Cosponsored Legislation

An Act relative to the Safe Harbor for Exploited Children Act

This Act creates an avenue by which a juvenile arrested for prostitution will be considered a child victim of sexual exploitation with access to services, including shelter, food, clothing, medical care, and counseling.  Further, it ensures that cases of commercial sexual exploitation will be referred to and investigated by law enforcement and the district attorney.

An Act relative to healthy youth

Ensures that sexual health education in school districts is both age appropriate and medically accurate. 

An Act to protect privacy and personal data

This bill protects Massachusetts residents’ privacy, personal data, and First Amendment rights in the context of government data collection. It prohibits law enforcement collection of information about individuals’ political and religious views, associations, or activities without reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct. It also establishes practical standards to ensure that government collection of our personal information is conducted in a secure, accountable manner, and establishes necessary transparency and oversight structures. 

An Act relative to transgender equal rights

The Transgender Equal Rights Bill would add “gender identity and expression” to existing Massachusetts civil rights laws, which currently prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, and marital status in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and credit. The bill would also add offenses regarding gender identity or expression to the list of offenses that are subject to treatment as hate crimes. The bill defines gender identity and expression as “a gender--‐related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of an individual, regardless of the individual's assigned sex at birth.” This is consistent with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination’s past decisions, as well as Boston’s 2002 transgender anti--‐discrimination ordinance. 

An Act prohibiting the use of prescriber-identifiable data for marketing purposes.

This bill will prevent drug companies from using prescription information to market to physicians, while at the same time protecting the public.

An Act to amend the foreclosure statute to require judicial foreclosure

Foreclosure by Complaint: All foreclosures of residential mortgages on 1-4 family owner-occupied properties shall be initiated by the filing of a foreclosure complaint against the mortgagor in the superior court for the county in which the property is located. Such filing shall include notice pursuant to 50 U.S.C. App. sec. 501 et seq., the Service Members Civil Relief Act (“SCRA”) as it exists or may be amended, and no additional filing in the Land Court, pursuant to SCRA shall be required. A defendant-residential mortgagor may raise all legal and equitable claims and defenses. The court shall have the authority to modify the mortgage or grant any other appropriate relief as to the mortgagor but nothing in this section shall affect the rights of tenants or other legal occupants residing in the property that is the subject of the complaint. The court may set aside a default judgment for good cause shown.

An Act to form a commission on for-profit schools

This bill establishes a special commission to study the impact of proprietary schools receiving public investments, in the form of federal and state financial aid, on residents of the Commonwealth who are or have been enrolled in these institutions. The Commission will make recommendations concerning the regulation and oversight of Massachusetts proprietary schools, enforcement of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection laws with respect to these schools, methods to increase transparency, adequacy of support for students at risk or in default on student loans, and education provided to potential students about the financial risks. 

An Act relative to the membership of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

The 9 members appointed by the governor shall consist of 1 representative of a labor organization selected by the governor from a list of 3 nominees provided by the Massachusetts State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; 1 representative of business or industry selected by the governor with a demonstrated commitment to education; 1 representative of parents of school children selected by the governor from a list of 3 nominees provided by the Massachusetts Parent Teachers Association; 1 elementary public school teacher selected by the governor from a list of 3 nominees provided by the Massachusetts Teachers Association; 1 secondary public school teacher selected by the governor from a list of 3 nominees provided by the Massachusetts Teachers Association; and 4 additional members. Notwithstanding said elementary and secondary public school teacher, no other appointive member of said board shall be employed by or receive regular compensation from the department of education, or from any school system, public or independent, in the commonwealth, or serve as a member of any school committee.

An Act establishing risk-based audits of election results

The purpose of this bill is to provide a routine cross-check on the accuracy of election night vote totals, both for ballots counted originally by hand and for ballots counted by machine. The audit compares reported preliminary (unofficial) election vote totals for certain election contests to hand-to-eye counts of the same ballots and contests in order to independently confirm election outcomes. In the case that the audit uncovers discrepancies that reach a specified level, a contest-wide hand count is mandated. 

An Act establishing Election Day registration

This bill would allow otherwise eligible individuals to register to vote on the day of an election or primary provided that the individual has complied with required identification and residency requirements. 

An Act relative to pre-registration of voters

Allows qualified 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote and then vote on or after their 18th birthdays. 

A Legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to the subject matter of initiative and referendum petitions

Massachusetts currently has one of the lowest thresholds to place a question on the ballot. This amendment to the Constitution would bring the Commonwealth in line with other states that allow for initiative and referendum petitions.

An Act relative to sustainable water resources

The Sustainable Water Resources Act (Re-file of H. 834) This bill ensures adequate water in our rivers and streams for people and wildlife by: 1) Amending the Water Management Act to develop science-based stream-flow standards that will ensure adequate water flow and water levels vital for the protection and propagation of fish, other species and aquatic habitat while meeting water needs for public health and safety. 2) Authorizing water suppliers to charge a small fee to residents and businesses for any new water withdrawals or increased sewer use. The fee is to be used to fund land acquisition for wellhead and water supply protection, construction of facilities for local recharge of storm water and waste water treatment, reuse of water and retrofitting via low impact development methods and water saving devices. 3) Augmenting the options offered to dam owners by the Office of Dam Safety to promote removal in environmentally sensitive areas as an alternative to the repair of failing dams. 

An Act relative to comprehensive land use reform and partnership

An Act relative to comprehensive land use reform and partnership (The Comprehensive Land Use Reform and Partnership Act CLURPA) (Re-file of S. 2482). This bill proposes the first comprehensive updating of the Commonwealth’s zoning and subdivision control laws in over thirty five years. The bill offers clarity and updating of the entire Chapter 40A (The Zoning Act), and Section 81D of Chapter 41 (the master plan), as well as portions of Chapter 41 (The Subdivision Control Law). CLURPA also creates a new statute in the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40U, that offers additional powers, practices, and preferences to communities that “opt-in” to certain additional performance standards consistent with the state’s sustainable development principles. The bill promotes local master planning as a basis for consistent zoning, subdivision control, and permitting -- and provides zoning reform benefits to all communities in the areas of grandfathering, Approval Not Required (ANR) plans, and impact fees. 

An Act to sustain community preservation

This bill improves upon the Community Preservation Act's (CPA) 10-year success story of enabling nearly half of the Commonwealth's communities to create affordable housing, rehabilitate significant historic resources, develop parks and recreational facilities and preserve open space. This legislation has strong support from both parties, with 83 legislators co-sponsoring last session. It received a favorable recommendation from both the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business and the House Committee on Ways and Means. This bill would: - Restore the annual statewide Community Preservation Trust Fund distribution to historic levels - Broaden the options and incentives for cities and less affluent communities to adopt CPA - Clarify the allowable uses for CPA funds so that communities can rehabilitate existing outdoor parks and other recreational resources - Help small businesses by adding a new, optional exemption for the first $100,000 of commercial and industrial property value 

An Act updating the bottle bill

This legislation will increase recycling in Massachusetts by expanding the universe of containers requiring a refundable deposit. This bill would add non-carbonated beverage containers, including water, flavored waters and energy drinks, which account for 70% of the non-returnable bottles currently entering the waste stream. These 'take-away' containers are costly for cities and towns to dispose of as trash, and they result in non recyclable trash in landfills. This bill would also help recycling centers by increasing their fee per container recycled. 

An Act for a competitive economy through safer alternatives to toxic chemicals

Expands TURA (Toxic Use Reduction Act) program by replacing toxic chemicals with safer alternatives in consumer products and businesses; provides financial and technical assistance to businesses to support switching to safer alternatives 

An Act improving outdoor lighting and increasing dark-sky visibility

This bill creates new requirements for state outdoor roadway and parking lot lighting. When roadway lights are being replaced or planned for new installation, alternatives must be considered, including: reflectors, roadway markers, lines, warnings and other signage, or other passive means. When new lighting fixtures are installed, they must be fully shielded to prevent light from shining upward and reducing visibility of the night sky. The law will not apply if: federal law pre-empts; lighting is in use by emergency or repair personnel, at airports, special events, or for historic illumination; urban areas with nighttime pedestrian traffic; prisons and jails; or when other compelling safety interests may occur. 

An Act protecting the natural resources of the Commonwealth

An Act Protecting the Natural Resources of the Commonwealth (Re-file of S. 396/H4422). Also known as the Public Lands Preservation Act or the No Net Loss Bill. In 1972, the Massachusetts voters approved an amendment to the state Constitution, Article 97, granting the people of the state the right to clean air and water, and other environmental benefits. However, the pressure to convert public land protected by Article 97 is growing as development pressures increase, as vacant land becomes more expensive, and as the demand for land to be used for schools, easements, parking lots, utilities, and other services grows. This bill provides protection for our public lands by requiring other sites be evaluated before Article 97 land is developed and requiring that, if Article 97 land is taken or changed in use, open land is acquired to replace it. The bill codifies the existing ad hoc system legislators and the Administration rely on to conduct their due diligence. 

An Act relative to plastic bag reduction

The widespread use of plastic bags has serious consequences for the environment, such as littering our coastlines, using up billions of gallons of petroleum a year, leaching toxic chemicals into our soil and water, and killing millions of animals each year. This bill will reduce the number of plastic bags used in Massachusetts each year by directing certain retailers to cease providing non-compostable plastic checkout bags to their customers. If a retailer still chooses to provide plastic check out bags to their customers, they must conform to the ASTM standard for compostable plastic. This legislation would only apply to large stores, defined as those with greater than 4,000 square feet.

