Alice Peisch

This past Wednesday, I participated in the Massachusetts Legislature's annual Denim Day to renew our collective commitment to exposing harmful behaviors and attitudes surrounding sexual violence, and to affirm our support for survivors.

The Massachusetts Legislature stands with all survivors to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and protest the misconceptions around sexual violence.

Today, I had the opportunity to welcome two MIAA State Championship teams to the Statehouse, Weston Girls Indoor Track and Weston Girls Swim. They toured the Statehouse, visited the Governor’s office and balcony, attended an informal session, and enjoyed lunch. Congratulations to both teams!

Yesterday was METCO Advocacy Day at the Statehouse and it was great to meet students and staff from the METCO programs in all three towns in my district. As always, this event is an excellent opportunity to hear from these students about their experiences and how we can continue to meet their needs in our schools.

Yesterday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill to protect students from distracting technology during the school day by prohibiting the use of cell phones from school arrival through dismissal. Additionally, the bill will require social media companies to implement age verification systems to prohibit users under the age of 14, and require parental consent from prospective social media users aged 14 and 15. The bill will also require districts to educate students in age-appropriate ways about the responsible use of social media, including potential harms to their emotional and mental health, as well as the risks of bullying.

A bell-to-bell prohibition on cell phones and similar devices has long been a priority of mine. This bill builds off the legislation I filed this session with Attorney General Campbell. I believe this measure, combined with age restrictions on social media, will support learning, personal growth, and meaningful human connection. A social media ban for children under 14 is not extreme, it is responsible. Technology will continue to play a powerful role in our society, but it must not come at the expense of our children’s ability to learn, to connect with others, and to develop into healthy adults.

The bill passed the House of Representatives 129-25 and now goes back to the Senate for further consideration.

Last week, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Department of Fire Services announced Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Awards for local fire departments. The awards for the Fire Departments in the 14th Norfolk District can be found in the attached graphic. Thank you to our local fire departments for all the work they do everyday to keep our communities safe.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting with constituents of mine at the Alzheimer’s Association’s Advocacy Day here at the Statehouse to hear about legislation that would make a meaningful impact for the over 130,000 families experiencing Alzheimer’s in Massachusetts.

Today, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation that establishes statewide standards governing interactions between state and local systems and federal immigration enforcement, in response to the horrifying actions by the Trump Administration and ICE. It strengthens due process protections, limits civil immigration enforcement in courthouses, expands protections for victims of crime, and increases transparency, accountability, and clarity for correctional facilities and law enforcement.

The PROTECT Act was originally filed by the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus (BLLC), with the goal of offering feasible policy options to address growing immigration concerns in Massachusetts. After the filing of the BLLC’s bill in late January, House Leadership convened Member meetings to facilitate candid discussions among Representatives on immigration policy. They then met with a variety of stakeholders to receive and incorporate feedback on the bill. Stakeholders included immigration advocates, law enforcement groups, district attorneys, sheriffs, union leaders, civil liberties groups and public defenders, as well as with staff from the Attorney General’s Office, the Healey-Driscoll Administration, and the Trial Court.

Please find additional information on this bill, specifically related to limiting the involvement of state and local law enforcement and guidelines for schools and public buildings on how to handle interactions with law enforcement officers regarding civil immigration enforcement. The bill passed the House of Representatives 134-21. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Last week, the House passed a $1.8 billion supplemental budget that invests $885 million in public transportation and $417 million in public education, and funds several Fiscal Year 2026 deficiencies. The bill also includes the tax conformity legislation filed by Governor Healey that delays the state’s alignment with the corporate tax changes passed by Congress in the OB3 Act last year.

I have highlighted a number of local and statewide earmarks in the following graphic. The bill passed the House of Representatives 150-3 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

I had the opportunity to attend MADCA’s Early Education Advocacy Day at the Statehouse this morning to discuss the importance of the benefits of continued investments in early education and impact that has had in making advancements to our early education and care providers in the Commonwealth.

Research consistently shows that the experiences children have in these early years directly influence their cognitive growth, social-emotional development, and long-term educational outcomes. These providers are not only supporting children, but also supporting families, strengthening the workforce, and helping to build a better Commonwealth. This work is foundational not just to each individual child’s success, but to our collective economic stability and growth.

Massachusetts now invests more than $1.7 billion annually in the Department of Early Education and Care and stands alone the only state to continue prioritizing C3 funding within our own state budget. After federal relief funds ended, the Legislature sustained funding for the C3 Grant program, investing more than $1.4 billion in state dollars since FY24 to support vital early education and care programming, an investment that helps recruit and retain educators by supporting more livable and competitive wages.

Just yesterday, the House included $38.7 million in Fair Share funding for early education and care in the supplemental budget we passed. I am grateful to my colleagues and Leadership in the House, including Speaker Mariano and Chairman Michlewitz, for their continued support for these invaluable services.

Last week, I spoke at the Tri County Superintendent’s legislative breakfast discussing the State Budget process and the FY27 budget, focused on addressing the current needs and priorities of schools and students.

At the end of February, I joined the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators for their annual Go Red for Women legislator photo. The Statehouse wore read to shine light on the importance of women's heart health. Heart disease remains the #1 killer of women, but through education, awareness, and healthy lifestyle choices, up to 80% of cases are preventable.