Senator Cindy Friedman

Legislation responds to reports that nearly 7 in 10 nurses have experienced workplace assault, requiring annual security reviews and new protections for victims 

(BOSTON—7/16/2026) The Massachusetts Senate acted today to support the safety of frontline health care workers by improving vital security protocols at hospitals and doctors’ offices across the state. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) supported the legislation, which passed through the Senate with the inclusion of several amendments put forward by Senator Friedman. 

Responding to a troubling spate of violent incidents, the Senate’s legislation would require annual reviews of security protocols and potential risks at health care facilities. 

The legislation passed by the Senate, S.3171, also helps law enforcement make timely arrests for assaults at health care facilities, extends new supports to health care employees who are assaulted on the job, and shields victims’ personal information from assailants. 

“It is vitally important that we affirm in our laws that no one, and especially our health care workers, should be subject to harassment, assault, and violence in the workplace,” said Senator Friedman (D-Arlington). “This legislation takes meaningful steps to make health care safer for workers and, at the same time, acknowledges the complicated reality that sometimes violence occurs from those who are not acting out of malice or disrespect, but just may not be in complete control of their actions. The final Senate bill strikes an important balance between protecting workers and ensuring we are not unduly punishing those who are unable to control their actions due to a disability or diagnosis. I thank my colleagues for working so diligently on this legislation, and for their support in the adoption of an amendment I filed to ensure that law enforcement officers responding to reports of workplace violence do so with thoughtfulness for the facility they enter and the individuals they encounter.”  … Read more.

Bill creates new licensure structure for home care workers, including background checks and a public list of verified agencies 

(BOSTON—7/16/2026) The Senate passed legislation today to help older adults age in place in Massachusetts by improving the industry that assists elders with basic care like cooking, dressing, and bathing. 

The Senate’s legislation strengthens the integrity of the home care industry and its workers, who provide the daily non-medical care that is key to helping people stay in the comfort of their own homes as they age. 

Massachusetts is currently among a handful of states that do not regulate home care agencies. 

By checking and licensing home care workers, the Senate bill gives peace of mind to families while also ensuring that workers are safe and prepared. 

“It is so important that residents and their families can have faith in the care that is delivered at home and trust the agencies that provide these services,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington). “ With this legislation, Massachusetts would join the majority of states that regulate home care agencies. I thank Senator Jehlen for her consistent work to improve care for our aging residents.”  

Under the bill—S.3170, An Act to improve Massachusetts home care—the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) would create the licensure structure, which would include fingerprinting and background checks. 

A worker’s driving record would also be checked if they provide transportation for their client. 

The legislation also helps connect people in need of care with a properly checked home care service. EOHHS would share a list of verified and licensed agencies on its website. 

Full details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate’s press room. 

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means redrafted the bill and voted 13-0 to advance it to the full Senate on July 9, 2026. The… Read more.

Special recognition would help immediate family honor their loved ones 

(BOSTON—7/14/2026) The Massachusetts Legislature yesterday passed legislation to create a new special license plate to honor the memories of fallen law enforcement officers by offering a symbol of respect to their surviving spouses, parents, and children. 

The bill—S.2903, An Act honoring Blue Star Families—directs the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to create a new Blue Star Families plate to help the family members remember their loved one in a visible way on their car. It would also create a Blue Star Family emblem for motorcycle plates. 

“We should do anything we can to ensure the memories of law enforcement officers that tragically lose their lives in the line of duty are carried on,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington). “This legislation allows for our Blue Star Families to display a special remembrance to their loved ones without charge, a small but meaningful way to honor the lives of those that committed themselves to protecting not only their families but our Commonwealth. I thank my colleagues for working to bring this bill forward and helping get it to the Governor’s desk.”   

Under the legislation, the RMV would be required to make the plates available to Blue Star spouses, parents, and children without charge. The RMV would also be able to offer vanity plate registrations for Blue Star plates up to six characters in length. 

The Blue Star Family license plates would join other special recognition plates currently offered by the RMV, including Gold Star Family plates for drivers with close family members who died as a result of their service in the armed forces. 

Having passed the Legislature, the bill has now been sent to Governor Maura Healey for her signature. … Read more.

Legislation Prioritizes Children’s Health Over Corporations’ Addictive Algorithms 

(BOSTON—7/9/2026) The Massachusetts Senate stood up to big social media companies today by passing legislation that reins in how their platforms’ most addictive features target young people. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) voted in support of the bill, which passed the Senate on a 38-2 roll call vote.

The bill cracks down on settings that are engineered to keep minors perpetually on social media platforms at the expense of the health and wellbeing of users. 

