Legislators Urge Governor to Limit Government Purchases of Products Containing PFAS

(BOSTON 8/10/2026) — Last week, 48 Massachusetts state legislators sent a letter to the office of Governor Maura Healey requesting that she issue an executive order meant to limit PFAS-containing products within government buildings and agencies. The letter asks the Governor to require executive office agencies stop purchasing products made with PFAS chemicals if there are PFAS-free alternatives available on the market, extending the Commonwealth’s efforts to reduce public exposure to dangerous “forever chemicals” while setting an example for individuals and companies who may be unaware that safer products exist.

The legislators’ request comes two years after the signing of S.2902 – An Act relative to the reduction of certain toxic chemicals in firefighter personal protective equipment, which creates the framework for the elimination of new firefighter turnout gear containing PFAS from Massachusetts firehouses by 2027. Introduced and championed by Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore, the bill establishes a legal definition for “intentionally added PFAS,” a definition the Governor can cite in an executive order.

“The science is in – PFAS chemicals are dangerous and linked to dozens of short- and long-term health risks. The question is, what are we going to do about it?” said Senator Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m thrilled that 47 of my colleagues have joined me in urging Governor Healey to use her power to reduce exposure to PFAS in government buildings across the Commonwealth. By banning our departments and agencies from purchasing products containing these ‘forever chemicals,’ Massachusetts has the opportunity to help drive the growing market for safer products and to show Bay Staters that choosing safer alternatives doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. I’m grateful for the support we have received from environmental activists and health advocates in this fight, and I’m hopeful that the Governor will continue her leadership on this issue.”

PFAS, or Polyfluoroalkyl substances, is a class designation that includes nearly 10,000 chemicals used to make everyday items fireproof, waterproof, or non-stick. These chemicals have become ubiquitous in products ranging from cookware to furniture to food and drink containers despite posing dangerous health risks. Even at low levels, the toxicity of PFAS chemicals can be devastating, increasing the risk of cancer, immunosuppression, birth defects, colitis, and other diseases. Compounding these dangers is the persistent nature of PFAS chemicals, known as “forever chemicals” for their resistance to breaking down in the environment.

The letter argues, “To enact the best public health practices, it is crucial that Massachusetts, a state that makes evidence-based policy decisions, takes action to restrict PFAS exposure. Adopting PFAS-free purchasing would increase public awareness on the matter, while we work towards finding and developing PFAS-free alternatives to common products.” Pointing to cities and towns like Newton, Brookline, and Middleborough which have already enacted similar procurement bans, the legislators suggest that the precedent for this action is set.

The movement to limit government purchases of PFAS-containing products is not new – over 50 Massachusetts environmental advocacy organizations sent a letter with a similar request to Governor Healey’s office in February 2025. They highlight that the molecular strength of PFAS-class chemicals causes them to accumulate in soil and water, where they can remain for decades without breaking down. Direct pollution from industrial waste and firefighting foam, as well as unintentional releases from landfills, can contaminate drinking water sources – a problem Massachusetts is spending millions of dollars attempting to remediate.

Governor Healey herself has shown concern about PFAS contamination in the Bay State. The legislators’ letter points out that in 2022 as Attorney General, she filed a class action lawsuit against 13 PFAS manufacturers for polluting the state’s drinking water and damaging its natural resources. Litigation on the case is still ongoing.

17 senators and 31 representatives signed this week’s letter urging action at the highest level of Massachusetts government. The full letter, including the list of signatories, can be found online here.

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Senate Passes Bill Bolstering Security Protocols and Support for Health Care Employees

(BOSTON 7/17/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate acted yesterday to support the safety of frontline health care workers by improving vital security protocols at hospitals and doctors’ offices across the state.

Responding to a troubling spate of violent incidents, the Senate’s legislation would require annual reviews of security protocols and potential risks at health care facilities.

The legislation passed by the Senate, S.3171, also helps law enforcement make timely arrests for assaults at health care facilities, extends new supports to health care employees who are assaulted on the job, and shields victims’ personal information from assailants.

“Reports of violence against nurses and doctors who are assaulted while doing their jobs are coming in from across the Commonwealth. The statistics are staggering – a healthcare worker is assaulted once every 36 minutes, according to one estimate,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This must end. I’m proud that the Senate is taking steps to strengthen protections for healthcare workers and allow our police to more rapidly respond to violence in hospitals. Doctors and nurses have some of the hardest jobs in our society – it is on us to ensure they can focus on caring for their patients. I’m hopeful that the House will join us to get this important legislation to Governor Healey’s desk as soon as possible.”

Nearly seven out of 10 nurses report having experienced an assault in the workplace, according to data shared by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, 1199SEIU, and the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association.

The Senate bill backs up law enforcement officers who respond to those incidents by allowing timely, warrantless arrests for line-of-duty assault and battery on a health care employee. This reasonable use of a warrantless arrest, in situations where the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect committed the assault, is similar to existing exceptions to allow timely arrests in domestic violence cases.

Supporting health care employees who are assaulted on the job, the bill requires employers to offer paid leave that covers an employee’s time seeking medical treatment and aiding in the prosecution of their attacker. It would also shield the victim’s personal, residential address on criminal complaints.

Full details of the bill are available in a fact sheet in the Senate’s press room.

Having been passed in the Senate, the bill now goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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Capital Grants Awarded to Two Worcester Employment-Focused Organizations

(BOSTON 7/16/2026) — This week, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced the FY27 recipients of the Executive Office of Economic Development’s Social Enterprise Capital Grant Program, including two Worcester-based organizations. Latin American Health Alliance and Regional Environmental Council will receive $250,000 and $100,000 respectively in support of their employment and supportive service programs for individuals who face significant barriers to workforce participation.

The Social Capital Grant Program is focused on supporting nonprofit organizations across the Commonwealth that sell goods and services while providing employment opportunities and job training for people who might otherwise struggle to find jobs through traditional avenues. The grants are competitive one-year capital grants that offer funding to purchase, renovate, repair, or remodel buildings to be used by the awarded organization.

“Latin American Health Alliance and Regional Environmental Council are both exceptional organizations that offer job opportunities to people who otherwise might not have them, helping them develop skills and build their resumes through real, fulfilling work,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m pleased that the Governor and her administration recognize the value of these organizations’ work and have awarded them grants that will allow them to continue their mission. Worcester and the entire Central Massachusetts region are better off for it.”

"Local organizations like the Regional Environmental Council and the Latin American Health Alliance lift up our community through the work they do, including providing individuals the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to their community and gain workforce skills," said Senator Robyn Kennedy (D-Worcester). "Thank you to the Governor and the Executive Office of Economic Development for recognizing and supporting the efforts of these organizations and the lasting impact they make on the people they serve."

Latin American Health Alliance is set to receive $250,000 to support renovations and equipment upgrades at Café Reyes, the organization’s mission-based restaurant and catering social enterprise. Café Reyes serves Cuban and Latin American food while providing paid work experience and job training for residents and graduates of the Hector Reyes House, a bilingual and bicultural residential treatment program for Latino men in recovery. Grant funds will be used to modernize the commercial kitchen, upgrade aging infrastructure, and purchase industry standard equipment needed to expand production capacity, training space, and operational efficiency.

Regional Environmental Council will receive $100,000 to support the renovation of first-floor social enterprise and workforce development space for its food justice and urban agriculture operations. REC operates community and mobile farmers markets, urban growing programs, and YouthGROW, a youth employment and urban agriculture program that connects Worcester residents with fresh, affordable local food. The renovated space will support market operations and expand employee roles while strengthening the link between workforce development, environmental stewardship, and equitable food access.

