Author: Cindy Friedman

Mail-in voting, outdoor dining, protections for tenants, healthcare initiatives among measures extended

BOSTON (06/10/21) – Today, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a bill which would extend a slate of measures instituted in Massachusetts during the State of Emergency stemming from COVID-19. If signed into law, this bill would result in the included measures being temporarily extended beyond the State of Emergency’s expiration on June 15, 2021.

“This bill represents responsible and proactive action by the Senate to ensure that important safeguards remain in place after June 15th,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The effects of this public health crisis are not over; we must continue to protect the public’s health and well-being. This bill maintains the rapid availability of our strong health care workforce and provides financial support to those most impacted by the pandemic, like those who struggle to secure adequate childcare as in-person work resumes. I thank Senate President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, and my senate colleagues for their speedy and thoughtful effort in addressing these matters.”

Many of the extended measures deal with elections and public meetings. Under the bill, mail-in voting would be extended in Massachusetts until December 15, 2021, giving voters flexibility and more opportunity to participate in upcoming fall elections. With municipal approval, early in-person voting could be extended through the same date. In addition, public bodies subject to the open meeting law would be able to continue holding meetings remotely until April 1, 2022.… Read more.

Proposed constitutional amendment would fund transportation and education investments

BOSTON (06/09/2021) – At a Joint Session of the Massachusetts Legislature, Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) joined members of the House and Senate in a Constitutional Convention to advance an amendment to the state Constitution to provide greater investments in education and transportation funding.

The Amendment, which now goes before the people of the Commonwealth for a vote in 2022, establishes a four percent tax on annual taxable income in excess of $1 million. The revenue generated, estimated by the Department of Revenue to be as much as $2.2 billion annually, would fund repair and maintenance projects for roads, bridges or public transportation as well as funding for public education, including support for early education and childcare and public higher education.

“Once again, I was proud to work with my colleagues to move this important amendment to the next stage of the process,” said Senator Friedman, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The revenue raised by the Fair Share Amendment is an effective and fair way to increase investments in public transportation and public education, needed now more than ever as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Should voters approve the ballot measure, the income level would be adjusted annually to reflect increases in the cost of living by the same method used to determine federal income tax brackets. This would ensure that, over time, the additional four percent tax would continue to apply only to the highest earning individuals in the Commonwealth.… Read more.

Includes increased investments to support an equitable recovery and safeguard the health of our residents

BOSTON (5/28/2021) – Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts State Senate in unanimously passing a $47.7 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22), after adding $63.7 million in targeted investments over the course of three days of robust deliberations. Approved with unanimous bipartisan support, the budget maintains fiscal responsibility and recommends targeted investments to address emerging needs, safeguard the health and wellness of the most vulnerable populations and ensure residents will benefit equitably as the state recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Reflecting on the ongoing lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fiscal Year 2022 Senate Budget funds important public health initiatives, begins to address the critical lack of children and adolescent mental health services, continues our substantial investment in public schools, and provides support for our cities and towns, including their local boards of health,” said Senator Friedman, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “After a robust debate, we passed a Senate budget that we should be proud of – a budget that invests in our state’s future and benefits residents across the Commonwealth, especially the most vulnerable amongst us. This is in large part due to the leadership of Senate President Spilka and the diligent work of Senate Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues in thoughtfully preparing this comprehensive budget.”

Senator Friedman was especially pleased to see several local and statewide initiatives she advocated for throughout the budget cycle included in the final Senate budget, including:

• $10 million for the Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) Program for Children to provide grants to support the establishment of PACT programs for individuals under the age of 22 who have serious mental health conditions that are resistant to standard forms of treatment;
• $4 million for the continuation of an Emerging Adult Reentry grant program to reduce recidivism among individuals between 18 and 25 years of age who are returning to the community from state prisons and county correctional facilities;
• $3 million for a loan repayment program for child and adolescent psychiatrists for the purpose of enhancing recruitment and retention of child and adolescent psychiatrists at community mental health centers and community health centers throughout the Commonwealth;
• $1 million for the Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission to operationalize the restoration center to provide inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services to individuals in mental health or substance use disorder crisis and divert individuals with behavioral health conditions from arrest or unnecessary hospitalization;
• $1.5 million for the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids (MHAP for Kids) to provide evidence-, community-, and school-based interventions to improve the mental health of vulnerable youth and divert them from juvenile detention, inpatient, and emergency psychiatric hospitalizations; and
• $350,000 for the Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition (BRYT) Programs to expand supports to address the needs of middle and high school students returning to school following extended physical health- or mental health-related absences;
• $175,000 for the Arlington Youth Counseling Center (AYCC) to provide much-needed services to support the social and emotional wellbeing of all Arlington’s youth and families;
• $100,000 to help English At Large in Woburn continue its work with English language tutoring and small group instruction for adult learners in Middlesex County;
• $100,000 for Food Link, Inc.

… Read more.

Legislation includes additional bond authorization for community- and home-based care services

BOSTON (05/20/2021) – Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday to unanimously give final legislative approval to a bill authorizing $400 million in bonds for the design and construction of a new soldiers’ home facility in Holyoke. The bill, which passed the Massachusetts House of Representatives earlier in the week and now moves to the Governor for consideration, also authorizes the issuance of $200 million in bonds to increase geographic equity and accessibility related to the continuum of long-term care services for veterans across the state.

“Rebuilding the soldiers’ home in Holyoke and increasing access to services for our veterans is necessary and long overdue, especially after tragically losing many residents of the soldiers’ home to a COVID-19 outbreak last year,” said Senator Friedman, lead Senate negotiator of the Soldiers’ Home Conference Committee. “This funding will ensure that the Commonwealth’s veterans are met with the services that they deserve and that address their unique and changing needs. I want to thank Senate President Spilka for her leadership and my fellow conferees for their collaboration and efforts in advancing this important legislation.”

The existing soldiers’ home in Holyoke was built in 1952 with many triple- and quadruple-bed rooms. Those capacity and facility issues became clear last year as the highly contagious COVID-19 virus spread throughout the home leaving more than 70 veterans dead.

The bill passed by the Legislature will advance the construction of a modern facility with a “small house” concept to meet the needs of future generations of veterans.… Read more.

Bill also prevents unemployment insurance (UI) rate spikes from for pandemic-affected businesses 

BOSTON (05/20/21) – On Thursday May 20, 2021, Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) and her colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature gave final legislative approval to a bill to guarantee COVID emergency paid leave to workers, as well as avoid drastic unemployment insurance rate increases paid by employers. The bill was back before the Legislature after having been returned by the Governor with an amendment. Passage of the bill by the Legislature ensures that all Massachusetts employees, including frontline workers in hospitals and classrooms, will receive emergency leave for up to five paid days off for COVID-related concerns, including paid leave from work to attend a vaccine appointment. 

“I am pleased we are able to provide much-needed relief to our businesses and working families, especially through long-overdue emergency paid sick leave benefits for all workers,” said Senator Friedman, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “This legislation will protect public health and support an equitable economic recovery as we emerge from the pandemic.” 

Massachusetts workers would be eligible for emergency paid leave should they be diagnosed with COVID-19, required to isolate, or need to care for a family member due to the virus. Building on efforts to increase vaccination rates in Massachusetts, employees would also be able to take emergency paid leave in order to receive a COVID vaccine, or if they have common vaccine side effects in the immediate days following the vaccine. This will ensure Massachusetts workers do not have to choose between a paycheck or access to the vaccine.… Read more.

Legislation includes additional bond authorization for geographic equity and accessibility for veterans

BOSTON (04/29/2021) – On Thursday, April 29, 2021, Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts State Senate to pass a bill authorizing $400 million in bonds for the design and construction of a new facility for the soldiers’ home in Holyoke. The bill also authorizes the issuance of $200 million in general obligation bonds to increase geographic equity and accessibility related to the continuum of long-term care services for Massachusetts veterans across the state, with an emphasis on those areas not primarily served by the soldiers’ homes in Chelsea or Holyoke.

“This funding will ensure that veterans in the Home, and across the Commonwealth, are provided the best care for their diverse needs,” said Senator Friedman, Vice Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. “I want to thank Senate President Spilka and Chair Rodrigues for their leadership and my Senate colleagues for their contributions in making this bill stronger to better serve our veterans for generations to come.”

