Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1943 FILED ON: 01/16/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1
4	4	OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
5	5	COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
6	6	STATE HOUSE · BOSTON, MA 02133
7	7	(617) 725-4000
8	8	MAURA T. HEALEY
9	9	GOVERNOR
10	10	KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL
11	11	LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
12	12	January 16, 2025
13	13	Governor Maura T. Healey
14	14	State of the Commonwealth Address
15	15	January 16, 2025
16	16	Good evening, Massachusetts! Speaker Mariano, President Spilka, Leader Jones, Leader
17	17	Tarr, members of the Legislature; Secretary Galvin; Attorney General Campbell; Treasurer
18	18	Goldberg; Auditor DiZoglio; Members of the judiciary and Governor’s Council; Members of
19	19	Congress; former elected officials; Mayors and local officials; business and labor leaders; clergy
20	20	and guests; To everyone in this Chamber and all those at home: Thank you for the privilege of
21	21	serving as your governor.
22	22	Joanna, and our families, thank you for your love and support. Lieutenant Governor,
23	23	Kim, thank you for always keeping us fired up and focused on our local communities. You give
24	24	110% and this state couldn’t have a better leader. Members of our cabinet and executive staff:
25	25	Team Massachusetts all the way! Let me see those bracelets! To state employees: Thank you for
26	26	the work you do to keep Massachusetts strong. To our service members, veterans and Gold Star
27	27	Families: everything we have, we owe to you.
28	28	250 years ago this April, on a common in Lexington and a bridge in Concord, the
29	29	farmers, tradesmen and shopkeepers of the Massachusetts Militia took a stand. They risked
30	30	everything for the right to self-government and they started the Revolution that gave us our
31	31	country. This is our legacy, Massachusetts, and it’s more than history. It’s who we are.
32	32	The militia that fought at Lexington and Concord, guess what? It never disbanded. 2 of 9
33	33	It became part of the United States Army and defended freedom at every moment in our
34	34	history. Today it’s known as the 181st Infantry Regiment, and its home is in the Massachusetts
35	35	National Guard. For most of last year, the 1-8-1 was deployed to Iraq, defending peace in one of
36	36	the most dangerous regions of the world. A few weeks ago, Joanna and I went to Hanscom Air
37	37	Force Base to thank those soldiers as they returned home. They stepped off the plane in their
38	38	camo and boots, straight into freezing wind and driving snow. But they were undaunted, and
39	39	smiling, because they knew they would soon see their families. Nine soldiers received Combat
40	40	Badges in this deployment, and some of them are here tonight. Let’s give them a big welcome
41	41	home. Thank you for serving our country and making us proud.
42	42	I am moved beyond words by the grit, drive and sheer goodness of the people of
43	43	Massachusetts. I see it in our citizen soldiers. It’s in the firefighters who spent weeks battling
44	44	wildfires last fall. When we see what firefighters are doing in Southern California right now, and
45	45	what our own firefighters and first responders do every day, we are so grateful. And welcome to
46	46	International Firefighters President, and Boston’s own, Ed Kelly.
47	47	I see it in the teachers and schools where we pioneered public education. And I see it in
48	48	breakthroughs by our scientists and innovators. Did you know, in 2024, one-third of all the
49	49	Nobel Prizes were won by people in Massachusetts? That’s not unusual for our state. Two M.I.T.
50	50	economists won for showing that democracy makes economies stronger. And with us tonight are
51	51	Victor Ambros of UMass Chan Medical School and Gary Ruvkun of Mass. General Hospital and
52	52	Harvard. They won the Nobel for medicine. You, and they, will be glad to know that we passed
53	53	our Economic Development bill and reinvested in Life Sciences, ensuring that the cures,
54	54	technologies, and great jobs of the future will continue to be created right here in Massachusetts.
55	55	Please join me in congratulating our Nobel winners.
