Joan

(BOSTON) – At a hearing held Wednesday, June 21st by the Joint Committee on Election Laws, legislators and advocates testified on behalf of An Act relative to youth voter engagement (H.705/S.431), jointly filed by Representatives Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and Jack Patrick Lewis (D-Framingham) alongside Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). The bipartisan legislation would allow seventeen-year-olds who will be eighteen by the general election to vote in the preceding primary, encouraging young people to develop strong voting habits early. These companion bills are refiles and were supported by dozens of letters by young people from a broad array of communities last session. This bill was initially introduced to Representative Meschino four years ago by Samantha Bevins, a Hingham resident, now a rising junior at Dartmouth College. Concerned that she would not have a voice in the primary election to select the party nominee for the presidential election, Samantha proposed filing legislation . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - On Wednesday, May 31st, State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined advocates from across the Commonwealth, including representatives of Plymouth County’s regional commission, at the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women’s Lobby Day held at the State House. Among the bills supported by the Commission is H.669, An Act supporting parents running for public office, co-filed by Representative Meschino and Representative Mike Connolly (D-Cambridge). The advocacy day’s events were highlighted by a speech from Governor Maura Healey. The Governor spoke about the significance of her position as the first woman elected as governor of the Commonwealth and as a member of the first all-female governor and lieutenant governor team in the nation. She also shared her anticipation of a strong continued partnership with the Commission. “The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women does excellent, critical work to advance the status of women and girls in the . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) will host four in-person office hours throughout the month of June. Please contact Rep. Meschino’s Legislative Aide, Christopher Altizer, by email at christopher.altizer@mahouse.gov or by phone at 617-722-2092 in order to schedule a time slot with a member of her staff. Monday, June 5 10:00 am - 11:00 am Linden Ponds, for Linden Ponds residents Monday, June 12 9:00 am - 11:00 am Willcutt Commons 91 Sohier St, Cohasset Monday, June 26 10:00 am - 11:00 am Hull Council on Aging 197A Samoset Avenue, Hull Monday, June 26 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Hingham Public Library 66 Leavitt Street, Hingham These sessions are intended to make it easier for residents of Cohasset, Hingham, and Hull to share concerns and access the services Rep. Meschino can offer to residents on the South Shore. All local residents are invited to participate. “I encourage all local . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - On Friday, May 12th, members of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission (MBC), including State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull), announced the release of the Commission’s new public report “Breaking Barriers” at a press conference on South Boston’s Carson Beach. The report is intended to provide tangible steps for promoting inclusive beach experiences for all Commonwealth residents. The “Breaking Barriers” report builds on a series of three recent public hearings held by the Commission in order to assess the state of access, equity, and inclusion on the region’s public beaches. Topics of the hearings included racial justice, access for people with disabilities, and access for people who do not primarily communicate in English, all of which can be viewed on the MBC website. "Equity, inclusion, and accessibility on our Commonwealth beaches must continue to be a priority so that all of our communities can enjoy these public resources,” said State . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) will host five in-person office hours throughout the month of May. Please contact Rep. Meschino’s Legislative Aide, Christopher Altizer, by email at christopher.altizer@mahouse.gov or at the new office phone number at 617-722-2092 in order to schedule a time slot with a member of her staff. Monday, May 1 10:00 am - 11:00 am Linden Ponds, for Linden Ponds residents Monday, May 1 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Hingham Public Library 66 Leavitt Street, Hingham Monday, May 8 9:00 am - 11:00 am Willcutt Commons 91 Sohier St, Cohasset Monday, May 15 10:00 am - 11:00 am Hull Council on Aging 197A Samoset Avenue, Hull Monday, May 22 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Hingham Public Library 66 Leavitt Street, Hingham These sessions are intended to make it easier for residents of Cohasset, Hingham, and Hull to share concerns and access the services Rep. Meschino can . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - On April 14th, Cohasset Public Schools leader Aleisa Gittens-Carle received recognition from the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus during the Caucus’ 2023 Black Excellence on the Hill event at the State House. Ms. Gittens-Carle was nominated to receive this recognition by State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) for her commitment and dedication to bettering the Commonwealth, both within Cohasset and on a larger scale. Aleisa Gittens-Carle has served as the METCO (Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity) Director for the Cohasset Public Schools for 22 years. In this capacity, she has selflessly committed herself to the pursuit of equity in education by ensuring that elementary and secondary students of color have access to robust, value-laden educational opportunities. Ms. Gittens-Carle's dedication to her students is evidenced through constant advocacy and activism, all of which centers around their well-being and success. She has . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and State Senator Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) recently hosted a State House briefing to discuss homelessness prevention efforts and their bill An Act to create and implement a Massachusetts flexible supportive housing subsidy pool program (H.1354), which would establish a nimble pot of funds to help support the creation of housing programs that will assist people experiencing homelessness who are facing medical challenges and disabilities. During last Thursday’s briefing, Representative Meschino and Senator Crighton introduced the bill and discussed its implications for over 4,000 displaced residents in the Commonwealth. Speakers at the event included Paralita Arteh and Joyce Tavon of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA), Eric Shupin from the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), and Christi Staples of United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. "This bill affirms the need to streamline our methods to fund housing and services . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - This month, State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) joined her colleagues in the State Legislature in a vote to pass an amended $1.1 billion spending bill (H.58) that focuses primarily on supportive housing initiatives. The legislation builds on the supplemental budget originally filed by the Healey-Driscoll administration, with the House and Senate unanimously voting to pass an amended version on Thursday, March 23. The spending budget is in accord with An Act to create and implement a Massachusetts flexible supportive housing subsidy pool program (H.1354), which is a legislative priority bill filed by Representative Meschino. The supplemental budget directly funds $388.6 million in vital services that support vulnerable populations and address food insecurity, housing instability, the state’s long-term COVID-19 response, economic development, essential support services for incoming immigrants and refugees, and more. Notably, the bill extends initiatives first implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as outdoor dining, remote . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) will host two in-person office hours throughout the month of April. Please note cancellations due to state holidays. Please contact Rep. Meschino’s Legislative Aide, Christopher Altizer, by email at christopher.altizer@mahouse.gov or by phone at 617-722-2320 in order to schedule a time slot. Monday, April 3 10:00 am - 11:00 am Linden Ponds, for Linden Ponds residents Monday, April 10 9:00 am - 11:00 am Willcutt Commons 91 Sohier St, Cohasset These sessions are intended to make it easier for residents of Cohasset, Hingham, and Hull to share concerns and access the services Rep. Meschino can offer to residents on the South Shore. All local residents are invited to participate. “I encourage all local residents who need assistance to reach out to our office,” Representative Meschino (D-Hull) said. “Whether it’s to straighten out delays with unemployment, to access health insurance, to ask about housing . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - This week, The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators announced the selection of five legislative priorities for the 2023-2024 legislative session, including H.669 / S.422, An Act supporting parents running for public office, which would allow campaign funds to be used to pay for child care that would not exist but for the campaign. Filed jointly by State Representatives Joan Meschino (D-Hull) and Mike Connolly (D-Cambridge) in the House and in the Senate by State Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville), this legislation promotes equity and leads to a more diverse elected body by supporting a more diverse candidate pool. The childcare funding bill was previously a legislative priority for the Women’s Caucus in the 192nd Legislative Session. Last year, the amended Senate version of the bill was engrossed while the House version was sent to study, thereby tabling the legislation. “I am grateful to the Women’s Caucus for continuing . . . Read More