Updates and Analysis

The legislative session is half gone now and it is a good time for a progress report.

It’s a good time to review highlights of the 2015-2016 legislative session, especially MBTA reform, transgender rights, and criminal justice reform–an area where, as Senate Chair of the Judiciary, I hope to accomplish a great deal more in future years.

As we begin the new year, the Senate has released its Committee Chairs and assignments for the 2015-2016 legislature. Senator Brownsberger’s roles include the Judiciary Committee (chair), the Senate Ethics Committee (vice-chair), and membership on the Ways and Means Committee, Municipalities and Regional Government Committee, and Election Laws Committee

The end of the legislative session is a time when bills that are not controversial can still make it across the finish line. There were five bills that I was particularly pleased to help over the finish line in the waning days of the session. Governor Patrick signed all of these bills, so they are now law.

The Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy (TUE) had a productive 2013-2014 legislative session, notably advancing legislation, ultimately signed into law, which addressed aging natural gas infrastructure, broadband expansion and renewable energy resources in Massachusetts.

A summary of S.2214, An act relative to credit for thermal energy generated with renewable fuels, written by the staff of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.