In passing the $400 million bond authorization for a new soldiers’ home in Holyoke, Massachusetts is eligible to receive up to 65 per cent in federal reimbursement through the Veterans Affairs State Home Construction Grant Program. The existing soldiers’ home in Holyoke was built in 1952 with many triple and quadruple-bed rooms. The bill passed by the Senate will advance the construction of a modern facility with a “small house” concept to meet the needs of future generations of veterans.  … Read more.

BOSTON (03/26/2021) – Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature on March 15th to pass nation-leading climate legislation, known as the Next Generation Climate Roadmap bill, which overhauls the state’s climate laws, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, advances the clean energy industry, and prioritizes and protects environmental justice communities.

“I have been incredibly supportive of this legislation each and every time it has come before the Senate,” said Senator Friedman. “We have been patient, but we cannot be patient any longer. Signing this bill into law puts Massachusetts on a path towards a clean, green, and sustainable future for generations to come. I thank Senate President Spilka and Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues for their leadership, and my counterpart from Lexington, Senator Barrett, for the expertise and unrelenting work he put into this legislation.”

The passage of the climate bill comes after a joint commitment from the House and Senate to quickly refile the legislation following a gubernatorial veto last session. This session, Governor Baker offered amendments to the bill, which have been considered by the Legislature. The Legislature rejected efforts to slow the rate of progress toward net-zero emissions by 2050, while accepting a number of more technical amendments that improve the bill.

The bill returned to the Governor’s desk and was signed into law on March 26, 2021.

The new law:

• Sets a statewide net-zero limit on greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and mandates emissions limits every five years, as well as sublimits for transportation, buildings, and other sectors of the economy.

… Read more.

Comprehensive legislation also includes updates to Unemployment Insurance and Paycheck Protection Program loans, extends tax filing deadline

BOSTON (03/25/21) – Weeks after Senate and House leadership promised swift action on COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave, Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass a comprehensive bill that would guarantee five paid days off for every employee in the Commonwealth. The bill also seeks to stabilize the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) trust fund, provides substantial tax relief to businesses and workers, and delays the state tax filing deadline.

“We are still battling the pandemic, and I am so thankful for the Senate’s swift action, under the leadership of Senate President Spilka, to provide much-needed relief to our businesses and working families,” said Senator Friedman, Vice Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. “Not only will this bill strengthen our economy and keep our workforce safe, but it provides long-overdue emergency paid sick leave benefits for all workers.”

To help protect employees on the front lines, and prevent the further spread of COVID-19, this bill ensures that all workers in Massachusetts have access to paid leave if they are unable to work as a result of a COVID-19 infection or a quarantine order. Significantly—given the state’s push to increase vaccination rates—employees will be able to use this paid leave time to take time off to receive the vaccine. In addition, the legislation provides for leave if the worker needs time to care for a family member who has contracted COVID.… Read more.

Previous vote-by-mail provisions implemented during COVID-19 are set to end March 31, 2021

BOSTON (03/16/2021) – On Thursday, March 11, Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass legislation to extend mail-in voting and early voting options for elections held through the end of June 2021. The vote-by-mail provision was previously set to expire at the end of March 2021.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is not over; we must continue to ensure that Massachusetts voters can safely cast their ballot in our upcoming elections without risking exposure to the virus,” said Senator Friedman. “Utilizing vote-by-mail until June 2021 will protect the democratic process and promote voter participation—a valuable voting tool that should become permanent in Massachusetts. I applaud my Senate colleagues and our municipal election officials for their leadership and work to safeguard our elections.”

The bill allows municipalities to provide residents with the option to vote early in-person in these elections. Additionally, the legislation requires local election officials to make reasonable efforts to grant accommodations for voters with disabilities who might have difficulty accessing a paper mail-in ballot and request an accommodation. Furthermore, cities and towns can postpone municipal elections and caucuses scheduled before June 30, 2021 until August 1, 2021.

The bill was sent to the Governor for consideration and signed into law on March 16, 2021.

###