Category: Uncategorized

Bill removes out-of-date and offensive terms related to persons with disabilities 

(BOSTON—6/4/2026) The Massachusetts Legislature today passed a bill that removes outdated and offensive language in the General Laws to describe persons with disabilities.  

The bill, S.2563, removes all variations of outdated terms such as “handicapped,” “disabled,” and the “r-word.”  

The bill replaces these terms with current terminology such as “person with a disability.” 

“As lawmakers, we know that words matter,” said Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “This legislation is our latest effort to ensure that our state laws do not use antiquated words that carry negative connotations, words that also serve as a reminder of past injustices. I would like to thank Representatives Livingstone, Finn, and Garballey for their work on this important legislation, as well as our partners in the Senate for working with us to get these reforms to the Governor’s desk for her signature.” 

 “When dusty and dangerous relics of a bygone era darken our laws, it creates the potential for real harm to residents today,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Thanks to the voices of advocates like former Senate staff member Melissa Reilly and the leadership of Senator Jehlen and Senator Kennedy, the Legislature has acted to make our laws better represent who we are in 21st-century Massachusetts. With a White House that glorifies, and seemingly longs for, the days when many Americans were discriminated against because of who they are, now is the time to make sure our state laws respect and support the rights and dignity of our residents.” 

“Removing out-of-date and offensive language from the Massachusetts General Laws to describe people with disabilities is an important step in ensuring that our values are also reflected in our statutes,” said Representative Jay D. Livingstone (D-Boston), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. “As legislators, it is our job to help make sure that people with intellectual or developmental disabilities feel included, accepted and embraced for who they are, and this is an important step in doing so.”  

“An Act Dignifying Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities represents a significant step forward—not only in how we talk about disability, but in how we affirm the value and dignity of every person across the Commonwealth,” said Senator Robyn Kennedy (D-Worcester) Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities. “This bill updates 346 sections that includes language that is not only outdated but deeply hurtful and replaces those terms with modern, person-first language that centers respect, humanity, and inclusion. While this may seem like a small step on paper, it is a powerful act of recognition and at a time when disability rights are facing growing challenges at the federal level, this bill is a clear and necessary stand from the Commonwealth.” 

“I am proud to support H5474 and take this long-overdue step toward ensuring the laws of the Commonwealth reflect the dignity and humanity of every person,” said Representative Michael J. Finn (D-West Springfield), sponsor of the House bill. “Our General Laws still contain outdated language that demeans our neighbors with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and that language has no place in the statutes of a state that has always led on civil rights and inclusion. Updating these words is an affirmation that Massachusetts stands for the respect and dignity of all its people. I would like to thank Speaker Mariano and Chair Michlewitz for their leadership in bringing this legislation forward.” 

“Today the House of Representatives takes a transformational step towards a more inclusive Commonwealth,” Representative Sean Garballey (D-Arlington), sponsor of the House bill. “By removing outdated words like ‘handicapped’, ‘disabled’, and the ‘R Word’ from MA General Laws, we make a collective statement that Massachusetts is a place for all. I’d like to thank Speaker Mariano, Chair Michlewitz, Chair Livingstone, Chair Finn, Senator Jehlen and our partners at The ARC of Massachusetts, Special Olympics, and many other disability organizations for their steadfast advocacy and support.” 

“Language is constantly changing.  And it’s changing because of the activism of people who were ignored and demeaned for too long,” said Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville), the Senate’s primary sponsor of the legislation. “When people tell us they feel insulted and offended by the use of outdated words, we worked to change the legal language.  It took a long time, because we kept finding more examples of offensive language. Language and activism will continue to evolve, and there’ll always be more work to do, but this is a gigantic step forward in respect. Thanks to the many, many people who made this possible.” 

Last year, the Massachusetts Legislature renamed the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) as MassAbility, a change that defines the agency’s role in supporting residents with disabilities to live independently.  

The name change reflects the intention to empower individuals living with disabilities and move away from outdated terminology as the office undergoes broad changes towards a more expansive model for disability employment services and independent living. 

The Massachusetts Legislature approved the bill today and sent to the Governor for her signature.  

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Fair Share Funding Funds Broad Relief for Families, Communities, and Local Government 

(BOSTON—6/4/2026) Massachusetts lawmakers today passed a $1.35 billion spending package that seeks to ease pressures caused by strained school budget and delivers a massive infusion of cash into the state’s public transportation system. 

The investments in H.5740 are expansive and include cutting taxes to jumpstart housing construction, training the next generation of doctors and teachers, helping cities and towns dig out from an extreme winter, taking steps to shield the state’s finances from the ripple effects of federal tax and tariff policy, and protecting immigrants from federal deportation actions. 

