Talking with Tarsky
- Administrator
- Mar 1
- 10 min read
March 2026
Welcome back to Talking with Tarsky!
I hope you’ve been staying warm and safe this February. Before we dive into this month's newsletter, I want to take a moment to extend my sincerest gratitude to all the first responders who worked around the clock to clear our roads during and after this historic storm. I also want to thank the individuals who stepped up—whether helping a neighbor dig out or bringing coffee to our plow drivers—your kindness and dedication truly reflects the strength of our community.
I’m excited to announce that I will be running for reelection as your State Representative for Norfolk’s 13th District. Serving our communities has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Together, we’ve made meaningful progress: supporting local schools, improving infrastructure, and advocating for initiatives that make our neighborhoods safer, healthier, and stronger.
Our office has been here for you every step of the way: helping families navigate state programs, assisting local businesses, and listening to your ideas at community events, office hours, and regular meetings at local restaurants and coffee shops. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished, and I am committed to continuing this work to make Norfolk 13 an even better place to live and work.
If you see me around the district with a clipboard, please stop by and say hello, I’d love to hear your thoughts and priorities for the next term!
What We’ve Been Up To
Black Excellence on the Hill Award
It was an honor and a privilege to celebrate Carmen Fields as a recipient of one of this year’s Black Excellence on the Hill Award!
For more than 30 years, Carmen has been a fixture in Greater Boston’s journalism community, with distinguished experience spanning print and broadcast reporting, journalism education, and corporate and nonprofit media relations. A Tulsa, Oklahoma native, she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Lincoln University and her master’s in broadcast journalism from Boston University.
Her career is marked by extraordinary achievement, including being named a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University and receiving an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Salem State University. In addition to her journalism career, Carmen is a SAG-AFTRA affiliated actor and voice-over artist, bringing her voice and presence to audiences across platforms.
She is also the author of Going Back to T-Town: The Ernie Fields Territory Big Band, a powerful tribute to her father and the legacy of the legendary Ernie Fields.
Carmen’s career reflects excellence, integrity, and a lifelong commitment to storytelling that uplifts community and preserves history. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!
Thank you to the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus for organizing this event commemorating Black community leaders and trailblazers in the 13th Norfolk District and all across the Commonwealth.
Go Red for Women
Along with many of my colleagues, I was proud to wear red in support of Go Red for Women, a powerful initiative of the American Heart Association dedicated to raising awareness about cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of death among women.
Wearing red is a simple but visible way to spark conversation, encourage prevention, and remind the women in our lives to prioritize heart health through regular checkups, healthy habits, and knowing the warning signs. Together, we can help ensure that more women have the information and resources they need to live longer, healthier lives.
Help raise awareness—download a copy of the infographic above.
Pollard Middle School Project
I was proud to submit a letter of support to the Massachusetts School Building Authority and to speak on behalf of our community in support of the Pollard Middle School project.
This investment is about putting our students first. Pollard serves hundreds of Needham students each year, and they deserve a safe, modern learning environment that supports today’s educational standards and tomorrow’s opportunities.
Partnering with MSBA allows Needham to pursue this project with strong fiscal oversight and potential state reimbursement, helping protect local taxpayers while addressing critical infrastructure needs.
Strong schools are the foundation of a strong community. I will continue advocating for investments that support our students, educators, and families.
Celebrating the Year of the Horse—signifying strengths, energy and diligence
It was an honor to attend the Chinese New Year celebration hosted by Chinese Friends of Needham a few weeks ago.
This vibrant celebration was filled with culture, tradition, and a strong sense of community. Through shared performances and fellowship the event was a powerful reminder of how cultural traditions enrich our district and bring people together.
As we welcome the Year of the Horse, may it bring health, prosperity, and new opportunities for all. I’m grateful to the Chinese Friends of Needham for creating space to celebrate heritage, foster understanding, and strengthen the bonds that make our community so special.
Thank you to John Lin, co-founder of CFN (Chinese Friends of Needham) for organizing!
Forde Good Person Memorial Award
Congratulations to Jeff Dinneen, the 2026 recipient of the Patrick and Patricia Forde Good Person Memorial Award. It was truly an honor to present Jeff with this well-deserved recognition.
Through his incredible organization, "Cans for Calcium," Jeff has turned a simple idea into a powerful force for good—collecting more than 4 million cans and generating the equivalent of $200,000 donated to the Needham Community Council Food Pantry.
Jeff’s dedication, compassion, and commitment to helping neighbors in need exemplify the very spirit of this award. Our community is stronger because of his work. Thank you, Jeff, for making such a meaningful difference.