Features such as autoplay, ‘infinite scroll,’ and intrusive algorithms that capitalize on users’ personal data would be turned off by default for minors. Minors would not be able to change those default settings, while adult users would retain control over their own settings. 

“It is paramount that we do what we can as a state to protect our youngest residents as social media companies utilize addictive features to engage kids earlier and earlier in their lives,” said Senator Friedman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “With parallels to the tobacco industry before regulation, social media companies use far too many digital tools to get kids hooked to spend more time on their screens and out of reality, through specially curated algorithms and features like continuous scrolling. I am thankful for my colleagues who led on this initiative and voted to adopt an amendment I filed that establishes additional guardrails to protect users’ privacy and ensures that we are not requiring our residents to hand over sensitive personal information to private social media companies.”  

Studies have linked prolonged daily social media use to increased depression and anxiety in children. 

The legislation—S.3164, An Act protecting children from addictive social media feeds—includes added optional safeguards for children, such as limits on the ability of ‘non-friend’ accounts—strangers—to contact minors’ accounts. … Read more.

New law would lower monthly bills, rein in utility overspending, and preserve clean energy progress 

(BOSTON—7/1/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today passed energy affordability legislation that is projected to deliver billions in savings to ratepayers across the Commonwealth, while keeping Massachusetts on track to meet its climate goals. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) voted in support of the measure. 

The bill, S.3143, An Act to save people money, repair the climate, and grow the economy, tackles rising energy costs head-on by cutting unnecessary fees, evening out price spikes that hit households during high-demand months, cracking down on predatory sales practices by energy suppliers, and steering the state away from expensive infrastructure projects that don’t deliver value for ratepayers. 

“Residents in our Commonwealth are facing enormous hardship due to high energy bills, a problem compounded by extreme weather variations that increase demand and put intense strain on our energy infrastructure,” said Senator Friedman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “This bill not only addresses these energy prices with real savings through a host of policy changes but makes meaningful strides to reduce administrative costs for MassSave, strengthening the offerings to residential homeowners while reducing overhead costs. In light of the federal government’s decision to end solar tax credits, I was pleased that an amendment I presented was adopted to evaluate the impact of this action and recommend policy alternatives to bolster the Massachusetts solar market. The passage of this comprehensive bill continues our work to make energy more affordable, our grid more resilient, and our consumption of energy more sustainable for future generations.” 

The legislation targets the biggest cost drivers that Massachusetts residents face on their monthly bills, including fees, surcharges, and rate adjustments. 

Making Solar and Clean Energy More Affordable Up Front — $540 Million in Savings 

For homeowners who want to install solar panels or battery storage but can’t afford the upfront cost, the bill creates a way to finance that equipment through their utility bill over time.… Read more.

Agreement completes Student Opportunity Act commitment, expands housing production, and strengthens the MBTA 

(BOSTON—7/1/2026) Without raising taxes on Massachusetts residents, the Massachusetts Legislature today delivered a Fiscal Year 2027 budget that drives down costs for residents, boosts the state’s economy, and adds to the state’s savings account. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) voted for the budget, which includes significant funding for the communities of the 4^th Middlesex district. 

The plan makes record investments in public education, unlocks new housing production, strengthens the state’s public transportation systems, and protects vulnerable residents from the impact of federal cuts. 

The bill spends $63.4 billion, a 4 percent increase from last year, and includes $2.7 billion in Fair Share funds that will support public education and transportation as voters intended. The budget raises no taxes and adds $51 million to the state’s ‘Rainy Day’ Stabilization Fund, which is projected to reach a historic $8.2 billion balance by the end of Fiscal Year 2027. 

“Recognizing that the Commonwealth and our residents continue to feel the effects of a challenging economy, the Legislature’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget prioritizes responsible investments in the services and programs our constituents rely on,” said Senator Friedman, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. “This budget provides a substantial increase in local aid, by providing municipalities with flexible funding to keep up with the rising costs of goods and services and continues to meet our implementation timeline of the Student Opportunity Act, with a record level of per-pupil Chapter 70 funding.… Read more.

Legislation seeks to address light pollution to improve public health and protect wildlife while preserving safety 

(BOSTON—7/1/2026) Under a bill passed today by the Senate, known as the ‘Dark Skies Bill,’ cities and towns would be able to save taxpayers money on the cost of operating streetlights with a new lower electric rate. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) voted in favor of the measure, which passed the Senate without opposition. 

The bill—S.3145, An Act to improve outdoor lighting, conserve energy, and increase dark-sky visibility—focuses on outdoor lights owned by local or state government, such as streetlamps, as a means for increasing municipal affordability and supporting the environment. 