“This legislation reflects exactly the responsible, forward-looking governance that Massachusetts families deserve. It makes significant investments in our schools and transit, paired with fiscally prudent steps to protect our state finances during a period of uncertainty,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “From making childcare more affordable to keeping the T running to helping immigrants access legal protections, this package addresses the needs of residents across the Commonwealth. I thank Chair Rodrigues and my Senate colleagues for their diligent work, and I’m grateful to Speaker Mariano and our partners in the House for their collaboration in getting this critical legislation to the Governor’s desk.” 

“From significant investments in public transportation and public education, to support for DTA caseworkers and expenses related to the World Cup, to fiscally prudent tax conformity measures – this legislation is representative of the responsible approach that Massachusetts must continue to take during this period of significant fiscal uncertainty, while still ensuring robust state support for vital projects,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Chairman Michlewitz and my colleagues in the House for working to make these investments a reality, as well as our partners in the Senate for ensuring that they reach the Governor’s desk for her signature.”  

“Reflecting the priorities of my Senate colleagues, this package makes meaningful investments in education and transportation that touch all corners of the Commonwealth. The bill prioritizes municipal winter relief and targeted tax incentives to jumpstart housing production,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “With its passage, we are bolstering our public transportation system, supporting statewide education initiatives, training the next generation of doctors and teachers, and taking proactive steps to responsibly mitigate the fallout from federal tax changes. Thank you to the Senate President, our partners in the House including my good friend Chair Michlewitz, and our Senate conferees for their thoughtful input and support.” 

“The use of these one-time surplus funds provides us with a unique opportunity to better strength the Commonwealth in numerous ways. By further improving our educational and transportation sectors we will build off the work we have done in the last several budget cycles with a judicious use of the Fair Share funds. The tax changes contained in this bill will help support the state’s economic competitiveness, while giving us time to absorb the expected loss in revenue,” said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “I want to thank Speaker Mariano and all our House colleagues for their input and support on this critical funding legislation.” 

Investing in Schools and Students 

The legislation puts $558 million in Fair Share funds toward education, delivering relief to families, students, and school districts across the state. School districts struggling to cover the costs of serving students with disabilities will see immediate help, with $152 million directed toward special education reimbursements, while $150 million goes toward making childcare more affordable and accessible across the Commonwealth. 

On literacy, the bill invests $40 million to help the youngest learners read, including $20 million for high-dosage tutoring and $20 million for classroom programs specifically designed to accelerate reading skills for kids in kindergarten through third grade. Research consistently shows that children who are not reading proficiently by third grade face steeper challenges throughout their education, making this one of the most consequential investments in the package. 

Fixing Roads, Rails, and Transit 

The legislation directs $794 million in Fair Share funds toward transportation. A $595 million investment in the MBTA includes $450 million to keep the T running, $60 million for maintenance and upgrades physical infrastructure with an emphasis on  commuter rail improvements, $50.4 million to improve workforce and safety, $20 million to make fares more affordable for low-income riders, and $15 million for water transportation infrastructure across the state. 

For communities across the state, the bill delivers $100 million to help cities and towns recover from an exceptionally costly winter—$80 million distributed based on how many roads a community maintains, and $20 million specifically for communities hit hardest by this year’s historic storms.  

Regional public bus systems across the state also receive $25 million to recruit and retain workers, plus $10 million for equipment and facility upgrades. An additional $3.75 million goes toward maintaining unpaved roads in rural areas. 

Making It Cheaper to Build Housing 

To address one of the biggest barriers to building new homes in Massachusetts, the bill creates a new tax exemption on building materials used in the construction of affordable, moderate-income, and middle-income housing projects, saving developers money and making it more financially viable to build the homes that families across the state desperately need. 

The exemption is capped at $35 million per year and is specifically designed to help offset rising costs driven by tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration. 

Responding to Federal Policy Changes 

The bill also takes steps to protect Massachusetts taxpayers and businesses from the financial fallout caused by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republican policies. The Legislature is carefully phasing in changes to state tax law to align with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, doing so gradually to avoid a sudden hit to state revenues. The bill includes provisions that would pause these tax changes if the proposed ballot question to lower the state’s income tax from 5 percent to 4 percent were to pass in November, which would help mitigate the expected loss in revenue that the ballot question would inflict. 

The bill also creates a new tax credit for airlines that use sustainable aviation fuel, helping Massachusetts work toward its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and offers a tax credit of up to $5,000 for farmers who donate surplus food to local food banks. 

Training the Next Generation of Doctors and Teachers 

To address a growing shortage of primary care physicians, the bill sets aside $10 million in scholarships for UMass Chan Medical School students who agree to pursue family medicine and practice in underserved communities in Massachusetts after they graduate.  

To encourage young educators to start their career in Massachusetts, the bill creates the Tomorrow’s Teachers program, investing $10 million in scholarships and loan forgiveness to college students and high school graduates who commit to teaching in Massachusetts public schools. 

