Talking with Tarsky, August 2026
- Aug 6
- 8 min read
Learning is one of the greatest investments we can make, not only in ourselves, but in the people we serve.
I'm honored to have completed the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executive Program. Over the past three weeks, I had the privilege of learning from world-class faculty and engaging with an extraordinary group of public servants from across the United States and around the world. While we came from different backgrounds and experiences, we shared a common goal: becoming better leaders and better public servants.
The conversations, perspectives, and friendships I gained throughout this program were invaluable. I return home with new ideas, fresh perspectives, and a renewed commitment to serving the people of Massachusetts with integrity, collaboration, and purpose.
Thank you to the faculty and staff at the Harvard Kennedy School for creating an exceptional learning environment and for investing in leaders who are committed to making a positive difference in their communities.
It was an honor to be part of this remarkable program. The lessons I learned and the relationships I built will stay with me throughout my public service.
As always, thank you for the opportunity to represent you. I hope you enjoy this month's update, and I look forward to seeing you around the district this summer.
On July 24, during the morning commute, you may have heard me speaking on An Act establishing a veterans’ suicide mortality review and prevention council on WBUR. In case you missed it, the clip is below.
Photo Highlights
As the summer comes to a close, I'd like to recognize three outstanding groups of young leaders who have made a meaningful impact on our office this year. We recently concluded our inaugural Youth Council, and I am incredibly grateful to each student who shared their time, ideas, and perspectives over the past year. Your thoughtful conversations and fresh insights have helped inform my work as your State Representative, and I look forward to building on the program's success in the years ahead. To those heading off to college or beginning a new chapter this fall, I wish you every success—you have bright futures ahead, and I know you will continue to make a difference wherever you go.
I also want to thank our summer interns for their hard work and dedication. Throughout the summer, they contributed to constituent services, policy research, communications, and district outreach while completing capstone projects that reflected their creativity, initiative, and commitment to public service. It has been a pleasure mentoring such a talented group of students, and I look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the years to come.
And last but not least, the Youth Fellowship students wrapped up July. As a former educator, I know firsthand that when we invest in young people, we invest in stronger communities. That's why it has been such a privilege to work with these students. Their curiosity, thoughtful ideas, and commitment to public service have enriched our office and reminded me that the next generation is ready to lead.
Interns: Liam, Deyah, Andrew, and Will Youth Council Youth Fellowship Youth Fellowship Youth Fellowship
Legislation
This July, the House passed or enacted with the Senate 14 pieces of legislation.
On July 1st, the House voted on two pieces of legislation:
H.5555, Fiscal Year 2027 Budget: An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2027 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities of the commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund, and serial bond requirements, and for certain permanent improvements
Without raising taxes on Massachusetts residents, the Fiscal Year 2027 budget drives down costs for residents, boosts the state's economy, and adds to the state’s savings account. The plan makes record investments in public education, unlocks new housing production, strengthens the state’s public transportation systems, and protects vulnerable residents from the impact of federal cuts.
The bill spends $63.4 billion, a 4 percent increase from last year, and includes $2.7 billion in Fair Share funds that will support public education and transportation as voters intended. The budget raises no taxes and adds $51 million to the state’s ‘Rainy Day’ Stabilization Fund, which is projected to reach a historic $8.2 billion balance by the end of Fiscal Year 2027.
The Governor signed H.5555 on July 9th.
S.2916, An Act improving campaign finance reporting for statewide ballot questions
This comprehensive legislation strengthens campaign finance disclosure requirements for statewide ballot question campaigns, providing voters with more timely, transparent, and accessible information before they cast their ballots. S.2916 also establishes a special legislative commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the statewide initiative petition process under Article XLVIII of the Massachusetts Constitution and provide recommendations by 2027.
S.2916 currently sits in a Conference Committee to reconcile the differences between the two chambers’ versions.
On July 8th, the House passed H.5576, a $561 million bond bill that strengthens key innovation sectors, supports small businesses, expands housing opportunities, and positions the Commonwealth for long-term economic growth and competitiveness.
The legislation makes targeted updates across dozens of state programs to improve efficiency, encourage investment, reduce barriers to economic development, and better prepare Massachusetts for emerging industries and workforce needs. I was proud to get a number of earmarks for our district, totalling $1.1 million. While more work is needed for this money to get to our towns, I’m happy to have made the first step.
H.5576 is currently in Conference Committee to reconcile the differences between the two chambers’ versions.
On July 15th, the House passed three pieces of legislation:
S.3028, An Act promoting pet equity, treatment and safety
The PETS Act strengthens animal welfare, modernizes veterinary care, improves consumer protections, and supports responsible pet ownership across the Commonwealth.
S.3028 is currently in Conference Committee to reconcile the differences between the two chambers’ versions.
S.3106, An Act relative to toxic-free medical devices
The Massachusetts Legislature voted to ban the use of a toxic chemical commonly added to plastic intravenous (IV) bags and linked to cancer cases in Massachusetts.
The bill would phase out the use of DEHP—a toxic chemical—in IV bags and tubing in Massachusetts. Many IV bags currently contain DEHP, which is added to improve the plastic’s flexibility but can pose serious health dangers to patients.
The Governor signed S.3106 into law on July 25th.
