Bringing Beacon Hill to You

During this rainy October, the Senate passed several key bills, and I attended many celebrations in the district.  

On October 16, the Senate considered two important pieces of legislation, the Move Over Law and menstrual product equity.  

We approved legislation addressing the safety of drivers and telecom, gas, and electric utility workers with an expansion of the Commonwealth’s Move Over law. The existing Move Over law requires drivers to proceed with caution and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of emergency personnel and roadside workers. Under An Act relative to the Move Over Law, S.2642, motorists would need to slow down and move over, when practicable, if approaching a stationary utility truck or a stopped vehicle with flashing lights on the shoulder of a road or highway breakdown lane.  

As part of the Move Over Law update, I filed an amendment, that the Senate adopted, which expands this protection by adding municipal vehicles to the list of vehicles that motorists must change lanes to avoid. You can read more about it here.   

On the same day, the Senate unanimously passed a pair of bills that maintain its commitment to health equity by promoting safe and easy access to menstrual products. 

One of the bills, S.2640, expands access to necessary products like tampons and pads in public schools, homeless shelters, jails, and prisons. The legislation requires that these disposable products be made available at no cost to people who need them. 



The second piece of legislation, S.2641 requires that manufacturers of menstrual health products clearly disclose and display a list of ingredients.  

On October 23, the Senate approved legislation that responsibly closed the books on fiscal year 2025 and advanced policy proposals that would ensure integrity in government operations, support the families of former residents of state institutions, and guard student access to financial aid. 

Senators voted 39-0 to approve the closeout supplemental budget, S.2655, which creates a Sheriff Fiscal Oversight Council to hold county sheriff offices responsible for spending goals and performance metrics. The bill also commissions an investigation of sheriffs’ Fiscal Year 2025 spending in response to sharp annual growth in the sheriffs’ spending deficits, which grew more than 200% in the last fiscal year.  

In addition to sheriffs’ accountability, the legislation helps provide closure to families and recognize the dignity of former patients by allowing access to former resident records from more than 25 state-run institutions—many now closed—for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions. 



As amended by the Senate, the bill also restores $18.3 million in funding for student financial aid assistance ahead of the spring semester and proactively protects additional support for community college students earning degrees through the MassEducate program. A conference committee will work to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the spending bill. 

This month, I testified in support of my S.2100 Resolve Creating a Special Commission on Additional Regular Compensation for Certain Members and Annual Expenses for Members of General Court. A few months ago, I had a group of summer interns who worked on a project comparing the pay systems for legislative bodies of other states, which formed the foundation of my testimony.  

In the Massachusetts legislature, being appointed a chair of a committee comes with increased pay, in some cases quite a significant increase. Some members are given more than one committee or leadership role, receiving even greater pay.  Research shows that when legislative leadership hand out large stipends via committee assignments, elected officials are more hesitant to speak out or act in opposition to leadership, fearing that it could result in loss of committee assignments and pay. I believe legislatures should not operate as echo chambers as a result of the influence that leadership has over legislative pay; my bill would lead to a re-evaluation of this system.

  

On October 28, I and many others testified in support of my bill, S.1343 An Act relative to collective bargaining rights for legislative employees. Massachusetts historically supports the right to unionize, and State House staff should enjoy that same right. Elected officials depend on our staff to help us handle constituent and legislative work. In turn, we should support their requests to collectively bargain so they can advocate for a healthier work environment. My bill does not require a union but gives employees the right to form one. The bill does not permit legislative staff to strike.  

At the Woodward School for Girls annual gala, I was honored to present three outstanding women with citations. My deepest congratulations to the three Women of Distinction: 

Marci Bracken, Co-owner of Pink Chair Storytellers Magazine, for her dedication to giving a voice to powerful stories and women.  

Christine Cugini, Director of Veterans Services for the City of Quincy, for her outstanding commitment to those who have served our country.  



Pamela Everhart, Past Woodward Parent and Head of Regional Public Affairs, Inclusion, and Impact at Fidelity Investments, for her exemplary leadership and dedication to fostering a more inclusive world. 

The following week, I attended the Quincy Firefighter Retirement Banquet, an especially meaningful one for me because my brother Matt retired with more than 38 years of service. Congratulations and well wishes to all retirees who kept us safe for so many years. 

I joined the Tobin Towers Tenant Association in thanking Quincy City Councilors Ian Cain and Nina Liang for their service on the Quincy City Council. I presented them each with a citation highlighting their commitment to the city through their roles on the Council.   

At this event, I was delighted to receive a Chinese landscape painting by Quincy artist Moping Wong that now hangs in my State House office and has already received many compliments. I love the reminder of the talent and passion found across the district.  

Representative Bruce Ayers and I learned a great deal at Squantum Point Park, getting ferry riders’ feedback at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Ferry Info Day. The ferry is a great way to commute in and out of Boston, and I look forward to seeing expanded services attracting more riders. 



The City of Quincy celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Navy, recognizing its long and strong ties with the city. Quincy was the birthplace of many naval ships and home to a naval airfield. Lieutenant Commander Alicia Ping, U.S. Navy (Ret.), spoke movingly of the relationship and all the Navy has done to serve our nation.   

I ended the month with two more celebrations for more outstanding residents. I enjoyed attending the 36th annual Quincy Dems breakfast where Alicia Gardner received the Dennis F. Ryan Community Award. I joined Representative Tackey Chan and Representative Ayers in presenting legislative citations to Alicia, recognizing her passion for helping others.  

That same evening, more outstanding residents were showcased at the Houghs Neck Community Council Good Neighbor Awards Night. Houghs Neck in Quincy is a special place because of its tradition of community involvement. I enjoyed joining Congressman Stephen F. Lynch and Representative Chan to present citations to the awardees Brian Laroche, Cheryl Cowan, and Richard McLaughlin, each honored for their dedication and service to others. 

A fond farewell to Aidan Murphy, who has been an outstanding legislative aide over the last two years. Aidan’s hard work and energy have kept things running smoothly, from the busy Senate office to events across the district. I am truly grateful for everything he has done and wish him the best as he starts his next chapter on a US Senate campaign.