Shirley Leung’s column (“Where are the women on the state’s list of highest-paid workers,” Jan 9) shed light on the small number of women in the top ranks of state employees. We believe that increasing both gender and racial diversity in our state’s workforce and leadership, in both the public and private sectors, is the […]
BOSTON – On January 16, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation to fight childhood hunger and boost participation rates in school breakfast programs in the Commonwealth’s high-poverty schools. The bill, An Act regarding breakfast after the bell (S.2460), would require all public K-12 schools with 60 percent or more students eligible for free or reduced-price […]
Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to our survey on transportation and commuting! We are pleased to share the results. We are also planning our next Community Conversation to review the survey results and discuss solutions to our region’s transportation challenges. Stay tuned for details of this event coming soon. Your input […]
BOSTON – Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate passed S.2459, An Act relative to healthy youth. This bill will ensure that Massachusetts schools electing to provide their students with sex education use age-appropriate and medically accurate curriculum that covers a comprehensive range of topics. The legislation also calls for sex education to be inclusive and appropriate for […]
This guest post was authored by Ashley Hall, MS, Program Manager of the Northeast Tobacco-Free Community Partnership. A new tobacco law in Massachusetts is now in place and it affects where tobacco and vaping products can be sold. These changes are designed to reduce the youth vaping epidemic in Massachusetts and stop tobacco companies from […]
The State Senate is working on legislation to improve the state’s transportation system, including roads, bridges and public transit. As the Senate debates various proposals, it is invaluable for Senator Lewis to hear your ideas and feedback. Senator Lewis invites constituents to fill out a brief survey, which can be found at this link. The […]
BOSTON – After it was passed by the House of Representatives and the State Senate, Governor Baker signed legislation into law last month banning drivers from using hand-held electronic devices in vehicles unless they are in hands-free mode. The bill defines hands-free mode as one that engages in voice communication with and receiving audio without […]
BOSTON – On November 20, The Massachusetts State Senate passed a bill that would implement a statewide ban on all carry-out plastic bags at checkout from retail stores. The bill requires retailers to charge at least 10 cents for a recycled paper bag at check out, and directs that five cents of the amount collected […]
BOSTON – On November 20, the Massachusetts Senate passed landmark legislation to reduce youth access to tobacco and nicotine products. In the wake of widespread increases in youth vaping, this bill offers a comprehensive approach to protecting young people from nicotine use and addiction. The bill, An Act Modernizing Tobacco Control, bans the sale of […]
Last week Governor Charlie Baker signed into law the Student Opportunity Act. The signing ceremony took place at English High School in Boston, the oldest public high school in America, with cheering students, teachers, parents, advocates and lawmakers in attendance. This landmark legislation, years in the making, recommits our Commonwealth to one of its most […]
