Representative John Marsi Appointed to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative John J. Marsi (R-Dudley) to serve as a member of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

Created as part of the 2020 policing reform law, the 23-member Commission is an independent state agency focused on addressing the needs and challenges faced by the disability community in Massachusetts, as it relates to transportation, access to employment, housing, childcare and many other areas. Marsi succeeds former State Representative Mathew J. Muratore (R-Plymouth), who had served on the Commission since 2021.

The Commission is responsible for reviewing the programs and practices of all state agencies affecting persons with disabilities and advising the executive and legislative branches regarding the potential impact of proposed legislation on the disabled community. The Commission also promotes and helps to facilitate collaboration among local disability commissions, disability rights advocacy organizations and disability employment service providers, while working to identify and correct any disparities that exist within the range of state disability services options available to individuals with disabilities.

“The Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities is comprised of individuals who have personal or professional experience with disability issues, a demonstrated interest and involvement in disability advocacy, and a commitment to promoting inclusivity and accessibility in all aspects of life, and those are all qualities that John possesses,” said Representative Jones. “John’s personal experiences as the father of a daughter with special needs makes him uniquely qualified to serve on the Commission, and I am confident he will use this new position to advocate for state policies that will help to improve the quality of life for all individuals with disabilities.”

The Commission includes members appointed by legislative leadership; the Governor’s, Attorney General’s, State Treasurer’s, and Secretary of State’s offices; and the Executive Director of the Disabled Persons Protection Commission; along with representatives of the University of Massachusetts Medical School Work Without Limits program; the Massachusetts Disability Policy Consortium; the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers, Inc.; and the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council.

The Commission is responsible for filing an annual report on or before October 31.

Marsi represents the 6^th Worcester District, which is comprised of Dudley; Southbridge; Precincts 1, 2, 3, and 4A in Charlton; and Precinct 1 in Spencer.

Representative Xiarhos Appointed to Xylazine Commission

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative Steven George Xiarhos (R-Barnstable) to a special legislative commission tasked with addressing the growing public health and safety concerns surrounding the proliferation of xylazine.

Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer that has been used by licensed veterinarians since 1971. However, the substance has been raising concern with law enforcement officials as it has increasingly been found mixed with illicit drugs being consumed by humans. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), “Fentanyl is increasingly being mixed with the veterinary sedative xylazine (‘tranq’), which continues to be detected in the state’s street drug supply and was present in 9 percent of opioid-related overdose deaths in 2023, up from 5 percent in 2022.” In addition to slowing breathing and heart rates, xylazine exposure can lead to severe skin abscesses and ulcers, which may result in amputation.

Representative Xiarhos is one of 13 members serving on the Xylazine Commission, which was created as part of the substance use disorder and recovery coach licensure bill recently signed into law. It will explore ways for Massachusetts to strengthen oversight of xylazine’s production and distribution, ensuring that it remains strictly for veterinary use. The commission also will examine whether xylazine should be classified as a controlled substance and assess appropriate penalties for its illegal production and distribution. Members will evaluate the availability of effective outreach and treatment programs for individuals exposed to xylazine and identify any gaps in existing services. The commission is required to submit its findings and recommendations by June 30, 2025.

A former Deputy Chief of Police in Yarmouth, Representative Xiarhos brings over 40 years of law enforcement experience to the commission. He has a deep understanding of the dangers posed by illicit drugs and their devastating impact on communities. His career has included direct involvement in drug enforcement, community outreach, and policy development. 

“Having spent over 40 years in law enforcement, I understand the severity of the public health risks posed by drugs like xylazine, which are wreaking havoc on our communities,” said Representative Xiarhos. “I’m honored to serve on this commission and will work tirelessly to develop solutions that help prevent the misuse of this drug and protect the people of Massachusetts. As a member of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, I’m deeply committed to advancing public safety and health, and I will bring that dedication to this important task.”

"The misuse of xylazine represents a significant public health and safety threat,” said Representative Jones. “Rep. Xiarhos' law enforcement background will aid the commission’s efforts to develop recommendations to help stop xylazine abuse before it claims more lives. I am pleased to be able to appoint him to serve on this special commission and I look forward to receiving the commission's report and recommendations this summer.” 

