Dear Neighbor,
l love being a senator and representing the people in our district! But I’ve been in the Senate for 20 years, and it’s time to move on. I won’t be running for re-election next year.
But I’ll still represent you for all of 2026, and there’s a lot to continue working on together. New rules for the legislature allow Senate members of each joint committee to report Senate bills. Previously we had to get agreement from the House members, who are a majority on each committee. The rules also required all bills to be acted on by last week, although a few can be extended. This should speed up work, at least in the Senate. Here are some of my bills that have been reported favorably.
The cost of housing is the most urgent issue in our communities. That’s why Somerville’s rent stabilization home rule bill, as well as my state-wide local option tenant opportunity to purchase bills are priorities. ("Tenant opportunity to purchase" means that when a landlord sells a building, a tenant association can match an offer, or assign their right to a nonprofit who which would keep the units permanently affordable.) I will work to pass the state-wide rent stabilization ballot question (CBS story), especially if the legislature fails to pass my state-wide local option bill, which is still in committee).
I'm very optimistic that our AGE committee bill to license home care agencies will pass soon. (Globe editorial) And our bill to take the next step toward public long term care insurance. (Globe article)
Older adults are the fastest growing group of unhoused people. My bill to create a state-wide rental bridge subsidy program would allow eligible lower income older adults to remain in place while they await approval for long-term subsidized housing. A pilot Somerville program has kept 10 older families housed. (Globe article)
My senior property tax deferral bill would lower barriers that keep people from using this program, which can keep them in their homes.
People wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit are eligible to receive compensation under one of my earlier bills. But they still have to wait years after their release. Now advocates have agreed with the Attorney General’s office on my bill that will provide timely relief. (One of many Globe articles on limits and delays of compensation is here.)
I'm also working on bills to prevent false confessions (Globe article), and make medical parole more available to permanently disabled or terminally ill incarcerated people.
My bill to provide free menstrual products in public schools, prisons, and shelters passed the Senate again this year and awaits action in the House. Another bill would provide them in all public buildings.
Another of my bills would allow teachers and school committee members to be appointed to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education - the only board that doesn’t include professionals!
An Education Committee bill on charter schools includes my bill requiring the Board of Education to consider the impact of new or expanded charter schools on the sending districts. Right now, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education insists that it does not have the power to consider whether a new charter school will harm the children who go to the district schools. This will clarify that they can do so.
Most communities have a cap of 9% on the tuition that can be sent to charter schools. But those in the lowest 10% of MCAS scores have an 18% cap. My bill would use growth scores (how students improve) instead of static measures. MCAS scores are highly correlated with socio-economic status and districts which rank lowest on MCAS have the highest poverty levels. Most experts, including conservatives, agree that growth scores measure the impact of schools rather than family background.
Transgender people are among those facing threats from the Trump administration. My bill to create a Commission on the Status of Transgender People is a priority to protect people and resist those threats.
Those are just my bills. There are many other important bills that we should pass, as well as a responsible and adequate budget. And I serve on several commissions, including on assisted living residences, continuing care retirement communities, senior housing, LGBTQ aging, that will lead to legislation.
Looming over everything are threats from the federal government! I’m working with colleagues to protect immigrants from ICE, and to reduce the impact of federal spending cuts.
Mass Health (Medicaid) is our largest spending program - and the most threatened by federal cuts. Trying to mitigate those cuts will affect all parts of the budget.
Thanks to everyone who campaigned and voted for the Fair Share Amendment, which has provided $2.3 billion for education and transportation in its first two years.
But now two proposed ballot questions would cut the state income tax, and cap total state tax revenue increases to CPI. I hope to work with all of you to defeat those questions!
No legislation is successful without strong advocacy by many people across the state. I am grateful to all those who work with me on so many issues, and persist sometimes for many years! I’m also fortunate to have a wonderful staff! I’m also thankful to all the people over the years who have helped me get elected, first to the school committee, then the House and Senate.
More soon. Stay in touch,
Pat Jehlen