A Monthly Newsletter from Senator Julian Cyr
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December 2025
Dear Friends,

This past Sunday, I got to reprise one of my favorite roles when I pitched in to work the door at brunch at Ladyslipper in Provincetown. Close readers know that I clocked more years of service working in my family’s restaurant than anything else I’ve done.

It was good fun to be back at it, to feel the exhilaration and adrenaline of service, to charm and wrangle customers hungry for biscuits and eggs. I was also reminded of how exhausting it is to hustle on a busy shift. Shout out to Rebecca, Sean, and Ben for asking me to host.

When you get to grow up, work, and serve your hometown peninsula, you have a lot to be thankful for. This time of year naturally brings me back to gratitude, and like most years I find myself most grateful for my family and friends, for the communities that shaped me, and for the profound privilege of serving Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket in the Massachusetts Senate. At the same time, I’m mindful that Thanksgiving carries a painful legacy for many Indigenous Cape Codders and Islanders, including two Wampanoag sovereign tribal nations whose history here stretches back thousands of years. For me, it underscores the responsibility we share to exemplify a Commonwealth where we are thankful for our many gifts, and we learn from the full story of the place we call home.
As we ease into December, I’ve been thinking a great deal about safety, dignity, and what we owe one another, both in our own communities and beyond. Last month, a man lost his life in a trench collapse at a worksite in Yarmouth. This tragedy was entirely preventable. No one should ever fear that simply showing up to do their job could cost them their life. In the days since, multiple OSHA violations have come to light, and I’m committed to working with the town and the appropriate authorities to ensure that every worker on Cape Cod is protected from such avoidable dangers. My heart is with the worker’s family, his colleagues, and the first responders who rushed to help.

Our region is also feeling the effects of heartbreak abroad. The recent hurricane that devastated Jamaica has left deep scars across the island, and the suffering there is felt acutely here. Jamaican immigrants and seasonal workers are the backbone of so much in our region. They are our neighbors, our co-workers, and our friends. Please know that the Cape and Islands stand firmly with our Jamaican community during this difficult time.

Back on Beacon Hill, it’s been an exceptionally full stretch as the Legislature approaches the Joint Rule 10 reporting deadline in early December. Last month, the Joint Committee on Housing—where I serve as Senate Chair—held its final public hearing of the year. We heard testimony on bills that would shape the lives of renters and homeowners across Massachusetts, including proposals on rent stabilization, access to counsel, and opportunities for tenants to purchase their homes. In the coming week, our committee will be reporting out dozens of bills. On several items—including my legislation to strengthen the seasonal communities designation—we’ll seek brief extensions so we can incorporate final regulatory guidance and ensure these reforms truly meet the needs of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

I’m also pleased to share some good news: the Senate recently advanced several critical priorities, including my bill protecting freedom of expression in schools and public libraries, legislation I’m proud to champion alongside Senator Jake Oliveira. At a time when book challenges are rising nationwide, Massachusetts is choosing a different path: one rooted in the belief that young people deserve access to a rich and diverse range of stories. And we closed the books on FY25 with a supplemental budget that invests in MassHealth, SNAP access, universal school meals, housing stability, and more.

The days are still getting shorter for a few more weeks, but I hope you’re able to find calm in the darkness, peace in the quiet, and serenity in the woods trails and streets. That’s one more thing I’m so grateful for: the drastic shift from the craziness of summer to the solitude of winter on the Cape and Islands is nearly complete, and we get to enjoy the spectacular beauty of our region ourselves without all the noise. And if you happen to be someone who gets bummed out by the holidays or winter doldrums, don’t fret — longer days are coming, eventually.

With gratitude,
Julian Cyr
Updates & Newsroom

Housing

Lawmakers want easier application process for Cape towns seeking Seasonal Communities Designation ([link removed])
- CapeCod.com

The designation also permits more diverse housing options like smaller homes, boosts residential tax exemptions and allows housing with preference for municipal workers and other essential workers.

Tisbury Sets Tax Rates as Average Home Value Tops $2 Million ([link removed])
- The Vineyard Gazette

The landlord exemption would require town meeting approval and a successful home rule petition to the state legislature, Ms. Orr said. “[State] Senator [Julian] Cyr is very experienced with this type of legislative action. He’s done it for towns on the Cape,” she said.

A sitdown with Mass. Senate president: Spilka wants to ‘be bold’ on housing ([link removed]) - WGBH

In 2026, Spilka said the Senate is eyeing action on housing and health care. She said she’s directed Sen. Julian Cyr, the Senate’s Housing Committee chair, to look at the barriers to creating new housing and come up with potential policy reforms. “I have sort of charged him with the task, ‘Be bold, nothing is off the table,’” Spilka said.

