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.
Minute Man Arc, a nonprofit that supports people with disabilities in the Concord area, just unveiled its new fleet of electric vans. I helped lift the giant scissors at the ribbon-cutting.
December 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Minute Man Arc, a nonprofit that supports people with disabilities in the Concord area, just unveiled its new fleet of electric vans. I helped lift the giant scissors at the ribbon-cutting.
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.
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.
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.
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)
Walking through the State House today, who should I encounter but Matt Boger of New England Donor Services, on a visit with medical students interested in both the role of New England Donor and the world of the State House. We do set health policy, ya know, and it needs more input from doctors.
July 10, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Walking through the State House today, who should I encounter but Matt Boger of New England Donor Services, on a visit with medical students interested in both the role of New England Donor and the world of the State House. We do set health policy, ya know, and it needs more input from doctors.
Nancy and I had a great time marching in Chelmsford’s 4th of July Parade. Extra credit goes to sharp-eyed viewers who spot irrepressible Rep. Jim Arciero stealing the scene.
July 7, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Nancy and I had a great time marching in Chelmsford’s 4th of July Parade. Extra credit goes to sharp-eyed viewers who spot irrepressible Rep. Jim Arciero stealing the scene.
Next Tuesday in Lexington: The Embodied Carbon Council, which I serve on, is holding its first public hearing. The group was created by the Legislature in last year’s climate law to find ways to reduce the lifetime carbon emissions of state-owned buildings.
July 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Next Tuesday in Lexington: The Embodied Carbon Council, which I serve on, is holding its first public hearing. The group was created by the Legislature in last year’s climate law to find ways to reduce the lifetime carbon emissions of state-owned buildings.
Fun fact: Massachusetts has its own Ice Cream Trail. It’s made up of a group of more than 100 ice cream vendors across the state, including Great Brook Farm in Carlisle. I joined Secretary Tepper at Great Brook, where the Duffy family showed us around the farm.
July 2, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Fun fact: Massachusetts has its own Ice Cream Trail. It’s made up of a group of more than 100 ice cream vendors across the state, including Great Brook Farm in Carlisle. I joined Secretary Tepper at Great Brook, where the Duffy family showed us around the farm.
I was pleased to address a large crowd on Sunday, as Concord Indivisible drew residents indignant at the showy, careless, and deliberately callous roundups by ICE.
June 11, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I was pleased to address a large crowd on Sunday, as Concord Indivisible drew residents indignant at the showy, careless, and deliberately callous roundups by ICE.