Talking with Tarsky, July 2026
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Welcome to the July edition of Talking with Tarsky!
June was a busy and productive month, both at the State House and here in the district. From passing important legislation to attending community events, meeting with residents, and recognizing the incredible people who make Dover, Medfield, and Needham such special places to live, it was a month full of meaningful work and connections. In this issue, you'll find updates on key legislative action and some of the events that shaped the past month.
I'm also excited to share a new feature on my website: How I Voted. Transparency and accountability are essential to public service, and this page provides an easy way to see how I voted on major legislation, along with the reasoning behind those votes. I hope it gives you greater insight into my work as your State Representative.
Finally, I'm honored to have the opportunity to attend the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the Harvard Kennedy School this month. Over the course of three weeks, starting on July 6, I'll be learning alongside public-sector leaders from across the United States and around the world. I'm paying for the program through a combination of Harvard Kennedy School scholarships and my own personal funds.
While I'll still be checking email and staying on top of constituent matters, my response times may be a bit slower than usual. If you need immediate assistance, please contact my Legislative Aide, Kyle McGrath, at Kyle.McGrath@mahouse.gov.
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.
Local Office Hours for July
June Photo Highlights
See What's New on the Website! New Feature: How I Voted
Transparency and accountability are at the heart of public service. That's why I've launched a new section on my website called How I Voted.
This page will include every vote I've taken on legislation since taking office. For each bill, you'll find a plain-language summary of what it does, how I voted, and an explanation of the reasoning behind my vote.
My goal is to make it easier for you to stay informed about the work happening on Beacon Hill and to understand the decisions I make on your behalf. Whether you agree with every vote or not, you deserve to know how I'm representing you.
I invite you to explore the page and learn more about the issues we're tackling together. Please check back often, as this page is a work in progress.
Legislation
This June, the House passed—or enacted—14 pieces of legislation with the Senate.
On June 3rd, the House passed H.5469, An Act promoting transparency and public access in state government.
Public confidence in government depends on transparency and accountability. Massachusetts residents deserve to have confidence that their government operates openly, responsibly, and in the public interest.
While Massachusetts has long maintained public records requirements for many government entities, certain aspects of legislative records and legislative administrative functions were not governed by a formal public access process.
This legislation creates a clearer framework for public access to government information, applies public records requirements to the Governor’s Office, and establishes a process for the State Auditor to review certain administrative functions of the Legislature while respecting the constitutional responsibilities and independence of each branch of government.
What Does the Bill Do?
Applies Massachusetts’ public records framework to the Governor’s Office for records created or received beginning January 7, 2027.
Creates a formal process for members of the public to request legislative records.
Establishes Legislative Records Access Officers in the House and Senate to manage public records requests.
Defines categories of legislative records available for public access, including:
Filed legislation, amendments, and fiscal notes.
Committee hearing information, testimony, and recorded votes.
Legislative rules, journals, calendars, and roll calls.
Final reports, financial records, and administrative policies.
Creates timelines and procedures for responding to legislative records requests.
Authorizes the State Auditor to audit certain administrative functions of the Legislature, including:
Legislative budgets.
Official audits.
Appropriated funds and expenditures.
Monetary settlement agreements.
Establishes procedures to protect constitutional legislative functions and preserve separation of powers.
Provides funding for technology, records management systems, and staffing needed to implement transparency reforms.
How I Voted
I voted YES.
Why I Voted This Way
Transparency is one of the foundations of public trust. As a teacher, principal, military officer, attorney, and now state representative, I have spent my career in positions where accountability is expected and essential. I welcome that standard in public service.
Residents deserve confidence that their government operates openly, responsibly, and in the public interest. This legislation creates a clearer and more consistent process for public access to government records while recognizing that each branch of government has constitutional responsibilities that must be protected. Transparency and legislative independence are not competing principles; both are essential to a healthy democracy.
As a legislator, I believe elected officials should be accountable for how public resources are used and how government decisions are made. Establishing clear procedures for accessing records and reviewing administrative functions helps strengthen the relationship between residents and their government.
I supported this legislation because it improves transparency, increases accountability, and provides a thoughtful framework that respects both the public’s right to information and the constitutional role of the Legislature.
On June 4th, the House voted on four pieces of legislation.
H.5468, An Act authorizing municipalities to opt in to a temporary pilot to extend the hours of liquor licenses and to allow for public consumption in designated districts in summer 2026
H.5468 authorizes municipalities to participate in a pilot program from June 8 to July 31, 2026, that would allow those with on-premises alcohol consumption licenses to extend operating hours by one hour, up to 3 a.m., and allow municipalities to establish designated public consumption districts for expanded alcohol purchase and consumption.
The bill does not impose a one-size-fits-all approach on cities and towns but instead gives municipalities the option to participate in a limited, temporary pilot program if local officials determine it is appropriate for their community, allows communities to determine where such designated districts shall be located, what restrictions are appropriate, and which establishments may participate.