56	56	We tackle hard problems in Massachusetts. Coach Joe Mazzulla said it well, he’s an
57	57	innovator in a field that’s close to my heart. He said “everybody notices the easy things. Can you
58	58	fight to notice the hard things? That’s where winning is.” We know a thing or two about winning
59	59	in Massachusetts. Last year the Boston Renegades won the national women’s football title. The
60	60	Fleet were national finalists in women’s hockey. It’s the 100th anniversary of the Bruins! And
61	61	the Celtics hung Banner 18! … Yeah, Max! And, over 40 Massachusetts athletes represented
62	62	America at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. With us tonight are medalist Clark
63	63	Dean and Femita Ayanbeku of Randolph. Femita is a world-class paralympic sprinter and a mom
64	64	who gave birth just 8 months before racing in Paris. She made the finals in the 100 meters and
65	65	did us proud. Let’s give these champions a hand.
66	66	Two years ago, we promised to lead in a way worthy of this state’s proud history and
67	67	incredible people. To protect and strengthen the things we love. And to take on the things that
68	68	make life too hard, for too many: like high costs that hold us back, and aging infrastructure that
69	69	slows us down. These problems had been building up for years. Maybe there were other
70	70	priorities. Maybe the politics were hard. But people were hurting. Too many were leaving. We 3 of 9
71	71	refused to kick the can down the road any longer. Why? Because, if our soldiers can spend a year
72	72	away from their families, firefighters can toil for days on end in burning woods, entrepreneurs
73	73	can pour their heart and soul into a business… then government can do our job and deliver the
74	74	results that you pay for and you deserve.
75	75	And that’s what we’ve done. Working with everyone in this Chamber and across our
76	76	state, we just completed one of the most productive legislative sessions in Massachusetts history.
77	77	Tax cuts, housing, economic development, healthcare, climate, veterans!
78	78	Mr. Speaker, Senate President, it’s not lost on me, this could not have happened without
79	79	your leadership. Thanks for staying with it and getting so much done. We focused on the things
80	80	that people care about. People want a more affordable state. So, we delivered the first tax cut in
81	81	20 years! We gave seniors back an extra $1000. We’re giving families over $400 for each child.
82	82	We now have the most generous child tax credit in the country: free breakfast and lunch in
83	83	school and no-cost community college.
84	84	People also need childcare. After the pandemic, childcare across the country was
85	85	collapsing and childcare centers were closing. So, we got to work, because our working parents
86	86	depend on it. We were the only state to fully replace federal support that went away, with a $1.5
87	87	billion investment. We not only saved our system, but affordable childcare is growing in
88	88	Massachusetts. Today 36,000 more children are getting care; and their parents can go to work
89	89	and support their families.
90	90	People want to be able to afford a home. So, we passed the Affordable Homes Act to
91	91	create tens of thousands of affordable homes and new homeowners. We already increased
92	92	production in state programs by 50%, adding 4,000 homes and helping 2,400 first-time
93	93	homeowners last year alone.
94	94	People need transportation and public transit they can rely on. When we took office,
95	95	trains were barely moving! So, we hired an experienced General Manager for the MBTA in Phil
96	96	Eng, along with 1,500 new workers. Phil set a goal of fixing the tracks by the end of 2024 … a
97	97	bold promise, given the T’s history. But he and his team beat their deadline. And for the first
98	98	time in over 20 years, the T is full speed, with no more slow zones, giving you time back in your
99	99	life. Congratulations Phil! In Phil we Trust! We also made regional bus systems from the
100	100	Berkshires to Cape Ann fare-free. And for the first time in 70 years, this spring we will start
101	101	South Coast Rail Commuter service to Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford.
102	102	People want safe, modern infrastructure. So, I promised we’d go hard after every federal
103	103	dollar. And in two years, we brought home more than $9 billion – for roads and bridges, solar
104	104	power, high-speed internet, and more. I want to thank our federal delegation for all their help. In
105	105	transportation dollars alone, we went from 34th place to 7th nationwide, jumping ahead of larger
106	106	states like Florida, Ohio and North Carolina. We won funding to take the next steps forward on 4 of 9
107	107	West-East Rail. And we got the biggest bridge grant ever given to a state, for the Cape Cod
108	108	Bridges.