First elected to serve in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2020, Steve Xiarhos is now serving his third term representing the people of the 5^th Barnstable District, which includes the Town of Sandwich and portions of Barnstable and Bourne.

House Minority Leader Jones’ Statement on Release of House Ways and Means’ FY26 Budget

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) released the following statement today regarding the release of the House Ways and Means Committee’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 state budget:

“I appreciate the fact that the proposed House budget does not include any new taxes or tax increases. Given the continued fiscal uncertainty we are facing, it is more important than ever that we take steps to ensure that revenues are being allocated efficiently and effectively, and that we are not adding to the financial burden faced by the Commonwealth’s residents. As we move forward in the budget process, it is critical that we not only prioritize maintaining the core state programs that service our children, seniors and veterans, but that we also do everything we can to assist our cities, towns and school districts. I look forward to reviewing the committee’s spending plan in further detail and working with my colleagues in the House Republican Caucus to pursue fiscally responsible amendments that will further protect the interests of our communities and the state’s taxpayers.”

House Minority Leader Jones’ Statement on Representative Flanagan's Arrest

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) released the following statement after federal authorities arrested Representative Christopher Flanagan (D-Dennis Port) on charges of defrauding his former employer and using the money for campaign expenses and his own personal use:

“Representative Flanagan’s arrest is disturbing but not surprising. We have known for several months about the ongoing investigation into these serious charges of misappropriating funds, but now that a court case is moving forward, it is clear what must be done. Representative Flanagan has betrayed his oath of office, and I am urging him to do the right thing for his constituents by resigning immediately. If he refuses to do so, then Speaker Mariano should immediately authorize and direct the House Ethics Committee to begin proceedings in this matter, as I had previously requested in January.”

Representative Marsi Appointed to Special Commission on Home Equity Theft Prevention

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative John J. Marsi (R-Dudley) to serve on a special commission that will conduct a comprehensive study of current state law and practices governing the collection of delinquent property tax revenue by cities and towns.

The special commission will consider potential changes to the new home equity theft law to further protect Massachusetts homeowners facing foreclosure due to unpaid property taxes and address concerns raised by the Massachusetts Municipal Association relative to the law’s three-year retroactive provisions and its potential impact on municipal property tax revenues.

Prior to the new law, cities and towns that foreclosed on a property to settle an unpaid tax debt could retain the full value of the property once it was sold, not just the amount of the original debt. Municipalities could also sell tax liens on delinquent properties to private investors, who were allowed to file for foreclosure with the Land Court once the debt was six months old and keep any profits from the property’s sale. A pair of recent court rulings found the law unconstitutional, leading to changes that were enacted last year to ensure that homeowners who are foreclosed on can recover the remaining balance of their home’s equity.

In 2023, the US Supreme Court ruled in the case of Tyler v. Hennepin County that a Minnesota statute similar to Massachusetts’ was unconstitutional because it denied reasonable compensation to a homeowner for the taking of their property. More recently, a judge in Hampden County ruled that the practices used in Massachusetts violated Article 10 of the state Constitution’s Declaration of Rights and the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution. The case involved a Springfield homeowner with an unpaid property tax bill of $1,637 who entered into a payment agreement with the city at a 16% interest rate but was unable to keep up with the payments and eventually owed about $17,500 with interest, placing them at risk of losing their home, which was valued at approximately $230,000 and had over $200,000 in equity.

“The tax equity theft law enacted last year provides many important protections to homeowners, including stronger notification requirements, lower interest rates on past due taxes, and more favorable repayment plans, but there is always room for improvement,” said Representative Jones. “As a former selectman with an extensive budgeting background, John is well-positioned to help the commission find the proper balance between protecting municipalities’ financial interests and preventing homeowners from losing their homes.”

The commission is due to file a report with its findings and recommendations by December 31, 2025.

Marsi represents the 6^th Worcester District, which is comprised of Dudley; Southbridge; Precincts 1, 2, 3, and 4A in Charlton; and Precinct 1 in Spencer.

Representative Marcus Vaughn Re-appointed to Massachusetts Gaming Policy Advisory Committee

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has re-appointed State Representative Marcus S. Vaughn (R-Wrentham) to serve another two-year term as a member of the state’s Gaming Policy Advisory Committee (GPAC).

Created as part of the 2011 Expanded Gaming Act, the GPAC advises the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) on gaming policy issues, including community mitigation funding, addiction services for compulsive gambling, and the public safety impacts associated with the state’s gaming establishments. The committee also assists the MGC with the development of its annual gaming research agenda.

Representative Vaughn was first appointed to the GPAC in April of 2023, shortly after the state authorized legal sports betting, including online sports betting. On March 20, the MGC reported that gross gaming revenue at the state’s three casinos – Plainridge Park Casino, MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor – totaled approximately $93.40 million in February, while taxable sports wagering revenue, including mobile and online betting, totaled approximately $65.57 million.

“With the continued growth of the Commonwealth’s gaming and sports betting industry, it’s important that proper safeguards remain in place to protect consumers and assist those who are struggling with compulsive gambling,” said Representative Jones. “Marcus has done a terrific job over the last two years helping to advise the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on the many critical issues impacting the industry, and I am confident he will continue to play an active role on the Advisory Committee to ensure that proper oversight and regulations are in place.”

In addition to his work on the GPAC, Representative Vaughn is also a member of the Special Working Group on Youth Sports, which is exploring potential changes to the regulations governing youth sports in the Commonwealth, including improved player safety standards, concussion protocols, and limits on the maximum number of hours youth athletes can participate in each sport during a specified time period. The working group is expected to file a report with its recommendations later this year.

For the 2025-2026 legislative session, Representative Vaughn is serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. He also serves as the Ranking Minority Member of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, the House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight, and the House Committee on Operations, Facilities and Security.

Representative Vaughn is currently serving his second term as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He represents the 9^th Norfolk District, which consists of Precincts 3 and 4 in Medfield; Precinct 1in Millis; Precinct 5 in Walpole; and the towns of Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham.

House Minority Leader Jones’ Statement on Today's Passage of $425 Million House Emergency Shelter Supplemental Budget

House MinorityLeader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) released the following statement on the $425 million emergency shelter supplemental budget approved by the House of Representatives today:

“The supplemental spending bill approved by the House today makes modest changes to the state’s troubled emergency shelter system, some of which are only temporary, but does little to address the many underlying problems associated with the program. Rather than implementing meaningful reforms that will guarantee the long-term financial stability of the program, all we are doing is continuing to pour money into a broken system, which continues to soak up limited state resources and crowd out other important spending priorities. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a stop-gap measure, and it is only a matter of time before the Healey-Driscoll Administration will be back again seeking additional funding. Before we commit more funding to this program, we should wait to see the results of the program audit that is currently being conducted by the state auditor’s office.

If the state is serious about correcting the deficiencies in the emergency housing assistance program, then we need to do more than just pay lip service to reform and embrace real change. The House Republican Caucus offered a series of amendments to enhance transparency, accountability, public safety and fiscal responsibility within the emergency shelter program and attempted to offer amendments authorizing law enforcement to honor ICE detainer requests for dangerous criminals, but those proposals were rejected by leadership. Establishing minimum residency requirements for accessing services and mandating comprehensive universal background checks for applicants beyond basic CORI checks are common-sense proposals that would truly make a difference. Instead, today’s House vote represents a missed opportunity to finally implement meaningful reforms to stabilize the emergency shelter program.”

Boston Globe Article Highlights Newly-Filed Republican Caucus ICE Detainer Legislation

The Boston Globe is highlighting legislation filed by the House and Senate Republican Caucus that would authorize state and municipal law enforcement and court officers to honor federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests.

Reporter Niki Griswold’s article focuses on HD4217, An Act empowering law enforcement to cooperate with the United States to transfer custody of convicted criminals, which was filed by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-NorthReading), and its companion Senate bill (SD726), which was filed by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). The bills allow for the detainment of individuals for possible immigration violations for up to 12 hours upon receipt of a written request and warrant from ICE. This authorization is limited to ICE detainer requests for individuals who pose a threat to public safety for engaging in, or being suspected of engaging in, specific crimes, including terrorism or espionage, criminal street gang activity, sexual abuse or exploitation, human trafficking, unlawful firearm possession, and drug distribution or trafficking.

