Senator Mike Barrett
@senatormikebarrett.bsky.social
State Senator for Bedford, Carlisle, Concord, Chelmsford, Lincoln, Waltham, Weston, and a large part of Lexington. Senate Chair of the Committee on Energy.
Following decades of secrecy surrounding former state institutions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a new bill poised for the governor’s signature promises to open long-shuttered records, including those from the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center in Waltham.
State lawmakers pass historic bill to open records of state institutions including the Fernald school – Waltham Times
Classroom, Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded, ca. 1890s. Courtesy Massachusetts Archives. Following decades of secrecy surrounding former state
walthamtimes.org
November 24, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Following decades of secrecy surrounding former state institutions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a new bill poised for the governor’s signature promises to open long-shuttered records, including those from the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center in Waltham.
Massachusetts lawmakers have reached an agreement on a bill that would make it easier for family members to obtain records of their disabled loved ones who lived in institutional housing. The governor is expected to sign it into law.
Lawmakers poised to open up state disability records to families, researchers
Gov. Healey is expected to sign legislation giving family members access to the medical records of their developmentally disabled loved ones who lived in Massachusetts institutional housing.
www.wgbh.org
November 20, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Massachusetts lawmakers have reached an agreement on a bill that would make it easier for family members to obtain records of their disabled loved ones who lived in institutional housing. The governor is expected to sign it into law.
Just passed in the State Senate: safeguards against book bans.
November 14, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Just passed in the State Senate: safeguards against book bans.
A new report sheds light on the troubling history of Massachusetts facilities for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Rep. Sean Garballey and I joined a panel hosted by the Harvard Law School Project on Disability to discuss it.
November 5, 2025 at 8:14 PM
A new report sheds light on the troubling history of Massachusetts facilities for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Rep. Sean Garballey and I joined a panel hosted by the Harvard Law School Project on Disability to discuss it.
Trump is slowing down offshore wind. Solar can step in and fill a vacuum. A great example: Temple Emunah in Lexington hosts the largest solar installation of any synagogue in Massachusetts. And half of the energy generated goes to a community solar program that others can buy into.
October 28, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Trump is slowing down offshore wind. Solar can step in and fill a vacuum. A great example: Temple Emunah in Lexington hosts the largest solar installation of any synagogue in Massachusetts. And half of the energy generated goes to a community solar program that others can buy into.
Joined a big crowd in Chelmsford on Saturday to demand No Kings! Lorena Betts, you and your colleagues really know how to organize. So pleased to be a part of this!
October 22, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Joined a big crowd in Chelmsford on Saturday to demand No Kings! Lorena Betts, you and your colleagues really know how to organize. So pleased to be a part of this!
A coalition of community groups, legislators, and concerned citizens rallied at the State House on Tuesday against building multiple private jet hangars at Hanscom Field.
Photo credit: Marilyn Humphries
Photo credit: Marilyn Humphries
October 15, 2025 at 8:05 PM
A coalition of community groups, legislators, and concerned citizens rallied at the State House on Tuesday against building multiple private jet hangars at Hanscom Field.
Photo credit: Marilyn Humphries
Photo credit: Marilyn Humphries
Jamie Van Nostrand has put the "public" back into the Department of Public Utilities. We gathered to honor him recently and to express profound thanks.
From left to right: Garrett Casey, Elizabeth Van Nostrand, Jamie Van Nostrand, host Marilyn Ray Smith, Ania Camargo, and Nathan Phillips.
From left to right: Garrett Casey, Elizabeth Van Nostrand, Jamie Van Nostrand, host Marilyn Ray Smith, Ania Camargo, and Nathan Phillips.
October 9, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Jamie Van Nostrand has put the "public" back into the Department of Public Utilities. We gathered to honor him recently and to express profound thanks.
From left to right: Garrett Casey, Elizabeth Van Nostrand, Jamie Van Nostrand, host Marilyn Ray Smith, Ania Camargo, and Nathan Phillips.
From left to right: Garrett Casey, Elizabeth Van Nostrand, Jamie Van Nostrand, host Marilyn Ray Smith, Ania Camargo, and Nathan Phillips.
Pictures from the Waltham Land Trust’s newest addition: a beautiful plot of land next to Hardy Pond designated for conservation and recreation. I joined Sonja Wadman and other WLT leaders to celebrate the purchase. Photo credit: Sonja Wadman.
October 2, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Pictures from the Waltham Land Trust’s newest addition: a beautiful plot of land next to Hardy Pond designated for conservation and recreation. I joined Sonja Wadman and other WLT leaders to celebrate the purchase. Photo credit: Sonja Wadman.
My wife Nancy Dolberg does very fine work.
SJC says police must prove they were not racially biased when using social media for undercover investigations - The Boston Globe
“The discriminatory application of criminal laws can take the form of selective prosecution or selective enforcement,” Justice Frank M. Gaziano wrote for a unanimous court.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 1, 2025 at 6:29 PM
My wife Nancy Dolberg does very fine work.
Just passed in the State Senate: new guardrails to limit the collection and sale of your personal data.
September 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Just passed in the State Senate: new guardrails to limit the collection and sale of your personal data.
Just unveiled in Lexington: a new exhibit featuring three Black Patriots who fought in the American Revolution. The animated videos tell the stories of Prince Estabrook and Eli Burdoo, who each fought in the Battle of Lexington...
September 25, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Just unveiled in Lexington: a new exhibit featuring three Black Patriots who fought in the American Revolution. The animated videos tell the stories of Prince Estabrook and Eli Burdoo, who each fought in the Battle of Lexington...
Pictures from the Concord Democratic Town Committee's September meeting, for which I was the featured speaker. Topics of discussion included immigration, data privacy, and climate change.
