Talking with Tarsky
- Administrator
- Dec 3, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Dec 29, 2025
What We’ve Been Up To
Thanks to the Rotary Club of Needham and Newman Elementary School for hosting the annual pancake breakfast. It was great working side by side with local officials and leaders as we served pancakes and sausages to the Needham community! Check out the video by Johnny Ahern below.
The Greater Boston Food Bank
I had the honor of attending The Greater Boston Food Bank's 20th Annual "Giving Chain" along with Gov. Healey, Mayor Wu, colleagues, community partners, and volunteers. This event— which provides thousands of turkeys to families in need—is a cherished tradition in our community.
The GBFB provides food to food pantries, soup kitchens, meal plans, senior centers, and more in the eastern part of Massachusetts. Last year, they delivered 107 million pounds of fresh food.
Meeting the Moment: Community Hearing and Resource Fair
I was honored to attend the “Meeting the Moment: Community Hearing and Resource Fair” hosted by the Massachusetts Permanent Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities at Needham Town Hall.
This event brought together individuals with lived experience of disability, families, advocates, and community partners to share perspectives, strengthen collaboration, and advance inclusion across our Commonwealth.
Grateful to the Commission and all who participated for their ongoing work to ensure accessibility, equity, and opportunity for every person with a disability in Massachusetts.
Learn more about the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities here.
Needham High School AP Government Class
As a former educator, it’s always great to return to the classroom. I had the chance to speak with students in an AP Government class at Needham High School. Their insight, curiosity, and engagement reminded me exactly why civic education is so vital.
We discussed the legislative process, public service, and the many ways young people can make their voices heard in our democracy. Their thoughtful questions and passion for government and community left me inspired and hopeful for the future.
Thank you to the students, teachers, and staff for the warm welcome!
Veterans Day
It was an honor to speak at Memorial Field in Needham and Baxter Park in Medfield on Veterans Day. A great turnout from local leaders, the VFW, American Legion, and the citizens I am so proud to represent.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are my own and do not represent the views of the U.S. Army, the National Guard, or the Department of Defense. No military endorsement is implied.
In Medfield
I had the pleasure of spending time with the 6th graders at Blake Middle School in Medfield during their annual Veterans’ lunch with faculty, staff, students, and local veterans. It was wonderful to see the school community come together to honor those who have served our country. Thank you to the school administration at Blake Middle School for your warm welcome!
Blake Middle School's Veterans' Day Lunch
Resource Highlight
Are you traveling for the holidays? Check out Mass511.com for real-time traffic updates, weather conditions, and road construction.
Can You Top Taylor Drift? Name a Snowplow Contest 2025-26
Celebrate the holidays and MassDOT's public works employees this winter!
Massachusetts Kindergarten through 8th-grade classrooms are invited to name a Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) snowplow in their school's Highway District. Proposed names for the 2025-26 winter season can be submitted using the form below by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 2025.
MassDOT will select up to 12 names statewide, two in each of the six Highway Districts. Each of the 12 names selected will be assigned to one MassDOT Highway Division snowplow this winter season and remain on the plow for its service life. Two winning entries from each Highway District will be selected: one from grades Kindergarten through 4 and one from grades 5 through 8. Each winning entry will receive a $100 gift card for school supplies.
VEG ER for Pets, Newton
I joined my colleagues, Rep. Amy Sangiolo, Rep. Greg Schwartz, Rep. Tommy Vitolo, and Rep. Bill MacGregor for a tour of the VEG ER for Pets in Newton. Thanks to all the veterinarians, nurses, and technicians for the wonderful tour of your facility and for showing us all the behind-the-scenes expert veterinary care that happens at a 24-hour animal hospital!
Legislative Happenings
November was a busy month in the State House, as we in the House debated and passed seven pieces of legislation before the holiday break. Ranging from investments in higher education to updating the terminology of our laws to make them more inclusive, we passed several meaningful bills that will make our Commonwealth stronger.
H.4750, An Act to Build Resilient Infrastructure to Generate Higher-Ed Transformation (The BRIGHT Act)
The BRIGHT Act authorizes approximately $3.65 billion in capital investment to modernize Massachusetts’ public colleges and universities and support the state’s
academic, research, workforce, and climate goals. Originally filed by Governor Healey,
the bill is financed by 10-year special obligation bonds that are backed by Fair Share
surtax revenue. These funds will be used to address deferred maintenance, modernization projects, and decarbonization across higher education institutions.