Downward Elementary Enrollment Trend Is Unabated ([link removed])
- The Provincetown Independent

At a groundbreaking ceremony in April for Truro’s new Cloverleaf affordable housing development, state Sen. Julian Cyr, a Truro native, said that Truro Central School had 25 students in each grade when he was a student there in the 1990s. The Outer Cape is now “making headway” in building new housing, Cyr said, but he added, “We can’t pretend that everything is fine.”

Massachusetts Housing Leaders Gather to Advance Production Goals at CHAPA Summit ([link removed]) - Boston Real Estate Times

Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Andy Vargas delivered remarks underscoring legislative priorities for the year ahead.

Housing crisis in Massachusetts: Will new starter home law help? ([link removed])
- Cape Cod Times

Bills, bills, bills

Beacon Hill Roll Call: Nov. 10 to Nov. 14, 2025 ([link removed])
- Greenfield Recorder

“I am thrilled that the Senate has taken decisive bipartisan action to push back against cowardly attempts to ban books in our schools and public libraries,” said Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Provincetown, the lead sponsor of the bill. “Massachusetts is not immune from the un-American panic gripping the nation in recent years. Today, the Senate defends the right to read and ensures that decisions about library materials are made by trained professionals, not political actors. This bill is about protecting the people who make our libraries and schools places of discovery, inclusion and belonging.”

Massachusetts Senate nears passage of anti-book ban safeguards ([link removed])
- New Bedford Guide

The measure responds to nearly 70 book challenges in Massachusetts public schools over five years, often targeting content on gender, sexuality, race, or outdated themes. Key provisions require districts to adopt written policies prioritizing age-appropriateness, educational value, and professional librarian input over personal or political biases.

What's in the anti-book ban bill the Mass. Senate is expected to pass ([link removed])
- WBUR News

On how books are selected: Cyr's bill would make school districts have a written policy on how library books are selected — and require those books to be age-appropriate, serve an educational purpose and be based on the "professional training" of the school librarian, rather than any personal or political views.

Mass. Senate considers bill to curb book bans ([link removed])
- The Boston Globe

“We are seeing a rising threat to intellectual freedom across the country, and Massachusetts, unfortunately, is not immune to the national wave of censorship,” Cyr said in a Globe interview. “We’re hearing deep concerns both from librarians, as well as authors and other creators about attempts at censorship,” Cyr added. The bill, he said, ”ensures that public and school libraries can offer diverse, inclusive books, media, and materials without political interference in Massachusetts."

‘We have the science … We need the policies to match': Globe Summit considers IVF treatment access ([link removed]) - The Berkeley Beacon

“We’ve got to have some cultural competence here, and we have to understand how people are building families in 2025,” Cyr said. “We need to be responsible to their needs as [LGBTQ] folks become adults and as they seek to build families.”

Bill overhauling car rental insurance speeds through second branch | Regulated Industries ([link removed]) - State House News Service

"We're one of the only states where rental companies, not your own insurance, are required to carry primary coverage, and the cost of that policy gets passed right along to consumers," Cyr said.

Lawmakers debate action on harmful substances found in commonly everyday products: 'There's two hurdles here' ([link removed]) - Yahoo News

As Senate Assistant Majority Whip Julian Cyr told The Sun's State House News Service, "I think there's two hurdles here. One is that we're talking about complex policy related to environmental science, and the more that we learn about PFAS, the more we understand its ubiquity."

Other news

Cape leaders celebrate state funding for recycling ([link removed]) - CapeCod.com

“These Sustainable Materials Recovery grants are a terrific example of how smart investments can help Cape Codders and Islanders reduce waste, lower emissions, and protect our fragile environment. I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the team at MassDEP for continuing to partner with our towns and Barnstable County on practical solutions to build a more sustainable future,” said Cyr in a statement.

Eos Grant Aims To Help Hungry Seniors, Veterans And Others ([link removed])
- Cape Cod Chronicle

“Even as vital supports like SNAP come back online, one in seven Massachusetts residents still struggles with food insecurity — a reminder that this work remains as urgent as ever,” said State Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Provincetown.
Legislative Corner

An Act regarding free expression

I’m thrilled to share that the Senate took a major step this month to protect the freedom to read by debating and engrossing An Act regarding free expression, landmark legislation I’m proud to champion. Massachusetts is home to the nation’s first public library and first public school — a Commonwealth built on the belief that unabridged access to knowledge opens the door to opportunity. But we also carry a more troubling distinction: we were home to the nation’s first book ban attempt in 1637. Nearly 400 years later, the forces behind censorship are alive and well.

You might be surprised to learn that Massachusetts is among the top five states in the country for book ban attempts. According to the American Library Association, more than 1,200 book challenges were filed nationwide in 2023, nearly double the number from two years prior. Here at home, at least 70 titles were challenged across nearly 300 school districts in 2022 alone. PEN America has found that 41% of banned or challenged books center LGBTQ+ characters or themes, and another 41% feature people of color. These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a coordinated movement to erase stories that reflect the full diversity of our communities.