September 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Pictures from the Concord Democratic Town Committee's September meeting, for which I was the featured speaker. Topics of discussion included immigration, data privacy, and climate change.
For the third time in four years, Lexington High School has taken gold at the National Conservation Foundation’s annual Envirothon. This year’s competition focused on ways to manage forest ecosystems impacted by climate change.
September 3, 2025 at 4:59 PM
For the third time in four years, Lexington High School has taken gold at the National Conservation Foundation’s annual Envirothon. This year’s competition focused on ways to manage forest ecosystems impacted by climate change.
Given a big job, the Special Commission on State Institutions has re-opened a long-neglected inquiry into Massachusetts facilities for people with mental health issues or intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Open up records from state mental institutions - The Boston Globe
Healey’s bill would give public access to records over 75 years old.
www.bostonglobe.com
September 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Given a big job, the Special Commission on State Institutions has re-opened a long-neglected inquiry into Massachusetts facilities for people with mental health issues or intellectual or developmental disabilities.
George Pappas, an experienced immigration lawyer and a PhD in philosophy to boot, accepted an appointment to a judgeship in a federal Immigration Court in Massachusetts. A resident of North Carolina, he and his wife began a long-distance relationship so he could take the post.
August 29, 2025 at 1:40 PM
George Pappas, an experienced immigration lawyer and a PhD in philosophy to boot, accepted an appointment to a judgeship in a federal Immigration Court in Massachusetts. A resident of North Carolina, he and his wife began a long-distance relationship so he could take the post.
A key piece of the state budget signed this summer flew under the radar: a new program to boost legal services for low-income immigrant families.
August 15, 2025 at 5:29 PM
A key piece of the state budget signed this summer flew under the radar: a new program to boost legal services for low-income immigrant families.
The Hall of Flags in the State House features the official flags of every city and town in Massachusetts. Well, almost. Turns out, Carlisle’s flag was never put up. Until now. (1/4)
August 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The Hall of Flags in the State House features the official flags of every city and town in Massachusetts. Well, almost. Turns out, Carlisle’s flag was never put up. Until now. (1/4)
“Demand is up for private aviation, the luxury that separates the 1% from the 0.1%.”
Is this disgusting or what? Massport, an arm of our own Massachusetts state government, mustn’t hand over its property at Hanscom to the plutocrats. Thank you WSJ for the good reporting.
Is this disgusting or what? Massport, an arm of our own Massachusetts state government, mustn’t hand over its property at Hanscom to the plutocrats. Thank you WSJ for the good reporting.
August 8, 2025 at 1:30 PM
“Demand is up for private aviation, the luxury that separates the 1% from the 0.1%.”
Is this disgusting or what? Massport, an arm of our own Massachusetts state government, mustn’t hand over its property at Hanscom to the plutocrats. Thank you WSJ for the good reporting.
Is this disgusting or what? Massport, an arm of our own Massachusetts state government, mustn’t hand over its property at Hanscom to the plutocrats. Thank you WSJ for the good reporting.
In Concord Center, I joined Chelmsford’s Rob Kanzer and other patriots to protest the President’s subversion of the checks and balances that kept America great. Loved the home-made signs. They drew raucous approval from the people driving by. Huzzah!
August 8, 2025 at 1:27 PM
In Concord Center, I joined Chelmsford’s Rob Kanzer and other patriots to protest the President’s subversion of the checks and balances that kept America great. Loved the home-made signs. They drew raucous approval from the people driving by. Huzzah!
Rat poison can do serious harm to local wildlife like owls and hawks. @massaudubon.org and @mspca-angell.bsky.social brought advocates -- and even some gorgeous owls -- to the State House. (1/2)
July 25, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Rat poison can do serious harm to local wildlife like owls and hawks. @massaudubon.org and @mspca-angell.bsky.social brought advocates -- and even some gorgeous owls -- to the State House. (1/2)
Waltham residents turned out and stirred up some “Good Trouble” as they protested the callous actions of ICE and Trump. ICE’s tactics were meant to scare us. This worked, for a while. But now we’re organizing.
July 23, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Waltham residents turned out and stirred up some “Good Trouble” as they protested the callous actions of ICE and Trump. ICE’s tactics were meant to scare us. This worked, for a while. But now we’re organizing.
The Barrett Report, July 2025
Trump: Good jobs? Good wages? Screw 'em.
Email from Mike Barrett Barrett Report, July 2025 Dear Friend, Progress: The Massachusetts Legislature has reformed the internal rules by which it operates. Each branch is now freer to handle its prio
conta.cc
July 17, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The Barrett Report, July 2025
Thank you, MIT, for driving climate and transportation policy innovation in Massachusetts. Joining me at the State Senate rostrum after testifying on behalf of my “vehicle miles traveled” funding reform they conceived were Gib Metcalf, Visiting Professor of Economics; (1/2)
July 15, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Thank you, MIT, for driving climate and transportation policy innovation in Massachusetts. Joining me at the State Senate rostrum after testifying on behalf of my “vehicle miles traveled” funding reform they conceived were Gib Metcalf, Visiting Professor of Economics; (1/2)
MA Legislature to gas utilities: Good news. We've ended the anti-competitive tilt towards natural gas in MA law. Your "obligation to serve" only fossil fuel is over.
In enforcing new climate law, a dispute over the ‘obligation to serve’ natural gas customers - CommonWealth Beacon
Massachusetts’ 2024 climate law aims to hasten the clean energy transition to meet the state’s climate goals, but a dispute over whether natural gas utility companies have an “obligation to serve” nat...
commonwealthbeacon.org
July 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM
MA Legislature to gas utilities: Good news. We've ended the anti-competitive tilt towards natural gas in MA law. Your "obligation to serve" only fossil fuel is over.