Friday, August 1st Legislative & Public Health Updates
- hannanur3
- Aug 7
- 12 min read
Dear friends,
I am writing to you today with legislative, public health, and Cambridge updates. If you want even more updates, please follow me on Instagram @repdecker.
As you may know, the Trump administration has cut $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) — a move that cuts all federal support for NPR, PBS, and their member stations. Federal funding has historically ensured that our local public radio and TV stations can provide essential news, programming, and community-based services. If you are able, I encourage you to support WBUR and WGBH with a one-time or monthly donation.
We will be working steadily through August, but we will be taking a break from the weekly newsletter until September. Wishing you a safe and peaceful rest of your summer.
Table of Contents
Legislative Updates
Public Health Updates
A Glimpse at the Past Week
Cambridge Updates
Services and Resources
Legislative Updates
House Passes Teacher Pension, Human Trafficking Bills
On Wednesday, my colleagues in the House and I voted unanimously to pass two bills. They now head to the Senate for their consideration.
An Act relative to benefits for teachers (H.4361) updates retirement benefits for education professionals. Massachusetts implemented the RetirementPlus program in 2001. This program provides teachers with better retirement calculations if they increase their pension contributions to 11% of their salary and complete 30 years of creditable service, with at least 20 years of membership with the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System (MTRS) or the Boston Retirement System as a teacher. Newly hired teachers are automatically enrolled in RetirementPlus. Teachers hired before July 1, 2001, had the option to elect to join RetirementPlus. However, this enrollment process was confusing, with some teachers never receiving an enrollment form while others were wrongly informed that their enrollment was completed. This bill makes a significant change by creating an opportunity for members of MTRS or the Boston Retirement System to join RetirementPlus if they did not in 2001.
An Act requiring human trafficking recognition training for certain hospitality workers (H.4360) requires lodging facilities, such as hotels, motels, lodging houses, and bed-and-breakfasts, to require their employees to participate in a human trafficking recognition training program. The bill also requires these facilities to post in plain view in the lobby or common area, and in any public restroom, a written notice developed by the Attorney General, which should include the national human trafficking hotline number.
Legislature Passes Supplemental Budget
On Thursday, I voted with my colleagues to pass a $259 million supplemental budget that provides midyear funding for ongoing state priorities and includes provisions to protect students, strengthen the public defense system, and fund vital services. The Senate passed this bill on Thursday as well, and I look forward to the Governor signing it soon. Among the provisions of the bill are:
$60 million for home care services for older adults
$7.5 million for the Healthy Incentive Program
$43 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition
$15.5 million for the transition to chipped EBT cards. Currently, EBT cards are swipe-only, leaving them vulnerable to card reader theft and fraud
Language that codifies into law the rights of English Language Learners and students with disabilities, ensuring these students receive both English language development and Special Education services in a coordinated, culturally and linguistically appropriate manner, regardless of school district or demographic. It also prohibits discrimination in public schools based on immigration or citizenship status, or disability.
$500,000 to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services for the provision of case management and care navigation support to assist healthcare workers in providing and identifying providers for gender-affirming care until 2026
The supplemental budget also contains an agreement on private bar advocates that provides for sustainable rate increases — $20 an hour over two years — while being mindful of continuing fiscal and federal uncertainty. In addition, it shifts a greater share of the work burden from the private bar to state public defenders by providing $40 million to hire 300 new public defenders to the Committee on Public Counsel Services (CPCS).
Legislature Passes Chapter 90 Funding
On Thursday, the House and the Senate both voted to pass a $1.2 billion bond bill for the Chapter 90 Program, a funding source that municipalities can use for transportation-related improvements, including road and bridge repairs. The bill includes a one-year authorization of $300 million for the Chapter 90 Program, a 50% increase over past funding levels, and funds for transportation programs that will address regional needs and the impacts of climate change on local infrastructure.