And the consequences are not abstract. This spring, a librarian in Chatham told me she had received literal death threats over a children’s book she recommended. She was too afraid to join us for the Senate debate, and that is exactly the climate these far-right groups hope to create: one where fear, not professionalism or community need, determines what our children can read.

Massachusetts is not immune, and we cannot be complacent. That is why we crafted a strong, transparent, statewide framework — one that protects students’ access to age-appropriate, educational materials; establishes clear, consistent standards for how libraries select books and handle challenges; and ensures that library workers and educators cannot be punished or threatened for doing their jobs in good faith.

Other bills

This month, the Senate advanced several additional key priorities that reflect our commitment to keeping Massachusetts affordable, safe, and forward-looking. We engrossed important legislation, including:
* Major reforms to cannabis industry oversight that streamline the Cannabis Control Commission, expand opportunities for small businesses, and modernize possession limits for adult consumers.

* A joint resolution rescinding outdated Article V convention petitions to protect the integrity of the U.S. Constitution.

* A bill strengthening protections for transit workers by establishing tougher penalties for assaults on MBTA, RTA, and Commuter Rail employees.

We also enacted the FY25 closeout supplemental budget and sent it to the Governor’s desk. This comprehensive bill closes the books on the fiscal year while delivering critical investments in MassHealth, student financial aid, universal school meals, SNAP access, housing stability, public safety, and more — ensuring Massachusetts remains strong and responsive during uncertain federal times. The bill also includes an important update to our legal name-change process: individuals will no longer be required to publish their name change in a newspaper, and court records will now be confidential. This long-overdue reform — championed by advocates for LGBTQ+ people and survivors of domestic violence — removes an unnecessary financial burden, strengthens privacy, and makes a difficult process safer and more accessible for thousands of Bay Staters each year.

Do you hear what I hear?

Last month, the Joint Committee on Housing held its last public hearing, during which we dug into bills that affect landlords and tenants across Massachusetts. We heard testimony on proposals around rent control, access to counsel, tenants’ rights to purchase their homes, and more. Under the Legislature’s rules, committees like ours must report out all bills by the first Wednesday in December — which makes for a very busy stretch! While we try to avoid asking for extensions, sometimes it’s the right call. For example, we’ll be seeking an extension on An Act relative to housing in seasonal communities so we can wait for the final seasonal community regulations and end of year report before moving the bill forward. That way, we’ll have the chance to make any necessary updates to the seasonal community statute and ensure the legislation works as intended for our region. Stay tuned for next month’s newsletter, during which I’ll debrief some of the bigger bills we advanced out of committee!

Making car rentals more affordable

I’m also pleased to share great news: my bill An Act relative to affordable car rentals, which I explained in my October newsletter, has now been enacted by both chambers and signed into law by Governor Healey. This commonsense reform will make it easier and more affordable to rent a car in Massachusetts—welcome news for residents, visitors, and the tourism economy of the Cape and Islands.
Latest Events: In the District and Beyond!
Can you hear us now?

My colleagues in the Cape and Islands legislative delegation and I recently held two back-to-back virtual meetings—one with T-Mobile and one with AT&T—to talk through the persistent coverage issues that residents, businesses, and public safety officials experience across our region. These discussions grew out of the letter our delegation sent in August, not to point fingers, but to start a more direct and constructive dialogue with the carriers serving Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

We all understand the complexity of providing reliable service in a place as geographically unique as the Cape and Islands—peninsulas and islands, variable terrain, and a summer population that can double or even triple in size. And we also appreciate the added challenge posed by local resistance to new infrastructure. Everyone wants better coverage; fewer people want to live next to the tower that makes it possible. Our goal in these meetings was to acknowledge those realities and offer ourselves as partners in navigating them.

Still, the gaps are real. Constituents continue to report dropped calls along Route 6 in Truro and Wellfleet; persistent dead zones in Chatham, Dennis, and West Falmouth; and serious connectivity issues on the Vineyard and Nantucket, especially during the busy summer months. For many residents—and for public safety officials—poor service is more than an inconvenience. In certain locations, from beaches to bike paths to remote roads, it can mean the difference between placing a 911 call or not.

To their credit, both T-Mobile and AT&T expressed openness to deeper collaboration with municipalities and committed to keeping us informed about planned upgrades and infrastructure improvements. The delegation welcomes that spirit of partnership. We know that strengthening service across the Cape and Islands will require transparency, clear communication, and a shared understanding of what’s feasible in each town.
Uniting in Orleans for Jamaican hurricane relief
On November 9th, neighbors, friends, and members of our vibrant Jamaican community gathered at Hog Island Brewery in Orleans for a fundraiser supporting relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. The devastation in Jamaica is profound, especially in communities like Black River and across Saint Elizabeth Parish — places that so many of our Cape Cod friends and coworkers call home. The images and stories emerging from the island are heartbreaking.