Highlights Include:
Invests $3.65 Billion in Core Campus Infrastructure
Updates to DCAMM Oversight
Improves Education and Transportation Fund Capital Financing
Modernizes Massachusetts' State College Building Authority (MSCBA)
Increases Access to Higher Education Opportunities
H.4645, An Act relative to assault and battery upon a transit worker, & H.4767, An Act requiring health care employers to develop and implement programs to prevent workplace violence
Both of these pieces of legislation look to protect an employee class - transit workers and
health care employees, like nurses, from bodily harm.
H.4645 adds transit workers to the same protected category as police officers, firefighters, and EMTs—ensuring heightened penalties for anyone who commits assault or battery against them. It also extends those protections to privately employed contractors who provide public transit services, including Keolis commuter rail operators and ticket collectors. With rising incidents of violence toward transit workers, this legislation is overdue and essential. By protecting the people who operate and support our transportation system, we’re protecting every rider who depends on it.
H.4767 strengthens protections for health care workers, establishes preventive and
protective standards to reduce the risk of violence, improves the health care facility's incident reporting, enhances interagency coordination to safeguard privacy, and creates legal protections for certain employees harmed in the line of duty.
H.4615, An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025
As part of allocating the final expenses of Fiscal Year 2025, H.4761 provides funding for
MassHealth, hospitals, and reproductive care; ensures that students at public colleges and universities receive the financial aid they depend on; adds funding for the universal meals program for children in public schools; and funds operational enhancements to improve how Massachusetts residents access supplemental nutrition assistance, or SNAP.
H.4704, An Act relative to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
H.4704 modernizes a severely outdated part of our General Laws in the usage of
derogatory terminology for those in the Commonwealth with intellectual and
developmental disabilities. By removing the “r-word” and similar terms in favor of
“Persons with a disability,” where appropriate, we ensure that our laws center on a person’s humanity first. The words we use may seem trivial, but they are truly crucial, as they shape our thinking and actions.
H.4706, An Act to improve Massachusetts Home Care
H.4706 passed overwhelmingly (153–1) and sets up the first statewide licensing and
accountability system for home care agencies, ensuring quality care for consumers,
protections for workers, and stronger oversight and transparency across Massachusetts’ growing home care sector.
Key highlights include:
Stronger Consumer Protections and Quality Standards
Workforce Protections and Safety Measures
Stronger Consumer Protections and Quality Standards
Establishment of two councils:
The Home Care Oversight Advisory Council to guide the licensure rollout
The Home Care Worker and Consumer Abuse Stakeholder Advisory Committee to address abuse, harassment, and discrimination against home care workers, personal care attendants (PCAs), and consumers.
The bill also adds anti-discrimination protections for PCAs, safeguarding them from
harassment based on race, sex, religion, or other protected characteristics.
H.4692, Resolutions rescinding previous Article V Convention applications
We voted to rescind all past applications calling for a national Constitutional Convention under Article V. Some of these outdated resolutions, including a 1977 call to ban abortion, could have been used by Congress or the Trump Administration to push for a convention that could open the Constitution to sweeping and unpredictable changes. Massachusetts now joins 16 other states in making it clear: constitutional decisions should reflect the will of today’s elected leaders and the people we represent—not outdated resolutions from decades past.
This action reaffirms our commitment to protecting fundamental freedoms and ensuring
that any future amendments to our nation’s founding document come through a
thoughtful, modern, and democratic process. I am proud to stand up for our Constitution
and for the rights of all Massachusetts residents.
December Office Hours
What’s Next?
I hope you all had a wonderful November! As we look ahead to December and the New Year, there’s so much to look forward to across the district—holiday cheer, conversations with students, and celebrations of the individuals who make our community strong.
We’ll also be reflecting on what worked well this year and where we can improve to make our office even more effective. One area we’re especially proud of is our constituent services: we’ve handled eighty-five cases involving state and federal departments. While not every case can have a perfect outcome, we successfully resolved 95% of them, and for the remaining 5%, we made sure to clearly communicate the challenges causing the delay or issue.
When many people think of politics, they focus on big legislative actions or divisive debates. But for us, delivering strong, responsive constituent services is one of the greatest honors of this work. Being your State Representative is a privilege I do not take lightly, and I hope I’ve served you well in this first year.
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
From my family to yours—Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
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