109	109	We also took on tough, unexpected problems, including a massive influx into the
110	110	emergency shelter system due to a failure of federal border control, and a nationwide housing
111	111	crisis. I want to be absolutely clear: We are dramatically reducing costs; and we have, and will,
112	112	prioritize Massachusetts families. In 2025 we’ll get families out of hotels for good. We’re going
113	113	to keep working with the Legislature to reform this system. Massachusetts taxpayers should not,
114	114	and cannot, continue to foot the cost. The federal government needs to fix this at the source, by
115	115	passing a border security bill. They need to deport violent criminals. And immigrant families
116	116	who have lived here, have children here, have jobs and pay taxes here, need and deserve a path
117	117	forward. Congress and the new federal Administration must act without delay.
118	118	Whatever else is happening, we will always put our veterans first. We passed the HERO
119	119	Act, the biggest veterans’ legislation in state history, to expand health benefits, job opportunities
120	120	and much more. We’re ending veteran homelessness once and for all, because no one who
121	121	served our country should ever be left behind in their time of need. And we built brand-new,
122	122	world-class facilities at the veterans’ homes in Chelsea and Holyoke. When I visit the Holyoke
123	123	Veterans Home, I love seeing my friend Rose Roy. Rose is 102 years old and a veteran of World
124	124	War II. The staff take care of her like family. And she leads us in the Pledge of Allegiance when
125	125	we visit. Rose, I know you are watching tonight with your friends in the Holyoke Home. Thank
126	126	you for your service. Let’s show Rose and all our veterans how grateful we are.
127	127	In Massachusetts we support our military. It’s why we were proud to win a fleet of brand-
128	128	new, F-35 Fighter Jets at Barnes Air Base in Westfield. Colonel Dave Halasi-Kun is here from
129	129	Barnes, along with leaders from military bases across our state. People want their government to
130	130	work hard for them, and that’s what we’ve done. Let me give you an example. We found out
131	131	there was a law threatening to take licenses away from hundreds of commercial drivers. So, we
132	132	fixed it, and they’re keeping their licenses and their jobs.
133	133	International Teamsters President Sean O’Brien is here; he knows what a good trucking
134	134	job means to a middle-class family, and so do we.
135	135	And here’s something else that means a lot to people. We made history by pardoning
136	136	hundreds of thousands of people for misdemeanor marijuana convictions going back decades. It
137	137	was the right thing to do. In Massachusetts, our greatest resource is our people. When we took
138	138	office, too many were leaving for other states. Now, that trend is changing. Each year that we’ve
139	139	been in office, fewer people have left. Last year, we had the biggest population increase since
140	140	1964. That’s a 60-year high!
141	141	When we deliver results, and people are free to chase their dreams, there is no limit to
142	142	how strong we can be. It’s why we are ranked #1 for education, #1 for innovation, and #1 for
143	143	healthcare. We were named the best state for women, best state to have a baby, and best state to 5 of 9
144	144	raise a family. We are ranked the most environmentally friendly state, and the safest state as
145	145	well. Our economy has continued to grow and add good jobs. Unemployment is low, and median
146	146	household income is the highest in the nation. We have an excellent bond rating, and our Rainy-
147	147	Day Fund is at record levels. And we can say, with pride and confidence: the state of our
148	148	Commonwealth is strong.
149	149	This year, we’ll work together to implement the historic legislation we passed last year.
150	150	And we’ll stay focused on the things that matter to you. We’ll take new steps forward: to fix
151	151	transportation, make homes more affordable, invest in education, and grow our economy. State
152	152	revenues are growing. But the cost of providing services has gone up; and federal pandemic
153	153	relief is long gone. So, we will continue to control spending and live within our means just as
154	154	every family and business is doing. So, I promise: the budget I submit next week will prioritize
155	155	efficiency, action and impact. We need every dollar to make a difference. I want to make things
156	156	move and go in our state.
157	157	Let’s start with transportation, because we have an opportunity to do something really
158	158	special this year. When we took office two years ago, everyone was frustrated. And rightly so.
159	159	Bridges were in rough shape, forcing long detours. Too many streets were filled with potholes
160	160	and cracked sidewalks. Broken dams and busted culverts left towns vulnerable to flooding.