According to the Social Enterprise Capital Grant webpage, “an employment social enterprise is defined as a discrete or embedded business venture operated by a mission-driven nonprofit organization with programming focused on hiring and assisting people who face barriers to employment.” To be eligible to apply, “the organization must offer paid employment opportunities to low-income individuals, with priority to socially and economically disadvantaged populations who experience complex needs and barriers to employment that require intensive interventions.”

FY27 grant applications opened on April 1, 2026 and were accepted through May 5, 2026.

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Massachusetts Senate Cracks Down on Social Media Companies

(BOSTON 7/10/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate stood up to big social media companies yesterday by passing legislation that reins in how their platforms’ most addictive features target young people. The bill, S.3164 – An Act protecting children from addictive social media feeds, was unanimously advanced by the Senate Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity in July 2025, chaired by Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore.

The bill cracks down on settings that are engineered to keep minors perpetually on social media platforms at the expense of the health and wellbeing of users. Features such as autoplay, ‘infinite scroll,’ and intrusive algorithms that capitalize on users’ personal data would be turned off by default for minors. Minors would not be able to change those default settings, while adult users would retain control over their own settings.

“Trillion-dollar social media companies are preying on our kids’ developing brains by building addictive algorithms and unhealthy features meant to keep them from logging off. These manipulative techniques, many borrowed from companies that build slot machines, are intentionally designed to create lifelong users who Silicon Valley can sell ads to without any regard for the child’s mental health,” said Senator Moore (D-Millbury). “With the passage of this legislation, we are making it clear that these greedy corporations will no longer put their bottom line over the health and well-being of Massachusetts’ kids. I’m proud to have worked with lead sponsor Senator Cynthia Stone Creem alongside my colleagues on the Senate Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity to strengthen this bill’s protections, ensuring that social media platforms operate with safety at the forefront. It is incredibly important that Beacon Hill is taking these important steps for our children, and I look forward to going even further to protect the people of the Commonwealth from Big Tech’s greed with the landmark Massachusetts Data Privacy Act.”

Studies have linked prolonged daily social media use to increased depression and anxiety in children.

The legislation includes added optional safeguards for children, such as limits on the ability of ‘non-friend’ accounts – strangers – to contact minors’ accounts.

Senators voted during debate to adopt an amendment (Amendment 24) that adds mandatory protection for minors’ precise location data. As amended, the bill now requires that social media platforms cannot allow minor children to share their precise locations with others.

“This legislation sends a clear message that children’s wellbeing must come before social media companies’ bottom line,” said Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem (D-Newton). “Features like autoplay, infinite scroll, and algorithm-driven feeds are intentionally designed to keep young people online for as long as possible, often at the expense of their mental health. This bill takes thoughtful steps to create a safer online experience for children while protecting privacy and free speech. I’m grateful to Senate President Spilka for her leadership and to everyone whose partnership helped bring us to this moment. I’m proud the Senate has acted on this important issue, and I look forward to continuing our work to protect children online.”

The bill was open to a public feedback process last year by the Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity. It was unanimously advanced with a favorable recommendation on July 24th, 2025.

“Big Tech companies have for decades lobbied to ensure that they remain unaccountable for the harm they inflict on our youth – but here in the Commonwealth, a reckoning for has arrived,” Senator Moore added.

Full details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate’s press room.

The Senate passed the bill on a 38-2 roll call vote and sent it to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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Senator Michael Moore Objects to Senate’s Inadequate Energy Bill

(BOSTON 7/6/2026) — On Wednesday, the Massachusetts Senate passed a broad piece of legislation intended to help reduce monthly energy costs for Massachusetts ratepayers. While the bill, S.3143 – An Act to save people money, repair the climate, and grow the economy, is projected to save Bay Staters $14 billion, the Senate’s calculation is made over a 10-year period and would not deliver significant savings to families in the immediate term. For that reason, Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore joined a bipartisan group of eight senators in voting no.

The legislation passed by the Senate this week finds savings in three broad ways; adjusting investment plans, pursuing investigations, and creating new infrastructure initiatives. The first method pledges savings by canceling or altering investments in infrastructure projects, such as reducing the scope of the Commonwealth’s Gas System Enhancement Plan ($1.46 billion) and restructuring infrastructure debt incurred by utilities ($7.1 billion). The next approach projects theoretical savings borne by investigations into wrongdoing, including investigating markups on electric bills (up to $1 billion), reviewing hidden charges ($750 million), and cracking down on energy suppliers ($650 million). The final plan creates new programs to streamline renewable energy projects, such as cutting red tape on permitting ($1.7 billion) and subsidizing consumer-level solar and battery projects ($540 million). While Senator Moore supports many of these initiatives, the bill as written prioritizes future-facing policy without addressing ratepayers who are struggling with their utility bills today.

“The people of Massachusetts send us to Beacon Hill to address their challenges and make their lives easier. My office continues to receive countless emails and phone calls from constituents struggling with the high cost of energy on a daily basis. Legislation that bills itself as a cost-saving measure but that only yields tangible savings years down the road is legislation that does not meet this moment,” said Senator Moore (D-Millbury). “It is certainly no secret that the Commonwealth is facing a cost-of-living crisis, and that long-term thinking can help tame future rate increases – that is not my objection – but people in Central Massachusetts and across this state are struggling to pay their utility bills today. We must do more to deliver policy that will bring relief to ratepayers in months, not years.”

“Senator Moore is exactly right: families and local businesses across the Commonwealth are facing a severe cost-of-living crisis right now, and they cannot afford to wait a decade for theoretical relief. While we support long-term carbon reduction goals, this legislation fails to protect ratepayers from the immediate, crushing financial burdens of the energy transition,” said Jeannie Hebert, President of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce. “I applaud Senator Moore for standing up for a common-sense, all-of-the-above energy strategy that balances environmental innovation with real, immediate economic affordability and infrastructure reliability.”

“Achieving true energy affordability for the Commonwealth requires a responsible, 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy. Unfortunately, the Senate’s Bill fails to address the root causes of our skyrocketing energy bills and provide relief to businesses and residents in Central Massachusetts,” said Mike Kane, Director of Economic Development and Public Policy at the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. “We cannot wait years for hypothetical savings; our employers, residents, and the local economy need real affordability solutions today.”

Another dimension to this legislation is that fails to address the cost burden placed on ratepayers by the Commonwealth’s ambitious renewable energy transition. While Massachusetts is a national leader in the race to decarbonize, common-sense policies that could better allow for an all-of-the-above approach to reducing reliance on fossil fuels were not adequately considered during the writing of the bill or were rejected as amendments during debate.

This includes the rejection of an amendment introduced by Senator Moore that would direct a study of a more realistic implementation of the Advanced Clean Truck Act. The Act directs that an increasing percentage of new medium- and heavy-duty trucks sold in the Commonwealth, including vehicles like delivery trucks and 18-wheeler cargo trucks, must be electric. Industry experts report that the technology and charging infrastructure to fulfill these sales requirements are currently impractical, leading to plans for dealers to sharply cut sales of gas-powered trucks to ensure they remain in compliance with the statistical requirements set by the regulations. The scale of this issue led to Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey in 2025 directing her Department of Environmental Protection to ‘exercise enforcement discretion,’ and delaying sales requirement rules for vehicle model years 2025 and 2026.

Senator Moore and other Senators introduced a number of additional amendments meant to bring immediate relief to ratepayers, including regulating data centers, banning fees for the opt-out of smart meters, reforming MassSave, and more. Most amendments were unsuccessful.

The bill was passed on a roll call vote of 32 – 8. Having passed both chambers of the Legislature, the bill will now go through a reconciliation process to resolve differences before a final version is sent to the Governor.

