Malden Delegation Supports Passage of Animal Welfare Legislation

BOSTON (September 13, 2024) —State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representatives Paul Donato, Steve Ultrino, and Kate Lipper-Garabedian joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass an animal welfare bill that bans the use of elephants, big cats, bears, primates, and giraffes in traveling acts, such as circuses. Massachusetts is the sixth state in the nation to enact similar legislation.

“As a life-long animal welfare advocate, I’m very pleased that Massachusetts has taken action to protect these incredible animals from mistreatment in traveling circuses,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “If people wish to see these animals outside of their natural habitats, they should visit accredited zoos, like the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, where the animals are well cared for by professional veterinarians and other staff.”

“This bill is a monumental step forward for animal rights in the Commonwealth,” said State Representative Paul Donato. “I am inspired that the legislature took a stand against the misuse of these majestic animals for entertainment purposes. These creatures deserve to live in an environment that respects their natural behaviors and well-being. I am proud of my colleagues for coming together to show our commitment to the ethical treatment of all animals.”

“I am proud of the legislature’s work to protect animals and the advocacy for animal welfare. The passage of the animal welfare bill and the ban of certain animals in traveling acts will protect animals who are unable to protect themselves,” said State Representative Steven Ultrino. “With this bill, Massachusetts will no longer allow animals to be subject to mistreatment for the sake of entertainment.”

“I was glad to join my colleagues to make Massachusetts the sixth state to ban the use of elephants, big cats, bears, primates, and giraffes in traveling acts,” said State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian. “Traveling acts, such as circuses, have long been known for their mistreatment and poor conditions for such animals. This legislation ensures our Commonwealth is protecting these animals and promoting their welfare.”

Circuses and other traveling shows are known for fostering dangerous conditions for large animals. Fortunately, many major establishments, such as the Topsfield Fair, have already stopped displaying these animals in recent years.

This legislation will prohibit traveling acts, such as circuses, carnivals, and fairs, from using certain large animals, including lions, tigers, leopards, bears, elephants, giraffes, and primates for entertainment starting in January, 2025. Animals that live at the zoo; animals used for filming movies; and non-exotic animals such as horses, chickens, pigs, and rabbits will be exempt from this new law.

After passing in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, this legislation was signed into law by Governor Maura Healey on August 9, 2024.

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Press Contact:

Hannah Li

Office of State Representative Steve Ultrino

Hannah.Li@MAHouse.gov

Malden Delegation Announces $249,750 Shared Streets and Spaces Program Award

BOSTON (September 6, 2024) —State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representatives Paul Donato, Steve Ultrino, and Kate Lipper-Garabedian are pleased to announce that the City of Malden has been awarded a $249,750 Shared Streets and Spaces Program grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).

This state grant program provides project funding to help Massachusetts cities and towns design and implement changes to streets and intersections to make them safer and more welcoming for all community members.

The City of Malden will use their grant to construct a neighborhood pedestrian plaza in the Bell Rock neighborhood, new ADA-compliant curb ramps at seventeen intersections citywide, and to install crosswalks at fifty-nine locations citywide.

“I’m very pleased that the City of Malden is receiving a Shared Streets and Spaces grant,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “This funding will expand accessibility in the community and increase safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.”

“It is exciting that Malden is a recipient of MassDOT’s Shared Streets and Spaces Program Grant so that we can make our streets safer and accessible,” said State Representative Paul Donato. “This important funding will allow the community to create more citizen and walk-friendly zones, as well as ADA compliant ramps.”

“I am grateful that the City of Malden was awarded the MassDOT’s Shared Streets and Spaces grant,” said State Representative Steven Ultrino. “The funding will construct safe and accessible infrastructure around Malden to promote road safety among pedestrians and drivers.”

“I am glad to see Malden receive this critical funding to improve the safety of the City's roadways,” said State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian. “The Shared Streets and Space program funding will improve the safety for vehicle drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists through improved, ADA-compliant curb ramps and new crosswalks across the City.”