Helping Immigrants Stay Safe 

With the Trump Administration ramping up immigration enforcement, the legislation directs $1 million toward free legal services for immigrants and refugees who need help navigating the courts. This builds on a $5 million investment the Legislature already made to launch the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative, which has helped hundreds of residents access legal representation. 

Keeping Phones Out of Classrooms 

The bill sets aside $1 million to help public school districts implement bell-to-bell cell phone-free policies that so that students can learn without distractions.  

The full text of the legislation is available online, along with a fact sheet summarizing highlights of the legislation.  

The Legislature enacted the bill and sent it to the Governor for her signature.  

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Package includes funding for pothole repairs, bridge modernization, rail improvements across Massachusetts 

(BOSTON—6/4/2026) The Massachusetts Legislature today approved over $2.7 billion in bond funding to help municipalities make local road and bridge repairs, invest in public transit infrastructure, and support transit-oriented housing development statewide. 

The package includes $200 million in bonding to spur new transit-oriented housing construction with capital projects such as stormwater management, culverts, and bike and pedestrian infrastructure. 

Additionally, it authorizes $300 million to support departments of public works in local cities and towns as they fill potholes and strengthen bridges at a crucial time for many municipalities dealing with strained finances. 

“Today, the Legislature is taking action to fix potholes, repair local bridges, and build on the progress Massachusetts public transit has made,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “At the same time, this legislation will help ease serious financial burdens on cities and towns that are navigating a difficult financial landscape. I’m grateful to Chair Rodrigues for his leadership, Chair Crighton and Chair Cronin for their partnership, and Speaker Mariano and our colleagues in the House for getting this across the finish line.” 

“Providing funding for critical infrastructure projects through investments in the Commonwealth’s public transportation, roads, and bridges is one of the most important responsibilities that we have as members of the Legislature,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I’m proud of the support for local infrastructure repairs that this legislation provides, and of the funding included for the MBTA. I want to thank Chairman Arciero, Chairman Finn, and all my colleagues in the House for supporting this vital legislation, as well as our partners in the Senate for working with us to ensure that these important investments get to the Governor’s desk for her signature.” 

“Grateful that we can say the winter of 2026 is finally in the rearview mirror, the Legislature has moved forward in addressing long-term capital projects for roadways and bridges all across the Commonwealth. This sweeping $2.7 billion bond bill provides support for critical capital projects in transportation that will spur housing development, make our roads and bridges safer, and continue to build and improve upon the MBTA’s ongoing railway improvement projects,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This legislation builds upon our commitment to make Massachusetts the leader and a model for a safe and state-of-the-art public transportation system.” 

The bond bill—H.5375, An Act financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges—also contains $500 million in bonding to target and fast-track repairs to the roads that are in the worst condition, through MassDOT’s Lifecycle Asset Management Program. 

“With all the important issues facing the state, we cannot lose focus on the basics like maintaining our roads and bridges,” said Senator John J. Cronin (D-Fitchburg), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets. “This substantial investment in cities and towns goes a long way to improve the everyday life of the people who use our local roads every day.” 

“I am proud to see another annual Ch. 90 bill fund the Commonwealth’s immediate municipal roadway and transportation needs,” said Representative Michael Finn (D-West Springfield), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets. “This year’s legislation also gives the Administration the flexibility to deploy additional funds towards large-scale transportation investments which may arise over the next few years. I would like to thank Speaker Mariano and Chair Michlewitz for their leadership, as well as Chair Arciero for his collaboration.”  

“Municipalities across the Commonwealth are feeling the impact of a brutal winter, with roads, sidewalks, bridges, and culverts in need of serious repair,” said Senator Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), Senate Chair of the Committee on Transportation. “This funding addresses those immediate concerns, while balancing long-term investments in our DCR roadways and infrastructure of the MBTA so that people can travel safely throughout Massachusetts.” 

“This legislation represents a significant investment in the infrastructure that communities rely on every day,” said Representative James Arciero (D-Westford), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation. “By providing critical funding for local roads, bridges, public transit, and transit-oriented housing, we are helping cities and towns address immediate transportation needs while also planning for long-term growth and economic development. These investments will ensure that Massachusetts continues to strengthen a transportation system that supports residents across the Commonwealth. I am grateful to House Speaker Mariano, Chair Michlewitz, Chair Finn and our Senate colleagues for their partnership and commitment to getting this important legislation across the finish line.”  

Support is included for all cities and towns through financing for the traditional Chapter 90 program, while a portion of the bonding would especially aid rural areas by distributing support solely based on communities’ road mileage. 

In addition to improving the condition of roadways and integrity of bridges across Massachusetts, the legislation supports commuter rail and public transit at the MBTA with $200 million for rail improvements, vehicle modernization, and procurement of new vehicles. 

