“The emotional connection and love between pets and their humans is so often both immeasurable and indescribable. I see it with our family dog, Melody, and particularly so between Melody and our children. Everyone should have the chance to experience the joy and—especially true for our kids—responsibility that comes with caring for a pet.”

“ICE’s recklessness defies both democracy and safety. Their actions are a gut punch to American values and human decency. We can and should pursue all of our options here in Massachusetts to protect our communities and ensure accountability."

On the eighty-first anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, the Massachusetts Senate passed a resolution, cosponsored by Senator Becca Rausch, honoring International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

More than 20% of K-12 schools failed to report any vaccination rate data to the Department of Public Health for 2023-24; Rausch’s Community Immunity Act provides systemic infectious disease prevention solutions.

Senator Rausch will lead not one but two policy committees that likely will see significant legislation move through their subject areas this term, including proposals directly from Governor Healey.

Focused 50-bill portfolio aims to protect public health and reproductive freedom,
reduce plastic pollution, modernize our election systems, and more.

The legislation will offer patients financial relief by capping the prices of certain drugs, erecting guardrails against private equity in health care, and giving the Attorney General and state health regulators more oversight authority.

Senator Rausch will provide updates on recent legislation, share local
and statewide budget victories, and offer residents an opportunity to share their questions,
concerns, and challenges.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed into law a comprehensive midwifery
and maternal health legislative package

The Massachusetts Legislature enacted a comprehensive midwifery and maternal health bill, creating a state licensure pathway for certified professional midwives.

The Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed comprehensive legislation to strengthen access
to physical and mental health care during and after pregnancy.

The Massachusetts Senate passed urgent reforms to the Commonwealth’s health care system to boost oversight and transparency in the market and improve patient access to prescribed medication and treatment.

Today, the Massachusetts Senate passed legislation that builds on the
state’s climate and environmental leadership by banning single-use plastic bags, making straws
and plasticware available by request only, and making it easier to recycle.

This week, the Massachusetts Senate will debate comprehensive climate and
plastics legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, helping the Commonwealth achieve its
net zero emissions by 2050 goals, and drastically reducing plastic waste statewide.

Today, comprehensive plastics reduction legislation filed by State Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham) advanced with a favorable report out of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. The Plastics Reduction Act will address some of the most common single-use plastics, including plastic bags, plastic food service ware, and car seats.

Boston, MA – Today, Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham) issued an open letter signed by 288 state legislators representing more than half the states in the nation, to President Biden, Vice President Harris, and members of the United States Congress denouncing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hatred and bigotry.

Boston, MA – This Earth Month, Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham) joins community leaders, activists, and experts to raise awareness about environmental protection work targeted at achieving our Commonwealth’s climate action goals.

Boston, MA – Today, the Massachusetts House and Senate announced their intention to create the Taxpayer Energy and Economic Relief Fund, an initiative to bring immediate financial relief to Bay Staters amidst rising gas prices and inflation. The fund will provide one-time rebates of $250 for Massachusetts taxpayers who filed an individual return in 2021, and $500 for taxpayers who filed joint returns. Eligibility will be determined by annual income reported in 2021. Individual filers who reported earning between $38,000 and $100,000 will be eligible, and the maximum reported income level increases to $150,000 for joint filers. Massachusetts taxpayers will receive this rebate before September 30, 2022.

The Massachusetts State Senate passed S.2944, An Act relative to forfeiture reform, which would raise the burden of proof required for civil asset forfeiture, which allows law enforcement to seize items alleged to have been connected to a crime. Under current Massachusetts law, individuals who believe that their possessions were wrongly forfeited are required to demonstrate that these items were not involved in a crime or otherwise do not meet the standard required for forfeiture. This puts the burden of proof on the accused, rather than on law enforcement or prosecutors, making it difficult and time-consuming to repossess forfeited items.

On Thursday evening, following deliberation on 1178 amendments, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a $50 billion Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget. Over the course of this week’s budget deliberations, Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham) secured over $1.5 million in statewide funding and $1.1 million for local investments in the Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex District, including youth mental health supports, environmental protection initiatives, and municipal infrastructural upgrades.