State Rep. Denise Garlick Reflects on Session's Accomplishments

We are living through uncertain times. Policies and politics at the federal level have created a space where it is necessary for states to lead on issues such as criminal justice, gun safety, the disease of addiction, women’s rights, economic development, consumer data protections, and clean energy.

I was born and grew up in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; I went to school here; I raised my family here. Every morning, I wake up ready to work hard to protect, sustain, and promote our values. Every night, as my head hits the pillow, I know that the hard work has yielded real results and I am grateful to live in Massachusetts.

I am deeply committed and responsive to the desperate need of individuals and families ravaged by the disease of addiction and the communities strained by the demands of providing services. As House Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery, I spearheaded the “Opioid Bill” through its enactment. The bill builds on the past near decade of tireless work of addressing substance use disorder in Massachusetts by focusing on prevention, limiting inappropriate prescribing and diversion of opiates and establishing a grant program for our communities. This legislation looks to the future and says that a focus on prevention in the community and strengthening and expanding the behavioral health system will stem the tide of the opioid epidemic.

With changing federal dynamics on women’s and reproductive rights, the Massachusetts House of Representatives took decisive action this year to protect the rights of women across the Commonwealth. The Legislature passed legislation that outlawed discrimination against pregnant women, ensured that – no matter what happens at the federal level – insurers in Massachusetts will have to continue to provide contraceptives without copays or deductibles, and, mindful of the changing dynamics of the Supreme Court, repealed outdated state laws directed at limiting a woman’s right to make decisions about her own reproductive health. I support a woman’s right to make all choices, including reproductive choices -- and I will stand up for laws that guarantee this right while continuing to work to ensure access to quality healthcare and education and advocacy services for all.

This year, the Legislature passed a landmark comprehensive criminal justice reform package. The bill contained many provisions, including the repeal of a number of mandatory minimums for nonviolent, low-level drug offenses, addressing ‘fine time’, when an individual is committed solely for his or her inability to pay fines, increasing access to diversion programs, especially for those with substance use disorder or mental illness, for veterans, and for juveniles, and solitary confinement reforms.

In 2005, in one of my first votes on the Needham Board of Health, Needham raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21 within the town, becoming the first community in the state to do so. This year, following in Needham’s footsteps, Massachusetts passed statewide legislation that mandated that only those aged 21 or older may purchase tobacco products in Massachusetts, in an ongoing effort to protect the health of our youth.

Massachusetts is a known national leader in environmental policy and this year’s environmental bond bill dedicated $2.4 billion to improving climate change resiliency and adaptation, enhancing environmental and natural resource protection, and investing in parks and recreational assets. The legislation ensures that our communities can become more resilient and better prepare for the impacts of climate change, such as harsher storms. Additionally, Massachusetts made important investments in energy storage during this legislative session. Improved energy storage is key for transitioning the electric grid towards more renewable generation sources and for wider adaptation of clean energy technologies, such as electric vehicles. Legislation passed during 2018 included the establishment of a dedicated energy storage innovation institute at the Clean Energy Center and investments in research that seek to decrease the cost of battery technology.

Renewing its dedication to working families and individuals in our state, the Legislature also passed bills mandating a $15 minimum wage, providing for paid family and medical leave, and establishing a permanent sales tax holiday. Massachusetts paid family medical leave framework for workers is the most generous in the nation. These changes will help to ensure that all residents of the Commonwealth have a fair opportunity to make a living.

Massachusetts has continued to work on ensuring public safety by enacting nation-leading gun control measures during the session. The Legislature enacted new laws aimed at preventing individuals who pose a risk of causing bodily injury to themselves or others from owning or possessing a firearm as well as providing them with crisis intervention, as well as mental health services, substance abuse services, and counseling services. In addition, the House passed legislation banning the sale, purchase or ownership of a “bump stock” device, which is designed to increase a weapon’s rate of fire and mimic automatic gun fire. These laws build on the House’s landmark 2014 gun violence reduction legislation, which lead to Massachusetts having the lowest rate of death by gun of any state in the nation.

Let me be clear — significant steps towards a brighter future were taken in Massachusetts this year. Did we accomplish all of our legislative priorities? No, we did not. The work of protecting, sustaining, and promoting the values of Massachusetts is always an ongoing process.

But make no mistake: the passage of these landmark bills will protect and serve the people of the Commonwealth and the generations that follow. I remain committed to ensuring that public policy and budgetary resources empower people, support families, and strengthen communities. I remain committed to ensuring high quality public education, including closing the achievement gap, supporting pro-active environmental policies, ensuring reliable transportation, and guaranteeing fairness and respect for all people.