Posts in Releases & Statements
Massachusetts Legislature Passes Comprehensive Maternal Health Bill

Today, The Massachusetts Legislature passed a comprehensive maternal health bill which creates a state licensure pathway for midwives and lactation consultants, encourages the creation of more freestanding birth centers, establishes a grant program to address maternal mental health and substance use disorder, and expands the statewide universal postpartum home visiting program. This legislation also mandates that insurers provide coverage for postpartum depression and major depressive disorder screenings for perinatal individuals.

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Massachusetts Legislature Passes Largest Housing Investment in State History

The Massachusetts Legislature has passed the Affordable Homes Act, the largest housing investment in Massachusetts history and a powerful first step in tackling the state’s housing affordability crisis.

 

The legislation authorizes $5.16 billion in bond authorizations and tax credits to spur housing production in Massachusetts, while implementing sweeping policy initiatives to facilitate the development of affordable housing and preserve public housing in Massachusetts.

 

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Massachusetts Legislature Passes HERO Act

The Massachusetts Legislature has passed An Act Honoring, Empowering and Recognizing Our Service Members and Veterans (HERO Act), legislation designed to boost support for hundreds of thousands of individuals across the state who have served in the United States military, including nearly 30,000 women veterans and thousands of LGBTQ+ veterans.

 

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Senate Makes Sweeping Systemic Reforms to Long Term Care and Assisted Living Facilities

The Massachusetts Senate today approved sweeping reforms to the Commonwealth’s long term care and assisted living sectors, taking a powerful step towards delivering the high quality and safe care that Massachusetts seniors deserve. S.2889, An Act relative to long term care and assisted living, substantially strengthens oversight and enforcement while also requiring facilities to create outbreak plans should a health issue arise.

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Senate Acts to Protect First Responders Permanently Injured in the Line of Duty

Today the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation to ensure that first responders who are permanently injured by violent acts in the line of duty receive their full regular compensation until they reach retirement age. S.2887, An Act relative to disability pensions and critical incident stress management for violent crimes, enshrines into law financial security for first responders and their families after a critical or life-threatening injury occurs while serving their state, county, city, or town.

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Senate Acts on Supplemental Budget Directing Funds to Human Services, Nutrition, Childcare, and Hospitals

Today the Massachusetts Senate passed a supplemental budget directing funding to childcare assistance, community services, and workforce initiatives vital to the wellbeing of Massachusetts residents. The legislation directs funding to deficiencies outlined by the Healey-Driscoll Administration and makes numerous clarifications to state policies to cut red tape and create efficiencies in state government.

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Massachusetts Legislature Passes Wage Equity Legislation

Today the Massachusetts Legislature took a strong step towards closing the gender and racial wage gap in the Commonwealth by passing An Act relative to salary range transparency. The legislation requires employers with 25 or more employees to disclose a salary range when posting a position and protects an employee’s right to ask their employer for the salary range for their position when applying for a job or seeking a promotion

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Legislature Passes Fiscal Year 2025 Budget

) Today, the Legislature enacted a $58 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), resolving differences between the versions of the budget passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate earlier this year. The FY25 conference committee report maintains fiscal responsibility while delivering historic levels of investment in every level of education, transportation regional equity, workforce development and health care, reflecting the Legislature’s ongoing commitment to delivering on affordability for residents and economic competitiveness for the Commonwealth.

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Massachusetts Senate Votes to Raise the Age of Juvenile Jurisdiction to Include 18-Year-Olds

Today the Massachusetts Senate voted to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction to include residents who are 18-years-old.  The initiative, known as “Raise the Age” by advocates, is proven to decrease crime and improve public safety by allowing emerging adults who are 18 years old—the typical age of a senior in high school—to be tried as juveniles instead of adults for certain crimes.  

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Senate Votes to Inject $5.4B into Housing, Put Homeownership and Affordable Units in Reach

The Massachusetts Senate took action today to address the state’s housing crisis. S.2834, An Act relative to affordable homes—also known as the Affordable Homes Act—authorizes $5.4 billion in borrowing and makes crucial policy changes with the goal of building new housing, accelerating the rehabilitation of existing housing, reducing barriers to development, and promoting affordable housing.  

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