Congratulations to Haley on the grand opening of the Book Shop of Needham at 283 Chestnut Street!
Supporting local businesses strengthens our community, keeps our town vibrant, and helps ensure that Needham remains a place where small businesses can thrive.
Student Essay Contest Awards Dinner
I was honored to join the Lieutenant Manson H. Carter VFW Post 2498 for its annual Student Essay Contest Awards Dinner in Needham.
Students from Needham, Newton, and surrounding schools were recognized for thoughtful essays responding to the prompt: “How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?”
Congratulations to all of the honorees for their outstanding work—and thank you to the VFW, the Needham Exchange Club, and everyone who supports programs that encourage civic engagement and strong writing skills among our students.
High School Winners
• Samantha Spiegel (Newton South HS) – 1st Place
• Grace Flanagan (Needham HS) – 2nd Place
• Dennis Ching (Catholic Memorial HS) & Noah Siegel (Needham HS) – Tied for 3rd
Middle School Winners
• Eric Ho-Hsing Chang (Pollard MS) – 1st Place
• Jouen Kang (Pollard MS) – 2nd Place
• Malcolm Coe Kretchmer (High Rock School) – 3rd
Well done to all!
Swipe to see photos of some of the winners.
Division III State Champion Medfield Varsity Girls Soccer Team Visits the State House
Rep. Vaughn and I were proud to welcome the Division III State Champion Medfield Varsity Girls Soccer team to the State House.
The team, who captured the state title in November 2025, toured the building, including the Great Hall of Flags and both legislative chambers. Congratulations to these champions on an incredible season marked by hard work, dedication, and amazing teamwork!
World Headquarters of Johnson & Johnson’s Spine Manufacturing Platform
I toured the world headquarters of Johnson & Johnson’s spine manufacturing platform, located right here in Raynham, Massachusetts, with the Massachusetts Legislative Manufacturing Caucus.
Having this 75,000-square facility in Massachusetts positions the state as a global leader in advanced medical manufacturing while supporting high-quality local jobs. The Johnson & Johnson Institute is designed to enhance education with an advanced technological infrastructure.
"Healthcare professionals, sales consultants, and employees from around the world can come to learn, connect, and share knowledge with the common goal of improving overall patient care, including surgical and clinical outcomes."
Thank you, State Rep Dennis Gallagher, for the warm welcome to the 8th Plymouth District!
Visit https://jnjinstitute.com/en-us/location/raynham-ma to learn more.
The Office of State Rep. Josh Tarsky Seeks Summer Interns
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.
Legislative interns will receive hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations of a State
Representative Office, including but not limited to attending legislative briefings, fielding
meetings with advocates, performing policy research, and creating communications assets.
From Your Conversations to Our Work
Immigration Update: The PROTECT Act and Strengthening Protections in Massachusetts
This session, the Legislature is considering important proposals to strengthen protections for immigrants and families in Massachusetts, including the PROTECT Act (House Docket No. 5608). This legislation aims to ensure that state and local authorities do not assist federal immigration civil enforcement actions except as required by law or with proper judicial oversight, helping maintain public safety while protecting the rights and trust of all community members.
As part of the House, we met together to discuss what these protections should look like, sharing perspectives from across the Commonwealth. We also scheduled individual meetings with House leadership to provide input and inform the development of the bill, ensuring it reflects the needs and concerns of our communities.
In practical terms, the PROTECT Act would:
Limit state and local participation in federal immigration enforcement, so local resources stay focused on community safety.
Establish clear standards for when information can be shared with federal immigration authorities, protecting sensitive personal data.
Support oversight and training processes to ensure fair, equitable, and bias-free public safety practices.
These efforts complement other actions from the Governor and advocates, including legislation and executive orders that keep ICE out of sensitive places like courthouses, schools, hospitals, and places of worship unless a judge issues a warrant, restoring protections that had long existed under state policy.
These efforts are about ensuring everyone in our communities feels safe accessing basic services, participating in public life, and engaging with the justice system without fear — whether they’re residents, workers, or neighbors. They also help support public safety, family stability, and economic participation across the Commonwealth.
As always, I appreciate hearing from you. Your input helps guide my work at the State House, and I remain committed to addressing these concerns with transparency, care, and urgency.