161	161	What’s worse, there was no plan to dig out, let alone to do better. That’s no way to run a
162	162	transportation system for a modern economy. It wasn’t going to keep us competitive. And most
163	163	important: it wasn’t respectful to people who are trying to get to work and school and just simply
164	164	live their lives. So, we were determined to do things differently, and we did. We got big projects
165	165	moving with federal funding. We got more help to cities and towns to fix those streets and
166	166	sidewalks. And we got the T moving. There’s more that needs to be done. But what we can say
167	167	now – to drivers, riders, and taxpayers – is that the money you invest will get you results.
168	168	Now, we can start building the system you deserve. Here’s how we’ll do it. Not with
169	169	new taxes, but with smart, forward-thinking management. Our plan is to invest $8 billion over
170	170	the next 10 years to make transportation better in every corner of our state. We’ll put the entire
171	171	system on stable financial footing, something we haven’t had for decades. When we do this,
172	172	you’ll see the results. You’ll see bridges fully open again, like the I-391 viaduct in Chicopee.
173	173	You’ll see smaller, local bridges finally fixed too, like Commercial Street in East Weymouth.
174	174	You’ll see more funding in your town’s budget to fix roads and sidewalks. Finally, we’re going
175	175	to close the T’s budget gap so Phil and his team can keep cookin’. You’ll see more frequent
176	176	trains and buses; major upgrades at stations like Ruggles in Roxbury; and new platforms across
177	177	the Commuter Rail from Beverly Depot to West Medford to Franklin and beyond. Bottom line,
178	178	you’ll wait less, and you’ll move faster. And we’ll be a state where everybody gets where they
179	179	need to go safely, affordably, sustainably and on time.
180	180	Let me tell you what we are going to do about housing. For decades, we didn’t build
181	181	enough homes in this state. We’re paying the price for that, now. There’s not enough housing 6 of 9
182	182	and it’s too expensive. But we’re changing that. This year, with the Affordable Homes Act in
183	183	place, we’re going to get shovels in the ground and people in homes. And we’re going to do it
184	184	together. So far, 116 towns have said “Yes” to more homes near transit through the MBTA
185	185	Communities Law. That means thousands of new homes are in the pipeline. So, let’s keep the
186	186	momentum going. If we want our kids to stay here, if we want families to put down roots, if we
187	187	want seniors to be able to live in the towns they love, if we want companies to stay and grow
188	188	here, we need more homes. And we’re going to build them.
189	189	I’ve talked about homeownership. I also want to speak to all the renters out there.
190	190	Whenever you move, I know there’s a huge cost. First month, last month, security deposit, I
191	191	rented for many years, I know it adds up. And with today’s rents, it’s so much more. And too
192	192	often, there’s another cost tacked on: a broker’s fee, for a service you didn’t even ask for. That’s
193	193	not right. The average renter has to pay 10 grand just to get a foot in the door. That’s money you
194	194	could be saving for a downpayment on a house. If you rent, you should not be forced to pay a
195	195	broker’s fee. That is why I’m calling to abolish tenant broker fees in Massachusetts. It's the right
196	196	thing to do.
197	197	We have the best schools in the country. It’s a core value, and it’s also our competitive
198	198	edge. So, I am committed, and we all must be committed, to excellence for every student. We are
199	199	Number One for education and we’re going to stay that way. The voters decided in November
200	200	that the MCAS graduation requirement is not the way forward. I respect that decision. But it
201	201	creates for all of us a responsibility, to make sure every student graduates ready to succeed. We
202	202	need a high, statewide standard. Students, families, and employers need to know what a diploma
203	203	represents. And without that baseline, it’s always the most vulnerable students who don’t get
204	204	what they need. For that reason: I am directing a Statewide Graduation Requirement Council that
205	205	will include teachers, colleges, employers and students to develop recommendations for a
206	206	permanent, high standard. We’ll evolve to a new Massachusetts model for high school
207	207	excellence that best serves our children. And we'll match high standards with great opportunities
208	208	– like the Early College and job training programs that give students a leg up on their next step.
