HOW I VOTED ON h.5375, S.2619, and S.2563

HOW I VOTED ON H.5375 (formerly H.5279)

SUBJECT FUNDING FOR POTHOLE REPAIRS, BRIDGE MODERNIZATION, RAIL

IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS

On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the House passed, H.5375, An Act financing long-term

improvements to municipal roads and bridges, authorizing 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. 

MY VOTE

I voted YES on H.5375, which passed the House by a unanimous, bipartisan vote of

152 Yes, 0 No.

SUMMARY

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.   

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. 

NEXT STEPS

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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HOW I VOTED ON S.2619

SUBJECT: DATA PRIVACY

On Thursday, June 4, 2026, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed

S.2619, the Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act comprehensive legislation

establishing essential consumer data privacy rights for residents of the Commonwealth.

This bill provides consumers with greater control over their own data. The bill increases

accountability for companies and grants user data privacy protections to residents of

and those present in Massachusetts. Highlights include strong privacy protections for

minors and a blanket ban on the sale of precise geolocation data.

MY VOTE

I voted YES on S.2619 (as amended), which passed the House by a unanimous,

bipartisan vote of 146 YES, 0 No.

SUMMARY

Limits Collection to What is Reasonably Necessary

The bill requires that personal data collection must be proportionate to providing

requested services, and data must be protected and deleted when no longer necessary or required by law.

Data Subject Rights

Under the bill, data subject rights extend to all residents in Massachusetts. These rights

include the right to access their personal information, the right to correct inaccurate

information, the right to opt out of certain processes such as targeted advertising, the

right to transport personal data, and the right to delete certain information.

Protections for Sensitive Data

The bill specifies that sensitive data, as defined below, cannot be sold or shared without a user’s affirmative consent. Companies cannot sell sensitive data without additional unambiguous, affirmative consent from a consumer. Sensitive data includes information such as biometric or genetic information, precise geolocation data, health and wellness information, reproductive and sexual health data, data of a minor under 18, government-issued identifiers, and data that reveals an individual’s racial or ethnic origin, national origin or citizenship or immigration status, religious beliefs, sex life, sexual orientation, status as transgender or non-binary, union membership, status as a military service member or veteran, and status as a victim of a crime.

Protection for Children and Minors under 18

The bill provides special protections for individuals under 18, including a prohibition on

targeted advertising to minors.

Ban on the Sale of Precise Geolocation Data

The bill includes a ban on the sale of precise geolocation data. Restricting the trade of

location data helps protect people from surveillance, stalking, and the misuse of sensitive personal information. This protection is extended to both residents of Massachusetts and visitors, which is especially important now to protect people who

travel to and within Massachusetts, including for reproductive and gender affirming

health care.

Enforcement

The bill grants the Attorney General rulemaking authority and includes a private right of action. A private right of action allows consumers to hold the largest data holders

accountable for any violations they may make. Rulemaking authority will allow the

Attorney General to keep up with the pace of technological change and provide greater clarity in areas where it is needed.

NEXT STEPS

The bill passed the House of Representatives 146-0 and now goes back to the Senate

for further consideration.

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HOW I VOTED ON S.2563

SUBJECT: REMOVAL OF OUT-OF-DATE AND OFFENSIVE TERMS RELATED TO

PERSON WITH DISABILITIES

On Thursday, June 4, 2026 the Massachusetts House passed S.2563, an Act amending

certain laws relative to individuals with disabilities, a bill that removes outdated and

offensive language in the General Laws to describe persons with disabilities.

MY VOTE

I voted YES on S.2563, which passed the House by a unanimous, bipartisan vote of

150 Yes, 0 No.

SUMMARY

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.”

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.

NEXT STEPS

The Massachusetts Legislature (House and Senate) approved the bill on June 4 th and

sent it to the Governor for her signature.

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HOW I VOTED ON H.5470 (formerly H.5264)

SUBJECT: FAIR SHARE FUNDING FUNDS BROAD RELIEF FOR FAMILIES,

COMMUNITIES, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

On Thursday, June 4, 2026, the House enacted (final vote) 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.5470 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.

MY VOTE

I voted YES on H.5470, which passed the House by a unanimous, bipartisan vote of

151 Yes, 0 No.

MY AMENDMENTS

As part of the supplemental budget process, I filed an amendment ($125,000 for

ORRHS) that was accepted by the House and is included in this final Fair Share

supplemental budget.

Amendment # 71 $125,000 for the replacement of bleachers in the Old Rochester

Regional High School gymnasium.

I also co-sponsored amendments filed by Representatives Cabral, Hendricks and

Markey for funding related to the New Bedford Public Schools, the Immigration

Assistance Center and UMass Dartmouth. And when I voted for the final

supplemental budget in the House, it included amendments accepted in the

Senate by Senator Rodrigues, Senator Montigny and Senator Dooner related to

several projects in the 10 th Bristol District.

SUMMARY

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.

NEXT STEPS

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

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NOTES

On June 3, 2026, the House voted to accept the House/Senate conference report which resolved outstanding differences between the two chambers. I voted YES, to accept the conference report, which was accepted by the House by a unanimous, bipartisan vote of 153 Yes, 0 No.