Jamaican Cape Codders have been powering this peninsula for over 30 years and have become a real lifeblood of our communities — caregivers, cooks, landscapers, hospitality staff, tradespeople, and business owners who keep our year-round and seasonal economies running. They give so much to our towns and to our way of life. When Jamaica hurts, we hurt, too.

I was proud to stand with District Attorney Rob Galibois, my parents Adrian and Annette — who ran our family restaurant in North Truro for nearly three decades — and so many friends and neighbors who came together in the spirit of love and family that defines the communities of our region. Growing up in that restaurant, I worked alongside so many Jamaican people who became lifelong friends and truly feel like family. Their strength, their warmth, and their deep contributions to the Cape are never far from my mind, especially now, as communities across Jamaica confront unimaginable loss.

That spirit of kinship was on full display at Hog Island. Folks came ready to give, ready to listen, and ready to help families who are reeling in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. As we continue to learn what communities in Jamaica need most, I’ll keep working with local partners, advocates, and our Jamaican friends and neighbors to ensure relief dollars get where they’re needed — and that families here have the support they need while they help loved ones back home.

My heartfelt thanks to everyone who showed up, donated, and organized. The road to recovery will be long, but standing together is how we begin.
Veterans Day at Barnstable Town Green

Every November 11th, we pause for a day in recognition and remembrance of all those who have served in the armed forces of the United States — both those who came home to us, and those who made what Lincoln called the last full measure of devotion, and lost their lives in the service. Indeed, remembrance is the key word. November 11th was initially commemorated as Armistice Day, commemorating the cessation of hostilities in World War I when the armistice in Europe took effect at 11:00 AM on November 11th, 1918.

We are fortunate to have the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center (CIVOC) supporting veterans, returning service members, active-duty service members, and their families on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. Many organizations have "Cape and Islands" in their titles, but for CIVOC it is more than just a name. This Veterans Day, CIVOC hosted its Eighth Annual Veterans Town Hall at the Village Green in Hyannis and in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Service in the United States armed forces is not as widespread a shared experience as it once was. That fact made my joining the commemoration in Hyannis all the more poignant for me.

At the Hyannis gathering, I read Governor Healey’s Veterans Day proclamation, joining her and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll in recognizing the generations of Massachusetts service members and military families who have safeguarded our Commonwealth and our country. The proclamation underscored the sacrifices made not only by those in uniform, but also by the spouses, partners, children, and loved ones who stand behind them. It affirmed Massachusetts’ ongoing commitment to ensuring that every veteran has access to the benefits, programs, and support they have earned.
Where Route 28 meets a hero's story

On Veterans Day, Harwich marked a special moment with the dedication of the stretch of Route 28 from the Dennis line to the Chatham line through town as the Alphonso Palmer Rogers Highway. Electrician’s Mate First Class Alphonzo Palmer “Palmer” Rogers served aboard the USS Chester in the Pacific during the Second World War, where he was wounded in action and awarded two Purple Hearts. Even under fire, his steady work kept the ship powered and his fellow sailors safe. And when he returned home, Palmer continued a lifetime of service—building and repairing homes for more than forty years and remaining an active member of the VFW. The Legislature’s approval of this designation earlier this year made our gratitude visible and enduring, ensuring that future generations will encounter his name and learn his story.

At the ceremony, Rep. Luddy and I joined Harwich town officials, veterans, and community members in offering remarks to the Rogers family and all those joining to commemorate the dedication and the solemnity of Veterans Day.

On days like this, we do more than speak gratitude. Rather, we recommit ourselves to honoring every veteran across Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. We honor those who came home, those still serving, and those we remember by name and by silence.
Turn up for fun in Eastham

Cape Cod may be world-famous for oysters, scallops, and all manner of seafood, but once a year, Eastham reminds us that a common root vegetable can steal the show. I had a blast at the 22nd annual Eastham Turnip Festival, a celebration that turns the humble Eastham turnip into a local celebrity for a day.

As always, the energy was joyful and delightfully quirky: kids bowling with turnips, families lining up for photos with the ever-dapper Mr. and Mrs. Turnip, and the Eastham Library buzzing with crafts, music, and turnip-themed everything. Representative Luddy and I even got temporary turnip tattoos!

What began two decades ago as a clever idea from Eastham’s librarians has grown into one of the most charming traditions on the Lower Cape. It’s a testament to local farmers, dedicated volunteers, and a community that knows how to have fun while honoring its literal agricultural roots.
The latest meeting of the Seasonal Communities Advisory Council

The Seasonal Communities Advisory Council convened for its latest meeting, and for those of us representing the Cape and Islands, the conversation marked an important milestone in our effort to tackle the housing crisis in regions shaped by extreme seasonal demand.