209	209	Let me tell you about a young man named Haris. Haris went to Burlington High School,
210	210	where he didn’t take just traditional courses. He also did the Computer Science career pathway.
211	211	It’s one of the programs we’ve brought to 100 high schools across the state, with employer
212	212	partners in fields from biotechnology to clean energy. As a senior, Haris did a capstone project
213	213	with an industry mentor: he built an app for a local sneaker store called Courtside Kicks. Now
214	214	he’s a freshman at UMass Lowell doing a degree in software engineering and managing the
215	215	sneaker store part-time. He’s working hard and building a great experience. And because of our
216	216	investments, so are thousands of students in pathway programs across Massachusetts. Keep it up,
217	217	Haris!
218	218	I talk about students who are thriving, and that’s what we want for all our young people.
219	219	So, let’s also talk about students who are having a hard time. Students are struggling with 7 of 9
220	220	pressures and changes we never had to deal with. And when our sons and daughters are in crisis,
221	221	they need help right away. No one, especially a child, should sit for hours or days in an
222	222	Emergency Room, waiting for mental health care. This is why we opened 31 Community
223	223	Behavioral Health Centers across the state. They are there, providing 24-hour, dedicated crisis
224	224	care. They’ve made a difference, helping more than 30,000 young people so far, and we’ll keep
225	225	supporting their work. But we must do more. We also need more resources in schools, to meet
226	226	students where they are. So, our budget will fund behavioral health support in schools across our
227	227	state. I’ve met with young people who got the help they needed in their high schools. What they
228	228	shared was powerful, and it’s what I want for every young person: understanding and care, when
229	229	and where they need it. And we are going to make sure that happens.
230	230	Here’s another opportunity. Rep. Carol Doherty of Taunton is a longtime educator.
231	231	This year she, with Sen. Jake Oliveira, will reintroduce legislation to make classes in
232	232	American Sign Language eligible for course credit. ASL is used by millions of Americans, and
233	233	interpreters play a critical role in our workforce. So, we’re going to get this done.
234	234	Carol, I know you couldn’t be here tonight, but I wanted to say thank you.
235	235	Massachusetts is America’s healthcare leader. First in quality. First in coverage. And #1
236	236	for having the healthiest people. We are #1 because we have the best and hardest-working
237	237	nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals in the world. And we lead because we don’t accept
238	238	the status quo. We keep pushing forward. Last year, we got 60,000 people affordable healthcare
239	239	coverage. Because of the steps we took, people in Massachusetts have access to breast cancer
240	240	screenings, midwives, doulas, birthing centers, recovery coaches and more, because insurance is
241	241	now going to cover it. I also know many of you have medicines you need to take for diabetes,
242	242	asthma and heart conditions. But you go to the pharmacy stressed out about whether you can
243	243	afford to fill those prescriptions. Now we’ve taken that stress away. Last week, I signed a law
244	244	that says you’re not going to pay more than $25 a month for insulin, your inhaler, and so much
245	245	more.
246	246	We also got a terrible company, Steward, out of Massachusetts and saved 6 hospitals and
247	247	13,000 jobs thanks to the tireless work of so many, including our Health & Human Services
248	248	Secretary Kate Walsh. We still have so much work to do. Patients are paying more than ever for
249	249	premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Often, it’s hard just to get an appointment. It’s really
250	250	frustrating. It’s also unacceptable. It has to change. So, here’s what we’re going to do. I am
251	251	directing my Administration to shift healthcare resources to the front lines. And by that, I mean
252	252	primary care. We’ll drive career training pipelines to grow the workforce. I want a whole army
253	253	of primary care providers out there, so when you call for an appointment, you’ll get one. You’ll
254	254	get the affordable care you need, where and when you need it.
255	255	Our leadership has never been more important, including our unshakeable commitment to
256	256	reproductive healthcare, all who need it, and all who provide it. Fixing transportation, housing, 8 of 9
257	257	education, and healthcare, all of these things help make life better. They also make our economy
258	258	more competitive and our businesses stronger. That’s important. From our Main Street mom-
259	259	and-pops to our global companies, businesses provide jobs and support communities. We have to
260	260	support them, in every sector and corner of our state. That’s what we’re doing.
