The 188th General Court of
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Stephen M. Brewer Senate Ways and Means Chair
D
Barre
Addresses
- State House
- Room 212
- Boston, MA 02133
- Phone: 617-722-1540
- Fax: 617-722-1078
- Email: Stephen.Brewer@masenate.gov
- District Office
- Tatman House
- 20 Common Street
- Barre, MA 01005
- Phone: 978-355-2444
Committee Membership
| Bill | Docket | Bill Title |
|---|---|---|
| S.44 | SD833 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 44) of Stephen M. Brewer, Carlos Henriquez, Kimberly N. Ferguson and Michael O. Moore for legislation relative to the parental notification for minors who violate probation. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. |
| S.81 | SD1318 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 81) of Stephen M. Brewer and Denise Andrews (by vote of the town) for legislation to authorize the town of Templeton to grant an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk off the premises. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. [Local Approval Received.] |
| S.200 | SD1000 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 200) of Stephen M. Brewer, Todd M. Smola, James M. Murphy, Anne M. Gobi and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to geography education. Education. |
| S.342 | SD817 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 342) of Stephen M. Brewer, Todd M. Smola, Kimberly N. Ferguson and Jason M. Lewis for legislation relative to irrigation systems. Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. |
| S.415 | SD843 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 415) of Stephen M. Brewer, Gloria L. Fox, Martha M. Walz, Denise Andrews and other members of the General Court for legislation to ensure access to life-saving colorectal cancer and breast cancer screenings. Financial Services. |
| H.496 | HD1610 | By Mr. Smola of Palmer and Senator Brewer, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 496) of Todd M. Smola and others for legislation to prohibit the replacement of MCAS standards with national education standards. Education. |
| S.622 | SD832 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 622) of Stephen M. Brewer, Anne M. Gobi, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Denise Andrews and other members of the General Court for legislation to provide further penalties for intentional loss or damage to gravestone or other gravemarker. The Judiciary. |
| S.623 | SD1747 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 623) of Stephen M. Brewer and Denise Andrews (by vote of the town) for legislation to request an investigation by the attornery general into the following incidents in the town of Templeton. The Judiciary. [Local Approval Received.] |
| H.641 | HD1609 | By Mr. Smola of Palmer and Senator Brewer, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 641) of Todd M. Smola and Stephen M. Brewer (by vote of the town) relative to recall elections in the town of Wales. Election Laws. [Local Approval Received.] |
| S.925 | SD1383 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 925) of Stephen M. Brewer, Kimberly N. Ferguson, Michael R. Knapik, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. and other members of the General Court for legislation to include fire districts. Municipalities and Regional Government. |
| S.1110 | SD1410 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1110) of Stephen M. Brewer, Todd M. Smola, Nicholas A. Boldyga, Karen E. Spilka and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to missing persons. Public Safety and Homeland Security. |
| S.1202 | SD841 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1202) of Stephen M. Brewer, Sean Garballey, Anne M. Gobi, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. and other members of the General Court for legislation to provide the next of kin of a state police officer killed in the line of duty with a flag during the memorial service. Public Service. |
| S.1305 | SD836 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1305) of Stephen M. Brewer, Anne M. Gobi, Todd M. Smola, Nicholas A. Boldyga and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish a property tax exemption for members of the National Guard. Revenue. |
| S.1455 | SD976 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1455) of Stephen M. Brewer and Jonathan D. Zlotnik for legislation to authorize the department of fish and game to exchange the release of a conservation restriction held over certain property in the town of Winchendon for the conveyance of other property in the same town. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. |
| S.1456 | SD1231 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1456) of Stephen M. Brewer and Denise Andrews for legislation to authorize the sale of land in the town of Templeton. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. |
| S.1457 | SD1340 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1457) of Stephen M. Brewer, Todd M. Smola and Anne M. Gobi for legislation to authorize the division of capital asset management and maintenance to grant an easement upon land of the commonwealth located in the town of Ware to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority . State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. |
| S.1634 | SD917 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1634) of Stephen M. Brewer, Anne M. Gobi, Todd M. Smola and Michael O. Moore for legislation to authorize firefighter motorcycle license plates. Transportation. |
| S.1635 | SD969 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1635) of Stephen M. Brewer, Stephen Kulik, Todd M. Smola, Benjamin B. Downing and other members of the General Court for legislation to promote environmentally sound transportation of agricultural products. Transportation. |
| S.1725 | SD1344 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1725) of Stephen M. Brewer, Anne M. Gobi, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Tackey Chan and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to veteran's benefits for surviving spouses. Veterans and Federal Affairs. |
| S.1726 | SD1662 | By Mr. Brewer, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1726) of Stephen M. Brewer, Anne M. Gobi, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., Denise Andrews and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to emergency medical transportation provided to veterans. Veterans and Federal Affairs. |
| S.1758 | The committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate Bill prohibiting the sale, installation and disposal of mercury thermostats(Senate, No. 388); reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft entitled "An Act further regulating mercury management" (Senate, No. 1758) | |
