Massachusetts leaders pledge to implement antisemitism commission recommendations; lieutenant governor named point person

At a press event convened by the Massachusetts legislature, Governor Maura Healey pledged that the Commonwealth would move quickly to implement the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism’s report and named Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll as the administration’s point person to lead that effort.

The governor said the commission’s recommendations provide “concrete, actionable steps” for schools, public-safety agencies and community organizations. She listed commitments that the administration intends to pursue, including funding educational programs in K–12 schools, supporting nonprofit partners that strengthen local preparedness, launching public-awareness campaigns and creating a hate‑crimes unit within the Massachusetts State Police.

“Massachusetts stands with our Jewish community,” Healey said, adding that the state will take “whatever action is necessary” to call out and eradicate antisemitism. She cited a statistic — a 70% increase in anti‑Jewish crime over the past year — as evidence of rising threats and said the administration would not defer to what she characterized as a recent federal change in labeling certain symbols, but would act within state authority.

House Speaker Ron Mariano and other legislative leaders pledged support for implementing the report. Mariano said the work must not “end up on the shelf” and expressed confidence the House could pass measures needed to enact the recommendations.

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, who the governor asked to coordinate the cross‑government response, emphasized education and public‑safety collaboration. She noted that the commission held 16 hearings across the Commonwealth, producing a report built on stakeholder testimony and documented best practices.

Treasurer Deb Goldberg, who described the issue as deeply personal, and Jeremy Burton, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council Network, urged speedy follow‑through. Burton said the JCRC and its member organizations expect the recommendations to be implemented “with all necessary urgency.”

The event did not record any formal votes or legislative actions at the press conference itself. Officials described next steps as executive and legislative implementation: the governor’s office, led by the lieutenant governor for coordination, will work with agencies, and lawmakers signaled they intend to pursue enabling measures in the legislature.

Background and next steps: speakers at the event emphasized education as a key prevention tool and pointed to existing local examples (universities, school districts and employer resource groups) already adopting practices cited in the commission report. Officials did not provide a detailed timetable or specific appropriation amounts at the event; the governor said funding and operational details will be part of the implementation process going forward.