ON THE ISSUES

RSF_7900

1/1

Education

Fully Funding our Public Education System

Bill believes it is imperative that we build upon the success of the Student Opportunity Act that he voted for passage of in 2019. As a State Rep. he has consistently advocated for and voted to increase the allocation the state makes to school districts per pupil, per day.

During the annual budget process especially, as the next State Senator he will push to continue to direct 60 percent of the Fair Share Amendment revenue toward education funding. He will advocate for and explore indexing our educational funding formulas to better account for inflation, moving forward.

Food Access and Security

As State Representative, Driscoll was a strong proponent and supporter of the Universal School Meals for All program, from when it was first implemented during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, to when it was made permanent, starting the 2023-2024 school year.

The initiative made school lunches available to all students attending a school in the National School Lunch Program, as well as a free breakfast for students enrolled in schools that participate in the School Breakfast Program.

As our next State Senator, Bill, will support the continuation of the Universal School Meals program.

Healthcare

Oversight and Affordability

Lowering the cost of prescription drugs and the overall cost of healthcare in the Commonwealth is a major priority of Rep. Driscoll.

Moving legislation forward that ensures affordability for crucial, lifesaving medications is critical to the future of Massachusetts. Individuals suffering from chronic illnesses should not face added stress related to whether they can afford or easily obtain their needed prescriptions.

As a member of the House of Representatives, Driscoll has voted in favor of, and filed amendments towards, strengthening major legislation including the recent "An Act promoting access and affordability of prescription drugs," which protects patients and independent pharmacists by regulating the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry; by banning many of the industry’s worst business practices; by increasing transparency into PBMs and drug manufacturers through the Health Policy Commission (HPC) and the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA); and by reducing or eliminating copays for certain chronic conditions.

This legislation is still not on the Governor's desk for signature and as our next State Senator he will do his part in pushing for final passage and for the Governor to sign it into law.

Climate Change

Supporting Local and Regional Adaptation Projects

For several sessions now and as State Representative, Driscoll has championed "The Green Future Act" as the primary sponsor. The Green Future Act would unlock $10 billion through the implementation of carbon pricing for investments in state and local green infrastructure projects that help municipalities adapt to climate change.

The Green Future Act funds green infrastructure by expanding an existing state program that charges fossil fuel companies a fee for the air pollution they emit. This legislation also includes funding from a new green bonding program, focused on state and local infrastructure. Among its key features, the bill requires that no less than 60 percent of infrastructure funding benefit environmental justice (EJ) communities - an especially important feature for towns like Randolph, an EJ community located in the current House district as well as in the Senate district.

Rep. Driscoll submitted written testimony to the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy in support of "An Act achieving a green future with infrastructure and workforce investments" which you can find in full at this link: https://www.billdriscolljr.com/single-post/rep-driscoll-submits-testimony-in-support-of-h-3693

Black Maternal Health

Advancing Healthcare Equity and Closing Gaps in Care

"This comprehensive maternal healthcare bill will help Massachusetts close gaps related to the care that is readily available, affordable, and covered by insurance for all birthing families. The hope here is that not only will we be able to address glaring inequities through this legislation but that once implemented it will, over time, help the Commonwealth realize better health related outcomes regardless of your zip code in Massachusetts,” said Driscoll.

Recently, as State Representative, Driscoll supported a comprehensive maternal health bill, which creates a state licensure pathway for midwives and lactation consultants, encourages the creation of more freestanding birth centers, and mandates that certain healthcare professionals perform, and that health insurers provide coverage for, postpartum depression screenings.

This legislation encourages the creation of more freestanding birth centers, which operate independent from hospital systems, by requiring DPH to promulgate updated regulations governing the licensure of freestanding birth centers to ensure safe, equitable, and accessible birth options

More here: https://www.billdriscolljr.com/single-post/house-passes-comprehensive-maternal-health-bill

Housing

Driscoll Voted to Enact the Affordable Homes Act

As State Representative, Driscoll supported the largest housing investment in the Commonwealth’s history, which was signed into law in August 2024, and is a productive step forward in tackling the state’s current housing affordability issues.

This housing centric legislation authorizes $5.16B in bond authorizations and tax credits to spur housing production, add resources for new units, and make sweeping policy changes to simplify and incentivize development, while facilitating the preservation of public housing in Massachusetts.

To help our communities and residents better address the high cost of housing, I voted on this comprehensive legislation which takes specific action on the following:

Creates a new tax credit to incentivize production of homeownership units targeting households with incomes of up to 120 percent of the area median income (AMI);

Provides consumer protections, including safeguards that prevent homeowners from being pressured into waiving a home inspection, and that protect tenants who have a years-old eviction record from having that record held against them when securing new housing; and

Provides seasonal communities with new tools to tackle their unique housing challenges, including protections for renters that prevent their unit from being redeveloped into a condominium.