The legislation also takes aim at light pollution, which occurs when outdoor light fixtures unnecessarily shine up into the sky. Addressing light pollution combats a significant threat to wildlife and helps make it easier to see the stars in the night sky. 

“This legislation will have a profound impact on the lives and patterns of animals and residents across our Commonwealth,” said Senator Friedman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “Protecting wildlife can be as simple as being mindful of the impacts that our actions have, like how we can reduce the amount of light we emit, especially for streetlights shining into the sky where they are not serving their purpose. Additionally, this bill will help our municipalities conserve and spend less on the energy needed to provide outdoor lighting and enhance the view of our beautiful New England night sky, which is an added bonus. I thank Majority Leader Creem for her leadership on this initiative.” 

Municipalities would be able to save on electricity costs under the legislation, which requires the creation of a new, reduced electric rate for low-wattage streetlights and parking lot lights. … Read more.

Legislation requires greater investment in primary care, fairer pay for community health centers, and a larger medical workforce, with aim of driving down health care costs 

(BOSTON—6/18/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today overwhelmingly passed landmark legislation to invest in primary care and make it easier for Massachusetts residents to get a primary care appointment. 

The bill, originally filed by Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), simplifies finding a primary care clinician, reduces the amount of time providers have to spend on administrative paperwork, and aims to reduce health care costs. 

Currently, 43 per cent of Massachusetts residents have difficulty accessing primary care. Studies show that 40 per cent of emergency room visits in Massachusetts could have been prevented if treated in a primary care setting. 

The legislation—S.3116, An Act relative to primary care for you—requires health care providers and insurers to invest more heavily in primary care services. Additionally, it ensures fairer compensation for community health centers, which serve as the frontline of primary care for many residents, and grows Massachusetts’ primary care workforce by unlocking matching federal funds to train and recruit more primary care doctors. 

“Massachusetts has always led the way on health care, and today the Senate is doing it again. Too many of our residents are struggling to find a primary care doctor, or putting off basic care because of the cost,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “That’s not acceptable, and it’s not sustainable. This legislation takes direct aim at the problem: it requires greater investment in primary care, lifts up the community health centers at the heart of so many neighborhoods, and grows the workforce our residents need. When we get primary care right, everything else in our health care system works better. I… Read more.

The bill requires teaching of evidence-based reading instruction, supports school districts in adopting proven instructional materials and practices, requires consistent statewide literacy screening, and improves educator preparation 

(BOSTON—6/18/2026) Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) and her colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature today passed landmark literacy legislation that will transform how the Commonwealth teaches children to read.  

An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy establishes clear statewide standards for evidence-based reading instruction—requiring the teaching of phonics, ensures access to high-quality K-3 curricula, enhances educator training and support, and creates new reporting and accountability systems. 

Having passed both branches of the Legislature, the bill now goes to Governor Healey for her signature.  

“Reading is the most fundamental skill that a child can learn, as it serves as the foundation for all types of learning and civic engagement,” said Senator Friedman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “As a former elementary school teacher and parent of a child that had challenges learning to read, I understand how important it is for student development for schools to use high-quality, evidence-based instructional materials. this legislation will help close the early literacy gap that is seen in communities across the Commonwealth, and I am excited for students in the Fourth Middlesex district and statewide to be afforded the opportunity to learn to read and develop comprehension skills through strengthened instruction practices and materials.”  

Although Massachusetts is recognized as a national leader in education and our students consistently test high among national peers, recent data confirms there is more work to do.  English Language Arts (ELA) scores continue to lag behind pre-pandemic levels.… Read more.

Already piloted by the State Police, the program helps drivers with autism communicate while giving officers the information they need to respond effectively 

(BOSTON—6/15/2026) The Massachusetts Legislature today passed legislation establishing a statewide ‘blue envelope’ program, giving motorists with autism spectrum disorder a simple, recognizable way to alert police officers to their diagnosis and help guide the interaction before it escalates.

The easily recognizable envelopes can be handed over during a traffic stop by an individual with autism whose ability to communicate is likely to be negatively affected by a stressful situation.

The outside of the blue envelope prominently notes that the person has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), along with guidance on how to effectively interact with them, while the inside features places to store their driver’s license and auto registration.

“I am so happy that the entire legislature has adopted this subtle, yet meaningful approach to increase community safety that the Senate has led on for several consecutive sessions,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “The Blue Envelope legislation will help make traffic stops safer and smoother, leading to calmer interactions between police officers and those with autism spectrum disorder. I am so excited that we finally got this legislation to the Governor’s desk so we can make this popular and effective program permanent in Massachusetts.”

The bill—S.2565, An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder—would codify the program, which was rolled out by the Massachusetts State Police last year after it was first proposed in the Legislature during the previous legislative session.… Read more.