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Legislature Finalizes FY27 Budget, Delivers Record Investments Without Raising Taxes

(BOSTON 7/3/2026) — Without raising taxes on Massachusetts residents, the Massachusetts Legislature this week delivered a Fiscal Year 2027 budget that drives down costs for residents, boosts the state's economy, and adds to the state’s savings account.

The plan makes record investments in public education, unlocks new housing production, strengthens the state’s public transportation systems, and protects vulnerable residents from the impact of federal cuts.

The bill spends $63.4 billion, a 4 percent increase from last year, and includes $2.7 billion in Fair Share funds that will support public education and transportation as voters intended. The budget raises no taxes and adds $51 million to the state’s ‘Rainy Day’ Stabilization Fund, which is projected to reach a historic $8.2 billion balance by the end of Fiscal Year 2027.

“Recent years have been defined by an era of uncertainty – uncertainty about our economic prosperity, uncertainty about the direction of our federal government, uncertainty about our future. But here in Massachusetts, we have something we can be certain about; our state-supported programs will remain funded without raising taxes on everyday Bay Staters,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The record investments in our communities delivered by this FY27 budget is a testament to the responsibility and resilience of our people, and I could not be more thrilled to share the news that Massachusetts will not be leaving anyone behind. I’d like to thank my colleagues in the Legislature for their hard work on this bill, and I look forward to seeing it signed by the Governor.”

During Senate debate, Senator Moore secured amendments for the cities and towns in his district and beyond. They include:

Regional

• $500,000 for Veterans Inc. to support its employment training and substance use treatment programs.

• $250,000 to fund cancer screenings for firefighters in cities and towns across the Commonwealth.

• $250,000 for EcoTarium to support the care of animals, expand community education programs, and fund animal habitat improvements.

• $25,000 to the Latin American Health Alliance of Central Massachusetts to support its substance use recovery programs.

• $20,000 for CASA Project Worcester County to support its efforts to provide legal representation to vulnerable children during court proceedings.

Auburn

• $55,000 for the Town of Auburn to purchase a 3D laser scanner for its Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit.

• $20,000 for Auburn Youth and Family Services to support its community food pantry program.

Millbury

• $75,000 for the Millbury Police Department to purchase a K9 police cruiser.

Grafton

• $130,000 for Grafton Public Schools to upgrade classroom technology and purchase an activity van (passed as part of the recent Fair Share Supplemental Budget).

Shrewsbury

• $150,000 for the Shrewsbury Police Department to purchase a police boat for use on Lake Quinsigamond.

Westborough

• $60,000 for Westborough Public Schools to purchase cell phone lock boxes, creating phone-free classrooms.

Worcester

• $75,000 for the Worcester Police Department to purchase a K9 police cruiser.

• $20,000 for the New Americans Community Development Corporation to support the development of affordable housing within Worcester’s Main Middle neighborhood.

Education

The agreement completes the Legislature’s commitment to fully fund and implement the Student Opportunity Act with $7.66 billion in Chapter 70 aid to public school districts, an increase of $297 million over Fiscal Year 2026 and the highest level ever, along with a record $160-per-pupil minimum in local school aid.

The budget also revives the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) to examine the K-12 funding formula and assess how the state can address rising costs in special education, student transportation, personnel, and educator health care statewide.

The agreement funds the Special Education Circuit Breaker at $654.6 million to help students who need support, which, combined with $152 million from the recent Fair Share supplemental budget, brings the total investment to $806.6 million, reimbursing school districts for 75 percent of the costs of educating students with disabilities and complex needs.

Other education investments include $475 million for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grant program to support early education and care providers’ day-to-day operational and workforce costs, $137 million for the MassEducate and MassReconnect free community college programs, $20 million for rural school districts, and $180 million for universal free school meals, which serve nearly 150 million free meals to Massachusetts kids every year.

The budget also includes $11.7 million to support students receiving special education services through the DESE/DDS Residential Prevention Program, and $2 million for a new grant program helping schools address young people’s social media use.

Transportation

The agreement provides $465 million in direct investment for the MBTA, which, combined with $595 million from the recent Fair Share supplemental budget, brings the total new investment in the system to over $1 billion for Fiscal Year 2027. It also includes $217 million for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs), including $40 million to sustain fare-free transit service statewide. The state’s fare-free Regional Transit program has resulted in ridership exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

The budget also responds to a string of fatal wrong-way driving incidents on Massachusetts highways, including the tragic line-of-duty death of State Trooper Kevin Trainor, by directing MassDOT to implement new infrastructure and officer training, including directional striping, signage, lane delineators, and motorist alert systems.

Municipalities and Housing

The agreement provides record support to cities and towns across the state, including $1.363 billion for Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), a $40 million increase over Fiscal Year 2026 and the highest level ever. For new dollars, the legislation implements a new funding formula to equitably distribute the increase throughout all of the state’s 351 communities.

In another step toward addressing the housing crisis and building homes faster statewide, the budget builds on last session’s Affordable Homes Act by streamlining local permitting, supporting development on nonconforming properties, providing reasonable timelines for projects under existing zoning, and modernizing the variance standard, all aimed at boosting housing production and driving down costs.

Health Care

The agreement extends the ConnectorCare expansion pilot program through 2027. Since 2024, the pilot has helped more than 115,000 residents access more affordable insurance through lower premiums, no deductibles, and reduced co-pays.

The budget also codifies existing federal protections requiring comprehensive insurance coverage of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) without cost sharing or utilization management barriers and directs a new study to modernize and improve the long-term sustainability of emergency medical services in the Commonwealth.

Retiree COLA Reform

This budget includes comprehensive, fiscally prudent reforms to cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retired public employees, based on recommendations from the Special COLA Commission. It establishes a COLA Reserve Fund financed in part by pension investment returns above target, provides enhanced COLA benefits for certain current retirees based on years in retirement, and allows the base amount used to calculate future COLAs to increase in $1,000 increments as funding allows.

Food and Economic Security

The agreement protects access to benefits through Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC), and includes a $500 clothing allowance per child for families receiving TAFDC benefits.

It repeals the Learnfare law, which cut off TAFDC benefits when children had too many unexcused school absences and ended up hurting families who lost needed assistance.

It also provides $56.1 million for Emergency Food Assistance, an increase of $6.1 million over Fiscal Year 2026, and $21.5 million for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which supports local farmers and access to healthy food.

Protecting Vulnerable Residents

The agreement includes provisions protecting children aged 16 and 17 from sexual interactions with mandated reporters and others responsible for their care and oversight, including teachers, coaches, police officers, and social workers.

In response to the tragic fire at Gabriel House in Fall River, the agreement provides $500,000 to implement recommendations from the Assisted Living Residences (ALR) Commission to improve safety standards, emergency preparedness, and oversight at assisted living facilities statewide.

The budget also establishes a commission to study transitional youth services for individuals with disabilities whose access to special education services will end due to high school graduation or turning 22, as the Legislature works to preserve community-based care options amid federal challenges to the Olmstead decision.

Sports Wagering Revenue

The agreement adjusts the distribution of sports wagering revenue, directing 5.5 percent to the Sports and Entertainment Fund and 2 percent to the Economic Development Trust Fund, dedicating new resources to support the Commonwealth’s economic growth.

The full text of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget is available online.

Having been passed by the Legislature, the bill has been sent to Governor Healey for her signature.

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Legislature Raises Worcester Police Recruiting Age of Eligibility

(BOSTON 6/30/2026) — Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey today signed a home rule petition raising the maximum age of eligibility to begin the process of becoming a Worcester Police Officer from 32 years of age or younger to 39 years of age or younger. The bill, unanimously approved by the Worcester City Council in November 2024, was shepherded through the Legislature by Senator Michael Moore and Representative James O’Day.