Legislature Passes Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Care Shield Law
On Thursday, the House and the Senate both voted to pass An Act strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth, which preserves and protects access for individuals seeking gender affirming and reproductive health care, and also offers protections for providers offering that care. Building on the first shield law that passed in 2022, this legislation prohibits state agencies, employees, and law enforcement from cooperating with other states or federal investigations into reproductive or gender-affirming health care that is legally protected in Massachusetts. It also includes the following provisions:
Restricts businesses that manage electronic health records from sharing patient data connected to these services
Exempts the personally identifying information of patients and providers regarding reproductive and gender-affirming health care from the public records law
Requires hospitals to provide stabilizing health care services to patients presenting with emergency medical conditions
Protects attorneys licensed in Massachusetts from removal or discipline for advising or representing clients on the topics of reproductive or transgender health care services
Prohibits courts from using the laws of other states prohibiting gender-affirming care as grounds to alter custody or visitation rights for children in Massachusetts
Mandates acute care hospitals provide stabilizing health services—including abortion care when necessary—to any patient who is injured or seeking emergency treatment, in response to the Trump Administration’s rollback of Biden-era guidance on the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) that required hospitals to deliver abortion care in cases of emergency
Hearing on Legislation That I Filed
I am grateful to the Chairs of the Judiciary Committees for holding a legislative hearing this week on An Act protecting employee free speech (H.1653). This bill aims to protect employees from being required to attend meetings or listen to communications from their employers about political or religious matters—commonly known as "captive audience meetings."
Public Health Updates
Attorney General Campbell Files Lawsuit to Protect Access to Gender-Affirming Healthcare for Youth
Today, Attorney General Andrea Campbell co-led a multi-state lawsuit challenging federal efforts to use civil and criminal enforcement mechanisms to limit access to medically necessary health care for transgender, nonbinary, and intersex youth. Fifteen other attorneys general and the Governor of Pennsylvania are also a part of this lawsuit. Attorney General Campbell and her coalition members argue that the Trump administration is overstepping its authority by using threats of prosecution and federal investigation, subpoenas, and requests for private patient information to dissuade health care providers from offering gender-affirming health services to adolescents. The attorneys general involved in this most recent lawsuit state that the federal government’s attack on gender-affirming health care has already resulted in health care providers reducing or eliminating this care for patients. A prime example of this is the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles’ clinic for trans youth, one of the oldest and largest clinics providing affirming health care, recently closing, citing pressures from the Trump Administration. The goal of this lawsuit is to protect access to gender-affirming health care for adolescents through a court order blocking the Trump administration’s actions and stopping the enforcement of any executive orders restricting access to care.
Federal Judge Amends Order, Ensuring All Planned Parenthood Affiliates Continue to Receive Medicaid Funding
Last week, Planned Parenthood won a partial victory against the Trump administration in the legal battle over the administration’s efforts to defund the sexual and reproductive health care organization when U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from cutting Medicaid payments to a small number of Planned Parenthood affiliates. Specifically, only about 10 affiliates were protected by the order. However, on Monday, Judge Talwani expanded her previous ruling to require that all Planned Parenthood clinics continue receiving Medicaid reimbursements. The new order protects all Planned Parenthood affiliates from Medicaid funding cuts. In total, Planned Parenthood has 47 affiliates across the U.S. The injunction will remain in force until the outcome of the case is decided, protecting the critical services Planned Parenthood provides to communities. At this time, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts will continue to provide health care to all patients, including those with Medicaid-managed plans, like MassHealth.
Patient Privacy Concerns Arise as Trump Administration Announces New Health Care Records System
On Wednesday, the Trump administration announced the development of a health care records system intended to allow Americans to share their personal health information more easily and broadly with health care providers. The initiative will be administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It will include collaboration with over 60 health and information technology companies, including Google, Amazon, Apple, and OpenAI. According to CMS, the goal is to allow patients to upload their personal health data into the app of their choice, where it can then be easily and centrally managed and shared with their doctor. The project will focus on assisting patients living with diabetes and obesity and will use conversational AI assistants to help patients navigate care options and monitor symptoms. However, the announcement has raised concerns over the privacy and protection of personal health records through this system. While the administration has assured Americans that the new system will be completely voluntary, the announcement did not offer any details on how patients would be able to securely and privately access their medical history.
