Author: john_velis

Senate votes to replace decades-old language with modern terms

(BOSTON—6/23/2026) The Massachusetts Senate acted today to support the dignity of people who are deaf or hard of hearing by making sure that state laws use accurate and respectful terminology. 

During today’s session, the Senate passed legislation to strike outdated language from state laws that long referred to people who are deaf or hard of hearing as being ‘hearing impaired.’ 

The bill—S.2120, An Act relative to removing the term hearing impaired from the general laws—takes up a recommendation from the National Association of the Deaf, which has raised awareness around the negative connotations of the phrase ‘hearing impaired.’ 

“Every Massachusetts resident deserves to be treated with dignity in our state laws,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “In Massachusetts, we celebrate our differences and the things that make us who we are, and we do so without using outdated labels. This bill corrects a wrong and is a strong step forward in our laws showing all of our residents, including residents who are deaf or hard of hearing, the respect they are entitled to. Thank you to Leader Creem for her strong advocacy, and to Senator Collins for shepherding this through the committee process.” 

“Words shape how we see one another, and our laws are no exception,” said Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem (D-Newton), lead sponsor of the legislation. “This bill takes a simple but important step toward ensuring that the words we use reflect respect, accuracy, and the preferences of the communities they describe. I’m proud the Senate is taking decisive action to help modernize our statutes and affirm the dignity of deaf and hard of hearing individuals across Massachusetts, and I’m grateful to the students of Newton’s CAPS Deaf & Hard of Hearing Program for bringing this issue to my attention.” 

“Members of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community have been advocating for this change for years, and they made a compelling case that the language currently found in our laws no longer reflects the people it is meant to describe,” said Senator Nick Collins (D-South Boston), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. “This legislation makes a commonsense update to our statutes and reflects the respect that community deserves. Our laws should evolve alongside the people they serve, and it is important that the language we use reflects both the dignity of all residents and the Commonwealth’s commitment to treating every person with respect. It is a small change on paper, but an important step in ensuring our laws continue to reflect the values of Massachusetts.” 

The legislation replaces the term ‘hearing impaired’ with the phrase ‘deaf or hard of hearing’ in numerous instances of state law. Several states including New Hampshire and New York have passed similar bills. 

The bill was reported to the floor earlier this year by the Senate Committee on Rules. It was subject to the public input process with a hearing last fall before the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, which afterwards voted 5-0 to give it a favorable report. 

The Senate passed the bill today and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review. 

Statement of Support

Debbie Knisell, Teacher of the Deaf, CAPS Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, Newton North High School

“What began as a classroom English assignment evolved into a successful advocacy campaign to replace outdated language affecting the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. I am thankful that Senator Creem and the Senate took my students’ advocacy into consideration and made a commitment to fostering and promoting more respectful and inclusive language.” 

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New law creates public database and automatic alerts aimed at preventing fires like the 2014 Back Bay tragedy

(BOSTON—6/19/2026) The Massachusetts Legislature yesterday passed a bill to protect firefighters and tradespeople from conditions that took the lives of Boston Fire Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy in 2014.

The legislation creates a system to discourage unauthorized and untrained welding and other ‘hot work,’ which caused the Back Bay fire in 2014. S.1646, An Act relative to violation of regulation regarding hot work processes, helps prevent such fires by keeping tabs on violations of state law. Following recommendations of the Walsh-Kennedy Commission, convened following the tragedy, the bill requires consistent tracking and notification of hot work code violations.

“With this bill, we honor the memory of Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy by doing everything in our power to make sure no firefighter or tradesperson faces those conditions again, and no family has to experience that kind of heartbreak,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “This legislation ensures that dangerous hot work violations are tracked, reported, and acted upon, so we can prevent tragedies before they happen. I applaud the leadership of Senator Collins in getting this bill done, Chair Rodrigues and Chair Cronin for shepherding this legislation, and Speaker Mariano and our colleagues in the House for getting this bill to the Governor’s desk.”

“The data that will be collected as a result of this bill will help to identify and prevent another tragedy like the one that claimed the lives of Boston Fire Department Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I would like to thank Chairman Cahill and Chairman Ryan, my colleagues in the House, and our partners in the Senate for working to get this critical legislation to the Governor’s desk for her signature.”

