Senator Gomez releases legislative portfolio for 194th General Court

The start of the new year brought with it a new legislative session in Massachusetts- a biannual tradition where new and returning representatives and senators are sworn in and all legislation previously filed must be resubmitted fresh for consideration by the varying joint committees. In this, the 194th session of the Massachusetts General Court, more than 2600 bills have been filed in the Senate and nearly 4300 in the House, reflecting the large scope of topics up for consideration by the legislature that could impact all manner of life in the state. Each of these bills, once filed by a representative or senator, is sent to the associated clerk’s office before being assigned to the joint committee most suitable for hearing the bill. Each bill must be given a public hearing by that committee before it may be advanced for further consideration, with action needing to take place before the first Wednesday in February of the following year, also known as the Joint Rule 10 deadline.

State Senator Adam Gomez (D-Springfield), entering his third term in the legislature, is quite familiar with the refiling process and the arduous task of seeing a bill through from start to finish in the legislature. A former Chair of the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy and the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, Senator Gomez is the lead sponsor on 64 bills being filed this session as he carries over a strong legislative portfolio that didn’t make it over the finish line last year and a few new files worth noting.

Gomez had this to say on the bills he will be sponsoring this session, “I am proud of the legislation that I have compiled to advocate for this session, all of which reflect my goals of increasing access, equity, and opportunity for all citizens in the Commonwealth. We have a lot of work ahead of us, not just in one area but across the board, to keep our state resilient and self-sufficient against what may be tumultuous times ahead. I look forward to fighting on behalf of everyone in my community and across the state so that they see a legislature that works with them in mind, aimed at making better their lives and future.”

Among the bills being filed by the Senator this session are those addressing housing insecurity, long term healthcare, educator pay, inequities in the cannabis industry, and more. Here are a few notable pieces being highlighted by the office this session:

Housing

An Act Establishing a Massachusetts Foreclosure Prevention Program: This bill would establish the Massachusetts Foreclosure Prevention Program to assist homeowners in avoiding foreclosure through supervised conferences, ensuring negotiations between creditors and borrowers regarding foreclosure alternatives. Targeting loans secured by the borrower's primary residence, the program mandates procedural steps for foreclosure prevention, including notices of intent, appointment of conference monitors, and stringent communication and documentation protocols among stakeholders. Conferences culminate in a Conference Report, and foreclosures can only proceed with a Certificate of Compliance, contingent on a creditor’s good-faith efforts to negotiate.

An act to secure housing for returning citizens: This bill seeks to address the housing needs of formerly incarcerated individuals and those nearing release from correctional facilities. It proposes the establishment of a reentry program, in collaboration with the Department of Correction, the Office of Probation, and the Parole Board, aimed at assisting these individuals in securing stable housing. Key components of the program include evaluating available housing options, offering financial assistance such as housing vouchers, and partnering with local community organizations.

Education

An act to establish the Whole Child Grant Program: This bill would establish the Whole Child Grant Program Fund to support public school districts in enhancing the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of students and educators. Administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Whole Child Grant Program will distribute grants to public school districts for a variety of initiatives, including hiring school nurses, counselors, psychologists, and other staff to achieve recommended staffing levels, implementing counseling programs, and enhancing mental and behavioral health services.

An act relative to educator pay: The bill aims to set a minimum compensation standard for public school educators in Massachusetts to ensure that both teachers and education support professionals receive a living wage. It would require teachers to earn at least $70,000 annually, while education support professionals, a category that includes paraeducators, tutors, custodial and food service workers (excluding those roles requiring certification), would earn a minimum of $55,000. These salary levels are to be pro-rated over the school year, with school districts and educational collaboratives receiving state reimbursement for the additional costs of these salary increases.

Judiciary

An act relative to combatting hate in the Commonwealth: Filed in partnership with the Attorney General’s office, this bill seeks to bolster the legal framework surrounding civil rights and the handling of hate crimes. Key amendments include changes to Section 11A of Chapter 12 of the General Laws, enabling the division of civil rights and liberties to issue civil investigative demands before filing any civil action. These demands can compel the production of documents, the answering of written questions, or the giving of oral testimony related to any suspected violations. The bill also empowers the Attorney General to request court intervention to amend these demands if deemed necessary in the public interest.

An Act to remove collateral consequences and protect the presumption of innocence, AKA the Clean Slate Bill: This bill proposes significant amendments to Massachusetts law governing the sealing of criminal and juvenile records, facilitating a more streamlined processes for sealing records, enhancing the accessibility of sealed documents, and upholding the rights of individuals with non-convicted or pending charges.

Healthcare

An act to improve care and prepare for the new era of Alzheimer’s and dementia: This bill aims to bolster Alzheimer’s disease and dementia awareness, data collection, and care coordination, directing the Department of Public Health to launch a public awareness campaign focused on brain health and dementia, targeting at-risk and diverse communities to promote early detection and caregiving resources. The bill also mandates biannual reports on the Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map to assess progress, while integrating dementia-related questions in annual behavioral health surveys for better cognitive health data analysis. The bill further updates existing legislation to enhance patient and caregiver engagement rights in hospitals, ensuring that dementia care considerations are integrated within current healthcare frameworks. In addition, training programs would be developed for law enforcement, state police, firefighters, and EMS personnel to improve their interactions with individuals living with dementia, with a specific focus on communication, behavioral management, and local caregiving resources.

Worker Rights

An act establishing fairness for agricultural workers: This legislative bill introduces a suite of new protections and benefits for agricultural and farm workers, including the implementation of paid time off, where agricultural employees can accrue one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked, with a maximum accrual of 55 hours per year. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that agricultural workers working for eight or more hours in a day are entitled to two paid 15-minute breaks, with requirements ensuring that break areas have regulated temperatures and access to hydration. The bill updates definitions related to agricultural work, distinguishing primary and secondary agricultural activities, and aligns the minimum wage for agricultural employees with the general minimum wage.

Environment

An act establishing a Zero Carbon Renovation Fund: The bill establishes the Zero Carbon Renovation Fund for the purpose of supporting the renovation of buildings to enhance energy efficiency, transition to all-electric systems, and incorporate renewable energy and low-embodied carbon materials. The fund targets affordable housing, residences of low to moderate-income households, municipal buildings like public schools, and small businesses certified by the Massachusetts State Supplier Diversity Office. It also includes coverage for necessary remediation work, such as mold and asbestos removal, and structural upgrades for zero carbon transitions, with a focus on buildings in environmental justice communities and gateway cities.

Cannabis

An Act regularizing accounts receivable in the cannabis industry: This bill introduces new regulations for credit transactions among marijuana licensees in Massachusetts, limiting credit terms to a maximum of sixty days from product delivery to debt settlement and implementing new penalties for delinquent accounts that include a suspension on their ability to purchase new product and them being listed as such on the commission’s website.