All Updates

On April 9, 2026, I rose for the first time on the House floor to speak on an issue I’ve lived, as a teacher, principal, and now legislator. Cell phones and social media are reshaping our schools. I’ve seen students coordinate fights in real time, classmates record each other at their worst moments, and teachers leave the profession after videos were taken out of context. But I’ve also seen what happens when we get this right: more focus, better behavior, and students talk

If passed, the TEACH-MA Act would introduce a statewide program designed to recruit, certify and retain teachers committed to three years of service in Massachusetts public schools. Program fellows would be placed in high-need districts and hard-to-fill subject areas, and provided mentorship, a stipend, and the promise of a reduced-cost master’s degree upon completion.

The Office of State Representative Josh Tarsky is thrilled to offer legislative internships for the Summer of 2026. This internship program is intended for driven and passionate individuals with a belief in public service.

Mass Cultural Council celebrated a $588,900 state investment into the cultural sector of the MetroWest Region - to date - in Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26).

State Rep Joshua Tarsky is honored to announce that Bigbelly Solar, LLC, headquartered in Needham with manufacturing operations in Methuen and Lawrence, is a 2025 recipient of the “Manufacturer of the Year” Award presented by the Massachusetts Legislative Manufacturing Caucus.

One of the important lessons Josh learned is that a society’s well-being depends on a strong educational system and a reliable and predictable system of laws. When he left active duty, he continued his own education, getting a master’s degree in Education and, while teaching and then moving up the educational administrative ladder to become a principal, he attended law school at night.

I was proud to vote yes on H.4530. This supplemental budget bill will infuse needed funds into our strained hospitals and healthcare centers and prioritize care for the state’s most vulnerable populations.

Massachusetts has become the first state in the U.S. to guarantee insurance coverage of vaccines recommended by the state, including vaccines for respiratory viruses like COVID-19, flu, and RSV, and routine vaccines for children, like measles, chickenpox, and Hepatitis B. Furthermore, CVS and Walgreens are now working to make COVID-19 vaccine appointments available online.

In August, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a bill that would require schools to limit student access to and/or use of cellphones during the school day. The vote garnered headlines, but the bill has yet to reach the State House floor let alone become law.

The Office of State Representative Josh Tarsky is looking for highly-motivated high school students in the district to apply for its Inaugural Youth Council, an unique opportunity to help shape the future of Beacon Hill. Young people are crucial to our country’s future, and our office is committed to empowering young people through chances to contribute and learn skills that will arm them with the confidence to succeed.

A potential statewide “bell-to-bell” ban on cell phones in schools could get devices out of the classroom by September.

Hundreds of “No Kings” protestors from Needham and beyond filled the sidewalks around the town common on the afternoon of June 14, carrying homemade signs and breaking into frequent chants, all expressing intense disagreement with various policies and actions taken by President Trump in his second term.

Chants echoed through the Town Center Saturday afternoon as an estimated 1,000 people protested the Trump administration in one of many “No Kings” rallies across the country Saturday.

Highlights from the Memorial Day ceremony on May 26, 2025.

After its passage at Town Meeting, a plea to disarm the country’s nuclear arsenal solicited support from Needham’s state and federal lawmakers, though their stance on the issue is nuanced.

Cameron Morsberger, The Needham Local, February 10, 2025 February 7, 2025• Needham Local visited state Rep. Josh Tarsky, D-Needham, at...

Cameron Morsberger, January 6, 2025 State Sen. Becca Rausch and Rep. Josh Tarsky, D-Needham, officially started their new terms in a...