Category: Uncategorized

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are doing well and staying warm! This upcoming Monday, Jan. 20th, the Commonwealth will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As we honor his memory this weekend, I hope you can take a moment to reflect on his dedication to building a better world for all of its citizens.

To kick off the week I was over at Easthampton High School to visit their brilliant “We The People” class. For those who might not be familiar, this class teaches students how to research and apply their knowledge to legal and constitutional issues. Over the past few years students who have participated in this challenging course have gone on to win both state and national championships. I always know when I visit this class, I better prepare the night before like I did for a law school exam.

I was thrilled to join community members in Agawam on Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of a new Italian restaurant, The Saucy Mama. I loved being able to connect and learn more about the inspiring family behind this restaurant, who through hard work took their years of experience in the restaurant industry to grow their business from a food truck to their new grab-and-go kitchen. I can’t wait to make it back over for a bite to eat!

Later in the week Representative Pease and I got together over at Westfield Technical High School to record the most recent episode of my local cable TV show “Beacon Hill to the 413”. Together Representative Pease and I dived into all that you need to know about the legislative process and some of the issues we hope to tackle this session. Keep an eye out for an airing on your local community broadcast channel or head on over to my website to watch anytime.

Later this morning I will be over at the Westfield River School on Franklin Street to celebrate the opening of the new school with an official ribbon cutting! Our children deserve to be educated in school buildings and classrooms that are equipped with the resources that meet the needs of modern-day education. That is why I was so proud to work alongside the City of Westfield in engaging with the Massachusetts School Building Authority to ensure the City received state funding to support the construction of this new school building and saving local taxpayers millions of dollars. Community members are welcome to attend the ribbon cutting and take a tour of the new classrooms beginning at 11:00AM.

This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Holyoke. Next week we will be hosting office hours at the Easthampton Council on Aging from 10:30am to 11:30am on Tuesday January 21st. If you are unable to make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.

Best,

John Velis

Hello!

I hope everyone had a great week. With all the cold winter weather that has come our way I would like to remind you all that my office remains available to assist constituents with applications for fuel assistance or locating nearby warming centers.

This week I had the absolute honor of joining the City of Holyoke as they swore in their new Chief of Police, my dear friend Brian Keenan. Beyond the officer who brings the highest level of integrity and dedication to his job each and every day- Brian is truly one of the most caring and dependable guys around. Whether it was checking in with my family when I’ve been deployed overseas or being one of the first people to celebrate with Emily and I when Carson was born, I am beyond lucky to call him my friend. The City of Holyoke could truly not be in better hands with Chief Brian Keenan. Congratulations!

On Tuesday my team and I had a great time connecting with members from the Chicopee American Legion. Like many legions across the state, Post 452 has been hard at work to increase their membership and improve their building. Our American Legions are important welcoming spaces for veterans both past and present to engage and congregate. Together we discussed some of the challenges they are having and ways that I may be able to assist in the future.

With the new legislative session underway Team Velis and I were hard a work this week finalizing some of the new legislation I will be filling ahead of the bill filing deadline. Under the Legislature’s joint rules, all bills must be filed by the third Friday in January of the first annual session, this year being January 17th. While my colleagues and I can file some bills later in the session those pieces of legislation will have to navigate additional committees due to their tardiness. As we continue to move forward in the 194th legislative session I will be sure to keep you updated on different aspects of the legislative process.

This week Team Velis hosted the first office hours of 2025 in Agawam and West Springfield. Next week we will be hosting office hours on Tuesday morning at the Chicopee Council on Aging from 10:00AM to 11:00AM and on Wednesday at the Holyoke Council on Aging from 10:00AM to 11:00AM. If you are unable to make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.

Best,

John Velis

(Westfield-1/10/2025) Following recent reports regarding the limited vetting of individuals staying in the state’s emergency family shelter program, Senator John C. Velis today called for greater scrutiny and more extensive background checks of those entering all state ran shelters.  

Senator Velis shared that he intends to file an amendment to the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s supplemental spending bill to require the results of a clean background check as a condition of eligibility for the state’s emergency shelter program, among other items to promote fiscal responsibility. 

“It is beyond the pale of comprehension that individuals in the family emergency shelters right now, who we cannot forget are living alongside young and vulnerable children, have not undergone serious criminal background checks,” stated Senator John Velis (D – Westfield). “When parents and their children enter our EA Shelter system, whether they be from Massachusetts or beyond, they at the very least should be able to know that they are living in a safe location free of individuals who have engaged or will engage in criminal activity. These reports are deeply disturbing, and we must ensure that there is a standard and comprehensive procedure for vetting all individuals in our shelters.” 

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Happy New Year!

I hope you all are having a great start to 2025!

Before heading into the new year, I was happy to be able to join a few final community gatherings. Last weekend, I was thrilled to present a citation from the Senate to Lincoln VanHeynigen at his Eagle Scout ceremony to celebrate his commitment to our community and all his hard work to achieve this rank. Congratulations Lincoln! On Sunday evening I joined community members here in Westfield to watch our community menorah be lit at the Elm Street Plaza in celebration of the fifth night of Hanukkah.

On Monday legislation I filed last session to establish new protections for animals throughout the Commonwealth was sent to the Governor before the end of the 193^rd legislative session. This bill would prevent the early separation of puppies and kittens under 8 weeks, and the unregulated roadside sale of dogs and cats. Both of these practices often lead to serious health or behavioral problems for the animal and no recourse for the new owner. I am glad that this bill is one step closer to becoming law and hope to see is signed soon.

To ring in the new year, my family and I were out at the State House on Wednesday for a special swearing in ceremony to begin my third full term in the Massachusetts State Senate. I could not be more excited to continue to work on behalf of the Hampden and Hampshire District. I am truly so grateful to have the opportunity to serve and represent our communities each day; and I look forward to all that we will accomplish in this new year and throughout the 194th legislative session!

