On July 27, the Massachusetts Legislature gave final approval to legislation to fight childhood hunger and boost participation rates in school breakfast programs in schools with high percentages of students from low-income families in the Commonwealth. The bill, An Act regarding breakfast after the bell, would require all public K?12 schools with 60 percent or more students […]
On July 30, the Massachusetts Senate with support from Senator Jason Lewis passed An Act concerning genocide education to improve the education of middle and high school students on the history of genocide and to promote the teaching of human rights issues. “It is shocking how many young people today have never heard of the […]
On July 27, Senator Jason Lewis joined colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to support legislation that removes existing barriers for students with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders or other developmental disabilities so they can attend public institutions of higher education. The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, honors the spirit of the Americans With Disabilities […]
On July 29, the Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously to support a sweeping economic recovery and development bill that provides much-needed support to businesses, invests in infrastructure, and creates new jobs. An Act to encourage new development and usher in a recovering economy (ENDURE Act) authorizes $455 million to provide relief to communities and stimulate economic […]
On July 30, the Massachusetts House and Senate together with Governor Baker announced that despite the fiscal crisis facing the state budget, municipalities and school districts will not face cuts in local aid or Chapter 70 school funding in Fiscal Year 2021 (which started on July 1, 2020). Unrestricted local aid will be funded at a […]
The Massachusetts State Senate on Tuesday passed legislation that would establish a commission to study and redesign the Massachusetts state seal and motto in an effort to make it more inclusive and historically representational. The legislation, Resolve establishing a special commission relative to the seal and motto of the commonwealth (S.1877), will create a commission […]
Senator Lewis delivered the following remarks during the July 28, 2020 formal session of the Massachusetts Senate during the debate on S.1877, Resolve establishing a special commission relative to the seal and motto of the commonwealth: Thank you Madam President. I rise to enthusiastically speak in support of a Resolve establishing a special commission relative […]
The Massachusetts State Senate recently passed major legislation to invest nearly $18 billion in the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure in the coming years, in order to make the state’s roads, bridges, and public transit systems more reliable and accessible to all residents. “I’m pleased that the Senate has passed this vital legislation that will make many improvements to our […]
As the Senate Chair of the Education Committee, I am receiving many questions, concerns and feedback about the state’s plan for re-opening public schools this fall. Students, parents, teachers, administrators, school committee members and others are understandably feeling anxious and uncertain about the best way forward. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) […]
I am writing today to help clarify the provisions of the Reform, Shift + Build Act, the police reform bill the Senate passed on Tuesday. I believe that the vast majority of our law enforcement officers are dedicated public servants who are charged with doing extremely challenging and important work to keep our communities safe. […]
