06/04/2026
As most of my colleagues did, I voted yes to allow an audit of the Massachusetts Legislature. Throughout my entire public service career, I have always thought that transparency, accountability, and clarity are the bare minimum for us to deliver to our constituents as public servants. The people I serve demand and deserve this.
H.5469 An Act Promoting Transparency and Public Access in State Government allows for this in the Massachusetts House and Senate. The bill allows the State Auditor to audit the administrative functions of the Legislature including all our budgets, expenditures, official audits and settlement agreements back to 2021. It allows the Auditor to conduct interviews and request records about functions of the legislature. Also, it allows the Auditor to publicly document disputed or withheld records in the final Audit report. Currently, the Supreme Judicial Court has allowed specific categories of record that are subject to an audit. The legislature is currently in progress providing those records.
This is a good step forward as upon its passage and signature from the Governor will allow further legislative audits to begin, establishes a process for requestions records and interviews and creates more public access to legislative records.
I absolutely believe that the bill is not perfect and does not reflect my full belief in a larger in-depth legislative audit. I was poised to support Amendment #1 that would put language in this bill to give the Auditor the authority to appeal to the Supreme Judicial Court for documents that the House felt it was not obligated to provide. However, this amendment was withdrawn by the minority leader.
This legislation has taken us a step in the right direction. I look forward to the Auditor being able to start the process of auditing the legislature and the votes of 72 percent of Massachusetts being met. It is imperative that the public have a full window into the work of the State House, “the people’s house” as I am a firm believer in our work being for the public good. We work to improve our constituents and residents of our great Commonwealth’s lives. I am committed to that as your State Representative.
This bill now moves on to the State Senate, and they will debate this as well. The bill will also ultimately come back to the House for a final vote and enactment.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach our office. We will be hosting June coffee hours within the next few weeks! Stay tuned for dates and times.
