assisting with legally protected reproductive or gender-affirming health care provided in Massachusetts. The bill protects attorneys licensed in Massachusetts from removal or discipline for advising or representing clients on reproductive or gender-affirming health care. The bill also forbids insurance companies from discriminating against or penalizing providers who offer reproductive or gender-affirming health care. Additionally, the legislation prohibits courts from admitting or considering cases of abuse, neglect, or maltreatment brought against parents because they support their child in seeking reproductive or gender-affirming health care. The Governor signed this bill into law on August 7. 

On July 17, the Senate acted on An Act relative to fairness in debt collection (S.2559), which updates state debt collection laws to provide stronger protections for consumers. The bill ensures that people in debt can keep more of their wages, sets clear limits on how long debts can be collected, and makes the legal process fairer and more transparent. The Senate also approved An Act relative to the uniform child custody jurisdiction and enforcement act (S.2550). That legislation would update laws related to child custody jurisdiction to align with similar laws in other states. This bill helps families by simplifying the handling of child custody cases when parents live in different states. Both of these bills have been sent to the House of Representatives. 

Later in July, the Senate approved An Act relative to archaic laws (S.2564), which seeks to bring Massachusetts law into the 21st century by repealing outdated criminal offenses at odds with constitutionally protected freedoms and liberties. The Senate also voted on An Act amending certain laws relative to individuals with disabilities (S.2563), which removes offensive terminology from state law and modernizes references to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The Senate also advanced An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder (S.2565), known as the Blue Envelope law, which seeks to prevent miscommunication and promote better understanding during traffic stops involving a person with autism spectrum disorder. I am hopeful the House of Representatives will act on this bill. 



On July 31, the Senate passed by a 38-2 vote, An Act to promote student learning and mental health (S.2549). This bill, which builds off legislation I filed in January, bans the use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices in K-12 public schools. Read my press release on the bill here. The bill goes next to the House for their review and action. 

Fourteen of the 49 bills I filed for the 2025-2026 legislative session received a public hearing in July. Topics ranged from establishing the harassment of election workers as a punishable crime to expanding the newborn screening panel to detect additional rare diseases. One bill I spoke in favor of stands out: S.1554, An Act to reduce lung cancer deaths. The legislation would require the tobacco Quit Line to provide callers with counseling about lung cancer screening and would also require the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to develop signage for retail establishments with referral information on lung cancer screening services. Panels of thoracic surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, patient advocates and caregivers also testified in support of the bill, which I am hopeful will become a life-saving law. 

As part of my continued prioritization of public health, I joined on July 9 with legislative colleagues, public health workers, and advocates to speak on the importance of the life-saving drug, naloxone. This drug, commonly called Narcan, can reverse an opioid overdose. As we discussed at the event, this impact is only possible when naloxone is readily available. This session, I filed three bills, S.2398, S.1709 and S.1551, that aim to make naloxone more accessible, especially in higher needs areas. Anyone who is interested in Narcan training or learning more can visit this site for additional resources.  

On July 25, I attended and spoke on a panel at a Sports Betting Research Convening in New York City. I met and heard from those studying the addictive nature of sports betting and shared my experiences creating policy to combat the harmful nature of online sports betting. The advocates I met from Massachusetts and other states at the convening will help my work to make sports betting in Massachusetts safer and fairer for all. 

Earlier this summer, Governor Healey signed the FY26 state budget into law. Totaling roughly $60.9 billion, this spending plan reflects the Legislature’s ongoing fiscal responsibility, protects core services, and reinforces the Commonwealth’s economic foundation in the face of cuts in federal funding. I am proud to have secured funding for several local priorities, including $220,000 for substance use prevention and programming, $140,000 for councils on aging and departments of elder affairs, $100,000 for police and fire departments and $50,000 for libraries in the Norfolk and Plymouth District. 

June commenced with a moment of quiet reflection in the City of Quincy for the Quincy Police Memorial. We paused to remember and honor those who have passed, and in doing so, give thanks to those now serving. Soon after, I attended firefighter memorial ceremonies. I joined with firefighters from the City of Quincy and the Town of Braintree on Firefighter Memorial Sunday to remember those who died in the line of duty and all those who have passed, and to thank those now serving to keep our communities safe. 

Twenty-one years ago, Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, and the celebration continues each year. I attended the Don’t Hide the Pride event in Hanover and also went to Quincy Pride Day. I am always thrilled to see so many neighbors and friends supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. 

I always look forward to celebrating high school graduations in the district, and this year was particularly special as one of my former interns, Mirudulaa Suginathan Yamini, graduated from Quincy High School as valedictorian. Congrats to all the graduates in the Class of 2025! 

On June 18, I joined with state and city officials to christen the new Quincy ferry “The Abigail Adams,” named by fourth-grader Hailey Sommers of Atherton Hough Elementary School. The Marina Bay Ferry is a great way to get to and from the city without all the traffic. I encourage everyone to take a trip on The Abigail Adams. You can find information here. 

Parades in Adams Shore, Squantum, and Merrymount marked a great Independence Day in the City of Quincy with great turnouts from both participants and those cheering along the routes.  

On July 11, I attended the annual celebration recognizing President John Quincy Adams’s 258th birthday. The Quincy Navy Reserve Center presented a wreath on behalf of the White House. I am always inspired by the historic ceremonies at the Church of Presidents. 



Quincy Public Schools' Summer SWELL Academy students visited the State House on July 21. Representative Chan and I enjoyed chatting with them and hearing about their progress in English language proficiency and strengthening academic skills with a special focus on local and national history.  

In July, Magnolia McComish joined my Senate office as Communications Director. She will serve as the primary point of contact for state and local journalists and ensure information on what we are working on reaches you. Magnolia holds a B.A. in Communications from Franklin Pierce University and is pursuing a master's in public administration at Suffolk University.