As a member of the Council, I was glad to join Representatives Kip Diggs and Hadley Luddy and colleagues from across the Commonwealth to review the next phase of the Seasonal Communities designation. Under the Affordable Homes Act, many communities in our region automatically qualified based on clear indicators: extreme tourism-driven population swings, disproportionate second-home ownership, and severe housing instability for the local workforce. Most Cape and Islands towns have since embraced the designation at their town meetings, a strong signal that residents are hungry for meaningful tools to keep year-round families and workers housed.

This month, the Council took a major step forward. After a thorough review of housing and demographic data, we recommended expanding the designation to include Barnstable and Yarmouth — two communities that, while more year-round in character, still face acute housing pressures fueled by short-term rentals, skyrocketing home prices, and a deep mismatch between wages and the cost of living. Upper Cape towns also will be invited to join the designation. The reality on the ground is undeniable: Barnstable and Yarmouth are contending with the same structural challenges as Provincetown, Nantucket, Edgartown, and so many others.

Inviting Barnstable and Yarmouth to join the Seasonal Communities designation is a big deal. It means more of our neighbors — teachers, first responders, health care workers, restaurant staff, tradespeople — can benefit from the planning tools aimed at stabilizing housing in places where demand routinely overwhelms supply. It also strengthens our collective regional response; housing markets do not stop at town lines, and neither should the strategies we use to fix them.

I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and to my fellow Council members for the collaboration and shared urgency. As we prepare for the next round of regulatory work and legislative action, our charge remains clear: give seasonal communities — and the year-round people who make them vibrant — the resources and tools they need to thrive.
A visit to the Harwich Select Board

Representative Hadley Luddy and I visited the Harwich Select Board to give a legislative update, part of our ongoing effort to meet with every Select Board in the 4th Barnstable District this year. Harwich, like every town on the Cape, is facing enormous housing pressures. Nearly 40 percent of homes there are seasonal, and a third of households are cost burdened, which means they are spending more than 30% of their income on housing. What used to be a challenge has become existential for the teachers, health care workers, municipal staff, and small-business employees who make Harwich run all year. If we want these folks to stay, we’re going to have to build housing options at all income levels, not just for those who already own a home or expect to inherit one.

We also talked about the Seasonal Communities designation created in the Affordable Homes Act. Harwich is eligible but hasn’t yet opted in. Accepting the designation would give the Town real tools: the option to form a Year-Round Housing Trust, acquire deed restrictions to protect year-round occupancy, and prioritize housing for essential workers. These tools are designed for towns like Harwich, and local voters will ultimately decide whether to adopt them at Town Meeting.

The Board shared that while their first priority is taking care of Harwich, they also recognize that many of our biggest challenges (housing, workforce shortages, wastewater, and infrastructure) don’t follow town lines. I appreciated hearing that. A regional approach doesn’t compromise local control; it strengthens it, especially when we’re competing for state dollars or trying to scale solutions that no one town can carry alone.

We closed by discussing Harwich’s strong progress on wastewater and the support already flowing from the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund. I also noted that in addition to a bill I’ve filed to allow Seasonal Communities to adopt a modest real estate transfer fee, there are multiple home rule petitions and several other bills before the Legislature all seeking the same authority. The message from towns across the Cape is clear: we need a dedicated revenue source to build and preserve year-round housing. Representative Luddy and I remain committed to making sure state policy and state investment meet Harwich’s needs today and in the years ahead.
Citizens' Housing & Planning Association's inaugural housing summit

I joined Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association’s (CHAPA) and hundreds of advocates, developers, local officials, and tenants for a summit focused squarely on the housing crisis that is reshaping Massachusetts. I talked about what many of us already feel: that the basic first step into a starter home or a stable rental is now out of reach for far too many of us, and that when housing is scarce and expensive, everything else we care about — public health, schools, workforce, even our climate goals — starts to fray. I shared some sobering trends, from home prices that have far outpaced incomes to a steep drop in new housing permits and a worrying outmigration of young, highly educated residents, and I was candid that this didn’t happen by accident. For more than a century, since the Legislature first delegated broad zoning authority to cities and towns in 1918, local rules in Massachusetts have too often been used to separate people by class, race, and income, creating a fragmented system
that was built to exclude and that still, too often, does just that.