S.2903, An Act honoring Blue Star Families
S.2903 creates a new special license plate, the Blue Star Families plate, to honor the memories of fallen law enforcement officers and help family members remember their loved one in a visible way. It would also create a Blue Star Family emblem for motorcycle plates.
The Governor signed S.2903 on July 15th.
On July 22nd, the House passed H.5595, An Act prioritizing patient access to care.
H.5595 updates state law governing abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy, ensuring that physicians can provide medically necessary abortion care based on their professional medical judgment. Dozens of patients annually are forced to travel out of state to obtain abortion care later in pregnancy because of existing legal restrictions, according to Reproductive Equity Now. This legislation helps ensure that patients can receive medical care in Massachusetts from their providers.
H.5595 was passed in the Senate and currently sits before the Governor to be signed.
On July 29th, the House passed H.5613, An Act to improve care and prepare for the new era of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
This legislation would strengthen dementia care, improve support for families and caregivers, expand workforce training, and enhance public health efforts to address Alzheimer's disease and other dementias across the Commonwealth.
H.5613 takes a comprehensive approach to improving care for individuals living with dementia while equipping health care providers, first responders, hospitals, and state agencies with the tools and resources needed to better serve patients.
H.5613 currently sits in Senate Ways and Means.
On July 30th, the House passed two pieces of legislation:
S.3141, An Act relative to primary care for you
S.3141 expands access to primary care, shifts the health care system toward prevention, invests in the health care workforce, supports hospitals and community health centers, improves affordability by lowering prescription drug costs, and increasing accountability across the health care system.
The legislation establishes historic primary care investment targets, creates advanced primary care payment models that reward prevention and coordinated care, expands access to innovative models of care, creates an expedited determination of need process to expand equitable care access, and strengthens oversight to ensure primary care investments actually improve access, lower costs, and support a sustainable, patient-centered health care system.
S.3141 is currently in a Conference Committee to reconcile the differences between the two chambers’ versions.
H.5620, An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment
After the appointed Conference Committee made its recommendations, the House passed H.5620, also known as the PROTECT Act, and sent it to the Governor’s desk.
This sweeping legislation seeks to protect residents from overreach by federal immigration authorities and ensure that local and state law enforcement are not involved in federal immigration enforcement. If signed into law, the legislation would create among the strongest protections in the nation for residents who have immigrated to their communities.
The final bill strengthens due process protections; limits civil immigration enforcement in courthouses, public school grounds, hospitals, and other sensitive locations; expands protections for victims of crime; and increases transparency, accountability, and clarity for correctional facilities and law enforcement relative to civil immigration enforcement. The PROTECT Act was originally filed by the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, with the goal of offering feasible policy options to address growing concerns about federal overreach in Massachusetts.
On the last day of formal session, July 31st, the House passed four pieces of legislation:
H.5627, An Act to improve Massachusetts home care
H.5627 establishes a licensing and oversight process for home care agencies whose staff provide care such as dressing, meal preparation, bathing, companionship, and other tasks that help them safely age in place. The legislation ensures the safety and security of residents who rely on home care workers, who often provide significant support to not only the individuals utilizing their services but to their families as well.
The bill was passed by the Senate and sits in front of the Governor for her signature.
H.5629, An Act enhancing child welfare protections
H.5629 strengthens oversight, transparency, and accountability within the Commonwealth’s child welfare system by building on the work of existing entities including the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), and the Commonwealth’s public schools in order to take a comprehensive approach toward making sure all children receive the support they deserve.
This legislation was passed by the Senate and sits in front of the Governor for her signature.
S.2726, An Act regarding free expression
S.2726 protects freedom of thought and expression in Massachusetts schools and public libraries and safeguard open access to books and other educational materials. As school and public libraries nationally are increasingly faced with politically-charged debates over banning access to particular library books, this bill creates clear guidelines for how schools and libraries decide which books to make available, and how local leaders determine whether a book is appropriate or should be removed from the shelf.
S.2726 was passed by the Senate and sits in front of the Governor for her signature.
H.5553, An Act authorizing the division of capital asset management and maintenance to take by eminent domain certain land in the town of Norwood
The Legislature enacted emergency public health legislation to clear the way for a speedy revitalization of Norwood Hospital, allowing the state to take the Norwood Hospital property by eminent domain and transfer it to a new, nonprofit operator.
Residents of many communities in Norfolk County and Greater Boston, including in our district, have faced obstacles to health care access since Norwood Hospital was shut down six years ago. Subsequent attempts to reopen a hospital on the site failed due to the mismanagement and bankruptcy of its private equity-backed operator, Steward Health Care. Construction of a new hospital remains stalled amid media reports about the out-of-state landowner, Medical Properties Trust.
H.5553 was passed by the Senate and sits in front of the Governor for her signature.
Looking Ahead
The end of July marks the end of the formal session for this term, though the number of bills that sit in conference committees can see movement and become law before year’s end. As we approach the second half of 2026, I’m excited to begin our second year of the Youth Council, as well as the return of Dover Days, Medfield Day, and Needham’s Harvest Fair. Though we may not be working on legislation as often, my office will continue to be responsive to constituent needs and concerns, and I hope to see you out in the district soon!
Yours in Community,
Josh
As always, if you need anything from my office, please reach out to me or Kyle by email (joshua.tarsky@mahouse.gov | kyle.mcgrath@mahouse.gov) or by phone at (617) 722-2582
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