Friday, May 2nd Legislative & Public Health Updates
- hannanur3
- May 5
- 12 min read
Dear friends,
I am writing to you today with legislative, Cambridge, and public health updates.
Table of Contents
Legislative Updates
Cambridge Updates
Public Health Updates
A Glimpse at the Past Week
Recent Press
Services and Resources
Legislative Updates
House Approves FY26 State Budget
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to approve a Fiscal Year 2026 state budget that includes significant funding for education, transportation, health care, housing, and workforce development. The budget now goes to the Senate for consideration.
I am happy to share that the following amendments I filed were adopted by the House:
$200,000 to support Cradles to Crayons’ clothing insecurity relief and essentials distribution service
$200,000 for the continued implementation of a School-Based Behavioral Health Technical Assistance Center
$100,000 for Science Club for Girls’ STEM education programming for girls and gender-expansive youth from underrepresented communities
$100,000 for the Cambridge Community Center’s community-based behavioral health program and capital improvements
$600,000 for the Massachusetts Alliance of YWCAs
$100,000 for the School Markets Program, operated by Food For Free, which is designed to address food insecurity in students and families
Language establishing the Affirming Health Care Trust Fund, which offers a national model on providing gender-affirming care, as well as an allocation of $1 million to the fund. This trust fund will be the first in the nation to exclusively fund access to gender-affirming health care, which is a powerful and necessary response at a time when the federal government continues to threaten the rights and access to care of the LGBTQ+ community.
Language ensuring that the Department of Mental Health maintains FY25 caseworker staffing levels
Language annualizing the 10% increases to EAEDC and TAFDC from April 2025 grant levels
Restoration of $9.8 million for intensive residential behavioral health treatment programs for children and adolescents
The FY26 House budget also includes:
$1.95 billion in Fair Share funding for transportation and education initiatives
Chapter 70 education funding at $7.121 billion, a $257.2 million increase over the FY25 budget
A record investment of $687 million for the MBTA
Universal free school meals for every public school student in the Commonwealth
Investments in emergency shelter and housing stability:
$275 million for the Emergency Assistance program, which provides shelter to families with children and pregnant women
$258.1 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program
$207.5 million for Rental Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program
$57.3 million for HomeBase
$505.4 million for Energy and Environmental Affairs, including a $25 million transfer to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and $20 million in continued support for Green SchoolWorks program to decarbonize and increase efficiency in our schools through green energy projects
For those who are interested in public health at a time when the federal government has tried to undermine and dismantle it, here is a video of my speech on the House floor about how our FY26 public health budget safeguards access to reproductive and gender-affirming health care and invests in the well-being of residents across the Commonwealth.
Legislative Hearing on An Act to Increase Access to Nurse-Midwifery Services
This week, the Joint Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing on H.1127, An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services, a bill that I filed with Representative Brandy Fluker-Reid to cover services provided by certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) at the same reimbursement rate as physicians for equivalent services. Equitable reimbursement makes it more cost-effective for providers to expand CNM services and better address maternal morbidity and mortality. The comprehensive maternal legislation I authored last session that was signed into law, An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options, included equitable reimbursement for CNMs under MassHealth. It is essential that we build upon this progress and expand the parity to cover private insurance companies.
Cambridge Updates
Street Closures on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4
Due to scheduled community events including the VIVA CENTRAL Block Party, the CEOC 60th Anniversary Celebration, and the 40th Annual Harvard Square MayFair, significant traffic impacts are expected in Central Square and Harvard Square throughout the weekend. Click here for details about street closures and see below for information about the events.
CEOC 60th Anniversary Block Party This Saturday
On Saturday, May 3, the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (CEOC) will host its 60th Anniversary Stronger Together Block Party at 11 Inman Street from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. This family-friendly event will include activities, live performances, food, refreshments, music, and community awards. I’m honored that I will be presented with CEOC’s Together We Rise award in recognition of my contributions to Cambridge and my support of their anti-poverty work.
I hope that you will be able to join me in celebrating the incredible work that CEOC has and continues to do for our community, significantly impacting the lives of many families in our city.
VIVA CENTRAL Block Party This Saturday
The Central Square Business Improvement District and Naco Taco are hosting the VIVA CENTRAL Block Party this Saturday, May 3, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.. This outdoor experience is a high-energy celebration of culture, community, and connection right in the heart of Central Square, and will feature local food favorites (including Naco Taco, live music + DJs, along with art, activities & surprises for all ages. The party takes place at 19 State Street.
Harvard Square Mayfair This Sunday
The 40th annual Harvard Square Mayfair is this Sunday, May 4 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Experience food inspired by cultures from all over the world, unique one-of-a-kind gifts and crafts, al fresco beer gardens, music, entertainment and dance. The party takes place on six streets in the heart of Harvard Square - including JFK Street, Brattle Street, Mass. Ave., Church Street and Eliot Triangle.