If you need to get in touch with me before my scheduled office hours, please call 617-722-2582 or email me at Joshua.Tarsky@MaHouse.Gov
Legislative Happenings
On February 11th, the House passed H.5093, An Act to protect against election misinformation, and H.5094, An Act enhancing disclosure requirements for synthetic media in political advertising. Both of these bills address the ever-changing landscape that is AI-usage as it pertains to elections and campaigning. As you may have seen, one of Governor Healey’s Republican challengers recently posted a campaign attack ad which utilizes Artificial Intelligence to mimic the Governor’s voice—this blatantly misleading media is dishonest and deeply problematic. As Artificial Intelligence grows more effective at imitating human qualities, it will continue to become more and more difficult to separate fact from fiction.
H.5093 and H.5094 tackle this issue by 1) prohibiting the distribution of deceptive communications within 90 days of an election and 2) requiring that any synthetic media audio or video communication intended to influence voting for or against a candidate or ballot proposition must disclose at the beginning and end of the communication that it contains AI generated materials. They both have moved to the Senate Ways and Means Committee as we await action in the Senate.
An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power and economic competitiveness
On February 26th, the House passed H.5151, a significant and forward-looking bill that tackles two of the Commonwealth’s most urgent challenges: advancing bold climate action while protecting energy affordability for Massachusetts families. As the bill now moves to the Senate, I am proud to support this thoughtful legislation that balances environmental progress with economic realities.
I have heard from many of you, through emails and conversations, about concerns regarding energy costs and programs like MA Save. I have also listened closely to colleagues across the state who represent communities wrestling with the same issues. H.5151 addresses these challenges head-on.
The bill includes important cost-saving measures through MA Save and the Alternative Compliance Payment (ACP) program to help ease financial pressures during difficult economic times. At the same time, it requires a review of MA Save to find ways to cut administrative and marketing costs and make the program more efficient, ensuring that help reaches the people who need it most. Even with the adjustments proposed in H.5151, Mass Save remains one of the most well-resourced energy efficiency programs in the nation, consistently ranking among the top states for per-capita investment in energy-saving programs, far above the national average and ahead of most other states.
Beyond cost management, H.5151 invests in clean energy infrastructure, energy efficiency upgrades, and climate resilience projects, all critical to creating a healthier environment and a stronger economy for Norfolk 13 and the entire state. It also supports workforce development in the clean energy sector, opening doors to good jobs for local families.
There is no denying the challenge of balancing climate goals with affordability, but this bill takes a bold, pragmatic step forward to meet both. I’m confident it will benefit our communities and set Massachusetts on a sustainable, equitable path, and I will continue working to ensure it serves all of us well as it moves through the Senate.
What’s Next?
Moving into March, we’re looking forward to meeting with advocates from our district on a variety of legislation—from firefighters and their needs to social work licensure and municipal planning, we’ll see it all this month. We’ll also find time to meet with local leaders in our three towns regarding their budgetary priorities. With budget season fast-approaching, we’re excited to get into the details and find ways to advocate best for our district’s needs.
We’ll also hope to continue gathering momentum for the bills that we’ve filed, including the bell-to-bell cell-phone ban, the study into unemployment insurance improvements, and our TEACH-MA bill. Shepherding a bill from ideation to passage takes time and effort, and I’m happy to commit both to seeing these bills move through the legislative process and begin helping the citizens and families of this Commonwealth.
Yours in Community,
Josh
As always, if you need anything from my office, please reach out to me at joshua.tarsky@mahouse.gov or Kyle kyle.mcgrath@mahouse.gov or by phone at (617) 722-2582
Resource Highlight—Mass Cultural Council's Card to Culture Program
Through the Card to Culture program EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders get free or discounted admission to 600+ arts & cultural organizations across the state.
Find Participating Organizations’ Discounts
Card to Culture provides EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders free or steeply discounted admission to a variety of arts, humanities, and science organizations across the Commonwealth. Check out the list of participating organizations in your area:
About Card to Culture
Mass Cultural Council is proud to partner with the Department of Transitional Assistance, Massachusetts Health Connector, and the Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program on Card to Culture, the nation’s most comprehensive effort to expand cultural access for low-income and working families.
Organizations that run cultural programming voluntarily offer free access or steeply discounted rates to EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer), WIC (Women, Infants & Children Nutrition Program), and/or ConnectorCare health insurance cardholders. They also receive training, communications, and policy support from Mass Cultural Council. At the same time, the partner agencies administering these cards promote participating organizations to their constituencies.
Organizations that do not run cultural programs—but work directly with low-income populations—participate by promoting the program to their constituencies.
Individual EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders do not need to apply to participate. They are eligible to receive these discounts (as linked in the previous sentence) when they visit a participating organization.
If you found this newsletter informative, please consider sharing it with someone in the district!
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