U.S. to Destroy $9.7 Million in Contraceptives Amid Foreign Aid Cuts
This week, the U.S. State Department has confirmed plans to destroy $9.7 million worth of taxpayer-funded contraceptives intended for women in low-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The stockpile, which includes birth control options, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), birth control implants, and pills, has been sitting in a Belgian warehouse since earlier this year due to the Trump administration's cuts to foreign aid and the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). U.S. officials have decided to proceed with the destruction of this stockpile, despite many of these products not expiring until 2027 or 2031. International humanitarian organizations, including MSI Reproductive Choices and the United Nations' sexual and reproductive health agency, have offered to purchase and distribute the products to countries in need. However, officials cited the Mexico City Policy, which restricts funding for organizations that provide abortion-related services, as the reason for rejecting these purchase requests. The U.S. will now spend $167,000 to incinerate these contraceptives at a French medical waste disposal facility by the end of this month.
NIH Funding Suddenly Paused, then Released, by OMB
On Tuesday, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent out an internal memo to officials at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) directing them to immediately stop issuing research grants, research and development contracts, and training awards for an undetermined period. This sudden funding freeze affected billions of dollars in research grants that were scheduled to be distributed for new and ongoing projects at universities, academic medical centers, and other research institutions. After news of the NIH funding pause became public, the OMB reversed its decision. A spokesperson stated that the funds were "undergoing a programmatic review," but would be released to grantees. However, despite this announcement, NIH leadership informed staff that they could only allocate funds towards specific purposes, such as salaries and clinical expenses, rather than dispersing authorized grant funding for all purposes as is typically done. By Wednesday morning, the NIH's regular grant disbursement processes were mostly resumed, although there was a brief pause on the approval of credit card purchases for research and development, which has since been lifted.
A Glimpse at the Past Week
On Monday, I joined Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, Councillor Ayesha Wilson, and members of the DOT and Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) teams for a tour of the vacant Red Line tunnels underneath Harvard Square. As you may have read recently, the Cambridge City Council approved funding to put out a request for proposals for an entertainment space in the tunnels, which have been decommissioned since the late 1980s.
I met with Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and the new Spaulding CEO, Greg Jackson, on Tuesday morning as a follow-up to the roundtable I attended at Spaulding earlier this summer. During the conversation, we discussed their legislative agenda, including their concerns around prior authorization as a barrier to admission to and discharge from post-acute care. Specifically, we talked about the administrative challenges patients face when waiting to be referred to another facility or when in transition to other points of care. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Spaulding to ensure that individuals across the Commonwealth have the resources they need to thrive and lead fulfilling lives.
I was honored to speak on Wednesday at a briefing on harm reduction hosted by my friend and colleague Senator Julian Cyr in partnership with the Massachusetts for Overdose Prevention Coalition (MA4OPC). Sen. Cyr, Chair John Lawn, and I have filed An Act preventing overdose deaths and increasing access to treatment (H.2196/S.1393) in order to establish a harm reduction program framework to include overdose prevention centers with authorization from the Department of Public Health (DPH).
We know that evidence-based solutions like overdose prevention centers save lives. The Massachusetts Legislature has made a strong commitment to standing up and providing evidence-based tools, resources, and policies to address substance use disorder, and we will continue to do so in the face of a federal administration that has decided to punish providers working to save lives and individuals seeking help. I am grateful to the Massachusetts Public Health Alliance, the ACLU of Massachusetts, Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts Medical Society, and other members of MA4OPC, as well as to partners in the Legislature and at DPH, for working together to champion evidence-based public health efforts.
It was a pleasure to stop by the LGBTQ+ Youth Day on the Hill on Wednesday. I shared with them that, while I know there is a federal administration constantly seeking to erase their identities and limit their rights, I and my colleagues in the House will continue to stand with them to protect access to gender-affirming care and other civil liberties that allow them to thrive as their full selves. I am so inspired by these amazing young people who came to the State House to speak their truths, support and celebrate each other, and call on their elected officials to defend their rights.
