Dome:
Law, Legislation & Policy

Housed at Boston University School of Law, Dome is a valuable resource for news, analysis, and opinion on legislation and public policy. Dome is staffed by students of BU Law’s various legislation clinics. Dome features work contributed by staff members, scholars, practitioners, and law students interested in legislation and public policy.

The US House Must Start Protecting Undocumented Minors

By Cassandra Castro
April 20th, 2019 in Analysis, Federal Legislation, Legislative Oversight.

The 2018 midterm election should be considered less of a “blue wave” and more of a call to action made by the people of the United States to their House Representatives. The Trump administration has made many an egregious decision since 2017 and the Democrats of both the House and... More

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The Future of Supervised Injection Sites in Massachusetts and Beyond

By Chloe Aubuchon
April 20th, 2019 in Analysis, Federal Legislation, State Legislation.

With Massachusetts and the country facing a rising opioid overdose epidemic, lawmakers are looking to some controversial measures to curb overdose deaths. One of those measures being considered is supervised injection sites, also called safe injection sites or safe consumption spaces. Safe consumption spaces, of which there are 100 worldwide, More

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Curbing Medicare Drug Costs

By Sarah Zahakos
April 17th, 2019 in Analysis, Federal Legislation.

Prescription drug spend in the U.S. is the highest in the world. Americans pay up to three times the amount per capita of other countries. This is problematic for our growing aging population since their income becomes limited. While Medicare covers prescription drug costs, there are policy gaps that make... More

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Massachusetts Regulates Short-Term Rentals

By Jessica Hartman
April 17th, 2019 in Analysis, Local Legislation, News, State Legislation.

Massachusetts’s Governor Baker signed An Act Regulating and Insuring Short-Term Rentals on December 28, 2018. The act regulates short-term rentals provided through services like Airbnb. The governor rejected an earlier version of the bill, and returned amendments primarily allowing for an exemption for owners who rent out their property for... More

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Raising the Blinds – Gaining Meaningful Insight into Pharmaceutical Pricing through Legislation

By Drew Kohlmeier
February 7th, 2019 in Analysis, Federal Legislation, Legislation in Court, Lobbying.

Rising healthcare costs are a growing concern across the United States; in 2016 U.S. health care spending was $10,348 per person – or 17.9 % of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). To counter this alarming rise in healthcare costs, states are addressing one of the largest factors in rising... More

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