February Newsletter
- 18 hours ago
- 5 min read
Bringing Beacon Hill to You
State Senator John F. Keenan
Abington, Braintree, Hanover, Holbrook, Quincy, & Rockland
February Newsletter
For such a short month, so much went on in the district and the office. Be sure to see the dates and times for office hours, happening throughout March. Read the newsletter in its original form here.
In the District
In this year of the Fire Horse, I celebrated Chinese Lunar New Year first in Braintree, then in Quincy, and finally at the State House. I enjoyed seeing how the lions and dragons come to life, and how the dancers effortlessly mesh with the music, taking on the energy, power, and independence the Fire Horse brings. I wish everyone prosperity, strength, and good fortune this year.
More festivities took place at the Abington Public Library to honor Director Deborah Grimmett’s 40 years of service. I laughed hearing that when she was hired her manager hoped she would stay for three years; she certainly stayed longer. Abington is lucky to have such an inspirational leader and talented staff.
In Hanover, local legend Dr. Kevin Pizzi of Artistic Dentistry received recognition from Representative David DeCoste, Select Board Chair Rhonda Nyman, and me to commemorate his retirement after decades of service. Over the years, he provided mouthguards for athletic teams, sponsored Hanover Day, and supported local food pantries.
Students probably enjoyed the time off during recent storms, but I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Quincy’s South West Middle School where I met with Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, QPS Superintendent Mulvey and his leadership team, Principal Mitchell and her staff, and with students and parents. The school is doing remarkable work, offering students great educational opportunities in a warm and inviting neighborhood school.
Fresh Look
Last month, you may have noticed the newsletter’s new look, which comes as part of a larger effort to make my online presence more accessible. I encourage you to stop by www.senatorjohnkeenan.com to check out the revamped website. My communications director, Magnolia, did a fantastic job incorporating the priorities and services of the office while keeping it fun and fresh (the transportation page especially!)
In the Chamber
Many advocates pass through the State House each session, but a group of student climate advocates from Quincy (Fontbonne Academy) and Lawrence particularly impressed me. They met with our office to discuss the bills they believe are most critical to advancing their cause, speaking with urgency and conviction. One pointed to the issue of air quality - citing higher asthma rates in communities that are exposed to dangerous levels of particulate – highlighting a bill currently before the Legislature that aims to address the issue. I brought them into the Senate Chamber during a formal session so the entire Senate could welcome them. Afterward, Senator Pavel Payano and I continued the conversation, discussing their goals and ambitions in greater depth.
The Senate acted to strengthen the state’s Lemon Law by passing S.2945 - An Act modernizing protections for consumers in automobile transactions. The bill extends the timeline for buyers to void a sale to seven days after receiving delivery if a vehicle fails inspection, increases the maximum mileage for used car warranties up to 175,000 miles, and reinforces the bonds that provide relief to victims of auto sale fraud, ensuring stronger safeguards for drivers across the Commonwealth.
The Senate unanimously passed S.2946 - An Act relative to modernizing the pathway to becoming a certified public accountant, legislation to strengthen the CPA workforce while maintaining high professional standards. The bill updates certification requirements to better balance work experience and education, and eliminates the outdated, costly requirement that candidates complete more than a standard college degree’s worth of credits.
Additionally, the Senate passed legislation aimed at protecting against illegal discrimination when buying or renting a home. The legislation, S.2947 - An Act regarding fair housing practices in the Commonwealth, mandates fair housing training for all real estate agents and strengthens state enforcement of fair housing laws. The Senate adopted my amendment to anonymize all complaint summaries.
The Senate passed S.2965 - An Act updating the unit pricing exemption threshold, ensuring that smaller retailers continue to be exempt from unit pricing requirements. Unit pricing, while a useful price-comparison tool for shoppers at big box stores and supermarkets, can pose a burden for smaller neighborhood bodegas, convenience stores, and small family-owned grocery shops where unit price shopping is unlikely to occur.
All of the above bills now move to the House of Representatives for its consideration.
On an especially sunny day, the BRIGHT Act, S.2952 - An Act to build resilient infrastructure to generate higher-ed transformation, passed unanimously in the Senate. The $3.28 billion bond bill will invest in upgrades and deferred maintenance in public higher education campuses across Massachusetts.
Lastly, a piece of legislation I filed, S.2716 - An Act amending the charter of the Town of Rockland, was signed into law by the Governor. This will allow the town to implement a more modern and efficient operating procedure.
February was a busy month of advocacy, I met at the State House with advocates from communities in my district, including those urging action to fund the Head Start program, address kidney disease, improve alcohol policies, and preserve and create more affordable housing. We convened a meeting with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to review a bridge replacement project that could impact the North River, which is in the southern portion of my district, and discussed local issues with the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). We requested and received an update on the new Justice Center that will be built on the site of the current Francis X. Bellotti Courthouse in Quincy, I also met with the Citizens Advisory Board of the Department of Developmental Services – South Coastal Area to discuss their concerns and current legislation affecting persons with disabilities.
With all that is going on nationally, it is great that here at home we have such active and committed residents advocating for local and state causes.
In the Paper
Earlier in February, The Boston Globe published an opinion piece that caught my attention. Written by a representative of large online sports betting operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel, the column portrayed these operators as champions of transparency and regulation—protecting the integrity of sports while generating tax revenue for the public good. The arguments echoed the familiar playbook once used by the opioid and tobacco industries: highlight selective data, downplay the risks, and frame rapid expansion as an unquestioned public benefit. In response, I submitted a letter to the editor calling out the misleading statistics and incomplete picture presented in the piece. I also made the case for stronger consumer protections, including the safeguards proposed in my Bettor Health Act. You can read my full letter to the editor here.
March Office Hours
I will host office hours across the district this March. Come by with questions, comments, or just to chat about state issues.
Another Angle
If you enjoyed the newsletter, you are sure to like my appearance on Abington Community Access’s Community Chat. Host Kevin Tocci and I covered much of what happened recently in the district and at the State House, like the Governor's budget, what has passed in the Senate, and more. Give it a watch here.