This week, my staff and I met with several groups of healthcare providers to discuss bills before the Joint Committee on Public Health: An Act relative to anesthesiologist assistants (H.2484), An Act relative to health care transparency (H.2513), and An Act establishing a physical therapy licensure compact (H.2490). On July 14, I heard testimony on these three bills; this meeting served as an opportunity to gain further insights into the impacts these bills will have on anesthesiology, physical therapy, and the broader healthcare system. As my staff and I continue to review over 400 bills in my Committee, these stakeholder perspectives will help inform us about the ongoing issues within their field and help us gain a deeper understanding of the policy implications of each bill.
On Thursday, my interns shared the experiences that they have had while interning in my office this summer. It was great to hear about what they have learned about the Legislature and the legislative process. In addition to their projects and attending the Intern Speaker Series, they assisted my staff with carrying out constituent, legislative, and Public Health Committee responsibilities.
Cambridge Updates
Traffic Advisory: Memorial Drive and Sparks Street Closures
Due to structural concerns at 221 Mount Auburn Street (Riverview Condominium Building), the City of Cambridge and DCR closed segments of Mount Auburn Street and Sparks Street as of Saturday, July 19. Multiple detours and traffic changes will be in place to maintain the closure, which may last through the end of 2025. The streets and sidewalks immediately surrounding 221 Mt. Auburn Street, at the corner of Mt. Auburn Street and Sparks Street, are closed to all traffic, including vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. Access is being maintained for direct abutters.
Services and Resources
Reproductive Care, Gender-Affirming Care, and Crisis Resources
These are a few of the resources and help lines available for people seeking reproductive or gender-affirming health care or experiencing a crisis. Help is available and you are not alone.
LUCE Defense Hotline
If you see or suspect ICE or federal agents are in your neighborhood, contact the LUCE Immigrant Defense Network’s Hotline, which operates in several languages, at 617-370-5023 from 9am-5pm. A trained operator will ask for details, then dispatch a volunteer to the site, who will attempt to verify the situation and the presence of ICE. You can learn more about LUCE and their upcoming volunteer trainings at lucemass.org.
De Novo Center for Justice and Healing
De Novo is a Cambridge-based nonprofit that provides free civil legal assistance and affordable psychological counseling to people with low incomes. Importantly, De Novo also offers high-quality, free legal assistance to low-income immigrants and asylum seekers who are living in Massachusetts. You can learn more about their immigration related services here, and their general mission and work at denovo.org.
MBTA Income-Eligible Reduced Fare Program
The MBTA’s income-eligible reduced fare program offers reduced fares to riders between the ages of 18 and 64 enrolled in an approved state assistance program, including:
Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled & Children (EAEDC)
Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC)
MASSGrant
MassHealth
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
You can learn more about the program and how to apply at mbta.com/fares/reduced/income-eligible.
Intimate Partner Abuse Prevention Helpline
This initiative is designed to prevent intimate partner violence by fostering accountability and change in people who harm or may harm their partner. You can find more information at 10to10helpline.org or by calling 877-898-3411.
SafeSpot Overdose Prevention Helpline
SafeSpot is a virtual spotting/overdose detection service for people who use drugs. Learn more at safe-spot.me or access it by calling 800-972-0590.
Alzheimer's Association Helpline
The Alzheimer’s Association is a nonprofit that provides support, research, and care for Alzheimer’s and dementia. It is available 24/7 for caregivers and patients. More information is available at alz.org, or by calling 800-272-3900.
MassLegalHelp.org is a resource to help Massachusetts residents learn about their legal rights. The website does not offer legal advice or answer individual questions but has a page about options for finding a lawyer. It does provide resources for those facing legal issues, such as a landlord refusing to make repairs, appealing the denial of SNAP benefits, and questions about getting a CORI sealed.
As always, please contact me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie
