Capital Projects that are focused on geographical equity and balancing district needs are included in the Capital Bonding Bill headed to Governor Baker. 

(Boston, Mass.) - The $53 million in funding for Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard’s regional infrastructure projects, spearheaded by state Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro) and successfully adopted as part of the Senate Capital Bonding Bill, were preserved in the final capital bonding bill that emerged from a House/Senate conference committee.  The bill, known as An Act providing for capital facility repairs and improvements for the Commonwealth (H.4549), will now head to Governor Baker’s desk for signature.

Report outlines findings on the challenges and opportunities facing Massachusetts retailers, with a particular focus on the Cape and Islands

BOSTON – Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate Task Force on Strengthening Local Retail unanimously approved its final report. The Task Force was charged with assessing the economic health of the Massachusetts retail sector, and identifying challenges and opportunities facing retail communities. Senator Cyr served as a member of the panel.

 “I’m thrilled that the Task Force report includes significant detail on the challenges facing the unique seasonal economy on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket,” said Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “This report benefited tremendously from the day my colleagues spent on Cape Cod earlier this year meeting with local retail business owners. This report provides a roadmap for how we can better support small retailers across the Commonwealth. I am grateful to my colleagues Senator Rodrigues and Senator deMacedo for their leadership of the task force, and to the members for delving into these issues with a spirit of bipartisanship to craft this report.”

Senator Cyr’s FY19 Budget Priorities Deliver Tax Relief for Small Business Owners, Revenue to Fund Critical Public Safety Initiatives, Housing Programs, and Efforts to Stem the Opioid Epidemic

(Boston, Mass.) – Budget amendments addressing the opioid epidemic, offering tax relief to small and seasonal business owners, funding municipal police and firefighter training, child advocacy programs and other public safety programs offered by state Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro) were successfully adopted this week by the State Senate and included in its FY2019 budget, which was passed after three full days of debate at appx. 1:00 AM on May 25^th.

Senator Cyr successfully secured $640,000 in local funding for Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, and $8.6 million in funding for statewide programs.

Massachusetts Senate Unanimously Approves Foundation Budget Reforms, now sends bill to House

(BOSTON)  – On Thursday, students, parents, and teachers filled the State House as the Massachusetts Senate unanimously voted to pass a key education reform bill to update the state’s 25-year-old funding formula.

The bill, An Act Modernizing the Foundation Budget for the 21st Century (S.2506), was introduced by Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz (D-Boston) and was co-sponsored by 36 senators. The bill would implement the recommendations of the bipartisan Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) which found that the foundation budget formula is drastically underestimating education costs. This has forced deep cuts to classrooms and critical programs, and one of the worst achievement gaps in the nation.

“Today the Senate went on record that we need to do more to support K-12 education in the Commonwealth and that we have a plan to do it,” said Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “Public schools on the Cape & Islands haven’t received their fair share of state resources. Today’s action is a promise to voters that if they pass the Fair Share Amendment at the ballot this November, we are committed to using those new dollars to fully fund K-12 education.”

Cyr Amendments to Expand Benefits for National Guard members and Reserves are included in the Legislation

(Boston, Mass.) – The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday unanimously passed “The Brave Act” – new legislation that will expand benefits and increase access to a range of services for veterans, active-duty military and their families, Senator Mike Rush (D-West Roxbury) announced.

Understanding the sacrifice that military personnel and their families make not only while on active duty, but also after returning home, the Massachusetts Legislature has consistently provided a continuum of major veteran legislation to help with those who sacrifice the most for our freedoms.

State Senate Passes Cyr Amendments to Fund Police Training and Special Education in its Supplemental Budget

(Boston, Mass.) – State Senator Julian Cyr announced today that the Massachusetts State Senate passed two amendments filed by Cyr in its supplemental budget that will fund municipal police training and special education funding.  Both amendments passed unanimously and will fund critical needs that have been underfunded in the past few years.

The Senate voted last Thursday 4/26 to pass a bill designed to protect the personal information of consumers in the case of data breaches, like the one seen at Equifax, and provide free credit freezes for all consumers.

The bill, S.2455, An Act relative to consumer protection from security breaches, was sponsored by State Senator Barbara L’Italien (D-Andover), senate chair of the consumer protection committee, and crafted in collaboration with Representative Jennifer Benson (the House sponsor of the bill), Attorney General Maura Healey, the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG), and AARP Massachusetts.

On April 23, 2018, State Senator Julian Cyr, along with the entire Cape and Islands delegation, sent a letter to the Chairs of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, in follow up to the murder of Sargent Sean Gannon.

"We owe it to Sergeant Gannon, his family, and the Yarmouth Police Department to take a hard look at what happened, particularly at the Trial Court, witness protection programs, and probation departments. We need to see if there are lessons to be learned from this tragic loss. The Cape & Islands legislative delegation is united in this. It’s about getting answers to help our community heal" Senator Cyr said.

Please view the letter here

See news coverage of the letter at the Cape Cod Times here

Legislation protects students by creating a new licensing process for student loan servicers in the Division of Banks and empowers state officials to investigate and fine loan servicers

On Thursday 12^th of April, The Massachusetts State Senate voted to pass S.2380, An Act establishing a student loan bill of rights.  The Student Loan Bill of Rights gives greater protections to student loan borrowers in disputes with companies servicing their loans. Earlier this year, President Trump’s Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rescinded consumer protections that safeguarded student borrowers from deceptive and fraudulent practices by student loan servicers.

The bill requires student loan servicers to be licensed companies with the state Division of Banks, and empowers state officials to investigate the servicers and take action against those that violate the state’s banking and consumer protection laws.

Within the Short-Term Rental Legislation, Senator Cyr Establishes the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund to Address Critical Wastewater Projects

On April 4, 2018, the Senate passed S. 2381, An Act regulating and insuring short-term rentals. The bill expands the scope of the state’s room occupancy excise tax and local option excise tax to include short-term transient accommodations. This legislation will level the playing field, preserve local control and support the emerging short-term rental industry.

The legislation would generate an estimated $34.5 million and $25.5 million in state and local revenues, respectively, based on the most recent Senate Ways and Means Fiscal Impact Report. The expanded tax base will automatically apply to all 175-plus cities and towns that have already adopted the local room occupancy excise to date.