Massachusetts has a long-standing commitment to honoring and supporting those who serve in our nation's armed forces. During this session, the Senate has focused on strengthening resources and benefits for active military personnel, veterans, and their families. This section of the report highlights key legislative actions aimed at enhancing services, improving access to care, and recognizing the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women.
Bills:
An Act honoring, empowering and recognizing our servicemembers and veterans (HERO Act)
Massachusetts is dedicated to ensuring the well-being and humane treatment of animals across the state. In this legislative session, the Senate has taken significant steps to advance animal welfare, focusing on stronger protections, improved standards of care, and enhanced enforcement measures.
Bills:
An Act prohibiting inhumane feline declawing
An Act providing for the humane protection of animals
Ollie’s Law: An Act to increase kennel safety
An Act protecting circus animals
Senate passes bills to promote animal welfare
Senate Passes Legislation Prohibiting Cat Declawing in Massachusetts
Massachusetts remains committed to responsible fiscal management and strategic investment in the Commonwealth's future. In this legislative session, the Senate has prioritized allocating resources that address the immediate needs of residents while laying a strong foundation for long-term growth. This section provides an overview of the FY24 and FY25 state budgets, which each made important investments in vital public services, infrastructure, education, and more.
Bills:
Massachusetts takes pride in being an inclusive and supportive community for all residents. This legislative session, the Senate has focused on advancing policies that protect vulnerable populations, ensure equitable access to essential services, and promote the well-being of every citizen.
Bills:
An Act to provide identification to youth and adults experiencing homelessness
An Act expanding wheelchair warranty protections for consumers with disabilities
An Act to improve quality and oversight of long-term care
An Act to Ensure Legal Parentage Equality
Wheelchair Warranty Reform Passed by Massachusetts Senate
Senate Acts to Update and Modernize Sexual Health Education
Increasing access to kinship adoptions
Massachusetts has been a leader in combatting climate change, and we continue to work to reduce our fossil fuel emissions and protect our environment for future generations. This legislative session, the Senate has focused on passing forward-thinking policies that address the urgent need for environmental protection, sustainable development, and resilience against climate impacts. This highlights the critical measures enacted to reduce carbon emissions, safeguard natural resources, and ensure a greener, more sustainable Commonwealth.
Bills:
An Act Promoting a Clean Energy Grid, Advancing Equity, and Protecting Ratepayers
Senate Takes Bold Action to Supercharge Clean Energy Adoption Statewide
Nation-leading Next Generation Climate Roadmap
Bolstering green transportation, green buildings, and clean power production
Massachusetts endeavors to ensure that residents are protected from unfair practices and have access to safe and reliable goods and services. In this legislative session, the Senate has prioritized consumer protection by enacting laws that strengthen safeguards, enhance transparency, and hold businesses accountable. This section of the report outlines the key initiatives aimed at empowering consumers, improving fairness in transactions, and ensuring that the marketplace remains equitable and secure for all.
Bills:
An Act relative to fairness in debt collection
An Act providing consumers with equal protection for all real estate appraisals
An Act relative to electric ratepayer protections
An Act modernizing protections for consumers in automobile transactions
An Act relative to the remediation of home heating oil releases
Massachusetts cares deeply about providing a high-quality education system that supports every student from early childhood through to the start of their career. In this legislative session, the Senate has focused on programs and policies that strengthen public education at every stage, ensuring that all students have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. This section of the report highlights initiatives aimed at enhancing educational equity, improving learning outcomes, and preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of the future.
Bills:
An Act ensuring affordability, readiness and learning for our youth and driving economic development
In-State Tuition For All Residents Regardless of Immigration Status
Massachusetts Senate acts to transform early education and care
Fostering a thriving economy that benefits all residents is one of the most important jobs of the Massachusetts Legislature. In this legislative session, the Senate has centered workers rights while exploring investments in up-and-coming industries, in order to continue building up our resilient and inclusive economy.
Bills:
An Act relative to advancing the profession of commercial interior design
An Act to provide for the future information technology needs of Massachusetts
An Act relative to strengthening Massachusetts’ economic leadership
An Act to provide for competitiveness and infrastructure investment in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Legislature Passes Wage Equity
Massachusetts Legislature Passes the FutureTech Act Legislation
Massachusetts Senate Acts to Establish New Statewide Licensure of Commercial Interior Design
Supporting economic recovery and workforce development in the ARPA spending package
An Act relative to gender identity on Massachusetts identification
An Act relative to archaic laws
An Act providing for unlimited free phone calls to incarcerated individuals
Fostering voter opportunities, trust, equity, and security
Massachusetts Legislature Passes Parentage Act
Honoring Black History by establishing Negro Election Day
Creating a Women’s Rights History Trail in Massachusetts
Preventing discrimination against natural and protective hairstyles through the CROWN Act
Creating a non-binary option on driver’s licenses and birth certificates
As the country continues to face a nationwide housing shortage, Massachusetts is intent on doing our part. To that end, in this legislative session the Senate passed initiatives aimed at increasing housing availability, supporting low-income families, and improving the sustainability of the Commonwealth’s shelter system.
Bills:
Bills:
An Act relative to pharmaceutical access, costs, and transparency
An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options
An Act relative to accessing harm reduction initiatives
An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products
An Act enabling pharmacists to prescribe, dispense and administer (PrEP)
Expanding ConnectorCare Eligibility
Massachusetts Legislature Passes Comprehensive Maternal Health Bill
Senate Passes Health Care Reform Boosting Safeguards Against For-Profit Entities
Senate Acts to Mitigate Massachusetts Opioid Crisis
Senate Passes Legislation Legalizing Fentanyl Test Strips
Addressing barriers to care through the Mental Health ABC Act 2.0
Providing free menstrual products in public places
Massachusetts takes the safety and security of our residents seriously, as well as our responsibility to take care of those who keep us safe. In this legislative session, the Senate passed important workplace protections for firefighters, ensured injured first responders get the pensions they deserve, and fostered safer communities across the Commonwealth.
Bills:
An Act relative to fentanyl test strips
An Act concerning the safety of school children embarking and disembarking school buses
An Act relative to boater safety to be known as The Hanson Milone Act
An Act relative to violation of regulation regarding hot work processes
An Act relative to the reduction of certain toxic chemicals in firefighter personal protective equipment
An Act to prevent abuse and exploitation
An Act relative to disability pensions and critical incident stress management for violent crimes
An Act modernizing firearm laws
Bills:
An Act to improve the Commonwealth’s competitiveness, affordability, and equity
Massachusetts recognizes the importance of continuing to improve our transportation infrastructure so that it meets the needs of all of our residents. In this legislative session, the Senate has taken action to upgrade public transit, improve roadways, and support innovative transportation solutions, ensuring a more connected and accessible Commonwealth for all.
Bills:
An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges
