June Newsletter
- Jul 8
- 7 min read
Bringing Beacon Hill to You
State Senator John F. Keenan
Abington, Braintree, Hanover, Holbrook, Quincy, & Rockland
June Newsletter
In the District
I was thrilled to attend the Quincy High School and North Quincy High
School graduations to cheer on the classes of 2026. I have no doubt these students will thrive and make positive impacts wherever they go. Congrats not only to them, but to their families, friends, and teachers who made their successes possible!
Celebrations continued at Quincy's annual Flag Day Parade, one of our community's most cherished traditions, bringing together families, friends, and neighbors in a display of patriotism. I have attended the Flag Day festivities for decades and I am so glad to see so many others enjoying the parade and the spectacular fireworks display.
Later in the month, Quincy hosted its annual PorchFest. My wife and I had a great time enjoying the music, meeting neighbors, and soaking in the atmosphere in Wollaston—even if the hills gave us a bit of a workout.
That same day I also stopped by Hanover Day where I visited the booths of organizations, ran into friends and my brother and his grandchildren, listened to the great music, and watched the many carnival rides.
Earlier in the month, the Town of Hanover and Hanover Chamber of Commerce held their annual State of the Town Breakfast, which brought together business owners, community leaders, and residents for updates on the projects, initiatives, and priorities shaping Hanover's future, including the construction of the South Shore Regional Vocational Technical School.
Quincy’s legislative delegation continues its work with MassDOT, the MBTA, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Congressman Lynch’s office, and the Mayor’s office to advance ferry service from Squantum Point Park. We recently met on-site to review plans for improvements that are scheduled over the next few years. After many years of continuous effort, it is exciting to see ferry service become a priority.
I gladly attended the Friends of Wollaston Beach annual meeting to recognize M.SGT. John DeLorenzo on his retirement, honor his longstanding dedication to the North Quincy ROTC program, and thank him for the ROTC’s commitment to improving Wollaston Beach. It was fascinating to hear Sagamore Faries Gray share the history of the indigenous people who called the Wollaston Beach area home. I also proudly presented a citation to Maureen Mazrimas in recognition of her unwavering commitment to the Friends of Wollaston Beach and her many contributions to the Quincy community.
Quincy Toastmasters held their 77-year celebration. The club has helped members in Quincy build confidence, strengthen their communication skills, and grow as leaders. This year, the club also earned Smedley Distinguished status, the highest recognition a Toastmasters club can achieve. This outstanding accomplishment reflects the dedication, excellence, and commitment of the club’s members and officers. Cheers to Quincy Toastmasters!
Moments of Appreciation
Although November is the month most associated with gratitude, June was full of appreciation.
I attended Quincy’s Korean War Remembrance Ceremony to honor the 38 men from Quincy who lost their lives in battle. This meaningful tribute grounded us in remembrance and appreciation for their courage, sacrifice, and service.
The annual Firefighters Memorial ceremonies in Quincy and Braintree
remind us that few professions carry such personal risk in service of others. We honor those lost in the line of duty, those who have passed, and extend our deepest gratitude to all who continue to serve their communities with courage and selflessness. I had a similar sense of appreciation when joining the Quincy Police Department for its annual Police Memorial ceremony, held at the Mount Wollaston Cemetery. Members of the department marched from the Quincy District Court to the cemetery, where officers who died in the line of duty and those who have passed away during the last five years were remembered. The ceremony serves as a meaningful tribute to their service, sacrifice, and legacy.
I saw many of the same faces at the 2026 Quincy District Court Law Day
along with members of legal and judicial communities. Law Day recognized the dedicated professionals who have devoted their careers to upholding justice, protecting our rights, and serving the public—especially those recognized for exceptional police work and extraordinary acts of bravery. This year's gathering meaningfully marked the final Law Day to be held at the current Francis X. Bellotti Courthouse and included a heartfelt tribute to Arthur H. Tobin, who faithfully served as Clerk-Magistrate of Quincy District Court for more than 40 years.
The State House hosted its annual Commonwealth Heroines Awards, recognizing women who make extraordinary contributions to their communities. This year, I enthusiastically nominated Eileen Kelly, Food Pantry Manager at the Interfaith Social Services Food Pantry in Quincy. Having seen Eileen’s work firsthand, I can attest to the remarkable dedication, compassion, and energy she brings to serving others. Her commitment to ensuring that no one in our community goes hungry is truly inspiring. Eileen’s passion for helping others and the positive impact she makes every day make her exceptionally deserving of this recognition.
I gladly welcomed Bryan O'Connor, a first grader at Squantum Elementary School in Quincy, and his family to the State House to be recognized as one of just 10 winners of the MSBA My Ideal School Competition. First graders across the Commonwealth considered how the design and construction of school buildings can support student learning and submitted drawings of their designs. I cannot wait to see what other great ideas Bryan creates.
Pride all the Time
I kicked off Pride Month with the City of Quincy LGBTQ+ Commission's Fifth Annual LGBTQ+ Pride Month Flag raising, where the Progress Pride Flag was raised at the Church of Presidents.
In June, the State House hosted its inaugural Commonwealth Pride Award, for which I nominated Richard Ash. A lifelong Quincy resident, attorney, and member of the Quincy City Council, Richard has served on the Board of Quincy Pride, Inc. since 2018 and as its President since 2022. His dedication and leadership have helped transform the Annual Quincy Pride Festival, tripling attendance and strengthening its role as a vibrant celebration of inclusion, community, and pride. Richard’s tireless advocacy, commitment to public service, and leadership in advancing equality have made a lasting impact on Quincy and beyond.
Speaking of the annual Quincy Pride event, the weather was spectacular this year and it was great to see folks playing games, buying from local vendors, and enjoying some great music. The young performers from Mel O’Drama were phenomenal, performing musical numbers from Seussical. Seeing the community come together in celebration is a powerful reminder that support, unity, inclusion, and kindness help create places where everyone feels welcome!
In the Senate
In April, the Senate passed a supplemental budget plan that included $750,000 in education and transportation investments for communities across the Norfolk and Plymouth District. I am pleased to share that Governor Maura Healey signed this budget into law in June with all the Norfolk and Plymouth District funding included. This supplemental budget presented a great opportunity to get money back to the district for improvements that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of community members. From libraries and schools to the ferry and Councils on Aging, there is something for everyone with this funding. Read more here.
On June 4, the Senate passed S.3107, An Act relative to advancing the profession of commercial interior design. This bill provides state licensure to eligible commercial interior designers. The license allows registered commercial interior designers to partake in certain state and federal building projects. The bill also broadens the Designer Selection Board for state building projects by allowing commercial interior designers to sit on this council that considers such decisions.
Also, on June 4, the Senate passed S.3106, An Act relative to toxic-free medical devices. This bill prohibits the use of DEHP, a known toxic chemical often found in IV bags and tubing. These chemicals can enter a patient’s bloodstream and cause further complications.
That same day, the Senate unanimously passed S.1309, An Act relative to teacher retirement election. This legislation gives long-serving educators who did not originally join the Retirement-Plus program upon its rollout in 2001 an opportunity to purchase their way into the program.
On June 11, the Senate passed S.3111, An Act enhancing child welfare protections, which strengthens and expands the rights of children in the foster care system with a newly established Foster Child Bill of Rights. This bill helps to safeguard the well-being of at-risk children in state care and foster care by prioritizing support. The act will increase the diversion of children with behavioral or attendance issues in school to Family Resource Centers. The Senate adopted an amendment I filed giving parents, guardians, and caregivers the power to act in a child’s best interest with respect to photos, an initiative inspired by my work on the revenge porn bill. If signed into law, the amendment would ensure that if a child has taken a revealing selfie an adult can intervene to protect the child.
Recent studies indicate that 40 percent of emergency room visits were preventable if the patient had received primary care treatment. On June 18, the Senate passed S.3116, An act relative to primary care for you, which aims to make insurers more fairly and easily compensate primary care providers, remove requirements for prior authorizations from insurers for referrals, support community health centers, and to re-establish a Medicaid Graduate Education Program to incentivize qualified primary care physicians to practice in the Commonwealth.
These bills will go to the House of Representatives for its consideration.
In June, Governor Maura Healey signed the landmark bill that will improve early literacy instruction standards in Massachusetts, a bill the Senate passed in January. S.2924, An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, ensures that every Massachusetts student from kindergarten to third grade learn to read using phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and phonemic awareness—practices that data show best promote lifetime learning.
Looking Ahead
With the end of the legislative session on the horizon, I am excited to spend July continuing to work with colleagues to move legislation that will address the big problems confronting the Commonwealth. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the Norfolk and Plymouth district.