Public Health Updates
UMass Chan Study Shows MassHealth Nutrition Program Reduces Health Care Costs and Hospital Visits
A recent study by UMass Chan Medical School reveals that MassHealth’s nutrition services program significantly improves health outcomes and reduces healthcare costs for its members. MassHealth introduced the program in 2020 through Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), health systems, or groups of providers that accept responsibility for the quality and expense of care for a particular MassHealth member population. ACOs collaborate with community-based organizations to administer these services. The program offers services like medically tailored meals, food boxes, and produce prescriptions. As of January, ACOs must offer at least one housing service and one nutrition service for eligible members and contract with housing and nutrition organizations to deliver these services as providers of health-related social needs. The study found that program participants experienced a 23% decrease in hospitalizations and a 13% reduction in emergency department visits compared to non-participants.
Trump Administration Cancels $900K Grant for Asthma in Western Mass.
Last Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) canceled most of a nearly $1 million federal grant to address asthma in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The grant is one of almost 800 environmental justice grants the EPA is targeting throughout the country, totaling over $1.5 billion in canceled grants nationwide. The grants primarily support projects mitigating climate change impacts in vulnerable communities. The Hampden County region, which includes Springfield, was named the "asthma capital of the U.S." in 2018 and has struggled with poor air quality and high asthma rates. The grant, administered through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, funded in-home environmental remediation efforts targeting asthma triggers like mold and pests, particularly in older housing stock prevalent in cities such as Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee. The grant also supported community engagement and capacity-building initiatives.
HHS Proposes Change to Vaccine Approval Protocol, Alarming Medical Experts and Undermining Public’s Trust in Immunizations
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Health and Human Services Administration (HHS), announced troubling changes to the agency’s vaccine approval protocol, stating that all new vaccines would have to be tested against placebos in controlled trials. Notably, the rigorous approval requirements for new vaccines already include controlled-placebo trial testing. Furthermore, vaccines included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) childhood vaccination schedule, such as Hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, polio, and mumps immunizations, were all thoroughly tested against placebos when they were first introduced. Placebo testing involves a subset of trial participants being injected with an inert substance, like a saline shot, while the remaining participants receive the vaccine being tested. This method allows scientists to compare the effects of new medicines against a control group to determine if the new medication is safe and effective. HHS did not clarify how this alleged change would be implemented, how it would define “new vaccine,” or which vaccines it would apply to. This announcement comes amid significant declines in the public’s trust in health information and vaccinations and a growing measles outbreak. These changes are not backed by science and pose significant risks to public health.
BMC Announces New Names for Former Steward Hospitals as Bankruptcy Proceedings Continue
On Thursday, Boston Medical Center announced the new names of the two hospitals it acquired in Steward Health Care’s bankruptcy. Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton will now be called Boston Medical Center-South, while St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton is now known as Boston Medical Center-Brighton. Digital and physical materials for the two hospitals will be updated in the coming weeks with the new names and logos. Offsite practices at both hospitals will also transition to BMC Health names. When BMC took over the operations of the two hospitals from Steward on October 1, its capacity doubled from 511 beds to 1,026 beds. Meanwhile, Steward’s bankruptcy proceedings are ongoing. Earlier this month, the federal bankruptcy court in Texas overseeing the proceedings ordered former employee retirement programs dissolved. The order specifically calls for almost $60 million from the savings plans to be transferred to Steward to use as debt payments to creditors; over 100,000 creditors are listed in court documents.
Florida Moves to Ban Fluoride from Public Water Systems
This week, Florida took a significant step towards becoming the second state to ban the addition of fluoride to public drinking water supplies. Last month, Utah became the first state to issue a fluoride ban. The Florida state legislature sent a bill to Governor Ron DeSantis’s desk that would require minerals and other water additives, like fluoride, to be removed from the water supply across the state. Fluoride is a mineral naturally present in small quantities in food and water. In the 1930s, researchers discovered that fluoride in water helps prevent tooth decay and cavities by strengthening tooth enamel. About one-third of water systems, serving over half of the U.S., engage in community water fluoridation. In this process, fluoride is added to water supplies to ensure they are at the scientifically supported levels to promote oral health. Widespread community water fluoridation is regarded as one of the top ten greatest public health achievements of the last century. It is a relatively inexpensive public health intervention that benefits people regardless of socioeconomic status.
New MGB Study Finds that Psychedelic Treatment Can Reduce Stress-Induced Fear
Researchers at Mass General Brigham (MGB) have discovered new connections between fear and the immune system. They suggest that psychedelic treatments may target interactions between the nervous and immune systems, potentially reversing immune changes and inflammation linked to psychiatric conditions like anxiety and depression. Previous studies have indicated that immune signaling due to chronic stress, fear, and inflammation can contribute to the development of neuropsychiatric conditions, such as major depressive disorder (MDD). In a new study published in Nature, MGB researchers conducted experiments to explore how the immune system plays a role in psychedelic therapy and how psychedelics can alleviate stress-induced fear. They found that the immune cells, like monocytes, influence communication in the brain in response to fear behaviors triggered by stress, accumulating in the brain during periods of chronic stress.