I also stressed that we are not starting from scratch, and that there is real momentum to build on. The MBTA Communities law is already opening the door a bit wider by requiring 177 transit-served cities and towns to zone for multifamily housing by right, creating room for tens of thousands of homes near jobs and transit. I framed the Affordable Homes Act as our attempt to meet this crisis at the system level: modernizing our zoning framework, investing real dollars in public and affordable housing, and lining up production, preservation, and tenant protections at the scale the moment requires. I was clear that this bill is not the finish line but the opening move in a sustained, multi-year push. As Senate Chair of the Housing Committee, President Spilka has charged us to be bold. Nothing is off the table, from zoning and permitting reforms to new ways of supporting cost-burdened tenants and creative ways to finance the housing we need. And that I intend to keep working with CHAPA and
partners across the Commonwealth until we make Massachusetts a place where people can once again put down roots and afford to stay.
Celebrating librarians and library champions

When I joined Senator Oliveira at the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ awards ceremony, it was clear I was walking into a room full of the people who’ve actually built this fight over years—librarians, trustees, MBLC staff, and advocates who kept showing up when book challenges and censorship fights started to escalate. Senator Oliveira was being recognized with the C.B. Tillinghast Award, and it felt right that the celebration centered the folks who have kept libraries open, welcoming, and honest about the world we live in.

Being able to stand with them, and with Senator Oliveira, was really the tipping point of a week-long sprint to get our free expression bill ready for prime time and onto the Senate agenda. Sharing that the act regarding free expression would be heard by the Senate the following Thursday felt less like an announcement and more like closing the loop with the people who made it possible. This bill didn’t come out of nowhere; it came out of conversations with library workers and authors, multiple rounds of edits, and a very clear sense that we needed to have their backs in statute, not just in statements. To be in that room, at that moment, and to say out loud that the Senate was going to take this up — I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else.
Breakfast in Hyannis with the Aging and Disability Resource Consortium

I joined my colleagues in the Cape and Islands legislative delegation for the Aging and Disability Resource Consortium’s legislative breakfast, where we dug into a wide range of issues over scrambled eggs. Hosted by Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands and Cape Organization for the Rights of the Disabled (CORD, the morning was a reminder of what’s possible when community comes together, rolls up their sleeves, and sees through their commitment to serving those in need, no matter the challenges they face along the way. I spoke about the importance of that commitment as we continue to navigate the challenges coming out of Washington and their impact on Massachusetts.

Despite those challenges, the breakfast reaffirmed the importance of local, community-rooted advocacy and activism. It’s the Q&A panels, emails, phone calls, and office hours that help shape and define our work both in the district and on Beacon Hill. Many of the advocates in attendance that morning brought a level of knowledge and personal experiences about how our towns approach accessibility that we as legislatures simply don’t get anywhere else. I’ll share with you what I shared in my closing remarks that morning: If you see a problem in your community that needs to be fixed, speak up. Reach out to your representatives at the state or local level and while we don’t always have a solution right away, we have the resources to research and get in touch with those who can help. So don’t hesitate to get in contact with our offices, by sharing your voice, you ensure we can be better representatives of it.
A fertile conversation at the Globe Summit

At this year’s Boston Globe Summit, I was thrilled to join Dr. Alan Penzias of Boston IVF, Libby Horne of EMD Serono, and Boston Globe reporter Jessica Bartlett for a frank conversation on a deeply personal issue for so many families: access to fertility care.

The panel, “IVF and Inequality: Barriers and Solutions,” highlighted what we see across Massachusetts every day. Even in a state with one of the strongest infertility mandates in the country, too many people still struggle to navigate coverage, afford treatment, or even find a clinic. As Dr. Mark Hornstein of Mass General Brigham emphasized in his opening remarks, the ability to build a family is a basic human right—but our policies have not fully caught up with that truth.
From left: Libby Horne, me, Jessica Bartlett, Dr. Alan Penzias, and Dr. Mark D. Hornstein

I spoke specifically about the barriers facing LGBTQ+ people, drawing on my own experiences and those of people I love. I shared about the process to be a known sperm donor to my close friend’s child, and how even in that joyful circumstance, the system’s narrow definitions made the process more complicated than it needed to be. I spoke, too, about friends and families in my own life—same-sex couples who want nothing more than to become parents but are shut out because our laws still define infertility almost exclusively as a medical condition. For queer couples, the issue isn’t biology; it’s exclusion. That’s why I’ve filed legislation to modernize our definitions, expand MassHealth coverage, and ensure LGBTQ+ families are finally recognized in how we regulate and support reproductive care. With more than 9% of Massachusetts adults identifying as LGBTQ+, this is not a niche concern—it’s a fundamental question of equity.

The conversation also delved into the high cost of medications, geographic disparities in clinic access, and gaps in employer-based coverage. As my fellow panelists noted, we have the science to help families grow; we just need the policy infrastructure to match.

When asked what I would change to make fertility treatment access more equitable and affordable, I said simply: pass my bill. And in a moment when the federal administration is escalating its attacks on LGBTQ+ people, Massachusetts must continue to protect our residents, defend our values, and ensure that every person, no matter who they love, has a fair shot at building the family they dream of.
Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transgender Day of Remembrance, established 26 years ago to honor trans people lost to anti-trans violence, has become a global reminder of the work still ahead to ensure safety, dignity, and respect for all. This November 20th I joined Representative Hadley Luddy in Barnstable Village, where local trans community members shared powerful reflections that blended feelings of loss and loneliness with reminders of the joy and belonging one finds in community. I’m proud to represent, and call home, a place that one speaker specifically named as having such strong support and care for a community facing incredible hardship. As I reflect on this year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance, I’m inspired by the many speakers who chose to share their stories, for in a world that often tries to erase the trans community, remembrance becomes a powerful tool of resistance.