“Malden is proud of being a walkable city,” said Malden Mayor Gary Christenson. “A big thank you to our State Delegation for their commitment to enhancing our road, sidewalk, and traffic signal accessibility! This grant ensures that our residents will continue to reap the benefits of safe access to shops, restaurants, parks, and recreation.”

The Shared Streets and Spaces grant program is funded by the Massachusetts legislature.

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Press Contact:

Hannah Li

Office of State Representative Steve Ultrino

Hannah.Li@MAHouse.gov

Malden Delegation Celebrates Passage of Massachusetts Parentage Act

BOSTON (September 6, 2024) —State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representatives Paul Donato, Steve Ultrino, and Kate Lipper-Garabedian joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass An Act to ensure legal parentage equality, also known as the Massachusetts Parentage Act, extending the full rights of parentage to LGBTQ+ families and families created via assisted reproduction.

This legislation dismantles archaic legal barriers to basic parenting responsibilities for modern families, enabling all parents to legally attend and make decisions during medical appointments, manage a child’s finances, participate in educational decisions, and provide authorizations for a child’s travel.

“All parents and families should have the same parenting rights and protections, regardless of the gender identity or sexual orientation of the parents or the use of assisted reproduction,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “I’m proud that Massachusetts continues to be a safe and welcoming place for all families to raise their children.”

“As Chair of the Foster Care Caucus and the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Commission, I frequently see first-hand the challenges residents experience in attempting to build their families. The Massachusetts Parentage Act takes important strides in modernizing state law to reflect a common pathway to parentage for all Massachusetts residents, particularly for LGBTQ+ families,” said State Representative Paul Donato. “I want to thank my colleagues for prioritizing this vital legislation in ensuring that all Massachusetts residents have the same rights and opportunities to build their families.”

“The Parentage Act reflects and legally recognizes the many ways families are formed today. I’m grateful that the parental rights of parents and families are now protected regardless of martial status, gender identity, sexual orientation of the parents, or the circumstances of the child’s birth,” said State Representative Steven Ultrino. “This piece of legislation is a step forward in creating equality for families of all kinds across the Commonwealth.”

“I was proud to join the full legislature to vote in support of this bipartisan bill to protect and honor the diversity of families and parents in the Commonwealth,” said State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian. “As the nation’s leader in recognizing marriage equality 20 years ago, Massachusetts will continue to serve as a model for the country and the world in advancing human rights for all residents, including those in the LGBTQ+ community, with the passage of the Parentage Act.”

Twenty years ago, Massachusetts led the nation by legalizing same-sex marriage. The Parentage Act continues this work by updating the Commonwealth’s laws so that common paths to parentage may be utilized equally by all families, regardless of marital status. It also creates a new path to parentage for individuals who are ‘de facto’ parents and ensures that every child and parent has the same rights and protections without regard to the marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation of the parents, or the circumstances of the child’s birth.

The Parentage Act also makes critical updates to laws related to assisted reproduction, including surrogacy and in-vitro fertilization (IVF). It outlines rights, requirements, procedures, and safeguards for parents, donors, surrogates, and others involved in the process. Further, it establishes clear paths to parentage for individuals or couples utilizing assisted reproduction and surrogacy in order to provide legal recognition and status prior to the child’s birth.

For many families, non-biological parents are their child’s parent in every way except being legally recognized as such. The Parentage Act legally recognizes the importance of relationships between children and parents in modern families and affords individuals who have been acting in a meaningful parental role for a significant amount of time the opportunity to seek full legal rights befitting their relationship. It also provides notice, and an opportunity to be heard, to existing parents, and adds safeguards against abuse and protections for domestic violence survivors and military parents.

After final passage in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Parentage Act was signed into law by Governor Maura Healey on August 9, 2024.

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Press Contact:

Hannah Li

Office of State Representative Steve Ultrino

Hannah.Li@MAHouse.gov