This legislation ensures that all operators of motorboats in the Commonwealth have demonstrated a minimum level of boater safety knowledge. Boaters can take the online examination created by the Environmental Police once, and if they pass, they can print their certificate. If they fail, they must take a boater education course and can then take the test until they pass. The legislation creates exemptions for operators such as merchant marines, a non-resident renting a boat, an active member of the Armed Forces who is qualified to operate a boat, a commercial fisherman, an operator of a boater education course, or a student operating a boat in their studies.

Operators of boater education courses may be required to self-certify their course. Boater safety certificate completed before passage of this act may be valid if issued by Environmental Police, a course provider or another jurisdiction.

The goal of this legislation is very simple: keeping people safe on the waters of the Commonwealth. A fun day on the water can turn dangerous very quickly; it is crucial that boat operators know what to do in case of emergency and know how to safely operate a motorboat to avoid tragedies.

This legislation mandates all law enforcement agencies shall create a program to support officers who were involved in a critical incident, which include line of duty death or injury of an officer, suicide of an officer, multiple casualty incidents, incidents involving children, or any incident that elicits a strong emotional response.

The programs shall include pre-incident preparation, protocols to ensure physical and mental well-being at the scene and after, provision of post-incident services, to both the officer and the family, guidelines for temporary leave or duty re-assignment, guidelines for an officer’s return to duty, including a reintegration plan, and ongoing supportive services.

This legislation will ensure that all law enforcement agencies properly handle officer involvement in critical incidents and ensure that officers who are involved in traumatic events do not return to the line of duty before dealing and working through the trauma. As I always say, “hurt people, hurt people”

I have advocated strongly for our public schools during my three sessions on Beacon Hill. I have supported fully funding the Student Opportunity Act each budget session since its passage, and will continue to do so until it is fully funded in the year 2026. I was proud to support increasing per pupil funding to $60, up from $30, and to fully fund universal school meals, with the understanding that students cannot learn effectively on an empty stomach. I will continue to advocate for our schools to receive all the resources they need, which includes ensuring that the extra revenue received from the Fair Share Amendment goes towards making our schools the best they can be.

Additionally, we need to ensure that our schools always remain safe. I support state funding for School Resource Officer programs to keep our schools free of drugs and violence. Our children deserve the chance to focus on learning to their highest potential and should not have to worry about their safety in school. 

Effectively preparing our students for the future starts before they even enter elementary school. Unfortunately, the rising costs of childcare and pre-school make these crucial years of child development financially out of reach for too many families. In high school, our students must have opportunities to prepare for jobs in a changing world. Technological developments—from automation to green technology—signal big changes to come in the global economy and we must prepare our students for the jobs of tomorrow.

The legislation increases the penalty of a hit and run with a recreational vehicle that causes bodily injury from a fine between $500 and $1,000 to a jail sentence of one year, a fine between $500 and $1,000, or both. The legislation also creates penalties for a hit and run with a recreational vehicle that results in the death of the other party, which are a fine of no more than $5,000, a jail sentence of up to two and a half years, or both. 

This legislation creates a new limited video gaming license, which allows veterans organizations to purchase and utilize 5 limited video gaming terminals at their establishment. The bets are limited to $2.00 and the maximum win is $599. The State Gaming Commission will have oversight of the entire program, including background checks, connection to a central communication system controlled by the SGC, the number of terminals, a video monitoring system and much more.

Veterans organizations provide so much good to the community, through sponsorship of sports teams, scholarships, services to veterans returning home and much more. Allowing veterans organizations to have 5 gaming terminals on site will create another source of revenue for them, allowing them to continue the good work they do.

This bill reestablishes a “MassMade” branding program within the Office of Business Development to promote goods made or grown here in the Commonwealth and encourage consumers to buy local. The program would feature a website offering an online directory, freely accessible to the public, of businesses and consumer products.

This law would update the definition of attempted murder in the General Laws to include stabbing as a form of attempted murder.

The bill establishes an office of elder advocate within the Executive Office of Elder Affairs with the authority to respond to complaints for residents or staff of nursing homes, rest homes, as well as assisted living residences which are already regulated by Elder Affairs. It is modelled on the current statute that established the Office of Child Advocate. The office has the authority to initiate a complaint on its own without need for one to be submitted if it believes there may be probable cause of a violation. Supported by Dignity Alliance of Massachusetts. (Joint file with Rep. LaNatra)

This bill would give LMHCs the authority to Section 12 a consumer/patient wherein that consumer/patient of mental health services is deemed by the LMHC to be in imminent danger, as well as making other updates. Final draft being worked on by House Counsel

Ensures that Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) and Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselors (LSMHCs) are included in state Job Classification Specifications so they are eligible for relevant job postings.

This legislation would allow school nurses to combine their work as a school nurse and their work as a nurse outside of the school, into the same retirement fund. The nurse must be a member in service of the teacher’s retirement system, of either a municipality, city or the State, for at least ten years. The Maximum creditable service for outside nursing work is three years.

This legislation mandates that all trains or light engines used to move freight must have a minimum crew of 2 people. Any company that violates will be subject to fines based on number of offenses.

This legislation protects the environmental health of Furnace Pond, Monponsett Pond and Silver Lake by giving DAR the ability to stop the diversion of waters from these three ponds if they are at risk of environmental degradation. The three ponds shall also be managed to ensure the continuous flow of water to all out-flowing rivers, such as the Jones River, Stump Brook or Herring Brook. Ensuring the continuous flow protects the water quality of the water and maintains the health of the ecosystems within them.

This legislation makes any federal funds or grants from ARPA, CARES Act, or other federal funding distributed to child care providers for the purpose of supporting the stability of the child care sector during COVID, exempt from state income tax.

This legislation mandates the installation of hot box detectors every 20 miles on railroad tracks that passenger trains operate. Hot box detectors detect abnormalities in heat coming from the wheels of the train and thus, can prevent damage to the wheels that can cause accidents or derailments.

This bill expands the definition of public employee under Section 13D, Chapter 265 of the General Laws to include employees of private railroads performing a public service. The commuter rail is operated by Keolis, a private company who is contracted by the MBTA. This would protect them from assault while operating the commuter rail and allow an officer to make an arrest on probably cause.

This legislation requires the Rail and Transit division of MassDOT to require that any vehicle transporting railroad crew has the proper insurance to do so, which includes commercial insurance. Currently, the MBTA is contracted with Uber and most drivers do not have the proper insurance to protect railroad crews because they do not have commercial coverage. This bill will ensure, that in case of an accident, the railroad crew member is protected.

This legislation requires the Rail and Transit division of MassDOT to require that any vehicle transporting railroad crew has the proper insurance to do so, which includes commercial insurance. Currently, the MBTA is contracted with Uber and most drivers do not have the proper insurance to protect railroad crews because they do not have commercial coverage. This bill will ensure, that in case of an accident, the railroad crew member is protected.

This legislation would increase the percent of annual net spending a district is allowed to put away in a reserve fund to pay for future unanticipated costs related to special education from 2 percent to 5 percent.

This bill allows municipalities to create a regional school assessment reserve fund, to be utilized in the future if a regional assessment increases by more than 3.5%. The fund cannot exceed 10% of the annual regional assessment for the municipality. This legislation protects towns within a regional school district if their assessment increases, essentially allowing them to create a rainy day fund to help pay for their assessments.

This legislation would improve access to vaccinations by expanding the types of physicians and advanced practice providers that can delegate the administration of an immunization to a certified medical assistant. This legislation will reduce barriers and increase access to vaccines for many vulnerable populations in the Commonwealth that have been exacerbated due to the COVID 19 pandemic and staffing shortages and codifies capabilities made through public health orders during the COVID 19 pandemic.

This legislation establishes two grant programs and a new education fund:

1) It creates a grant for small businesses to transition to a circular economy, defined as an economy which circulates material and products to reduce waste.

2) The Secretary of EEA will create a grant program for non-profits, academic institutions, and businesses to study and develop new technology to improve ocean health and its responsible use. The Secretary should prioritize projects with the most measurable benefits to the ocean or marine communities.

3) DESE shall create a Blue Economy Education Fund to provide high schools with funding to expand educational development, workforce training and job placement programs in blue-STEAM industries.

This legislation requires the state waste system plan to reflect the priority of the Commonwealth’s transitions to a circular economy, defined as one which keeps products, and materials in circulation for as long as possible. DEP shall also create a circular economy education program to inform the public and businesses on what the circular economy is and how they can best participate.

This legislation mandates that one half the amount of funds for Food Security Infrastructure Grants shall be spent directly on the seafood and agricultural industries. Projects can include automatic processing machines, refrigerated storage machines, technologies to upgrade energy efficiency and lower the carbon footprints of irrigation, tractors and other implements. This bill is designed to improve and upgrade Massachusetts ability to grow and catch local food in an efficient way. (This bill is being worked on by House Counsel)

This legislation mandates that all private railroad companies as well as the rail and transit division of MassDOT must comply with the minimum earned sick leave established in Chapter 149, Section 148c of the General Laws. Currently, railroad companies do not provide minimum sick leave, and only provide leave after 2 weeks. These practices were upheld in a lawsuit. This bill would ensure that these companies are compliant with MA law.

This bill establishes a Commercial Fisheries Offshore Wind Mitigation Fund to protect commercial fisheries from offshore wind programs and maintain the resiliency of the seafood industry. The fund shall not revert back to the General Fund at the end of the fiscal year. (Bill being worked on by House Counsel)