Previously, a recruit over the age of 32 on the date of their entrance examination was ineligible to have their name certified for appointment to the position of police officer within the City of Worcester. With the enactment of H.3929, the cutoff is raised to those over the age of 39. Individuals with military service are given an additional three years to begin the process of becoming an officer under both the old and new ages of eligibility.

In recent years, the City of Worcester has struggled to recruit enough qualified candidates training to become police officers, falling from 1,200 to 1,500 potential recruits per year in the past to 200 to 250 more recently. City officials say that this law will increase the number of eligible candidates and help the Worcester Police Department better serve the city.

“I was proud to work with the City of Worcester and Representative O’Day to get this home rule petition across the finish line. This minor change to the Worcester Police’s age of eligibility guidelines will expand the pool of qualified individuals to recruit from without sacrificing the safety or security of Worcester’s neighborhoods,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The people of Worcester deserve to feel safe in their communities. By passing this law, we are reaffirming our commitment to supporting our police and the city they serve.”

“As the lead sponsor of this bill, I worked closely with my colleagues in the House, Senator Moore, and Senator Kennedy to successfully advance the proposal through the legislative process,” said Representative James O’Day (D-Worcester). “At a time when police departments across the Commonwealth are working to recruit and retain qualified officers, Worcester should have all the available resources and tools necessary to attract strong candidates and keep our neighborhoods safe. I'm pleased that the city's request has been laid before the Governor for final passage, and I'm confident that this measure will improve public safety going forward"

"I want to thank Senator Moore and our state delegation for their partnership in passing H.3929,” said Worcester Mayor Joe Petty. “By expanding the eligibility age, we will welcome a broader pool of dedicated recruits who bring valuable life and professional experience to the Worcester Police Department.”

“The passing of this bill will have a profound impact on the Worcester Police Department’s ability to recruit more officers,” said Worcester City Manager Eric Batista. “With officers retiring, officers on long-term disability, and officers deployed in the military, this recruiting age increase will help us fill these vacancies and ensure we’re able to provide the level of public safety service our residents deserve. Thank you to Senator Moore and Rep. O’Day for their advocacy and support with pushing this bill forward.”

Changing the maximum age to begin the process of becoming a police officer to 39 aligns Worcester with cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth, including Boston, Plymouth, and Taunton.

After its passage by the Worcester City Council on November 12th, 2024 in a 11-0 vote, the home rule petition was filed in the Legislature on March 20th, 2025. With Representative O’Day as its House sponsor, it was passed in the House on May 26th, 2026, with passage through the Senate on June 18th led by Senator Moore as its Senate sponsor.

Having been signed by the Governor, the bill is now law.

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Senate Passes Bill Expanding Primary Care Access

(BOSTON 6/22/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate last week overwhelmingly passed a landmark bill to invest in primary care and make it easier for Massachusetts residents to get a primary care appointment.

The legislation simplifies finding a primary care clinician, reduces the amount of time providers have to spend on administrative paperwork, and aims to reduce health care costs.

Currently, 43% of Massachusetts residents have difficulty accessing primary care. Studies show that 40% of emergency room visits in Massachusetts could have been prevented if treated in a primary care setting.

The legislation – S.3116, An Act relative to primary care for you – requires health care providers and insurers to invest more heavily in primary care services. Additionally, it ensures fairer compensation for community health centers, which serve as the frontline of primary care for many residents, and grows Massachusetts’ primary care workforce by unlocking matching federal funds to train and recruit more primary care doctors.

During Senate debate, Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore secured an amendment updating the bill’s language to recognize nurse practitioners as primary care providers – meeting the reality in both current Massachusetts law and in doctor’s offices across the Commonwealth. Amendment 62 ensures that the broad changes made by the legislation apply equally to all primary care providers Bay Staters already see.

“People are struggling to access basic healthcare across Massachusetts. This legislation makes real changes to our care and our insurance systems to help ensure that everyone can find a primary care provider who can support their overall wellness and treat issues before they turn into lifelong conditions,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “By requiring greater spending on primary care services, increasing funding to community health centers, and investing in our healthcare workforce, this bill will allow more people to get care than ever before. And thanks to my amendment, these changes will encompass all the different types of primary care providers that people already know and trust, including nurse practitioners. I’m pleased that the Senate is taking these important steps, and I hope that the House will join us to get this to the Governor’s desk.”

This key health policy bill would create a more robust health care system in Massachusetts by requiring providers and insurers to invest a certain level of their annual spending on primary care services.

In recent years, investment has surged in profitable ‘specialty care’ areas while only 6.7% of total health care spending in Massachusetts has been on primary care. The resulting scarcity of available primary care doctors has left many residents searching for crucial basic, preventive care.

Health care entities would now have to meet a new mandated level of primary care investment which would gradually step up to 15%. The requirements would be overseen and enforced by the Health Policy Commission (HPC).

The bill also lifts up one of the main settings where many Massachusetts residents access their primary care – community health centers (CHCs), which have been disadvantaged by receiving lower reimbursements than other providers. This legislation calls for fairness and sets dependable rates for CHCs by requiring commercial insurers to reimburse at least the same rates that MassHealth reimburses for the same services.

The Senate’s proposal also doubles down on recent efforts to grow the size of the primary care workforce in Massachusetts. It would re-establish a Medicaid graduate medical education (GME) program, which the state can use to take advantage of matching federal funds to help cover the costs of fellowships and residency programs. When fully scaled up, the program would fund dozens of positions and help draw more primary care providers to Massachusetts in community-based settings.

This builds on a Senate-led initiative that was signed into law earlier this month to address the shortage of primary care doctors by funding scholarships for UMass Chan Medical School students who pursue family medicine and pledge to practice in underserved communities in Massachusetts after they graduate.

Full details of this legislation are included in a fact sheet in the Senate press room.

Senators proposed 72 amendments to the bill. During the course of the public debate, the Senate adopted a significant amendment to ensure access to timely and effective treatment for people with serious mental illness. The amendment (Amendment 64) eliminates prior authorization for medication to treat serious mental illness, keeping decisions between providers and patients.

People with serious mental illness often have to try multiple combinations of medications in an effort to find the right treatment. Delays due to prior authorization can impede their ability to effectively treat their disease. Feedback on that amendment was solicited last year at a public hearing by the Joint Committee on Financial Services. It was also recommended by the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing and was further reviewed by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

The Senate passed the bill on a 35-4 roll call vote and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review.

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203 Legislators Announce Opposition to Proposed AI Regulation Moratorium Policy

(BOSTON 6/17/2026) — Yesterday, 203 legislators from 42 states sent a letter to lawmakers in Washington DC urging them to reject a policy proposal contained within the draft Great American AI Act (GAAIA) which would preempt certain state-level regulations on artificial intelligence technologies for three years. The provision, contained within a preliminary discussion draft released in early June by Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA), would broadly eliminate any state’s ability to write or enforce laws regulating the development of any AI model.

An effort led by Massachusetts State Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury) and Ohio State Senator Louis Blessing (R-Colerain), and in collaboration with Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI), the letter warns against overriding state laws governing the development of AI models without first creating comprehensive federal protections against abuses by multi-trillion-dollar tech companies. The types of state laws this bill would preempt, the letter states, “would include measures addressing the AI models trained on copyrighted works or child abuse content, legislation ensuring that AI is not developed in a way that discriminates against workers or homebuyers, and state bills that protect the privacy of consumers.”

Made up of 104 Democrats, 98 Republicans, and 1 Independent, the group of lawmakers further warn, “not only is the provision extremely broad as written, but the tech industry will almost certainly weaponize such a provision in court to strike down state measures not intended to fall within the scope of GAAIA.”

“This is the fourth time in just over a year that Congress and President Trump have attempted to preempt our authority on this issue. I simply do not understand DC’s obsession with stripping power away from the states when it comes to protecting everyday people from the downsides of artificial intelligence,” said Senator Michael Moore. “There are real and pressing questions about how AI models are developed, including what content they should be allowed to train on and how the human creators of that content should be compensated. While AI may hold the potential to revolutionize the way we live and work for the better at some hazy point in the future, the dangers of it taking hardworking people’s jobs, producing harmful photos and videos, and discriminating against already-marginalized communities are here and now. Unless Congress is going to work with state lawmakers to roll out a set of comprehensive federal protections for average Americans, this is nothing more than a giveaway to billionaire and trillionaire tech oligarchs like Sam Altman and Elon Musk. It’s time to stand up to Big Tech and remind them that they are responsible for the things they make and how they affect society – I urge DC to once again reject this misguided policy proposal.”

This is not the first time big tech companies have attempted to enact an AI regulation moratorium – last summer, congressional Republicans attempted to slip a 10-year regulation pre-emption into the 1,000+ page so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’. After AITIC members urged opposition to that misguided policy, Senator Ed Markey led an effort to strip the language from the US Senate’s version in a 99-1 vote. Similarly, the artificial intelligence industry tried to insert another moratorium into the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act, but once again the provision was dropped. And again in December, President Trump signed a constitutionally questionable executive order directing his Attorney General to establish an AI Litigation Task Force whose sole purpose will be to challenge state-level AI regulations in court. It also directs federal agencies to identify “burdensome” state AI regulations and withhold funding for projects such as rural broadband expansion unless states commit to dropping the laws. Challenges to this order are currently being heard in the courts.

While President Trump in 2025 signed into law the Take It Down Act, a bill criminalizing the sharing of AI-generated revenge porn, there are currently no comprehensive regulations or legislation on the development or use of artificial intelligence at the federal level in the United States. In the regulatory void this inaction has created, states have stepped in to put up guardrails around this emerging technology. The Massachusetts Legislature is currently considering bills that regulate the use of AI in health insurance coverage decision making, in evaluating employee performance, in the spreading of election disinformation, and more. Further, state governments have been acting faster to protect residents than federal government has – Massachusetts enacted a bill similar to the Take It Down Act almost a year before the US Government did.

The letter urges DC lawmakers to consider the wide-ranging societal consequences of their light-touch approach on technology companies in the past; “the lessons of the social media era are clear: allowing Silicon Valley to write its own rulebook leaves industry unaccountable and leaves American families vulnerable to AI’s dangers.”

In closing, the bipartisan group of lawmakers “respectfully urge [Congress] to reject GAAIA’s preemption proposal overriding state AI legislation and to support the development of, rather than the dismantling of, responsible AI policy.”

The letter is addressed to the U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate. It was organized and written in partnership with Americans for Responsible Innovation, a non-profit organization that advocates for technology policy in the public interest, with a focus on AI and related tech.

The full letter can be found online here.

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Legislature Creates Permanent ‘Blue Envelope’ Program Supporting People with Autism

(BOSTON 6/16/2026) — The Massachusetts Legislature yesterday passed legislation establishing a statewide ‘blue envelope’ program, giving motorists with autism spectrum disorder a simple, recognizable way to alert police officers to their diagnosis and help guide the interaction before it escalates. The bill – S.2565, An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder – effectively makes permanent a Massachusetts State Police pilot created last year after a similar program was proposed by the Legislature.

The easily recognizable envelopes can be handed over during a traffic stop by an individual with autism whose ability to communicate is likely to be negatively affected by a stressful situation.

The outside of the blue envelope prominently notes that the person has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), along with guidance on how to effectively interact with them, while the inside features places to store their driver’s license and auto registration.

During Senate debate, Senator Michael Moore introduced an amendment requiring law enforcement officers to complete training every five years on how the blue envelope program works and how to best interact with individuals with autism. The amendment was adopted unanimously, and the amendment language was retained in the final bill passed by both chambers.

“People on the autism spectrum can face unique challenges during stressful situations, such as traffic stops. The Blue Envelope program will help officers instantly understand if a driver might require a different approach, and my amendment will ensure that all law enforcement officials in the Commonwealth have the training they need to better understand these individuals, with training refreshers every five years,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Policies like these help keep everyone on the road safer. I’m hopeful that the blue envelope program will be written into law this year so that we can further cement our commitment to making the Commonwealth more accessible for all.”

The Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) would be responsible for making the envelopes available to people with ASD or their parents or guardians.

The House of Representatives and the Senate each enacted the bill yesterday, sending it to the Governor for her signature.

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Massachusetts Senate Passes Landmark Child Welfare Bill

(BOSTON 6/12/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate yesterday unanimously passed legislation that safeguards the wellbeing of children, particularly those in state care and foster care; increases access to community support for children at risk of court involvement; and strengthens investigations of abuse cases. It also expands the Commonwealth’s vision screening programs in public schools across the state to ensure follow-up care if a problem is identified.

By establishing a Foster Child Bill of Rights, the bill – S.3111, An Act enhancing child welfare protections – guarantees certain basic rights for children in foster care related to their safety, education, and health care.

This legislation also expands the diversion of children dealing with behavior or attendance problems to Family Resource Centers (FRCs) instead of the court system.

FRCs provide accessible, confidential support to children and families in crisis close to home and have proven successful in helping kids and teens stay in school, connecting families with services such as mental health or substance use treatment, housing aid, and legal help, and—most importantly—avoiding the need for the child to obtain a court record just to access assistance.

The bill further strengthens the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) to support robust investigations into reports of harm or abuse to a child. It places the Child Fatality Review Team within the OCA and explicitly empowers the OCA to review cases of indecent assault and battery, abuse or rape of a child.

During debate, the Senate adopted Amendment 28, introduced by Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore, which creates a computerized registry of children’s vision screenings and eye care results to ensure abnormal results are followed up on. The registry is set to include information on screening results, whether referrals for additional eye examinations are made, and what follow-up care is administered. This is the primary recommendation made by the 2021 Report of the Childhood Vision and Eye Health Commission, and the cornerstone of Senator Moore’s comprehensive children’s eye care bill, S.166. Approximately 10% of all preschool children have eye or vision problems, and given that research shows that 90% of all information processed by the brain arrives through the visual system, unaddressed vision challenges at a young age can risk a child missing out on critical developmental years.

“We owe it to the children of Massachusetts to ensure they receive the very best care and are protected by the full force of our laws. This bill makes very real changes to advance the safety and protection for children in our foster care system and beyond,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m also thrilled that the Senate joined me in support of my amendment which makes an important change to the Commonwealth’s youth vision screening system, creating a computerized registry to ensure children who need additional eye care get it. I’ve been advocating for this policy for a long time, and I’m so proud that our system will no longer allow children with vision challenges to fall through the cracks – giving the next generation of Bay Staters the best chance to thrive in school and throughout their lives.”

Full details of the legislation are included in a fact sheet in the Senate’s press room.

During the course of public debate during today’s formal session, Senators adopted amendments to further strengthen the OCA’s work to serve children and families.

One addition to the bill (Amendment 1) requires the OCA to make materials available to volunteers who work with children—such as volunteer coaches or scout troop leaders—that will help them recognize the signs of child abuse, prevent sexual abuse, and understand signs of problematic sexual behavior between minors.

Senators also adopted another amendment (Amendment 31), inspired by a family’s story, to ask the OCA to compile resources to better aid grieving families who have lost a child due to Sudden Unexplained Death Syndrome (SUDS).

The Senate passed the bill yesterday on a 39-0 roll call vote and sent it back to the House for further review.