And at the State House the Senate honored Transgender Day of Remembrance with a resolution presented to the Transgender Day of Remembrance Planning Committee. They’ve done important work ensuring this day, and the lives it honors, remains visible year after year. The event at the State House was a wonderful collaboration involving my Senate colleagues and advocacy groups tied to the trans community across the Commonwealth. As we remembered the trans people we’ve lost to violence, we took solace in the communities these gatherings create, and the progress we’ve made, while remaining clear-eyed that the work toward equality and dignity for all is never finished.
Housing Council addresses shelter access

The Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness’ External Advisory Council, on which I serve as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, provides a forum for update on statewide trends in housing, homelessness, and housing insecurity. State agencies briefed the Council on the latest data, including shifts in family, individual, and youth homelessness, the continued increase in unsheltered individuals across the United States, and the stabilizing but still fragile conditions in Massachusetts. Together, we also reviewed the looming federal landscape, including significant reductions to Permanent Supportive Housing funding and the expected exhaustion of Emergency Housing Voucher funds years ahead of schedule, both of which will shape the Commonwealth’s response in the coming years.

A central focus of our discussion was the Emergency Assistance family shelter system. After an unprecedented migrant driven surge, Massachusetts expanded our family shelter system rapidly in response to this humanitarian crisis. That response succeeded, and the Commonwealth ended our reliance on hotels and placed the family shelter system on a more financially and operationally sustainable footing. But as my colleagues and I emphasized, the question now is whether this apparent stabilization reflects real improvement or whether eligibility restrictions enacted during the height of the crisis are now keeping families out on the streets even when beds are available. Providers are reporting open shelter capacity even as families on Cape Cod and across the state remain unsheltered, raising concerns that the pendulum may have swung too far toward limiting access.

The work ahead is to ensure that Emergency Assistance remains both stable and accessible: that families who genuinely need shelter can get in, that no beds sit empty when children are sleeping in cars or in the woods, and that the temporary guardrails put in place during the migrant shelter surge do not become long-term barriers. As the Commonwealth recalibrates, our priority must be ensuring that stabilization does not come at the cost of compassion or of meeting the needs of the families the family shelter system was built to serve.
The Portrait of a Lady

The Senate recently unveiled a portrait of former Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler. Senator Chandler was a champion of women’s rights and health during her 22 years in the Senate and served as Senate President when I first joined the legislature. Under her leadership, the Senate passed the ROE Act, protecting the medical rights of women in Massachusetts.

For someone with such a storied career in Massachusetts politics, and who was a friend and mentor to me when I arrived in the Senate, I was inspired by her remarks that reflected on how she found herself in the Senate. Her career wasn’t part of any dream or plan she had (in part because of the expectations placed on women at the time). Instead, she built a storied career in public service off a commitment to hard work and with the support of those around her. I share all this with you in the hopes that Senator Chandler’s story shows what becomes possible through not just a commitment to hard work, but a commitment to working in community.
Why I keep returning to the classroom

When I first ran for the Senate at 30, I didn’t have some perfectly architected five-point plan for my life. What I had was a nagging feeling that the towns I grew up in and around were facing a major challenge. Life was becoming more and more unaffordable, and those stories of the mom-and-pop shop owners who bartended through the summer and limped through the winter were getting fewer and farther between as a seasonal rental market pushed people to the extremes. Talking with students – this time at the Harvard Kennedy School – always brings that into sharper focus. The questions they ask aren’t just about the mechanics of single-payer, or pushback from insurers, or how we thread the needle between tourists and year-round residents on the Cape; they’re really about power, trust, and what it means to be accountable when the people affected by your decisions can see you in the grocery store. Every time I’m in a classroom, I’m reminded that we’re at a moment where we can’t afford to treat
ideas as proprietary or reserved for people with titles. If someone has a good idea – whether they’re a senator, a harbormaster, a grad student, or a year-round resident who’s never set foot in the State House – we need to make space for it at the table.