An Act regarding spouses as caregivers

This legislation would allow spouses to be added to the definition of family members who are permitted to act as paid caregivers in the Personal Care Attendant program, MassHealth program and Adult Foster Care program. As a result of this legislation, many disabled individuals would benefit from the care of the people whom they trust the most and who cares for them the most. 

An Act establishing Medicare for all in Massachusetts

An Act establishing Medicare for all in Massachusetts would create a single payer health care system for Massachusetts, guaranteeing first rate health care coverage for every resident of the state, while saving money for state and local government, businesses, and residents. Massachusetts cannot afford to extend good health coverage to all residents under the current health insurance system, and rising health care costs are destroying state, municipal, business, and household budgets. No country or community in the world has been able to control health care costs or guarantee universal health care coverage without a system like Medicare for All. 

An Act to reform and improve alimony

This measure is the result of the work by the Alimony Task Force appointed by the Chairs of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The Task Force worked to produce a piece of legislation resulting in fair and equitable alimony reform in Massachusetts. Each member of the Task Force brought to the table a unique perspective based on his or her respective experience and prospective solutions. Task Force members sought to respond to the requests for simplification, clarification, and specificity of the alimony law throughout the process, responding to concerns and thoughtful insight from a myriad of parties, such as judges, lawyers, reform advocates and individuals interested in reforming alimony law in the Commonwealth.

An Act relative to disclosure of political spending

This bill is designed to fill in the gaps in Massachusetts campaign finance law in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC. This bill will 1) eliminate unconstitutional language 2) clarify that current disclosure and reporting requirements apply to all political communications allowed under the law 3) require corporations and labor unions paying for political advertisements to disclose their spending even if the advertisements are made by another group or entity 4) requires those entities or groups to report on funds they receive 5) require organizations spending large amounts on political advertisements to register as political committees 6) require political advertisements to include disclaimer statements that identify their top contributors 7) prevent coordination between candidates and outside groups and 8) Ban on contributions, independent expenditure, and electioneering communications by foreign nationals and foreign-controlled corporations. 

An Act promoting financial stability and asset development

Low-to-moderate income families often face substantial barriers to gaining and keeping employment and to building the assets – such as a car to drive to work or modest savings – necessary to achieve financial stability and break the cycle of poverty. However, many transitional assistance and education programs are restricted to those with few or no financial assets. These restrictions can have the unintended effect of restricting employment options due to a lack of reliable transportation and can create disincentives for saving. This bill would remove state-imposed barriers to asset development for low-to-moderate income residents of the Commonwealth who receive support through the Department of Transitional Assistance and will promote gainful employment and financial stability. 

An Act to invest in our communities

This bill would allow Massachusetts to close the majority of our structural budget gap and avoid dangerous cuts to schools, local aid, and public safety, while also lowering the tax responsibility we currently place on middle class families. It would increase the personal income tax rate to its 1999 rate of 5.95 but also increase the standard deduction from $4,400 per person to $7,900 in order to hold down increases for middle-class families. The bill would also raise the tax rate on wealthy investors, but provide a targeted exemption for middle-class seniors.

An Act to clarify terms of collective bargaining agreements

Makes evergreen clauses, which extend the terms of collective bargaining agreements while labor unions and employers negotiate a new agreement, legal even when they extend contract terms beyond  3 years

An Act to improving quality in early education and care by family childcare providers

This legislation would help to establish a system in Massachusetts to improve the quality of family child care services by providing collective bargaining rights for providers of early education and care. This matter was passed by both the Senate and House in the previous session, but failed to receive a final procedural vote to be enacted.

An Act establishing paid sick days

This legislation would help to establish a system in Massachusetts to improve the quality of family child care services by providing collective bargaining rights for providers of early education and care. This matter was passed by both the Senate and House in the previous session, but failed to receive a final procedural vote to be enacted.

An Act to promote public health through workplace safety for social workers

This bill would require behavioral health employers to perform annually an assessment of factors that may put a licensed social worker at risk of workplace violence. It would establish the following requirements: creation of a system for recording centrally all incidents of workplace violence or threats of such violence against licensed social workers; creation of a written violence prevention and response plan; implementation of a training program to educate licensed social worker employees about workplace violence and ways behavioral health care employers and social worker can ameliorate such risk; maintaining and developing a violence prevention and response team to monitor ongoing compliance with the violence prevention and crisis response plan and to assist any social worker victimized by or threatened with workplace violence.

An Act relative to greyhound simulcasting

Notwithstanding the provisions of this act or any general or special law to the contrary, no racing meeting where simulcast betting or wagering on the speed or ability of dogs occurs shall be conducted or permitted in this commonwealth after be January 1, 2013.