It also boosts the Department of Conservation and Recreation, which is responsible for maintaining around 180 lane miles of roadway and more than 100 bridge structures, with $200 million for repairs and modernization. 

Having been passed by both chambers of the Legislature, the bill has been sent to Governor Maura Healey for her signature.  

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Statement of Support: 

Adam Chapdelaine, Executive Director & CEO of the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) 

“Local leaders across the Commonwealth are deeply grateful to the Legislature for passing this vital transportation and infrastructure package. By delivering robust funding to repair winter-damaged roadways, modernize local bridges, and provide critical support for our municipal infrastructure, this legislation directly addresses the pressing needs of our 351 cities and towns. We especially want to thank Speaker Mariano, Senate President Spilka, and all of our legislative partners for their collaborative leadership and steadfast advocacy on behalf of our communities. We look forward to Governor Healey signing this bill into law so these crucial funds can be put to work immediately to support local roads and bridges.” 

(6/2/2026 – Westfield)  As utility costs are on the rise for residents across the Commonwealth and the state begins accepting applications for its new Data Center tax incentive program, Senator John C. Velis continues to call on state leaders to ensure that Data Centers do not pass the costs of their heavy energy and water usage on to local rate payers.

In March, the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) issued final regulations for the Commonwealth’s new tax incentive programs designed to encourage significant investments by technology companies aiming to expand their networks through data centers, technology hubs for data processing and storage. Data Centers, which Velis described in a recently released pair of letters sent to the agency as “extremely and increasingly energy-hungry”, have been shown to put substantial strains on local resources and communities.

“I firmly believe that Massachusetts needs to continue to be a leader of technological innovation and advancement; in fact I think it is vital for Massachusetts to remain a competitive with other states however, these advances cannot be born on the backs of residents,” shared Senator John Velis. “Today’s costs already put enough strain on residents’ wallets, and that is why I firmly believe that any costs associated with Data Centers should fall squarely on the facilities that are directly responsible for the increased usage.”

An October 2025 letter from Velis to EOED noted his concerns regarding Data Center’s energy usage as the agency collected feedback on the program’s then-draft regulations. The Agency’s final regulations released in March now include a requirement that any applicant for the tax incentive program must provide information on “the peak electricity demand and consumption of the proposed Qualified Data Center” to better assess applicants and promote the efficient planning of any dater centers. A subsequent letter from Velis noted these improvements and stressed again that any “costs associated with increased energy usage or consumption should absolutely not fall to the residents of our communities”.

Senator Velis noted that he is grateful for the attention paid to his letters by EOED and that he will continue to work with them, other relevant state agencies, members of the legislature, and municipalities themselves to ensure that any data center program is carried out in a balanced and responsible way. 

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Hi Everyone,

Team Velis wishes you all a Happy Mother’s Day! Our team is so thankful for the strong women that raised us and are eager to celebrate all that they have done for us over the years. Fingers crossed we will have nice weather this Sunday while we all celebrate the ones we love!

This week Team Velis is excited to introduce you all to our new Legislative Director, Sam Hershman. We kicked off the week on Monday, welcoming Sam on his first day with our office and catching him up to date on all things Team Velis! Sam is a great new addition to the team, and we cannot wait to dive into budget season with him.

On Tuesday, Mark attended a ribbon cutting to celebrate PV Allergy’s opening in Westfield. Our district staff always looks forward to attending ribbon cuttings and learning more about the new business that help our district continue to grow. Tuesday was also the Nurses Association Day on the Hill at the State House. Gabe and Sam had the opportunity to meet with nurses from the district to discuss legislation exploring safety protections for healthcare workers.

Wednesday was a busy day at the State House as the whole building was abuzz as the Senate prepares to take up its version of the FY27 budget. Team Velis spent the day meeting with various local advocacy groups and learning about different budget priorities from local Western Mass providers.

This Thursday, Mark met with community leaders in the district to discuss potential youth intervention programs. This program in particular is focused on engaging youth with sustainability efforts in order to drive community-based engagement in Western Mass. Senator Velis always looks forward to learning more about resources in our district that promote healthy mindsets and developing civic engagement in our youth. Later that evening, Team Velis attended an information session on Leaders Engaged and Activated to Drive System-wide change (LEADS), an executive fellowship program dedicated to connecting gateway city leaders to discuss entrepreneurship, collaboration, and development. This was a great opportunity for our team to learn more about educational resources out there to help our community and gateway cities continue to grow.

This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in Agawam. Next week we will be hosting office hours at the Chicopee Council on Aging on Tuesday from 10:00am to 11:00am, and at the West Springfield Council on Aging on Wednesday from 11:00am to 12:00pm. If you are unable to make office hours, please remember that you can reach us by email,  john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.  

Sincerely,

Team Velis