Also highlighted in the article is related legislation filed by Representatives Michael Soter (R-Bellingham) and Kenneth Sweezey (R-Pembroke) allowing for detainer requests to be honored for up to 36 hours. Each of these bills are a direct response to the 2017 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) ruling in Lunn v.Commonwealth, which determined that current state law does not provide the authority for complying with ICE requests to detain individuals otherwise entitled to release, leaving it up to the Legislature to enact such authority if deemed necessary.

Rep. Muradian Named to Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative David K. Muradian, Jr. (R-Grafton) to serve as his designee on a special legislative commission charged with exploring potential opportunities for collaboration and consolidation among the Department of Correction, county sheriffs, the Massachusetts Parole Board, and the Office of Community Corrections, which serves as the Massachusetts Probation Service’s intermediate sanction department.

Created as an outside section of the Fiscal Year 2025 state budget, the 20-member Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration will study the distribution of responsibilities and oversight of the state’s correctional facilities, houses of correction and jails, while taking into consideration possible alternatives to ensure the long-term fiscal sustainability of these facilities and finding ways to reduce taxpayer costs, particularly for those facilities that are operating below capacity.

As part of its undertaking, the commission will consider evidence-based rehabilitative programming for incarcerated persons and the value of community-integrated reentry support services, along with the role that community organizations play in reentry services. It will also weigh the advantages of using local facilities for pretrial confinement and short incarcerations, as well as for supporting family and community connections.

“The special commission has a unique opportunity to review the Commonwealth’s existing correctional system model and to consider ways to improve on it,” said Representative Jones. “I am confident that David will work closely with his fellow commission members to develop a proposal that will ensure that the system runs more efficiently and effectively, while also improving prisoner rehabilitation outcomes and delivering savings for taxpayers.”

Co-chaired by Senator William Brownsberger (D-Belmont) and Representative Daniel J. Hunt (D-Boston, the commission consists of nine voting members, including Representative Muradian, and 11 non-voting members. The voting members include six legislators and three gubernatorial appointees with experience in management, public finance, correctional policies and procedures or reentry and rehabilitative programming.

Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald, Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi, and Hampshire County Sheriff Patrick Cahillane are among the 11 non-voting members serving on the commission, which will also include the commissioner of probation or their designee, and three members appointed by Governor Maura Healey, including one retired correction officer, one social worker or other licensed mental health professional, and one retired Massachusetts judge. Another four non-voting members will be appointed by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, including one prisoners’ rights advocate, one formerly incarcerated person whose sentence was served in a state correctional facility, one formerly incarcerated person whose sentence was served in a county correctional facility, and one member with expertise or experience in healthcare for incarcerated persons.

The commission will submit a report of its findings and recommendations by September 30, 2026.

First elected to the House of Representatives in 2014, Representative Muradian represents the Ninth Worcester District communities of Grafton, Northbridge and Upton.

Representative Marcus Vaughn Appointed to Special Working Group on Youth Sports

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) has appointed State Representative Marcus S. Vaughn (R-Wrentham) to serve as his designee on a special legislative panel charged with examining the current state of youth sports in Massachusetts.

Created as part of the 2024 economic development bill, the Special Working Group on Youth Sports will make recommendations on changes to the regulations governing youth sports in the Commonwealth. Among the changes to be considered is setting limits on the maximum number of participation hours within each sport during a specified time period for youth athletes; the licensing of businesses and coaches, including the possibility of waiving licensing fees under certain circumstances to promote access to participation; and improvements to player safety standards, including concussion protocols and athletic trainer requirements.

“Youth sports is all about learning the fundamentals of the game and building teamwork, but more importantly it is about having fun and being safe,” said Representative Jones. “Marcus’ own experiences as a former high school football player and as the father of three children who are active in sports will help guide him as the working group develops recommendations to improve the youth sports experience for all young athletes.”

The 14-member working group will be led by the chair of the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission. In addition to six legislative appointees, the working group will also include seven members appointed by Governor Maura Healey who will each have experience and expertise in youth sports.

The working group is required to hold at least three hearings to solicit public input. Its final report and recommendations are to be filed no later than 120 days after its third public hearing.

First elected in November of 2022, Representative Vaughn is currently serving his second term as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He represents the 9th Norfolk District, which consists of Precincts 3 and 4 in Medfield; Precinct 1in Millis; Precinct 5 in Walpole; and the towns of Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham.