How I Would Have Voted

Formal Session, Thursday, July 31, 2025

H.4307 AN ACT FINANCING LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS TO MUNICIPAL ROADS AND BRIDGES

S.2543AN ACT STRENGTHENING HEALTH CARE PROTECTIONS IN THE COMMONWEALTH

S.2575 AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 TO PROVIDE FOR SUPPLEMENTING CERTAIN EXISTING APPROPRIATIONS AND FOR CERTAIN OTHER ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS. 

On Thursday, July 31, 2025 (the date of these votes), I delivered the eulogy at a celebration of life for the daughter of my dear friends, which kept me from participating in formal session. I notified the House Clerk’s Office to lock my voting station and indicated that I would submit a letter (below) for the record on how I would have voted if I were able to be present. Below is how I would have voted on each of these bills, and I have included the letter I submitted as well as the video recording of that session.

It is important to note that on all three of these bills, there were previous votes in the House on each, and that I voted Yay each time.  Bills that are filled in the legislature are voted on more than once either in either formal or informal session depending on the bill and the rules.

• Roll call No. 69 was on passing to be enacted H.4307 An Act financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges. The final vote was 155 YAY – 0 NAY My vote would have been Yay/Affirmative.

The one-year $300 million authorization in the Chapter 90 program funding represents a historic 50 per cent increase and includes:

• $200 million to be distributed to all municipalities based on the standard Chapter 90 program distribution formula;

• $100 million to be distributed to all municipalities based solely on road mileage.

• Funding for three additional critical programs to support various transportation related projects include:

• $500 million for the Lifecycle Asset Management Program (LAMP), which supports non-federally aided roads and targets the pavement and bridges that are in the worst condition in the Commonwealth.

• $200 million for a culvert and small bridge repair program for municipalities’ local culverts and small bridges under 20 feet that are in a state of disrepair or require replacement.

• $185 million for capital projects to reduce congestion hotspots, funding that will be available for projects such as shared use paths, intersection improvements, railroad grade crossings, and sidewalks.

• Roll call No. 70 was on concurrence with the Senate on an amendment to S.2543, An act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth.  The final vote was 132 YAY – 24 NAY. My vote would have been Yay/Affirmative.  

Also - Roll call No. 72, was on enactment of S.2543, An act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth.  The final vote was 132 YAY - 24 NAY. My vote would have been Yay/Affirmative.

The Shield Act 2.0 protects access to reproductive and transgender healthcare in Massachusetts. It also adds a layer of protection for patients and providers at a time when attacks on reproductive and transgender rights are escalating on multiple fronts, including executive orders from the Trump Administration, federal funding freezes for care providers, a Supreme Court decision ruling against transgender care, and other states’ lawsuits against physicians providing reproductive healthcare. It builds off the model legislation of the ROE Act and the original shield legislation enacted in 2022.

• Roll call No. 71 was on acceptance of S.2575, An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects.  The final vote was 150 YAY – 6 NAY. My vote would have been Yay/Affirmative.

  
  

S.2575 is a $259 million supplemental budget that provides midyear funding for ongoing state priorities and includes important provisions to protect students, strengthen the Massachusetts public defense system, and fund vital services for residents.

This legislation provides critical funding for the Healthy Incentive Program (HIP)—which provides healthy fresh food to residents while benefiting Massachusetts farmers—as well as for extraordinary Emergency Medical Services (EMS) costs across the state and upgrading Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) benefits technology through the conversion to chip cards. It also responsibly addresses the ongoing work stoppage among private bar advocates and bolsters our Commonwealth’s public defense system.

Miscellaneous

There was a standing vote on adopting an emergency preamble regarding S.2575, An act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects.  The standing vote passed 39 YAY – 0 NAY. My vote would have been Yay/Affirmative. 

There was then a voice vote taken on enactment of S.2575, An act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects.  The bill was enacted on a majority voice vote. My vote would have been Yay/Affirmative.

Video Recording of the Session