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Lowell Delegation Announces Enactment of Special Election Home Rule Petition
City-crafted bill would allow for special elections in the case of midterm vacancies in the Lowell City Council and School Committee (BOSTON—7/24/2024) The four members of the Lowell State House delegation are pleased to announce that S2878, An Act relative to vacancies on the city of Lowell city council and school committee was enacted in…
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Massachusetts Legislature Passes the FutureTech Act
Legislation authorizes $1.26B in bonds, allocates $400M in federal funds (BOSTON—7/26/2024) Today the Massachusetts Legislature enacted the FutureTech Act, taking action on a $1.26 billion bond authorization to modernize the Commonwealth’s digital infrastructure and create safer and more accessible experiences for residents and employees alike. Funding and projects included in H.4889, An Act to provide…
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Lowell Delegation on Courthouse Home Rule Petition
(BOSTON — 07/31/2024) Today, the Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives enacted the City of Lowell’s Home Rule Petition allowing the city to take ownership of two properties previously used as courthouses. Since the opening of the Cornelius F. Kiernan Judicial Center in May 2020, the former courthouse buildings on Hurd Street and Gorham…
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$152,415 in Federal Funds Awarded to Local Nonprofits for Increased Security Measures
Awards allocated through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support security for nonprofits that are at high risk of a terror attack or hate crime. (BOSTON—08/05/2024) The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s (EOPSS’s) Office of Grants and Research (OGR) is awarding $4.75 million in federal funds to nonprofit organizations (NPOs) throughout the…
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Firearm Safety Reform Bill Creates Charge for Shooting at Dwelling
(BOSTON – 7/19/2024) Yesterday the Massachusetts Legislature passed a firearm safety reform bill thatrepresents an ongoing effort by the legislature to tighten the scope of acceptable gun use and to limit gun violence overall. A bill introduced by Senator Edward J. Kennedy and integrated into the passed legislation as Section 12G of S.2584 is the…
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Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Nearly $7 Million in Cybersecurity Grants, close to 300k to first Middlesex Senate District
Lowell, Tyngsborough, and Dracut to be awarded funds to improve cybersecurity measures (BOSTON—07/18/2024) The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s (EOPSS’s) Office of Grants and Research (OGR) is awarding nearly $7 million in federal funds to communities throughout the Commonwealth and state agencies under the Municipal Local Cybersecurity Grant Program and State Share Cybersecurity…
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Senate Unanimously Passes $2.86 Billion Bond Legislation for Life Sciences, Climate Tech, A.I., and Small Businesses
(BOSTON—7/12/1014) On July 11, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a $2.89 billion comprehensive economic development bill, including bond authorizations for up to $10 million for projects directly benefiting communities within the First Middlesex Senate District. The economic bond bill will allow Massachusetts to continue to be a national leader in life sciences, climate tech, AI,…
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Healey-Driscoll Administration Extends MASSGrant Priority Deadline to July 1
(BOSTON—06/25/2024) The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced that the Department of Higher Education (DHE) has extended the deadline for students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the priority deadline for MASSGrant, the state’s largest financial aid program. Students who qualify for MASSGrant and apply by July 1, 2024, are guaranteed to…
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New Staff Addition: Sydney Steinberg as Communications director for State Senator Edward J. Kennedy
I am excited to announce the newest addition to my staff, Sydney Steinberg, who will serve as my Communications Director. Sydney graduated with honors from Northeastern University in May with a bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism. She is originally from California but has grown an affinity for Boston and has (very) slowly begun…
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Act to Reduce Plastics
Massachusetts Senate Acts to Ban Plastic Bags, Reduce Straw and Plasticware Usage, Boost Recycling and Composting Measures would reduce plastic waste, a major threat to the environment, climate goals, and public health (BOSTON—6/21/2024) Yesterday the Massachusetts Senate passed legislation that builds on the state’s climate and environmental leadership by banning single-use plastic bags, making straws…
