Pavel M. Payano
Democratic · MA · Massachusetts State Senator
Pavel M. Payano is a Massachusetts State Senator for First Essex. Before joining the Senate, he served on the Lawrence School Committee and as a Lawrence City Councilor-at-Large.
Where Pavel M. Payano stands, based on their records
Supports
Healthcare Affordability (3 records), Environment and Public Health (1 record), Reduce Wealth Gap (1 record),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (3 records)
Track record
Track record — Healthcare Affordability
Healthcare Affordability · 3 support
His bill (S.1757) to end medical and health service fees charged to incarcerated people won a favorable committee report on January 27, 2026.
January 27, 2026Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: malegislature.gov
His bill (S.819) to bar discrimination against health providers in the federal 340B drug discount program won a favorable committee report on December 4, 2025.
December 4, 2025Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: malegislature.gov
His health equity bill (S.799) won a favorable committee report on April 8, 2024; he refiled it in 2025 (S.901), and it was again reported favorably.
April 8, 2024Supports Healthcare Affordability
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support
Voted for the 2024 climate law to build a clean energy grid and protect ratepayers (S.2967); the Senate accepted it 38-2.
October 24, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Reduce Wealth Gap
Reduce Wealth Gap · 1 support
Filed a bill (S.1819) to make colleges that favor legacy applicants or donors' relatives, or use binding early decision, pay a public-service fee based on their endowment.
June 29, 2023Supports Reduce Wealth Gap
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 oppose
Voted for the final state budget for fiscal year 2027 (H.5555); it passed the Senate 39-1.
July 1, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the final February 2025 supplemental budget for the emergency shelter system (H.58); it passed the Senate 32-7.
February 26, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Voted for the Affordable Homes Act (H.4977), a state borrowing bill for housing; it passed the Senate 37-2.
August 1, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
His bill (S.2436) to raise penalties for speeding in school zones won a favorable committee report on December 31, 2025.
December 31, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 2 support
His bill (S.1757) to end medical and health service fees charged to incarcerated people won a favorable committee report on January 27, 2026.
January 27, 2026Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: malegislature.gov
His bill (S.1240) to raise the minimum age for youthful offender indictments from 14 to 16 won a favorable committee report on September 29, 2025.
September 29, 2025Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 support
Voted for the Affordable Homes Act (H.4977), a state borrowing bill for housing; it passed the Senate 37-2.
August 1, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 1 support
Voted for the final February 2025 supplemental budget for the emergency shelter system (H.58); it passed the Senate 32-7.
February 26, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 1 support
Voted for the 2024 gun law overhaul (H.4885, An Act modernizing firearm laws); the Senate accepted the final version 35-5.
July 18, 2024Supports Gun Control
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 1 support
Voted for the 2025 Shield Act update (S.2543), which limits state help to outside investigations of legal reproductive and gender-affirming care; it passed the Senate 37-3.
July 31, 2025Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Personal Income Tax Reduction
Personal Income Tax Reduction · 1 support
Voted for the 2023 tax relief package (H.4104), which cut several state taxes; the Senate accepted the final version 38-1.
September 28, 2023Supports Personal Income Tax Reduction
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 support
Voted for the 2025 Shield Act update (S.2543), which limits state help to outside investigations of legal reproductive and gender-affirming care; it passed the Senate 37-3.
July 31, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: malegislature.gov
Track record — General
General · 5 records
Chairs the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure in the 2025-2026 session, after chairing the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses in 2023-2024.
October 7, 2026
Source: malegislature.gov
Won re-election to the First Essex Senate seat on November 5, 2024, with 39,632 votes and no opponent on the ballot.
November 5, 2024
Source: electionstats.state.ma.us
The official Massachusetts Senate biography states that Pavel Payano previously served Lawrence on the School Committee and as an at-large City Councilor before his election to the State Senate.
January 4, 2023
Source: malegislature.gov
Won the November 8, 2022 general election for the First Essex Senate seat with no opponent on the ballot, receiving 21,591 votes.
November 8, 2022
Source: electionstats.state.ma.us
Was endorsed by Haverhill state Rep. Andy Vargas, joining former Rep. Brian Dempsey and former Haverhill Mayor James Rurak, for his 2022 First Essex Senate campaign.
March 2, 2022
Source: whav.net
Past races Pavel M. Payano ran in:
- State Senator - First Essex District · November 3, 2026 · First Essex District; Massachusetts · incumbent
- State Senator - First Essex District · September 1, 2026 · First Essex District; Massachusetts · incumbent