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Massachusetts Legislature Sets 2026 Sales Tax-Free Weekend for August 8th and 9th

(BOSTON 6/12/2026) — The Massachusetts Legislature yesterday set Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9 as the official dates of Massachusetts’ annual sales tax holiday.

During the holiday, the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax will be suspended for most retail items priced under $2,500. 

“Families across the Commonwealth are feeling the squeeze as the cost of everything – from day-to-day purchases to rare splurges – rises,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m thrilled to share that Massachusetts’ annual sales tax holiday has been set for August 8th and 9th, giving Bay Staters the opportunity to pick up that new gadget, buy some gifts, or stock up on their essentials for less. I’d like to thank my colleagues in the Legislature for getting this done to provide relief for our people and boost our economy.”

A spike in consumer activity routinely boosts indirect tax revenues. According to the Department of Revenue, the 2025 sales tax holiday generated $3.65 million in indirect tax revenues due to increased economic activity. 

At a time when consumers are seeing prices on store shelves rise, driven in part by federally imposed tariffs, this year’s Massachusetts sales tax holiday will give shoppers a much-needed break. The holiday also encourages families looking to shop for back-to-school season to support local small businesses and retailers. 

Information about eligible purchases is available on the Department of Revenue website. 

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Massachusetts Legislature Sets 2026 Sales Tax-Free Weekend for August 8th and 9th

(BOSTON 6/11/2026) — The Massachusetts Legislature today set Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9 as the official dates of Massachusetts’ annual sales tax holiday.

During the holiday, the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax will be suspended for most retail items priced under $2,500. 

“Families across the Commonwealth are feeling the squeeze as the cost of everything – from day-to-day purchases to rare splurges – rises,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m thrilled to share that Massachusetts’ annual sales tax holiday has been set for August 8th and 9th, giving Bay Staters the opportunity to pick up that new gadget, buy some gifts, or stock up on their essentials for less. I’d like to thank my colleagues in the Legislature for getting this done to provide relief for our people and boost our economy.”

A spike in consumer activity routinely boosts indirect tax revenues. According to the Department of Revenue, the 2025 sales tax holiday generated $3.65 million in indirect tax revenues due to increased economic activity. 

At a time when consumers are seeing prices on store shelves rise, driven in part by federally imposed tariffs, this year’s Massachusetts sales tax holiday will give shoppers a much-needed break. The holiday also encourages families looking to shop for back-to-school season to support local small businesses and retailers. 

Information about eligible purchases is available on the Department of Revenue website. 

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Senate Votes to Ban Cancer-Linked Chemicals from IV Bags in Massachusetts

(BOSTON 6/9/2026) — Use of a toxic chemical which is commonly added to plastic intravenous bags and linked to cancer cases would be banned in Massachusetts under a bill advanced last week by the Massachusetts Senate.

Senators voted to pass the bill, which would phase out the use of DEHP – a toxic chemical – in IV bags and tubing in Massachusetts. Many IV bags currently contain DEHP, which is added to improve the plastic’s flexibility but can pose serious health dangers to patients.

“When you go to a hospital or doctors’ office, you’d expect that all the tools, devices, and materials they use would be manufactured with the health and safety of the patient in mind,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The science is in, and it’s time to take action to ban the use of DEHP, a carcinogen, in sensitive medical products like IVs. I’m pleased that the Senate has acted on this issue to help build trust between patients and our medical system, and I look forward to getting this bill to Governor Healey’s desk.”

The legislation – S.3106, An Act relative to toxic-free medical devices – would prohibit the manufacture or sale of IV containers and tubing made with intentionally added DEHP. DEHP, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, has been linked to breast, liver, lung, and testicular cancer, according to Breast Cancer Prevention Partners.

Full details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate’s press room.

The Senate passed the bill and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review.

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Massachusetts Legislature Passes Bill to Remove Outdated Terms in General Laws

(BOSTON 6/9/2026) — The Massachusetts Legislature last week passed a bill that removes outdated and offensive language in the General Laws to describe persons with disabilities.

The bill, S.2563, removes all variations of outdated terms such as “handicapped,” “disabled,” and the “r-word.”

The bill replaces these terms with current terminology such as “person with a disability.”

“Outdated and offensive language describing people with disabilities is found throughout Massachusetts General Law. This simple bill takes concrete steps to modernize our lawbooks to better reflect our commitment to everyone in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m proud of the Legislature’s efforts to pass this bill because to live up to the Commonwealth’s promise of equal rights and equal justice under law, we must strip our legal code of language that does not reflect that pledge.”

The bill comes after the Massachusetts Legislature renamed the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) as MassAbility last year, a change that defines the agency’s role in supporting residents with disabilities to live independently. The name change reflects the intention to empower individuals living with disabilities and move away from outdated terminology as the office undergoes broad changes towards a more expansive model for disability employment services and independent living.

The Massachusetts Legislature approved the bill today and sent to the Governor for her signature.

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Massachusetts Legislature Approves $1.35 Billion Package to Support Public Education and Transportation, Lower Housing Costs

(BOSTON 6/9/2026) — Massachusetts lawmakers last week passed a $1.35 billion spending package that seeks to ease pressures caused by strained school budget and delivers a massive infusion of cash into the state's public transportation system.

The investments in H.5740 are expansive and include cutting taxes to jumpstart housing construction, training the next generation of doctors and teachers, helping cities and towns dig out from an extreme winter, taking steps to shield the state's finances from the ripple effects of federal tax and tariff policy, and protecting immigrants from federal deportation actions.

“The incredible success of the Fair Share Amendment is helping us make historic investments into our schools and transportation systems, and this legislation is the proof,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Combined with smart, targeted policy changes that will help boost housing production and expand healthcare access across the Commonwealth, this Fair Share supplemental budget is a massive win for hardworking Bay Staters. I’m thrilled to have voted to approve this legislation, and to have secured earmarks for each and every city and town in the Second Worcester District. This is exactly the type of policy we need to keep Massachusetts the envy of the nation – I look forward to continuing these efforts through the rest of the term.”

During Senate debate, Senator Moore secured a number of earmarks supporting education and transportation in the Second Worcester District, including:

Regional

• $105,000 for Blackstone Valley Tech – in collaboration with Senator Rebecca Rausch and Senator Ryan Fattman

Auburn

• $70,000 for Auburn Public Schools to purchase sidewalk snowplow and salt spreader vehicles

Grafton

• $130,000 for Grafton Public Schools to upgrade classroom technology and purchase an activity van

Millbury

• $125,000 for Millbury Public Schools to purchase a wheelchair accessible van and upgrade school security systems

• $5,000 for vocational programming in partnership with the North Atlantic States Carpenters Union

Shrewsbury

• $82,500 for Shrewsbury Public Schools to upgrade school security systems

Westborough

• $115,000 to conduct a traffic study on Route 9 and upgrade roadway signage

• $12,500 for the Westborough Public Library

Worcester

• $130,000 for the repair or replacement of ADA non-compliant sidewalk wheelchair curb ramps

• $45,000 for Worcester State University’s Latino Educational Institute

Policy and funding highlights of the bill include:

Investing in Schools and Students

The legislation puts $558 million in Fair Share funds toward education, delivering relief to families, students, and school districts across the state. School districts struggling to cover the costs of serving students with disabilities will see immediate help, with $152 million directed toward special education reimbursements, while $150 million goes toward making childcare more affordable and accessible across the Commonwealth.

On literacy, the bill invests $40 million to help the youngest learners read, including $20 million for high-dosage tutoring and $20 million for classroom programs specifically designed to accelerate reading skills for kids in kindergarten through third grade. Research consistently shows that children who are not reading proficiently by third grade face steeper challenges throughout their education, making this one of the most consequential investments in the package.

Fixing Roads, Rails, and Transit

The legislation directs $794 million in Fair Share funds toward transportation. A $595 million investment in the MBTA includes $450 million to keep the T running, $60 million for maintenance and upgrades physical infrastructure with an emphasis on  commuter rail improvements, $50.4 million to improve workforce and safety, $20 million to make fares more affordable for low-income riders, and $15 million for water transportation infrastructure across the state.

For communities across the state, the bill delivers $100 million to help cities and towns recover from an exceptionally costly winter—$80 million distributed based on how many roads a community maintains, and $20 million specifically for communities hit hardest by this year's historic storms.

Regional public bus systems across the state also receive $25 million to recruit and retain workers, plus $10 million for equipment and facility upgrades. An additional $3.75 million goes toward maintaining unpaved roads in rural areas.

Making It Cheaper to Build Housing

To address one of the biggest barriers to building new homes in Massachusetts, the bill creates a new tax exemption on building materials used in the construction of affordable, moderate-income, and middle-income housing projects, saving developers money and making it more financially viable to build the homes that families across the state desperately need.

The exemption is capped at $35 million per year and is specifically designed to help offset rising costs driven by tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration.

Responding to Federal Policy Changes

The bill also takes steps to protect Massachusetts taxpayers and businesses from the financial fallout caused by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republican policies. The Legislature is carefully phasing in changes to state tax law to align with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, doing so gradually to avoid a sudden hit to state revenues. The bill includes provisions that would pause these tax changes if the proposed ballot question to lower the state’s income tax from 5 percent to 4 percent were to pass in November, which would help mitigate the expected loss in revenue that the ballot question would inflict.

The bill also creates a new tax credit for airlines that use sustainable aviation fuel, helping Massachusetts work toward its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and offers a tax credit of up to $5,000 for farmers who donate surplus food to local food banks.

Training the Next Generation of Doctors and Teachers

To address a growing shortage of primary care physicians, the bill sets aside $10 million in scholarships for UMass Chan Medical School students who agree to pursue family medicine and practice in underserved communities in Massachusetts after they graduate.

To encourage young educators to start their career in Massachusetts, the bill creates the Tomorrow's Teachers program, investing $10 million in scholarships and loan forgiveness to college students and high school graduates who commit to teaching in Massachusetts public schools.

Helping Immigrants Stay Safe

With the Trump Administration ramping up immigration enforcement, the legislation directs $1 million toward free legal services for immigrants and refugees who need help navigating the courts. This builds on a $5 million investment the Legislature already made to launch the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative, which has helped hundreds of residents access legal representation.

Keeping Phones Out of Classrooms

The bill sets aside $1 million to help public school districts implement bell-to-bell cell phone-free policies that so that students can learn without distractions.

The full text of the legislation is available online, along with a fact sheet summarizing highlights of the legislation.

Having been passed by both the House and Senate, the bill now goes to the Governor for her signature.

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Legislature Approves Major Chapter 90 Transportation and Infrastructure Package

(BOSTON 6/9/2026) — The Massachusetts Legislature last week approved over $2.7 billion in bond funding to help municipalities make local road and bridge repairs, invest in public transit infrastructure, and support transit-oriented housing development statewide.

The package includes $200 million in bonding to spur new transit-oriented housing construction with capital projects such as stormwater management, culverts, and bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

Additionally, it authorizes $300 million to support departments of public works in local cities and towns as they fill potholes and strengthen bridges at a crucial time for many municipalities dealing with strained finances.

 “Funding the construction and repair of our transportation infrastructure is an investment in the future of the Commonwealth and its people,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m thrilled to have joined with my colleagues to support this Chapter 90 bond bill, which will provide funding for projects across Massachusetts. These dollars will help improve our roads, boost our public transportation systems, and grow our pedestrian infrastructure – all while easing the pressure on the budgets of our cities and towns. Thank you to the House and Senate leaders for fast-tracking this bill, and to all my colleagues for helping get it past the finish line.”

The bond bill – H.5375, An Act financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges – also contains $500 million in bonding to target and fast-track repairs to the roads that are in the worst condition, through MassDOT’s Lifecycle Asset Management Program.

Support is included for all cities and towns through financing for the traditional Chapter 90 program, while a portion of the bonding would especially aid rural areas by distributing support solely based on communities’ road mileage.

In addition to improving the condition of roadways and integrity of bridges across Massachusetts, the legislation supports commuter rail and public transit at the MBTA with $200 million for rail improvements, vehicle modernization, and procurement of new vehicles.

It also boosts the Department of Conservation and Recreation, which is responsible for maintaining around 180 lane miles of roadway and more than 100 bridge structures, with $200 million for repairs and modernization.

Having been passed by both chambers of the Legislature, the bill has been sent to Governor Maura Healey for her signature.

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Senate Passes FY27 Budget Investing in Municipalities, Education, Lowering Costs

(BOSTON 5/26/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate last week unanimously passed a $63.37 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2027 that invests responsibly in public education and municipalities, unlocks new opportunities for housing growth, and upholds the Commonwealth’s core commitments to its residents.

Every investment made by the Senate comes without raising a single tax or fee on Massachusetts residents, who are already feeling the weight of inflation, tariffs, and the impact of the federal government’s costly foreign entanglements.

“Recent years have been defined by an era of uncertainty – uncertainty about our economic prosperity, uncertainty about the direction of our federal government, uncertainty about our future. But here in Massachusetts, we have something we can be certain about; our state-supported programs will remain funded without raising taxes on everyday Bay Staters,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The record investments in our communities delivered by this FY27 budget is a testament to the responsibility and resilience of our people, and I could not be more thrilled to share the news that Massachusetts will not be leaving anyone behind. I’d like to thank my colleagues in the Senate for their hard work on this bill, and I look forward to seeing it sent to Governor Healey’s desk.”

During Senate debate, Senator Moore secured amendments for the cities and towns in his district and beyond. They include:

Regional

• $500,000 for Veterans Inc. to support its employment training and substance use treatment programs.

• Restoring the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s budget to its FY26 level, reversing a nearly $400,000 cut.

• $250,000 to fund cancer screenings for firefighters in cities and towns across the Commonwealth.

• $250,000 for EcoTarium to support the care of animals, expand community education programs, and fund animal habitat improvements.

• $25,000 to the Latin American Health Alliance of Central Massachusetts to support its substance use recovery programs.

• $20,000 for CASA Project Worcester County to support its efforts to provide legal representation to vulnerable children during court proceedings.

Auburn

• $55,000 for the Town of Auburn to purchase a 3D laser scanner for its Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit.

• $20,000 for Auburn Youth and Family Services to support its community food pantry program.

Millbury

• $75,000 for the Millbury Police Department to purchase a K9 police cruiser.

Grafton

• $130,000 for Grafton Public Schools to upgrade classroom technology and purchase an activity van (passed as part of the recent Fair Share Supplemental Budget).

Shrewsbury

• $150,000 for the Shrewsbury Police Department to purchase a police boat for use on Lake Quinsigamond.

Westborough

• $60,000 for Westborough Public Schools to purchase cell phone lock boxes, creating phone-free classrooms.

Worcester

• $75,000 for the Worcester Police Department to purchase a K9 police cruiser.

• $20,000 for the New Americans Community Development Corporation to support the development of affordable housing within Worcester’s Main Middle neighborhood.

The budget makes historic investments in cities and towns through record levels of Chapter 70 school aid—which helps support the full range of school expenses from teachers to school supplies—and Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), which local leaders can use as flexible spending for everything from paving sidewalks to hiring police officers.

The budget completes the Legislature’s promise to fully fund and implement the Student Opportunity Act with $7.66 billion in funding for local school districts – an increase of $297 million over last fiscal year – along with a record $160-per-pupil minimum for local school aid. It also boosts UGGA by $53 million, distributed through a new method based on population, while formally starting the process of reforming the UGGA distribution formula to be more equitable and move forward from an outdated system that has left some municipalities behind.

The budget reconvenes the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) to examine the current K-12 funding formula and assess new ways to address rising costs in special education, student transportation, personnel, and educator health care. It also establishes a commission to study public school construction financing through the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to ensure grant funding is allocated responsibly and equitably.

On housing, the budget builds on last session’s Affordable Homes Act (AHA) with provisions to streamline local permitting, support development on nonconforming properties, provide reasonable timelines for projects to move forward under existing zoning rules, and modernize the variance standard — all aimed at meeting housing demand and driving down costs.

The budget directs over $265 million toward anti-hunger, food security, and economic security, including $148 million for Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) caseworkers to maintain SNAP program integrity and comply with new federal requirements, $55 million for Emergency Food Assistance, and $29.7 million for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) supporting local farmers and healthy food access.

It fully annualizes recent benefit increases through Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) to fight deep poverty and includes a $500 clothing allowance per child for families receiving TAFDC benefits.

Additional investments include improved safety standards at assisted living residences following the tragic Gabriel House fire in Fall River; expanded affordability in higher education through Senate-led programs like MassEducate; and full funding for jail diversion programs connecting individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders to appropriate treatment – improving lives and strengthening public safety.

The budget also includes a consumer protection provision requiring companies to make canceling a subscription as easy as signing up, shielding residents from junk fees and hard-to-cancel recurring charges.

During debate, Senators adopted amendments sending resources to programs and institutions that serve residents across Massachusetts, including funding for the Museum of African American History.

Notably, the Senate adopted an amendment shielding children from sexual exploitation and abusive power dynamics by protecting children aged 16 and 17 from sexual interactions with people who are responsible for their care and oversight—mandated reporters such as teachers and coaches, police officers, and social workers and Department of Children and Families (DCF) custodians.

A detailed summary highlighting the many key components of the budget is available via a fact sheet in the Senate’s press room.

Different versions of the budget having been passed in the Senate and the House, a conference committee will be convened to align on a consensus bill. After final passage in both chambers, the bill will go to the Governor for her signature.

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Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces $830,000 Pinrock Road Bridge Project Grant

(AUBURN 5/8/2026) — Last week, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that Auburn’s Pinrock Road Bridge has been selected to receive a construction grant under the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Funding for Accelerated Infrastructure Repair (FAIR) Program. The nearly $830,000 grant will pay for the bridge’s preservation project, including the repair of concrete decks, the installation of a new wearing surface on the bridge deck, upgrades to the bridge’s safety features, and more.

Built in 1957, Pinrock Road Bridge was identified as being in disrepair by a Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) inspection report. While the structure was observed to have no substructure issues, the superstructure, roadway approaches, and pedestrian safety infrastructure are in need of repair.

The $829,989.22 grant is expected to cover the actual construction costs of the project, including a $75,000 allowance for engineering services.

“I’m pleased that MassDOT has selected Auburn as the recipient of a generous grant to cover the costs of its Pinrock Road Bridge renovation project,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This bridge has long been in need of repairs, and because of these dollars awarded through the FAIR Program, the town can now get this project done without draining its yearly Chapter 90 funds. Thank you to the Governor, her administration, and everyone who helped make this grant a reality – I’m looking forward to the completion of these important repairs.”

Representative Paul Frost (R-Auburn) commented, “This is an important project for Auburn and I’m very grateful MassDOT is awarding this funding to get it done. Now over $800,000 can be saved by Auburn to be used for local roads.”

Over the last several years, the Town of Auburn’s Engineering Division has been working with MassDOT to identify opportunities to secure funding for the needed repairs to the Pinrock Road Bridge. After submitting a proposal written by the Engineering Division, MassDOT selected Auburn to receive funding from the FAIR Program. The proposal emphasized that, if left to the town’s typical Chapter 90 allocation, this project would divert a significant portion of funds away from other needed repairs and maintenance across the town.

Despite federal law requiring MassDOT to inspect all bridges in the Commonwealth, the cost of maintenance and replacement of municipal-owned bridges falls to the cities and towns they reside in. The FAIR Program, established by Governor Healey earlier this year, addresses the strain bridge repairs put on municipal budgets by providing a dedicated, centralized source of funding for these projects.

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Senate Passes PROTECT Act to Defend Residents from Federal Immigration Overreach

(BOSTON 5/8/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate today passed sweeping legislation to protect residents from the Trump administration’s weaponization of federal immigration enforcement.

The PROTECT Act holds federal immigration agents legally accountable for civil rights violations, bars local and state police from participating in civil federal immigration enforcement, and prohibits immigration arrests at courthouses, houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and childcare facilities.

The bill also blocks unauthorized deployment of other states’ National Guards into Massachusetts and allows parents facing detention or deportation to pre-arrange guardianship for their children.

“The President was elected on platform of using ICE to go after ‘worst of the worst,’ but in cities and towns across America, we’re seeing indiscriminate and unconstitutional overreach by federal agents – terrorizing neighborhoods, splitting families, and hurting trust in Government to do the right thing,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The PROTECT Act maintains the ability of our local law enforcement here in Massachusetts to protect our communities while ensuring state resources are not used to harass and disappear our neighbors. By taking a stand against the most cruel actions we’ve seen from agencies like ICE and Border Patrol, this bill will help keep families together, strengthen trust in local police, and protect Bay Staters in schools, hospitals, and places of worship. Although we have more to do, I’m proud that we’re taking these important steps toward making the Commonwealth a safer and more secure place to live for all.”

The legislation – S.3072, An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment – delivers targeted protections for those most at risk: young children, crime victims, legal residents with complex immigration statuses, and public employees subjected to federal intimidation.

The Senate’s PROTECT Act makes clear that none of its provisions limit local law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prosecute a crime.

Additional provisions of the bill include:

• Preventing Racial Profiling and Unnecessary Immigration Checks: Prohibits state and local law enforcement from stopping, questioning, or targeting individuals based solely on immigration or citizenship status, strengthening protections against discrimination.

• Strengthens Trust in Local Law Enforcement: Bars Massachusetts law enforcement from participating in new federal “287(g)” agreements that deputize local police to carry out federal immigration enforcement duties.

• Protects Sensitive Community Spaces: Prohibits warrantless civil immigration arrests in sensitive locations such as schools, childcare centers, hospitals, houses of worship, and state courthouses, helping ensure residents can access essential services without fear.

• Supports Families Facing Immigration Detention: Allows parents to establish pre-arranged guardianship plans so children can remain safely cared for if a parent is detained or deported.

• Limits Local Involvement in Civil Immigration Enforcement: Clarifies that state and local law enforcement may not participate in civil immigration enforcement activities, including detaining individuals solely on immigration detainers or using routine stops to inquire about immigration status, while preserving full authority to enforce criminal law.

• Protects Victims and Witnesses of Crime: Strengthens protections for immigrants who are victims or witnesses of crimes, including trafficking victims, and expedites visa processes so they can safely assist law enforcement and prosecutors.

• Safeguards Public Employees Acting in Good Faith: Expands protections for state and municipal employees by allowing indemnification when they are acting within the scope of their official duties, shielding them from inappropriate federal intimidation or legal pressure.

The bill builds on proposals offered by the Governor, the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, and the House of Representatives, as the Legislature and the Executive Branch recognize the gravity and urgency of these issues and work together to address them in a timely and coordinated way.

The legislation is a product of extensive input from Senators, immigrant rights groups, members of the public, and law enforcement officials.

Full details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate’s press room.

The Senate passed the PROTECT Act on a 37-3 roll call vote and sent it back to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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