Today, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed An Act to prevent abuse and exploitation, bipartisan legislation that would criminalize the sharing of sexually explicit images or videos without an individual’s consent and implement a comprehensive educational diversion program designed for adolescents on the consequences of posting indecent visual depictions online.
Read MoreToday, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation to make early education and care more accessible and affordable for families across Massachusetts.
Read MoreToday, the Massachusetts Senate announced it would be taking up the EARLY ED Act, legislation to make early education and care more accessible and affordable for families across Massachusetts.
Read MoreToday, the Massachusetts Senate Art Committee released a submission form requesting nominations for the name of a woman to be honored with a bust in the Senate Chamber. Nominations should reflect women who have made historic contributions to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; women with national influence will also be considered if they have ties to the state.
Read More“…The hearing will examine the relationship between health care regulators and private equity, and will solicit information and recommendations to help ensure that what is happening with Steward Health Care doesn’t happen again in the future….”
Read MoreToday, the Massachusetts Senate marked the first day of Women’s History month by unveiling a portrait of former First Lady Abigail Adams and putting out a public call for nominations for an influential woman to be the first honored with a permanent bust in the Senate Chamber. The nominations will be considered by a renewed Senate Art Committee, led by Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro).
Read MoreThe Massachusetts Senate on Thursday passed the Healthy Youth Act, which would ensure that Massachusetts public schools electing to teach sexual health education curriculum use age-appropriate, inclusive, medically accurate, and research-based information on sex, relationships, and consent.
Read MoreToday, a permanent bust of African American orator, writer, abolitionist, politician, and freedom fighter, Frederick Douglass, took its place among several of the United States’ foremost historical figures in the Massachusetts State Senate chamber.
Read MoreToday, with bipartisan support, the Massachusetts Senate passed An act to sensibly address firearm violence through effective reform—the SAFER Act—to increase firearm safety in the state without infringing on the rights of gun owners. Following a thorough debate amongst members on the Senate floor, the bill passed 37 to 3.
Read More“…Given the number of questions that were submitted this session, including competing versions of the same question, the House and Senate will act to establish a special joint committee tasked with reviewing the initiatives that is especially equipped to tackle the unique challenges presented by the legal and policy intricacies of the questions this year. The Legislature looks forward to a fair, balanced, and informed public process for the consideration of all initiative petitions.”
Read MoreToday, the Massachusetts Senate introduced the SAFER Act, comprehensive gun safety legislation to reform and modernize the state’s firearm laws, support the state’s public safety and public health infrastructure in mitigating gun violence, and strengthen accountability and oversight mechanisms for illegal gun activity.
Read MoreThanks to robust gun laws and investment in gun violence prevention, Massachusetts already has one of the lowest rates of gun violence in the nation. Senate bill S.2572, An act to sensibly address firearm violence through effective reform—the SAFER Act—builds on that strong foundation, updates state laws to reflect new technologies and trends, and makes the Commonwealth’s residents even safer without infringing on the rights of lawful gun owners.
Read MoreToday, the Massachusetts Senate passed legislation to enhance consumer protections for residents receiving appraisals for their own real estate, or prospective real estate. S.2550—An Act providing consumers with equal protection for all real estate appraisals—would require that all real estate appraisals in the state be conducted exclusively by certified or licensed appraisers.
Read MoreToday, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation to modernize the Commonwealth’s laws and strike outdated and non-inclusive statutes that are discriminatory against LGBTQ+ individuals in the state.
Read MoreToday, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation that would prohibit declawing, tendonectomy, and similar procedures from being performed on cats in Massachusetts, except in cases of medical necessity to address a condition that jeopardizes a cat’s health—as determined by a licensed veterinarian.
Read MoreThe cost of childcare has been out of reach for working families for too long, and we can't fulfill our potential as a Commonwealth until we tackle this crisis from every angle. I'm proud of the leadership the Senate has shown on this issue, and we plan to once again pass a comprehensive early education and childcare bill this session.
Read MoreToday, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means favorably reported out S2482, An Act to provide for competitiveness and infrastructure investment in Massachusetts. This bill aims to take advantage of the substantial interest accrued from the Commonwealth’s stabilization fund, currently at historic levels, and leveraging that interest to secure the state’s fair share of federal funds.
Read More“This interim report lays out a plan for filling those jobs and making our state more competitive and equitable by removing a major financial barrier for our students, enabling them to complete a degree and stay in Massachusetts. I’m grateful to the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges for their tremendous work on this and I look forward to continuing on the path to deliver universal free community college,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland).
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