For me, coming back to this class is partly about gratitude and partly about calibration. Gratitude, because I would not be in this job without people who took the time to treat me as someone whose ideas were worth hearing before I had any official role. And calibration, because facing a room of students who are unjaded enough to still ask “why not?” forces me to check whether I’m defaulting to “this is how it’s always been done”. Answering their questions about housing, coastal resilience, or being a young person in politics feels less like delivering a lecture and more like participating in a shared project: trying to build a politics porous enough to let new people and new evidence in. I keep saying yes to these invitations because they’re one of the few places where I can see, in real time, how the next generation is going to push those of us in office to be braver, more curious, and more willing to act on a good idea no matter where it comes from.
Homegrown talent, homegrown solutions

I was invited to speak at the Cape Cod Young Professionals Annual Community Breakfast, which is one of my favorite gatherings of emerging leaders on the Cape. I began by thanking my good friend and Nauset Class of 2004 classmate, CCYP Executive Director Emily Wagner. I told the room how grateful I am that Emily chose to come home. When homegrown talent stays or returns, it shows what is possible here.

I also spoke honestly about the housing crisis that has shaped life on Cape Cod since Emily and I were in high school. What was a challenge then has become an almost impossible landscape for anyone who doesn’t already own a home or expect to inherit one. The Cape and Islands legislative delegation understands this reality, and we are united in the push to subsidize housing across all income levels so year-round working people can put down roots, raise families, and build careers.

Even with the scale of the problem, we are making real progress. New developments are breaking ground across the region, and state policy is finally beginning to match the urgency of the moment. But to truly change course, we need the next generation of Cape Cod young professionals to stay engaged. Your ideas, your persistence, and your leadership will shape what this place becomes.

If we are going to find the next Julians and Emilys, it starts and ends with housing. Together we can build a Cape Cod where people can live, work, and thrive.
A legacy of care

I recently joined the New England AIDS Education and Training Center (NEAETC) at The Commons in Provincetown to reflect on our region’s extraordinary public health legacy. So much of the DNA and lifeblood of this town has been shaped by responding to big health challenges—none more steep or significant than the AIDS epidemic. Long before the country acted, the Outer Cape was one of the few places that led the way, treating people living with and dying from AIDS with compassion and dignity. There is a direct line from being raised in that culture of care to my own life in public health and public service.

That leadership continues today. Outer Cape Health Services is doing exemplary work in a community with the highest per-capita number of people living with HIV in the Commonwealth, not to mention the scores of visitors we welcome every season. Their Test n’ Treat program and wraparound clinical services along with the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod’s drop-in center, remain a model for Massachusetts. I also shared my own path, cutting my teeth at the Department of Public Health under John Auerbach, Kevin Cranston, and Michael Botticello—luminaries whose work continues to lead the nation—before continuing that mission in the Senate.

But the hard-won progress Massachusetts has made in HIV prevention, treatment, and public health infrastructure is now under threat. Actions by the federal administration are undermining funding, weakening protections, and attempting to roll back the very systems that have saved lives in communities like ours. My thanks to NEAETC and to every provider and advocate who carries this legacy forward with courage, science, and compassion.
Honoring the Spirit of Justice with GLAD

It was great to join GLBTQ Legal Advocats & Defenders (GLAD) Law for their 26th Annual Spirit of Justice Award Dinner. For decades, GLAD has been on the front lines dismantling discriminatory laws, advancing protections for people living with HIV, and defending families in courtrooms across the country. The night gave me a chance to reconnect with advocates who helped with passing the Parentage Act last year, extending the full rights of parentage to LGBTQ+ families and families created via assisted reproduction.

It was especially meaningful to celebrate alongside former collaborators, such as Hannah Hussey whose work as a Staff Attorney at GLAD builds on years of advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth in Massachusetts. Back in the day, Hannah was our ace sole staffer at the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ+ Youth when I chaired the commission circa 2013-2014. Now she’s a Yale-trained lawyer building the bench of legal talent at GLAD. Nights like these allow activists and advocates to fill their cup and celebrate wins while preparing to tackle the important work ahead.
Kicking off the holidays at the Pilgrim Monument

On the night before Thanksgiving, I was grateful to join friends, neighbors, visitors, and my parents for one of the Outer Cape’s most beloved traditions: the annual lighting of the Pilgrim Monument. No matter how many times I’ve stood at the base of that granite tower, bundled against the late November chill, the moment those lights come on still carries its own kind of magic. For so many of us, this is the true beginning of the holiday season on the Outer Cape.

This year’s gathering felt especially meaningful under the renewed leadership of Courtney Hurst, a proud, born-and-raised Provincetown native whose vision—along with a dedicated board of local residents—has put community at the center of the Monument’s future. Their stewardship is clear in nights like this one: joyful, inclusive, rooted in local tradition, and open to all.

As the crowd counted down together, voices rising in anticipation, the Monument suddenly came alive—its strands of lights cascading from the top down to the ground, glowing over town and stretching out across the water for miles. All around me, I saw families who’ve been coming for generations, restaurant workers just about to head to their shifts, year-rounders greeting old friends, and visitors experiencing the moment for the first time. It’s one of those events that truly reflects the heart of Cape Cod: welcoming, warm, and fiercely proud of its heritage.

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