The bill passed the Senate and was signed by the Governor on June 8th.
H.5470, An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects
H.5470 allocated $1.35 billion in spending seeking to ease pressures caused by strained school budget and delivers a massive infusion of cash into the state's public transportation system. The investments are expansive and include cutting taxes to jumpstart housing construction, training the next generation of doctors and teachers, helping cities and towns dig out from an extreme winter, taking steps to shield the state's finances from the ripple effects of federal tax and tariff policy, and protecting immigrants from federal deportation actions.
The bill passed the Senate and was signed by the Governor on June 12th.
S.2619, An Act establishing the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act
This comprehensive legislation establishes essential consumer data privacy rights for residents of the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts Consumer Data Privacy Act provides consumers with greater control over their own data. The bill increases accountability for companies and grants user data privacy protections to residents of and those present in Massachusetts. Highlights include strong privacy protections for minors and a blanket ban on the sale of precise geolocation data.
S.2619 is currently in Conference Committee to reconcile the differences between the two chambers’ versions.
S.2563, An Act amending certain laws relative to individuals with disabilities
S.2563 removes outdated and offensive language in the General Laws to describe persons with disabilities by removing all variations of outdated terms such as “handicapped,” “disabled,” and the “r-word,” and replaces these terms with current terminology such as “person with a disability.” This legislation was signed by the Governor into law on June 12th.
On June 10th, the House passed three important pieces of legislation:
S.2726, An Act regarding free expression
S.2726 protects residents’ access to library materials and guards against politically motivated book bans in the Commonwealth’s school libraries and public libraries. The bill requires local policies to be developed using nationally recognized library standards and lays out a process around challenges to library materials. The bill also protects librarians and school library professionals from retaliation. The legislation awaits the appointment of a Conference Committee to reach agreement on final legislative language.
H.5491, An Act implementing the recommendations of the Walsh-Kennedy Commission Report, and S.1646, An Act relative to violation of regulation regarding hot work processes
H.5491 and S.1646 aim to prevent “hot works” accidents at worksites and hold those responsible accountable. “Hot works” accidents involve heat, sparks, or flames capable of initiating fires or explosions. These bills are based on the recommendations issued by the Walsh-Kennedy Commission, which was established after a nine-alarm fire - ignited by sparks from unpermitted welding work - claimed the lives of Boston Fire Department Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy. The former bill awaits a decision before the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and the latter legislation sits before the Governor’s desk for her signature.
H.5493, An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects
A $228 million supplemental budget, H.5493, addresses time-sensitive budget deficiencies, including winter storm recovery costs, public safety operations, substance use treatment services, homelessness assistance, and emergency management expenses. The legislation has yet to be taken up by the Senate.
On June 11th, the House passed H.5495, a resolution designating August 8th and 9th, 2026 as the sales tax holiday.
These resolutions will suspend the state’s 6.25% sales tax on most retail items priced under $2500 for the August 8-9 weekend.
On June 15th, the House enacted S.2565, An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder.
S.2565 establishes a statewide ‘blue envelope’ program, giving motorists with autism spectrum disorder a simple, recognizable way to alert police officers to their diagnosis and help guide the interaction before it escalates. The easily recognizable envelopes can be handed over during a traffic stop by an individual with autism whose ability to communicate is likely to be negatively affected by a stressful situation.
Governor Healey signed this legislation into law on June 25th, 2026.
On June 17th, the House passed two important pieces of legislation:
H.5511, An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy
H.5511 is a landmark literacy bill that will transform how the Commonwealth teaches children to read. The legislation establishes clear statewide standards for evidence-based reading instruction, requiring the teaching of phonics, ensuring access to high-quality K-3 curricula, enhancing educator training and support, and creating new reporting and accountability systems.
The bill sits in front of the Governor’s desk for her approval.
S.3064, An Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities
A $3.5 billion bond bill, S.3064, will modernize environmental laws, strengthen climate resilience, support agricultural and food systems, streamline permitting processes, and improve the management of the Commonwealth’s natural resources. The bill advances a broad set of reforms designed to help communities prepare for the impacts of climate change, accelerate critical infrastructure projects, improve environmental protections, and support Massachusetts’ cities and towns. A Conference Committee was appointed on June 23rd.
Looking Ahead
As we head into July, the work at the State House continues to heat up. Our formal session ends on July 31st, which entails decisions on legislation with a wide array of issues: July will be a marathon, not a sprint.
We’ve opened our office to our second summer of interns; they’ve already been doing excellent work, and we’re looking forward to seeing what else they accomplish this summer.
Also in July, we’ll be capping off the Inaugural Youth Council: though it may be ending, it was such a success that we will continue it for another year (and hopefully years to come)!
And finally, we’ll host our first Youth Fellowship Week in late July, so keep an eye out for that.
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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