“Firefighters put their lives on the line every day responding to emergencies, and I’m pleased that this legislation will bring some added safety to these brave first responders,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This legislation will help prevent tragedies like the Back Bay fire of 2014. We can best honor the memories of the two fallen Boston firefighters by working tirelessly to enhance safety for all those who follow them. Thank you to Senator Collins for his ardent advocacy on behalf of our first responders. And thank you to the Senate President, Senator Cronin, and our House colleagues for ensuring we got this bill done.”

The bill would require the state Department of Fire Services to track code violations related to hot work—welding, plasma cutting, and spark-producing construction—and make the information publicly available through an online database. A new automated notification system would also alert affected property owners and insurance companies in order to help prevent tragedies.

“This legislation ensures our state proactively addresses workplace safety failures so residents and first responders alike aren’t exposed to unnecessary danger,” said Senator John J. Cronin (D-Fitchburg), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.

“While we can never undo the profound loss of Lieutenant Edward Walsh Jr. and Firefighter Michael R. Kennedy, we can honor their sacrifice by ensuring that the lessons learned from that tragic day are not forgotten,” said Representative Daniel Cahill (D-Lynn), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. “This legislation advances training, accountability, and transparency to better protect workers, firefighters, and the public from preventable fires caused by unsafe hot work practices. By strengthening oversight of hot work certifications, permits, and violations, we can help identify risks earlier and prevent future tragedies.”

“I am grateful to the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and Boston Firefighters Local 718, whose advocacy never wavered throughout this process,” said Senator Nick Collins (D-South Boston), lead sponsor of the legislation and co-Chair of the Walsh-Kennedy Commission. “In the wake of an unimaginable loss, they remained committed to ensuring that future firefighters, tradespeople, and workers would be better protected. This legislation is the result of that commitment, as well as the collaborative work of my colleagues in the Senate and House. While it was born from tragedy, it leaves behind a lasting legacy, one that will help save lives and make workplaces safer for years to come.”

“Yesterday’s enactment of S.1646 in the House of Representatives is another important step in the regulation of the hot work processes, derived from the Walsh-Kennedy Commission. Adding this requirement to the Department of Fire Services in developing and maintaining a public database of those who are non-compliant with fire prevention laws, rules and regulations is a valuable tool in the safety and wellbeing of both Firefighters and professional tradespeople,” said Representative Daniel J. Ryan (D-Boston), sponsor of the legislation and co-Chair of the Walsh-Kennedy Commission. “I want to thank Speaker Mariano, Chair Michlewitz, and Chair Cahill for all of their efforts in bringing this bill to enactment. I also want to thank the PFFM and Local 718 for all of their continued advocacy.”

“This legislation is another important tool in protecting the safety of residents, firefighters and trades workers across the Commonwealth,” said Representative David Biele (D-Boston), sponsor of the legislation. “Collecting statewide data regarding fire code violations and non-compliance with fire prevention laws and hot works requirements in a publicly available database combined with an automated notification system for relevant property owners will increase public safety. Thank you to Speaker Mariano, Chair Michlewitz, Chair Cahill, and Chair Ryan for their leadership on this public safety matter and thanks to the PFFM and Local 718 for their efforts and advocacy on this legislation.”

Both branches of the Legislature enacted the bill and sent it to Governor Healey for her signature.

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The bill requires teaching of evidence-based reading instruction, supports school districts in adopting proven instructional materials and practices, requires consistent statewide literacy screening, and improves educator preparation 

(BOSTON—6/18/2026) The Massachusetts Legislature today passed landmark literacy legislation that will transform how the Commonwealth teaches children to read.  

An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy establishes clear statewide standards for evidence-based reading instruction—requiring the teaching of phonics, ensures access to high-quality K-3 curricula, enhances educator training and support, and creates new reporting and accountability systems. 

Having passed both branches of the Legislature, the bill now goes to Governor Healey for her signature.  

“As a former public-school teacher, and as someone committed to improving the future of our Commonwealth, the drop in reading scores that students in Massachusetts have experienced in recent years is simply unacceptable,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “This bill reflects the Legislature’s commitment to ensuring that every school district in Massachusetts has access to the most effective early literacy instruction. The Commonwealth has a long and proud history of being a national leader in education, but in order to maintain that leadership, we must keep pace with what is proven to be effective in the classroom, which is exactly what this legislation does. I would like to thank Chairman Gordon, my colleagues in the House, and our partners in the Senate for working to get this critical legislation to the Governor’s desk for her signature.” 

“We expect our kids to put in their best efforts when they go to school; in turn, our kids deserve our best efforts when it comes to teaching them how to read,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “My family has personal experience with reading struggles, so I understand what so many students and parents are dealing with when it comes to literacy education not making the grade. That’s why I’m proud that the Senate prioritized this issue—and I’m proud we are getting this bill to the Governor’s desk. I am extremely grateful to the members of the conference committee, our partners in the House, and all of the people who spoke up on the need for high-quality comprehensive literacy instruction in our schools.” 

“This legislation represents a bold move on the part of the Legislature to stand up for our young readers,” said Representative Ken Gordon (D-Bedford), House Chair of the Conference Committee and House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “It is time that all young Massachusetts learners have access to high-quality, evidence-based reading curriculum, no matter their zip code or economic situation. This bill not only requires evidence-based education, but specifically excludes curricula that show students pictures or provide hints, rather than focus on the letters of the word.” 

 “This is a pivotal moment for children across our state as we advance the critical legislation, I filed to ensure every student gains essential literacy skills,” said Senator Sal N. DiDomenico (D-Everett), Senate Chair of the Conference Committee and the lead Senate bill sponsor. “We all recognize that teaching our kids to read and write is one of the most fundamental responsibilities we have, yet far too many students are still falling short of basic literacy benchmarks. As co-chair of the conference committee, I was proud to collaborate with many educators to craft evidence‑based policies that will strengthen early literacy instruction and set our students on a path to lifelong success. I want to express my gratitude to Senate President Spilka, my fellow conferees, my staff, the educators, and the committed advocates whose dedication helped carry this important policy across the finish line.” 

Although Massachusetts is recognized as a national leader in education and our students consistently test high among national peers, recent data confirms there is more work to do.  English Language Arts (ELA) scores continue to lag behind pre-pandemic levels. Almost 60 percent of all students in grades 3-8 are not meeting or exceeding expectations in ELA, and 50 percent in grade 10 are not meeting or exceeding ELA expectations. Additionally, achievement gaps among major racial and ethnic student groups and low-income students have widened when compared with 2019, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). 

High-Quality Early Literacy Education  

The bill defines evidence-based early literacy as instruction featuring phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and phonemic awareness, and is demonstrated to produce significant and positive effects on student learning outcomes. It prohibits curricula that are not evidence-based and curricula that rely on implicit or incidental word reading strategies, including MSV/three cueing. 

Many school districts in Massachusetts have already switched to evidence-based early literacy curricula, with some assisted by grants awarded through the state’s Literacy Launch program, administered by DESE and funded by the Legislature at $35 million. However, some school districts have yet to fully adopt evidence-based literacy curricula that have been proven to be most effective in improving reading outcomes. 

The bill requires DESE to extend its free, high-quality K-2 literacy curriculum, currently available to Massachusetts school districts through grade 2, to include grade 3. DESE will be required to continue its practice of maintaining a list of other evidence-based K-3 literacy curriculum options that is kept up to date with current best practices and new curriculum releases. The bill also allows districts to apply to DESE to use a K-3 literacy instruction curriculum that is not on DESE’s approved list, provided DESE verifies that the curriculum utilizes evidence-based literacy instruction and meets quality standards. 

The bill requires school districts to assess students’ reading abilities and review their progress at least twice each school year from kindergarten through third grade. For students who perform significantly below established benchmarks, schools must notify families of the screening results and provide a plan to address the student’s needs. 

The bill also formalizes dyslexia and literacy screening requirements by requiring schools to develop protocols for identifying potential neurological learning disabilities, including dyslexia, and to report their screening practices annually. 

To track progress, DESE must collect, aggregate, and publish annual statewide data on districts’ use of literacy curricula and instructional practices. In addition, literacy curriculum requirements will be incorporated into the district’s improvement plans that school districts are already required to develop every three years, ensuring that implementation of and compliance with the new literacy requirements are regularly monitored and addressed. 

Teacher Preparation 

The bill supports educators by requiring DESE to provide tools and resources that help school districts offer professional development that is aligned with evidence-based reading curricula for kindergarten through third-grade literacy teachers, paraprofessionals, and reading specialists. In addition, the legislation expands upon a 2024 pilot program for paid teaching apprenticeships in high-needs districts by directing DESE to support participants’ wages and essential expenses, making the program more accessible and inclusive.  

DESE is also required to evaluate and report on the program’s outcomes, including licensure pass rates, hiring results, impacts on student achievement, and the feasibility of expanding the apprenticeship model statewide.  

Finally, the bill ensures that educator preparation programs are preparing future educators in alignment with evidence-based literacy instruction. 

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Legislation requires greater investment in primary care, fairer pay for community health centers, and a larger medical workforce, with aim of driving down health care costs 

(BOSTON—6/18/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today overwhelmingly passed landmark legislation to invest in primary care and make it easier for Massachusetts residents to get a primary care appointment. 

The bill simplifies finding a primary care clinician, reduces the amount of time providers have to spend on administrative paperwork, and aims to reduce health care costs. 

Currently, 43 per cent of Massachusetts residents have difficulty accessing primary care. Studies show that 40 per cent of emergency room visits in Massachusetts could have been prevented if treated in a primary care setting. 

The legislation—S.3116, An Act relative to primary care for you—requires health care providers and insurers to invest more heavily in primary care services. Additionally, it ensures fairer compensation for community health centers, which serve as the frontline of primary care for many residents, and grows Massachusetts’ primary care workforce by unlocking matching federal funds to train and recruit more primary care doctors. 

“Massachusetts has always led the way on health care, and today the Senate is doing it again. Too many of our residents are struggling to find a primary care doctor, or putting off basic care because of the cost,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “That’s not acceptable, and it’s not sustainable. This legislation takes direct aim at the problem: it requires greater investment in primary care, lifts up the community health centers at the heart of so many neighborhoods, and grows the workforce our residents need. When we get primary care right, everything else in our health care system works better. I want to applaud Senator Friedman for her tireless leadership and the years of dedicated work that went into crafting these policies, Chair Rodrigues for shepherding this legislation to the floor, and every Senator and stakeholder who helped shape a bill that will make a real difference for residents across the Commonwealth.” 

“After an exhaustive and thorough analysis of our primary health care delivery system, the Senate today acted on a comprehensive package of provisions informed by recommendations from the Primary Care Task Force, improving access to primary care for all Massachusetts residents,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This sweeping legislation supports residents of the Commonwealth by incentivizing significant investments into primary care, grows our health care workforce, assists community health centers, and cuts down on administrative bureaucracy. I’m pleased that this bill complements the Senate’s recent efforts in the Fair Share supplemental budget to support the primary care workforce and ensures we continue to foster the next generation of providers and strengthen our neighborhood health centers. Thank you to Senator Friedman for her collaboration, dedication, and hard work on bring this important bill forward, and to Senate President Spilka for her unwavering leadership.” 

“With this nation-leading approach, the Massachusetts Senate is confronting the primary care crisis head-on with the thoughtfulness and urgency it deserves,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. “For far too long, our health care system has put too much emphasis on costly medical interventions, rather than incentivizing preventive care delivered in our primary care practices and community health centers. The legislation passed today delivers a historic increase in primary care funding in Massachusetts by reprioritizing and shifting how we spend our health care dollars to support our primary care providers, increases access to value-based care, and delivers better health outcomes for patients. I thank Senate President Spilka for her steadfast leadership in expanding access to care for all residents of the Commonwealth, Chair Rodrigues, my Senate colleagues, fellow Primary Care Task Force members, and the many stakeholders involved in this effort for their support of this transformational legislation.” 

This key health policy bill would create a more robust health care system in Massachusetts by requiring providers and insurers to invest a certain level of their annual spending on primary care services. 

In recent years, investment has surged in profitable ‘specialty care’ areas while only 6.7 per cent of total health care spending in Massachusetts has been on primary care. The resulting scarcity of available primary care doctors has left many residents searching for crucial basic, preventive care. 

Health care entities would now have to meet a new mandated level of primary care investment which would gradually step up to 15 per cent. The requirements would be overseen and enforced by the Health Policy Commission (HPC). 

The bill also lifts up one of the main settings where many Massachusetts residents access their primary care—community health centers (CHCs), which have been disadvantaged by receiving lower reimbursements than other providers. This legislation calls for fairness and sets dependable rates for CHCs by requiring commercial insurers to reimburse at least the same rates that MassHealth reimburses for the same services. 

The Senate’s proposal also doubles down on recent efforts to grow the size of the primary care workforce in Massachusetts. It would re-establish a Medicaid graduate medical education (GME) program, which the state can use to take advantage of matching federal funds to help cover the costs of fellowships and residency programs. When fully scaled up, the program would fund dozens of positions and help draw more primary care providers to Massachusetts in community-based settings. 

This builds on a Senate-led initiative that was signed into law earlier this month to address the shortage of primary care doctors by funding scholarships for UMass Chan Medical School students who pursue family medicine and pledge to practice in underserved communities in Massachusetts after they graduate. 

Full details of today’s legislation are included in a fact sheet in the Senate press room. 

Senators proposed 72 amendments to the bill. During the course of today’s public debate, the Senate adopted a significant amendment to ensure access to timely and effective treatment for people with serious mental illness. The amendment (Amendment 64) eliminates prior authorization for medication to treat serious mental illness, keeping decisions between providers and patients. 

People with serious mental illness often have to try multiple combinations of medications in an effort to find the right treatment. Delays due to prior authorization can impede their ability to effectively treat their disease. Feedback on that amendment was solicited last year at a public hearing by the Joint Committee on Financial Services. It was also recommended by the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing and was further reviewed by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. 

The Committee on Ways and Means advanced the underlying legislation to the Senate with a 14-0 vote on June 11, 2026, as a new draft of legislation previously advanced by the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. 

The Senate passed the bill today on a 35-4 roll call vote and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review. 

Statements of Support 

Jen Lemmerman, Executive Director, Health Care For All 

“This legislation will help patients access more timely, affordable care—an urgent need made more acute as federal actions continue to erode an already strained health care system. For years, we’ve heard from people on our HelpLine struggling to find a primary care provider or get an appointment when they need one. We commend the Senate for advancing this vital legislation and we look forward to working with the House and the Governor to help make it law as soon as possible.” 

David Seltz, Executive Director, Health Policy Commission; Co-Chair, Primary Care Task Force 

“We know that access to primary care improves health outcomes, reduces health disparities, and saves health care dollars, yet too many patients in Massachusetts cannot easily access the primary care they need, and clinicians are burnt out and leaving the field, posing a crisis for our health care system. The Commonwealth has been a long-time national leader in health care, and the state can be a trailblazer once again by enacting comprehensive legislation to strengthen and stabilize our primary care system. The Governor issued a call to action on primary care in the State of the Commonwealth address, and the Massachusetts Primary Care Access, Payment, and Delivery Task Force has subsequently released a set of recommendations and principles to achieve the goal of accessible and affordable primary care for all residents. Today, the Senate is taking action to bring that vision one step closer to reality. The Health Policy Commission looks forward to partnering with our colleagues to achieve that future.” 

Christina Severin, President and CEO, Community Care Cooperative (C3) 

“Community health centers play a critical role in keeping our communities healthy. This legislation recognizes that fact and commits to increasing primary care spending and making sure health centers are fairly reimbursed for the essential services they provide. It’s a long-overdue investment in making sure every resident—no matter their income, language, or zip code — can get the care they need to stay healthy.” 

Dr. Wayne Altman, Professor, UMass Chan Medical School; President-Elect, Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians; Founder, Massachusetts Primary Care Alliance for Patients (MAPCAP); President, Family Practice Group, The Sagov Center for Family Medicine 

“The entire country is watching Massachusetts and this primary care bill. This is the most effective state legislation put forward to address the primary care crisis to date. This has the potential to be a national model in the same way that Chapter 58 became a national model for the ACA. The bill is good for hospitals, good for emergency departments, good for specialists, good for folks who need access to high-quality mental health care, and most importantly, good for the people of Massachusetts.” 

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