The Democrat representing the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester District in the state Senate held a virtual town hall on Monday to bring her constituents up to speed on the work she and her colleagues have been doing in Boston.
Jo Comerford spoke via Zoom to explain the legislative process and her role in it before fielding questions submitted privately to her office.
“There is nothing more important than an informed, engaged and active electorate,” she told those in attendance, which reached about 140 at one point.
One question asked Comerford the status of the $2.9 billion, five-year environmental bond bill, called the Mass Ready Act. According to the Massachusetts Municipal Association, the proposal includes authorizations for key climate resilience and environmental priorities, and the themes include strengthening infrastructure, investing in farms and local economies, protecting water and the environment, reforming permitting for housing and environmental initiatives, and supporting the western and central regions of the state.
Comerford explained the bill has been reported out favorably from the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
“When we think about priorities, we have a whole bucket that is the environmental bond bill where we hope to make gains on both funding for our district, but also policy that our people care about,” she said.
Another constituent asked Comerford why environmental issues don’t seem to be a priority for the state Legislature. Comerford said she understands the frustration, but mentioned a current bill that would phase out the use of “forever chemicals,” also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
“I think we have to turn off the tap on PFAS,” Comerford said.
She also mentioned she filed an unsuccessful bill that would have removed from state law a provision pertaining to the research of nuclear energy.
“I don’t think there is a place for nuclear energy in 2025,” she said. “I worry about the long-term consequences of that energy.”
One constituent asked about the status of a bill that would establish a commission to study reparations for slavery, but Comerford said the status is unknown because of the volume of bills the clerk of the Senate is handling right now.
“I will say there’s reparations conversations happening in many communities — Amherst, Northampton and elsewhere in the district,” she said. “This is important, especially now.”
She encouraged people to write testimony regarding the issue.
Comerford also highlighted new laws strengthening protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care, ensuring state control over childhood vaccine schedules and increasing the penalty for impersonating a federal law enforcement officer, as well as bills that would protect consumer control over personal and sensitive data and prevent politically motivated or improper book bans.
Comerford said she has about 179,000 constituents.
“It’s the privilege of a lifetime to serve you,” she said. “I love this job. It’s the best and hardest job I’ve ever done.”