Dear friends,
I am writing to you today with legislative, public health, and Cambridge updates.
Next Thursday’s newsletter will be the last regularly scheduled weekly newsletter before the end-of-session legislative wrap-up. We will take a brief hiatus, and the newsletter will be back in September.
Table of Contents
Legislative Updates
Public Health Updates
A Glimpse at the Past Week
Cambridge Updates
Recent Press
Services and Resources
Legislative Updates
Massachusetts Department of Transportation regulations
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is promulgating regulations on road safety based on legislation enacted in 2022, which includes language from a bill I filed, An Act requiring backup cameras on certain vehicles. While they are promulgating regulations that will enhance the safety of our streets by increasing the safety device requirements on vehicles leased or purchased by the Commonwealth, I submitted a letter in support, which you can read here.
House passes climate omnibus bill
On July 17, I voted with my colleagues to pass An Act accelerating a responsible, innovative, and equitable clean energy transition (H.4678). This comprehensive climate legislation reforms the permitting and siting processes in Massachusetts to meet its net-zero goals and creates better outcomes for communities, clean energy companies, and utilities. It is also the third climate bill passed by the Legislature in five years and builds upon An Act driving clean energy and offshore wind, which was signed into law in August 2022, and the 2050 Roadmap signed into law in March 2021. There are many major provisions of this legislation, including:
Streamlining the permitting process for small clean energy projects under 25 megawatts and small energy storage systems under 100 megawatt-hours by allowing project developers to submit a permit application seeking a single permit that consolidates all necessary local permits and approvals.
Establishing the Office of Environmental Justice and Equity and authorizing it to develop guidance for community benefit plans and agreements and a cumulative impact analysis framework to inform the work of the Energy Facilities Siting Board.
Calling for a new procurement of 9.45 million MWh of clean energy resources, including existing nuclear generation.
Advancing building decarbonization strategies, including by broadening the business portfolio of gas utility companies to become thermal energy companies as well, allowing them to provide heat to customers through utility-scale, non-emitting thermal energy.
Amendment #100, which I filed and was adopted. My amendment ensures that workforce diversity and labor protections are centered in climate policy moving forward. You can watch my speech on the House floor here at 59:20.
House passes gun safety conference committee bill
On July 18, the House voted to pass An Act modernizing firearm laws (H.4885), the Conference Committee bill that hashed out the differences between the gun safety omnibus passed by the House and the one passed by the Senate. I am very proud that four bills I filed were reflected in this critically important legislation:
An Act relative to ghost guns (H.2312)
This bill requires all guns to be registered with the state, obtain a unique serial number that is permanently affixed or engraved to the firearm, and, for non-metal firearms, permanently embed a metal plate to ensure they can be caught by metal detectors.
An Act relative to crime gun data reporting and analysis (H.2307)
This legislation enhances the Commonwealth’s collection on gun-related crimes and ownership by supplying firearm tracking and sales data to legislators, law enforcement, and researchers engaged in intervention and prevention work.
An Act relative to firearms in certain public buildings (H.2305)
Building upon legislation I filed prohibiting firearms at the State House and at polling locations, the Conference Committee bill expands the list of locations to include schools, places under the jurisdiction of state or county government, and those used for government administration or court proceedings.
The bill also reflects updates made to the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) — or “red flag” — laws, which I led on in 2018. Currently, a judge, after two days and a hearing, has the power to issue an order temporarily removing the firearms of someone believed to be a danger to themselves or others if requested to do so by a family member, housemate, or current or former romantic partner. With this legislation, who can file for an ERPO is expanded to school principals and health care providers, and firearms and firearm licenses are immediately suspended upon the demonstrated likelihood of immediate danger of harassment.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan recently shared her support for another gun safety bill I filed, An Act relative to the reckless discharge of firearms (H.2309). You can read about that here, which comes in the wake of several shootings in Middlesex County, including in Cambridge.
Public Health Updates
Measles Case Identified in Massachusetts
Today, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced the first confirmed case of measles in the state since 2020. The infected individual is an adult residing in Worcester County who had recently returned from an international trip. DPH has already notified and provided appropriate recommendations to people who may have been exposed to measles from this case. Most measles cases in the U.S. have been associated with travel, as there are significant measles outbreaks across Europe and other countries globally. Measles is an incredibly contagious air-borne virus most commonly seen in children, although it can infect anyone. Symptoms of the illness typically begin 10-14 days after exposure and include a prominent rash, cough, and fever. The best way to prevent contracting measles is vaccination against the disease. The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) is two doses usually administered during childhood. The MMR vaccine is safe and highly effective, with two doses being 97% effective at preventing measles infection.
Cases of COVID-19 Grow Across 45 States, CDC Data Shows
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nationwide wastewater surveillance data compiled to monitor the level of COVID-19 circulation show that cases of COVID-19 are rising in 45 states. Virus levels have reached "very high" or "high" levels in 26 states, including Maine, New Hampshire, and Connecticut in the New England area. The most recent data indicates Massachusetts has experienced a "moderate" rise in cases, but the levels are still below last winter's peak. COVID-19 wastewater concentration in the Boston area has tripled compared to late April. Although Boston hospitals have reported increased cases, hospitalizations and emergency room visits remain low. The dominant strains of COVID-19, which are responsible for the majority of cases, are part of a family of variants known as "FLiRT," named after the technical names for their mutations. The CDC recommends that everyone receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine, which is expected to be available in the fall.
Steward Health Care System Under Federal Investigation for Fraud and Corruption; Bid Deadline Approaches
Steward Health Care, which operates eight hospitals in Massachusetts and declared bankruptcy earlier this year, confirmed that it was under federal investigation by the Department of Justice. The investigation relates to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits American companies from committing fraud and corruption overseas. The confirmation came several days before the deadline for bids to purchase Steward hospitals operating in the Commonwealth. For more information about ongoing developments at Steward Hospitals, please visit the State's informational website here or call the Commonwealth's Steward Health Care Call Center at 617-468-2189 between 8am and 6pm Monday through Friday.
Xylazine Drives Recent Overdoses in Middlesex County
The Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office released a statement warning that several recent overdoses have been linked to Xylazine use, particularly in the greater Lowell area. Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” is an animal tranquilizer used by veterinarians and zookeepers. The Food and Drug Administration has never approved it for human use. In recent years, Xylazine has been increasingly used as an additive to illicit opioids, particularly fentanyl, because of its ability to extend the duration of effects one experiences when taking fentanyl. Because Xylazine is not an opioid, overdose reversal medications, like naloxone, are not effective against the drug. There is currently no medication to reverse an overdose caused by Xylazine, making taking drugs laced with the compound especially dangerous.
New naloxone installations established at five MBTA Red Line stations to prevent opioid overdose
In partnership with the White House on an initiative to prevent overdose death, the MBTA began a pilot program this week to provide containers of naloxone at five Red Line stations. Multiple doses of the opioid overdose reversal drug, commonly referred to as Narcan, are stored in alarm-free cabinets at the Quincy Center, Ashmont, Andrew, South Station, and Harvard stops, with administration instructions and emergency resources nearby. Increased availability of naloxone saves lives from opioid overdose in areas with high foot traffic. The pilot program at these five stations is funded by $95,000 from the 2024 fiscal budget. Harm reduction strategies like this are known to prevent overdose death where possible, enabling bystanders to handle naloxone and save lives. The program hopes to expand in the future after evaluating the pilot's success. If you or a loved one have an opioid use disorder, find resources here.
New Report Shows Parents Overestimate Teen Emotional Support
The National Center for Health Statistics recently published a report on teenage social and emotional support, highlighting a discrepancy between the amount of emotional support parents believe their teens have and their children's feelings. The study drew upon over 1,200 adolescents and their parents in the United States between 2021-2022. It found that only 58.5% of teenagers described themselves as always or usually receiving adequate social and emotional support, with rates as low as 42% and 44% for non-Hispanic black youth and LGBTQ youth, respectively. Respondents who reported inadequate support were also more likely to report mental health difficulties and poor health. However, 93% of parents stated that teenagers usually or always receive adequate support. This disparity appears amidst an ongoing youth mental health crisis. To learn more about Massachusetts mental health resources, please click here. Click here for youth-specific resources.
A Glimpse at the Past Week
I celebrated Bastille Day by judging the 2024 Cup of the Best Chocolate Eclair in Greater Boston alongside Chef Jason Bond of Bondir, Ashwin Acharya of Cambridge Savings Bank, and Alex Attia, General Manager of the Charles Hotel. Thank you to Bertil Jean-Chronberg of Bonde Fine Wine Shop for hosting and organizing this pastry competition, a hallmark of culinary culture in France, for us to enjoy in Cambridge. The music was delightful, the games invited everyone of all ages, and the vendors kept everyone happy. Congratulations to Noir on winning the Cup, and a special thank you to all the competitors — Petit Robert, La Saison, and Praline French Patisserie — for sharing their delicious eclairs with us. (Let’s keep it real: they were all winners and the scores were within the margin of error.)
In collaboration with the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), the Joint Committee on Public Health held a briefing to address the multi-agency response to combat Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) in the Commonwealth. State public health and agriculture experts presented and spoke about Massachusetts’ response plan to the outbreak, highlighting laboratory testing, surveillance, mitigation tactics, public awareness campaigns, and prevention tools.
In 2019 and 2020, there were a combined seven deaths due to EEE. While vigilance and prevention have played an important role, there have been no deaths since then, and it is important to stay aware of mosquito-borne diseases. As of now, DPH has not identified any human or animal cases of EEE or WNV. As House Chair of the Public Health Committee, I am proud of the important prevention work our DPH and MDAR have been doing to educate the Legislature and the public alike about mosquito-borne diseases, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to inform residents about the virus.
Cambridge Updates
Red Line Closure
Red Line service continues to be suspended between Alewife and Kendall/MIT from July 13-28. On weekends and evenings starting at 8:30pm until the end of service, the closure will extend to Park Street. Free shuttle buses will replace service at all stations and Bus Route 77 will be fare-free within Cambridge.
Recent Press
Adam Sennott, Boston Globe
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan worked with state Representative Marjorie C. Decker of Cambridge to file a bill that would create a new felony offense for shooting a gun intentionally or recklessly in a way that “causes a substantial risk of serious bodily injury,” according to the statement.
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.
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