Legislative Track Record

🌲 Climate and Clean Energy

In my first session, Massachusetts passed a sweeping climate bill that streamlines the siting and permitting processes for clean energy, prepares the gas distribution system for a clean energy transition, expands the vehicle charging network, and protects residents from escalating energy costs. I led on a revision to Massport’s 1956 charter that requires Massport, for the first time, to integrate the state’s climate and environmental goals into all of its project decisions.

📝 Public Education and Early Childhood Education

I supported historic budget increases to Massachusetts public schools, state higher education, vocational education, and early childhood education. I continue to advocate for reform to our special education circuit breaker system, in order to deliver the highest possible level of special education care while managing the fiscal strain on our K-12 schools caused by spiking costs.

💰 Tax Relief

For the first time in more than two decades, the Massachusetts Legislature delivered landmark tax relief to residents and businesses. Over $1 billion in cuts support an expanded Child and Family Tax Credit (now the most generous in the nation); increases to the Rental Deduction, Senior Circuit Breaker, and Housing Development Incentive Program; and changes to the Estate Tax and Short Term Capital Gains tax to address Massachusetts’ outlier status.

🔫 Firearm Safety

Massachusetts has the lowest rate of gun violence in the nation. We took significant steps forward by passing a commonsense omnibus gun safety bill that standardizes training requirements – including a live fire requirement – for License to Carry holders, expands extreme risk protection order filing ability, and provides tools for law enforcement to target illegal ghost guns.

🏥 Maternal Healthcare and Location Privacy

This session saw comprehensive maternal health care reform, including a state licensure pathway for midwives and lactation consultants; support for more freestanding birth centers, and the expansion of insurance coverage for postpartum depression. We also protected the privacy of patients by prohibiting companies from collecting, processing or selling the location cell phone data of individuals seeking reproductive health care.

🇺🇸 Veterans Services

I supported the HERO Act, which boosted support for hundreds of thousands of military veterans across the state. Provisions included an increase to benefits for disable vets and Gold Star families, new initiatives for municipalities to support veterans, and codified medical, behavioral health, and dental benefits.

🏡 Housing

I supported the largest housing investment in Massachusetts History, the Affordable Homes Act, which includes a $5.16 billion bond authorization and tax credits to spur housing production. Major policy provisions include accessory dwelling units by right and support for municipalities in zoning and development.

🕍 Combating Antisemitism

I am the House Speaker’s appointed Co-Chair of the nation’s first State Commission on Combating Antisemitism. In this role, I am helping to lead the state's response and recommendations to address the disturbing increase in antisemitic incidents we are seeing in Massachusetts. As a proud Jew, this work has deep personal resonance for me.

💉 Long-Term Care, Prescription Drug Costs, and Hospital Oversight

In my first session, I supported successful changes to several major components of our health care system. We overhauled Long-Term healthcare oversight and provided incentive for workforce entrance while streamlining the process for patients to enter long-term care facilities; capped co-payments on brand name drugs at $25 per 30-day supply; gave immediate price relief for prescription drugs used to treat diabetes, asthma, and heart conditions; and bolstered oversight of our hospital system to address the types of risks that caused the Steward Hospital fiasco.

⚖️ Criminal Justice Reform and Restorative Justice

I serve as the House Speaker's appointee to the Restorative Justice Advisory Committee, which is responsible for advancing restorative justice policies across Massachusetts as a result of the 2018 Criminal Justice legislative reforms. Restorative Justice is a victim-centered approach that is supported by police departments and other law enforcement leaders in my district, in addition to many other key stakeholders in the justice system. In this role, I apply my experience as a federal prosecutor and a special education teacher.