Volume 8, Issue 7 (August 5, 2026) | | |
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope this newsletter finds you enjoying the heart of summer. July's edition includes recent legislative updates, news from my office, district happenings, and resources available at the state level.
We prioritize our constituent outreach and support in my office. In August, I will host four in-person office hours with me or a member of my staff. If you cannot attend scheduled office hours, you are welcome to contact my staff to schedule a meeting. Please see below for our office’s updated contact information.
State Representative Joan Meschino
State House, Room 162, 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133
617-722-2092
Wishing you a wonderful August!
Very truly yours,
Joan
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Each month, I invite you to submit questions you have for me. It can be on a particular policy issue, district topic, about my day-to-day, or whatever is on your mind. I will post two videos on my socials per month -- one answering a submitted question using the link below, and one with a timely update from my office.
Submit a question!
Be sure to watch the most recent episode on Instagram and Facebook!
| | House of Representatives Passes Slew of Bills in Late July | | |
In the last week of July, the House of Representatives passed dozens of bills related to healthcare, immigration, transportation, child welfare, and more. The House passed the following legislation:
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Alzheimer’s and dementia care: The House passed H.5693 to strengthen dementia care, support families and caregivers, expand workforce training, and enhance public health efforts to address Alzheimer’s and other dementias across Massachusetts.
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Primary care: The House passed H.5630 to expand access to primary care, shift the health care system toward prevention, invest in the health care workforce, support hospitals and community health centers, improve affordability by lowering prescription drug costs, and increasing accountability across the health care system. The bill now goes to a conference committee for negotiation between the House and Senate.
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Medal of Fidelity: The House passed H.5624, which establishes a special "Medal of Fidelity" license plate for qualifying next of kin of fallen service members in Massachusetts.
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Limb loss: The House passed H.5626, to expand coverage for prosthetics and orthotics for people with limb loss.
The House also enacted several bills that had been reported out of Conference Committees. These committees are responsible for negotiating House and Senate bills into a single agreement. These bills were enacted by the House and Senate and now go to the Governor for her signature.
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Immigration enforcement: The House and Senate enacted H.5620, also known as the PROTECT Act. The legislation strengthens due process protections; limits civil immigration enforcement in sensitive locations; expands protections for victims of crime; and increases transparency, accountability, and clarity for correctional facilities and law enforcement relative to civil immigration enforcement.
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Child welfare: The House and Senate enacted H.5629 to safeguard the wellbeing of vulnerable children in state care and foster care. The bill strengthens and builds on the work of existing entities to take a comprehensive approach toward making sure all children receive the support they deserve. The final bill included Rep. Meschino’s H.267, which requires that the Department of Children and Families provide timely notice to a child’s attorney regarding changes in the child’s placement or hospitalization, reports regarding the child or the suitability of their placement, and any disciplinary action including arrest, suspension, or involvement in proceedings.
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Home care: The House and Senate passed H.5627, which supports older adults and individuals with disabilities by creating a licensing and oversight process for home care agencies whose staff provide non-medical care that help people safely age in place. The legislation ensures the safety and security of residents who rely on home care workers, who often provide significant support to not only the individuals utilizing their services but to their families as well.
Under the new rules governing the State Legislature, the House will continue to work through the fall and winter to pass bills that have made it to a conference committee, where differences between House and Senate language are negotiated.
| | Massachusetts State House. | | House of Representatives Passes Economic Development Bond Bill | | |
On July 8, 2026, The House of Representatives passed H.5562, An Act Relative to Economic Development in the Commonwealth.
The $561 million bond bill will strengthen innovation, expand housing opportunities, and position the Commonwealth for long-term economic growth and competitiveness. The Towns of Hingham, Hull, and Cohasset each received authorizations of $50,000 to invest in main street economies, and $70,000 was authorized for the South Shore Irish Heritage Trail to invest in physical and digital infrastructure.
Statewide, the bill will create tools to promote housing production and adaptive reuse, strengthen fair housing protections, protect the Commonwealth from reductions and delays in federal funding, reduce the cost of starting a business, and establish safety rules for operation of personal transportation devices. The bond includes $100 million for defense and national security solutions, $75 million to promote artificial intelligence innovation within the Commonwealth, and $20 million for the veterans supported housing program.
The bill passed the House of Representatives 148 - 2 and was passed by the Senate last week. The bill now goes to a conference committee. You can read more about the bill here.
| | Rep. Meschino Thanks Summer Interns | | |
This summer, my office welcomed six interns who engaged in individual research projects, attended events with top state officials, and experienced day-to-day life in the State House. I was impressed by the scope of work that our interns accomplished this summer. They completed meaningful research projects on a wide variety of issue areas including affordable housing, electric vehicles, nuclear power, public health, and local projects.
Thank you Ellesmere, Delaney, Abby, Carys, Stella, and Eren for your work this summer and for bringing great energy to the office. We wish you all the best going forward!
| | Rep. Meschino with summer interns. | |
Rep. Meschino Thanks Legislative Aide Harrison Bushnell | |
After two years of service to my office and the 3rd Plymouth District, my legislative aide, Harrison Bushnell, is taking the next step in his career.
I am so thankful to Harrison for his contributions to my office, particularly in constituent services, policy analysis, and communications. Those who have called in to the office know that Harrison has been a bright, kind, and thoughtful addition to my team. He will be dearly missed, and I hope you all join me in wishing him success as he takes this next step in his career.
You can continue to contact my office at 617-722-2092 or joan.meschino@mahouse.gov.
| Rep. Meschino and Harrison Bushnell. | | STATE AND FEDERAL HIGHLIGHTS | | Hull Wins Early Education and Care Grant | The Town of Hull won a $47,690 grant from the Department of Early Education and Care. The Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) Grant is a statewide network that meets the needs of children, families, and communities throughout the Commonwealth. The program addresses the developmental, social and emotional, and community support needs of young children and their families. It fosters healthy development, reduces caregiver isolation, and promotes early learning success. | Construction Continues at Hingham Ferry Dock | Construction is ongoing in the Hingham Parking lot and on Shipyard Drive in preparation for the Hingham Ferry Dock upgrades. There is reduced parking in the lot, and portions of Shipyard Drive are affected. For more information, visit this link. | | Rep. Meschino and Team Visit 3rd Plymouth Historical Societies | | Earlier this month, I spent the day in the district with my staff and summer interns. To start the day, Mike Dick of the Cohasset Historical Society discussed the long history of Cohasset’s maritime tradition. Next, we went to the Hingham Historical Society to experience a walking tour of downtown Hingham and a viewing of their new Revolution 250 exhibit. The day ended with time spent on Nantasket Beach of Hull, looking over the coast and considering the impactful history of the district from Colonial America to the 21st century. | | |
(Above) Rep. Meschino and summer interns at Cohasset Maritime Museum
(Below) Rep. Meschino and summer interns at Hingham Historical Society
| | Team Meschino Visits with Local Environmental Organizations | | I visited the Weir River Farm with my legislative aide and summer interns, where we learned about their community programming, sustainable farming, and environmental work. Thank you to Heather and Anne for hosting us! We also took a tour of the North River with the North and South River Watershed Association, where we learned about their historic protection of this tremendous resource. Thank you, Becky and Rick, for the tour and your stewardship of the North River. | |
(Above) Rep. Meschino and team visit Weir River Farm.
(Below) Rep. Meschino and team tour the North River.
| Rep. Meschino Tours Old State House | Thank you to the team from Revolutionary Spaces for welcoming me and my team to the Old State House this month. Before heading up to the current State House for formal session, we learned about the origins of our state government and how the events of the late 1700s have created ripple effects felt today. As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, it is worth a stop at the Old State House to reflect on where this all began. | Rep. Meschino and team at the Old State House. | |
Rep. Meschino Announces Office Hours for August
Constituent services are our top priority. We continue to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, a staff member will be present in the State House. On Mondays, I host in-person office hours in the district with me or a member of my staff.
If you would like to reserve a time slot for virtual office hours or outside of the times listed, please call the office at our new phone number 617-722-2092 or email my Legislative Aides, Jane and Harrison.
- Monday, August 3, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Linden Ponds, for Linden Ponds residents
- Monday, August 10, 9:00 am - 10:30 am, Willcutt Commons, 91 Sohier Street, Cohasset
- Monday, August 17 10:00 am - 11:00 am, Hull Council on Aging, 197A Samoset Avenue, Hull
- Monday, August 24, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Hingham Public Library, 66 Leavitt Street, Hingham
To learn more about our constituent services, please visit our website.
| | Massachusetts 250th Anniversary Rev250 Events | |
- Across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, communities and institutions are celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution with events, exhibits, special tours, programs, festivals, performances, and much more. The 3rd Plymouth District will be celebrating its rich history with a series of events over the coming two years.
- View South Shore events here.
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