A Glimpse at the Past Week
I was proud to stand with my colleagues on Denim Day on Wednesday. This annual solemn commemoration renews our commitment to calling out sexual violence in all its forms, including trafficking, and reaffirms our support for survivors.
Taking place during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Denim Day began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a conviction was overturned because the judges felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the person who assaulted her remove the jeans, implying consent. The next day, the women of the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the survivor.
If you have experienced sexual violence, the free, confidential National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-4673) can connect you to trained support staff, local medical facilities, and long-term recovery resources.
It was great to meet Jrue and Lauren Holiday while they visited the State House during our budget debate. I am always inspired and grateful when anyone who has a platform uses it to encourage others and inform people’s advocacy, as the Holidays do through the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund (JLH Fund). Thank you both for the incredible work you have done and continue to do, and for your dedication to uplifting communities and Black-led nonprofits.
On Thursday, I spoke at a briefing on my Protect LABOR Act legislation, which would ensure that Massachusetts workers have strong labor protections even if those rights are no longer protected federally. The Trump Administration is coming after organized labor. Strong unions mean a strong democracy. For an Administration intent on dismantling our democratic principles, unions are a natural first step.
This bill is an affirmation of our values, and it models to Trump and America what it means to care about workers. Every day, their value matters and their labor matters. Organized labor is the best anti-poverty measure — people want to work, and when they are paid prevailing wages and have the opportunity to thrive, we all are the better for it. I am grateful for the leadership of AFL-CIO President Chrissy Lynch, the support of former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su — who was an incredible champion during her time in the Biden Administration — and the partnership of Sen. Paul Feeney, who filed the bill in the Senate, also spoke.
I attended the Health Care for All (HCFA)’s 40th Annual For the People gala on Thursday night. It was great to see many friends and colleagues, many of whom are driving forces seeking to improve access and affordability in health care. Pictured above, you’ll see John Lawn, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing; Steve Walsh, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association (MHA); Danna Mauch, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH); and Dr. Assaad Sayah, CEO of the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), along with the members of the CHA team.
I attended Roca’s annual breakfast this morning and, as always, it was great to be in community with such dedicated activists, social workers, and leaders in violence prevention. I am proud to work with Roca on many issues, including having Sunindiya Bhalla, Executive Vice President of Women and 2Gen, serving on the Poverty Commission and Scott Scharffenberg, Executive Vice President of New England, serving on the Special Commission on Violence Prevention Services Funding that will be launching in the next few weeks.
In 2024 alone, Roca worked with over 1,300 young people in Massachusetts through its data-driven Intervention Model, which utilizes cognitive behavioral theory (Rewire CBT) to teach young people life-saving emotional skills. These innovative programs are tremendously successful, resulting in reduced incarceration, sustained employment, better parenting, and improved behavioral health. I am furious that, as reported by GBH and other outlets, Roca recently lost $6 million in U.S. Justice Department Funding. I will continue to support Roca’s incredible work in addressing trauma, reducing violence, and strengthening communities.
Recent Press
Alison Kuznitz, State House News Service
State mental health case managers at risk of being laid off were given a potential lifeline Tuesday, as the House voted to maintain staffing levels.
Gov. Maura Healey’s budget proposal in January called for slashing the DMH case manager workforce in half, from 340 to 170 individuals. The House Ways and Means Committee opted against preserving the workforce, with Chair Aaron Michlewitz citing ongoing labor issues.
The threatened layoffs have prompted an outcry over mental health care access. But in a mega-amendment Tuesday, House Democrats supported a Rep. Marjorie Decker amendment (#1550) stating that “department case manager staffing levels shall not be reduced below fiscal year 2025 case manager staffing levels.”
“We have appropriated $10.3 million more than House 1 to support the Department of Public Health’s hospital operations, which includes important funding to keep Pappas Rehabilitation open for children and invest funding in our hospitals — and not use them as political pawns,” Decker, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health, said.
PR Newswire
“Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI) and Counties for a Guaranteed Income (CGI) announced the expansion of its network of elected officials advocating for unconditional cash aid policies. Legislators for a Guaranteed Income (LGI) is starting with 23 founding members in 17 states. They join a network of over 230 Mayors and county officials championing unconditional cash policies. So far, MGI and CGI have launched a total of 72 guaranteed income pilots, which have distributed about $335 million in direct economic relief.”
Services and Resources
Cambridge Public Health Helpline Supports Residents with COVID-19
To speak with someone, call the confidential COVID-19 Hotline at 617-933-0797. Learn more here.
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 with a 24/7 for caregivers and patients. More information is available at alz.org, or by calling 800-272-3900.
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. You can learn more about their services at denovo.org.
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