261	261	I think about how hard our small businesses are working. Meet Liz and Nate L’Etoile.
262	262	They are the founders of Four Star Farms in Northfield, where they grow hops. They’re here
263	263	with Chris Sellers, who runs a brewery right on the farm. Remember, Massachusetts is where the
264	264	craft beer revolution started. But yet, until now, breweries like theirs were barred by state law
265	265	from selling beer at local farmers’ markets! That made no sense, so we fixed it. And we are
266	266	grateful to Four Star and all the small businesses that support our communities.
267	267	When we see anything that doesn’t make sense, we’re going to work to fix it.
268	268	In fact, I am directing our Economic team to review all business and licensing regulations
269	269	in the first 3 months of this year, with the goal of cutting red tape. I want it cheaper and faster for
270	270	you to do business in Massachusetts. When we back our businesses, they grow and thrive.
271	271	This year, global life science leaders are investing in new headquarters, labs and
272	272	manufacturing plants, not only in Greater Boston but in Worcester and across the state. Startups
273	273	are growing here that will help us decarbonize and bring more energy to Massachusetts. Now
274	274	they are able to scale up statewide, with support from our new Climate Tech initiative.
275	275	And we’re going big in Artificial Intelligence. A.I. is where the internet was 30 years
276	276	ago and it’s going to change everything. States will either help steer AI’s impact, or they will
277	277	struggle to keep pace. In Massachusetts, we pioneered the science for A.I. I want us to lead and
278	278	for Massachusetts businesses and workers to get the benefit. See, A.I. will help us cure diseases
279	279	faster. It will help model the impacts of climate change so we can better protect our coasts. It
280	280	will help government move faster. This what Massachusetts does, better than anyone else! That’s
281	281	why we have funded a $100 million A.I. Hub to back the scientists and startups whose
282	282	breakthroughs will define our future. And we are investing in a data center in Holyoke that can
283	283	support cutting-edge research by universities and businesses. We have put Massachusetts on the
284	284	A.I. map. And our students, workers, and businesses will lead.
285	285	We’re also going to keep leading on clean energy. The climate law we just passed speeds
286	286	up permitting, so we can build infrastructure more quickly to get energy to homes and
287	287	businesses. I want to thank the workers who are going to get this done, and thank you, AFL-CIO
288	288	President Chrissy Lynch and your members. This is a big deal! It means cheaper energy, cleaner
289	289	energy and energy independence. We are building new homes, labs, data centers and
290	290	manufacturing plants. We need this power, and we’re going to go get it.
291	291	Two-hundred and fifty years after we started a Revolution, it’s Massachusetts’ moment
292	292	again. We’ll lead the commemorations of America’s founding and fire up our tourism economy. 9 of 9
293	293	We’ll shine a light on our revolutions today the ideas and solutions that continue to make the
294	294	world a better, freer place. This is a moment to know our past, understand our present, and build
295	295	our future. In four days, there will be a transition of power in Washington. I assure you we will
296	296	take every opportunity to work with the federal government in any way that benefits
297	297	Massachusetts, and I also promise you we will not change who we are.
298	298	Sixty-four years and a week ago today, just days before his inauguration, President-elect
299	299	John F. Kennedy spoke right here in this Chamber. In this moment, I think of his words which
300	300	are now inscribed on the front of this very rostrum. He talked about what service requires of us.
301	301	He spoke of “Courage … judgment … integrity … dedication.” Those are the values that must
302	302	guide us now in our resolute focus on what people need and how we can work together to deliver
303	303	for them. Because in this moment, our actions matter more than our words. Taking on the hard
304	304	challenges matters. The choices and investments we make matter. The world we build for the
305	305	next generation matters.
306	306	So, in a time that is too often defined by our differences, let’s keep our eyes on the things
307	307	we share in common. Let’s recognize that our lives and fates are bound together. And let’s work
308	308	for the common good in our Commonwealth.
309	309	God bless you. God bless Massachusetts. God bless America.