| S.1777 | The committee on Senate committee on Ways and Means to whom was referred the House Bill establishing a sick leave bank for Jacqueline Eld, an employee of the Middlesex Probate and Family Court (House, No. 3328) reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of Senate document numbered 1777; by striking out the emergency preamble and inserting in place thereof the following emergency preamble: “Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to establish immediately a sick leave bank for a certain employee of the trial court, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.”; and by striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the following title: “An Act establishing a sick leave bank for Jacqueline Eld, an employee of the Trial Court”. | |
| H.1875 | HD1608 | By Representative Smola of Palmer and Senator Brewer, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1875) of Todd M. Smola and Stephen M. Brewer (by vote of the town) relative to creating a library building fund in the town of Wales. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.] |
| Bill | Docket | Bill Title |
|---|---|---|
| H.267 | HD999 | By Ms. Peisch of Wellesley, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 267) of Alice Hanlon Peisch and others relative to small brewers of alcoholic beverages. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. |
| H.717 | HD791 | By Ms. Gobi of Spencer, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 717) of Anne M. Gobi and others relative to the distribution of raw milk. Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. |
| S.796 | SD362 | By Ms. Spilka, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 796) of Karen E. Spilka, Martha M. Walz, William N. Brownsberger, Kay Khan and other members of the General Court for legislation to update privacy protections for personal electronic information. The Judiciary. |
| S.1340 | SD992 | By Mr. Hart, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1340) of John Hart, Jr., Michael O. Moore, Harriette L. Chandler and Stephen M. Brewer for legislation relative to the preservation and expansion of live musical and theatrical productions. Revenue. |
| H.1549 | HD239 | By Ms. Peisch of Wellesley, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1549) of Alice Hanlon Peisch and others relative to improving the apprehension of drunk drivers and other law violators. The Judiciary. |
| H.3409 | HD3559 | By Ms. Gobi of Spencer, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Anne M. Gobi, Stephen M. Brewer and Peter J. Durant for legislation to authorize the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District to borrow certain funds. Education. |
Since being elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1988, Brewer has nobly served the citizens of Central and Western Massachusetts. Now representing the second largest Senate district in the Commonwealth, Brewer continues to diligently advocate for the communities he represents while being a statewide leader on fiscal matters facing the entire state.
Throughout his career, Brewer has remained committed to protecting the citizens of the Commonwealth and serving them honorably. Brewer is a tireless advocate for Veterans; in 2005 he was named the first ever Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. During this time, Brewer advocated for one of the most comprehensive state benefits legislation for Veterans in the nation, known as the Massachusetts Welcome Home Bill. He continued his passionate advocacy on behalf of those who serve sitting on the Special Commission to Study and Investigate the Hidden Wounds of War on Massachusetts Service Members and advocating for funding to support Veterans Outreach Centers and Massachusetts Soldier’s Homes.
A friend of the sportsmen, Brewer has also placed the preservation of open space and agricultural land at the top of his list. Growing up on a farm himself, Brewer lead the way to the passage of the Dairy Farm Preservation Bill, which enabled the Department of Agricultural Resources to offer technical assistance and funds to farmers, making them eligible for loans for up to $500,000.
He now serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, one of the most powerful committees in the Senate, which is tasked with handling all matters relating to the finances of the Commonwealth. The position allows him to work closely on the budget that provides funding to municipalities, state agencies, and some of the neediest residents of the Bay State.
Following statewide healthcare reform, Brewer championed a new law that requires insurance companies that provide coverage for chemotherapy treatments to provide the same level of coverage for oral chemotherapy medication. The bill, first filed by Brewer in 2009, has been praised by doctors, patients and advocacy groups as a national model for the future of anti-cancer drugs
Brewer remains an active member of the local community by serving on a number of organizations including the Barre Library Association, Democratic Town Committee, South Barre Rod and Gun Club, the North Worcester County Quabbin Anglers Association and as an honorary member of the Spencer Exchange Club. Brewer also sits on the Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules.
Personal Information
| Profession: | Legislator/Laborer |
| Spouse: | Valerie |
| Children: | 2 |
Career Highlights
- Three time recipient of the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Legislator of the Year Award
- Leader in the passage the Massachusetts Welcome Home Bill; Recipient of the Charles Dick Medal of Merit award from The National Guard Association of the United States
- Tireless advocate for changing the name of the Department of Mental Retardation to the Department of Developmental Services, reversing an antiquated stigma
- In 2009, in partnership with the AdMeTech foundation, established the first ever Prostate Cancer Awareness Day. The event has become a national model in raising awareness for the disease
Education & Public Service
- Barre Public Schools
- University of Massachusetts at Amherst, B.A. '71
- Assumption College, M.A. '74
- 1996-Present Elected to State Senate; 1998 Served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy; as Senate Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on Energy; and as Senate Chairman of the Small Town Rural Caucus
- 1999 Appointed to the Council of State Governments and served as Senate Chair of the Central Massachusetts Legislative Caucus;2001-02 Served as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Natural Resources & Agriculture
- 2003-04 Served as Chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules;2005-06 Served as Chair of the Senate Committee on Bills in the Third Reading and as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs
- 2007-08 Served as Assistant Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means;2008- Named Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means; 2010-Present Chairman Senate Committee on Ways and Means