On Thursday I joined the Westfield Fire Department to bid farewell to Deputy Chief Andrew Hart. Over the past 35 years Deputy Chief Hart has advanced from the reserves to Deputy Chief and has even represented our area of Western Massachusetts on the state’s Hazardous Materials Response Team since 1996. To recognize his selfless service to the City of Westfield I was proud to be able to share a citation with Andrew from the Senate. Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement my friend!

I am thrilled to be able to resume my weekly office hours now that the holidays have passed. Next week Team Velis and I will be hosting office hours at the Agawam Council on Aging on Monday January 6^th from 11:00AM to 12:00PM as well as the West Springfield Council on Aging on Wednesday January 8^th from 11:00AM to 12:00PM.  If you can’t make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Best,

John Velis

(Westfield – 1/2/2025) Senator John C. Velis, co-chair of Massachusetts’ first statutory Commission on Combating Antisemitism, today highlighted the state’s recent Hate Crimes report that found antisemitic hate crimes rose for a third straight year in Massachusetts. The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s annual report found that 119 incidents of anti-Jewish hates crimes were reported in 2023, which is a 70% spike from the previous year and an eight year high for the Commonwealth.  

“It is absolutely disgusting that such vile acts of hate continue to be committed in our Commonwealth and this report underscores how important it is that the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism was organized at this time with such a specific focus and mission,” shared Senator Velis. “For too long I have heard from neighbors and friends in the Jewish community about the disturbing acts of hate that they encounter. Far too many have become fearful altogether of sharing that they are Jewish. Its beyond time that we stand up for our community members and find ways to reverse these alarming trends.” 

Following conversations with constituents who have personally experienced acts of antisemitism, Senator Velis offered an amendment, that was later signed into law, to create the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism. Velis shared that the Special Commission continues will continue to hold hearings throughout the Commonwealth over the next year and plans to specifically consider ways the state can bolster its efforts in addressing and documenting reports of hate crimes. 

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(12/18/2024) Last evening, Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield) and other House and Senate members of the conference committee reached a final agreement on a compromise Substance Use Disorder bill that the Legislature will take up this week. An Act relative to treatments and coverage for substance use disorder and recovery coach licensure aims to reduce overdoses in the Commonwealth and expand access to substance use recovery programs in communities throughout the state.

“From the onset of my appointment as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery, I made it explicitly clear that one of my top priorities was to send comprehensive pieces of legislation to the Governor that will help keep people alive and make quality recovery resources easily accessible,” shared Senator Velis, who was one of the six legislative negotiators for the final legislation. “The unfortunate truth is that most people in our Commonwealth know someone who is struggling or has struggled with addiction, and it is absolutely heartbreaking how many loved ones we continue to lose to this disease. Not only does this legislation bolster access to life saving overdose reversal tools but it also expands access to recovery coaches, vital providers who truly understand what it is like to navigate recovery because of their lived experiences. I am beyond grateful to all my colleagues who have worked on this legislation and worked through this collaborative process to reach this important compromise.”

The bill includes provisions to expand access to life saving overdose reversal treatments, bolster non opioid pain medications, and strengthen treatment for residents in recovery including the following:

• Mandates that insurance providers cover opioid reversal drugs. This bill mandates that all health plans cover emergency opioid antagonists (EOAs)—opioid reversal drugs such as naloxone and Narcan—without cost-sharing or prior authorization.
• Updates insurance requirements for non-opioid pain treatment. The bill updates requirements for insurance providers to ensure adequate coverage and access to pain management services without prior authorization, including non-opioid alternatives to pain treatment.
• Mandates insurance coverage for recovery coaches. The bill mandates all health plans cover recovery coach services without cost-sharing or prior authorization at no less than MassHealth rates, regardless of the setting in which the services are provided.
• Establishes recovery coaching licensure. This legislation establishes recovery coach licensing and oversight within DPH and codifies the practice of recovery coaching to ensure qualifications, proper use of titles, and compliance with DPH regulations. It also directs BSAS to study and report on barriers to certification, credentialing, and other employment and practice requirements for recovery coaches, as well as establish a peer support program for recovery coaches and their employers that includes mentorship, technical assistance, and other resources.
• Reporting on alcohol- and drug-free housing. The legislation directs DPH to study and report findings to the Legislature on alcohol- and drug-free housing, also known as sober homes, including the safety and recovery of sober home residents in the Commonwealth.
• Expands non-opioid pain treatment training. The legislation expands required prescriber training to include acute and chronic pain treatment, incorporating available and appropriate non-opioid alternatives. It also requires pharmacists dispensing opioids to distribute printed educational materials on non-opioid alternatives to pain treatment as issued by the Department of Public Health (DPH).
• Boosts anti-discrimination protections for people with substance use disorder. This legislation clarifies DPH authority to enforce anti-discrimination protections for people with SUD who are covered by public health insurance. It prohibits discrimination against those lawfully possessing or taking medication for opioid-related SUD treatment as prescribed. It also directs the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) to examine and then report to the Legislature—including any recommendations or necessary legislative or regulatory changes—on the disparate impacts of SUD, overdoses, overdose deaths, and clinical outcomes for members of historically marginalized communities.
• Supports Harm Reduction Organizations. This bill ensures that public health and harm reduction organizations are protected from civil or criminal liability and professional disciplinary actions if they are providing drug checking services in good faith, and prohibits medical malpractice insurers from discriminating against health care practitioners who provide harm reduction services.

Both the Senate and House plan to take up the final legislation on Thursday December 19th, and Senator Velis noted that he hopes that Governor Healey will promptly sign the bill into law before the end of the legislation on December 31st .

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