With the conclusion of the 2017-18 legislative session last month, MASSPIRG released their legislative scorecard for the session. Topping the list were 41 Beacon Hill lawmakers with perfect scores, including Rep. Stanley.  

MASSPIRG's scorecard graded state lawmakers on a selection of votes and co-sponsorships of public interest bills that would: protect consumers, improve voter access to the ballot, invest in public transportation, promote government transparency, increase renewable energy, protect bees, and reduce solid waste among others. Click to view the scorecard.

Governor Baker filed legislation to further the administration's Housing Choice Initiative, a bold plan to support the production of 135,000 new housing units by 2025. The Baker Administration developed the Housing Choice Initiative to offer a combination of incentives, technical assistance and new capital grant funding to facilitate community-led housing production across the Commonwealth.

Governor Baker announced that the Massachusetts Health Connector completed Open Enrollment with the highest membership in the 13-year history of the state's health insurance exchange, covering 282,000 people with health insurance.

The Health Connector held Open Enrollment from Nov. 1-Jan. 23, twice as long as the federal government's Nov. 1-Dec. 15 open period, to ensure Massachusetts residents had as much time as possible to shop for affordable coverage. Throughout Open Enrollment, Massachusetts residents were encouraged to get covered or stay covered, to provide security for their health and financial well-being, and comply with the state's individual mandate. Assistance was available through community based health Navigators around the state.

As of March 1, 282,114 people were enrolled in health insurance, including 209,973 people in the ConnectorCare program. Through the state's innovative affordability program, ConnectorCare, state subsidies are made available on top of federal tax credits, resulting in lower premium costs for members - including $0 premiums for the lowest-income enrollees - while also offering zero dollar or low co-pays and no deductibles. Overall, Health Connector membership rose 13 percent, compared to a 4 percent enrollment decrease through the federal Healthcare.gov platform. In addition, 18,000 individuals receive dental insurance through the Connector.

Gov. Baker, Registrar of Motor Vehicles Erin Deveney and Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver today were joined by AAA Northeast President and CEO John Galvin and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Program Director Mary Kate Depamphilis to highlight the importance of the Baker Administration's recently filed proposed road safety legislation, An Act Relative to Improving Safety on the Roads of the Commonwealth.

The bill includes proposals on the following topics: hands-free, primary seatbelt, work zone safety, side guards and additional mirrors, ignition interlock, hardship licenses, ignition interlock, penalties for violating terms of interlock program and new technology. The proposal corrects inconsistencies in the law for those convicted of Operating under the Influence (OUI) by requiring first-time offenders who apply for hardship licenses to be placed into the ignition interlock program and clarifying the ability of the Registry of Motor Vehicles to penalize those who attempt to drive after consuming alcohol, even with an ignition interlock device.

Emerging micro mobility technologies like electric scooters and increased use of electric bicycles present both opportunities as a compliment to current means of transportation and challenges as an industry without any existing statutory framework. As a first step, the administration proposes treating electric scooters and pedal assist electric bicycles the same way bicycles are treated under state law and establishing a multi-party advisory group to recommend more permanent policies.