The Massachusetts Senate approved three bills last week aimed at combating the opioid epidemic, protecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and managing car rental costs for residents.

The Senate will vote next week on wide-ranging legislation that would erect strict guardrails around collection and distribution of personal data, a practice that has become ubiquitous with cell phones in every pocket. 

Early data suggest Massachusetts’ experiment with free community college has been successful. Enrollment has shot up by more than 15,000 students, student retention has increased, and newly graduated students are now transferring to four-year universities.