Reproductive Freedom
Driscoll has been endorsed by Reproductive Equity Now in

this race for the open State Senate seat

In 2020 and as State Representative, Driscoll supported and stood with the Legislature in passing the ROE Act which codified and expanded access to abortion and other reproductive health care in the Commonwealth.

In 2022, following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Driscoll joined his colleagues in the Legislature in passing comprehensive legislation to further protect reproductive health care and gender-affirming services in the Commonwealth. This legislation took additional efforts to further protect these rights and establish additional safeguards following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The bill includes confidentiality measures for providers, mandates insurance coverage for abortion services with no cost sharing, expands access to emergency contraception, and provides legal protections to providers, out-of-state patients, and insurers.

Driscoll issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade during the summer of 2022: https://www.billdriscolljr.com/single-post/rep-driscoll-statement-on-supreme-court-s-decision-to-overturn-roe-v-wade

RECENT LEGISLATIVE & BUDGET WINS

Parentage Act

Extending Rights

In June 2024, Driscoll joined his colleagues in passing "An Act to ensure legal parentage equity," extending the full rights of parentage to LGBTQ+ families and families created via assisted reproduction. The Governor signed this into law in August 2024.

From June 2024: “Yesterday’s debate and unanimous vote leaves me optimistic about the future, despite much divisiveness that continues to exist in our society.” said Driscoll. “We’ve come a long way in these past two decades following the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2004, when similar conversations pertaining to parentage would have been surrounded by horrible homophobic rhetoric. I was proud to join such a supportive environment, listening to the several personal stories from my bipartisan colleagues prior to taking a final vote. The adoption of this legislation and the celebratory nature of the day gives me hope that we can work collaboratively on difficult or controversial issues. Although it takes time, the heartfelt speeches and our unanimous vote shows that the growth needed to create a safer and more inclusive future may be difficult, but is possible.”

https://www.billdriscolljr.com/single-post/house-passes-parentage-act

Wage Equity

Legislature Passes Wage Equity Legislation

On July 24, 2024, Driscoll joined his colleagues in the House in taking a strong step towards closing the gender and racial wage gap in the Commonwealth by passing An Act relative to salary range transparency. The legislation requires employers with 25 or more employees to disclose a salary range when posting a position and protects an employee’s right to ask their employer for the salary range for their position when applying for a job or seeking a promotion. This bill was signed into law by the Governor in August 2024.

“This bill is a major push forward in our work to reach pay equality in the Commonwealth,” said Driscoll. “With pay range transparency, applicants and workers will have a more well-rounded knowledge base regarding their specific position and workplace. This legislation protects employees and will ensure that workers are fairly compensated for their efforts.”

The bill was initially passed by the House in October 2023: https://www.billdriscolljr.com/single-post/house-passes-wage-equity-legislation

Local Earmarks Secured

Some highlights of money allocated to the district thanks to direct action by Rep. Driscoll during the annual budget process and through other funding bills

Forbes House Museum = $95,000 since FY24

This funding is to renovate the barn on site which will be utilized as a space for community events in the future.

Blue Hills Trailside Museum = $4,150,000 since FY17
General Operating Support

Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center = $775,000 since FY17
General Operating Support

Randolph Town Social Worker = $300,000 since FY23
Working with the Town Council and Town Administration, Rep. Driscoll started a Town Social Worker Program to provide a full-time town employee in support of resident's needs and to make referrals and provide other supports.

Manning Park/ East Milton Deck = $900,000 since FY18

Funding supported the renovation of the park and other future amenities

Milton Municipal Broadband = $250,000 in ARPA Funds

Secured funds for the towns buildout of broadband

Tri-Town Water Treatment Plant = 400,000 in ARPA Funds

Funds secured to help cover Randolph's costs related to design and planning RE: the shared water treatment plant with Braintree and Holbrook.

A commitment from the MBTA to utilize $118+ million in federal money toward the renovation of the Mattapan High Speed Line and its stations that serve Milton and its neighbors as connection to Ashmont Station and the MBTA Redline.

Shade trees for Milton and Randolph = $25,000 for each town

HERO Act

The Largest Veterans Focused Bill Ever Passed in MA

Driscoll supported the passage of "An Act Honoring, Empowering, and Recognizing Our Service Members and Veterans (HERO Act)," legislation designed to boost support for hundreds of thousands of individuals across the state who have served in the United States military, including nearly 30,000 women veterans and thousands of LGBTQ+ veterans.

The Governor signed the law in August 2024.

The HERO Act was initially passed by the House in May 2024: https://www.billdriscolljr.com/single-post/house-passes-landmark-veterans-legislation