Massachusetts Senators Urge State Government Officials Prepare for Federal Response

(BOSTON 1/30/2026) — In light of recent events in Minnesota, 23 state senators today sent a letter to Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell urging their offices to prepare and enact proactive measures that will defend the rights of Bay Staters in the event the Trump Administration decides to send a federal operation to the Commonwealth. Countless videos on social media showing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and Border Patrol officers brutalizing peaceful protesters exercising their First Amendment rights, and the two high-profile killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in the streets of Minneapolis, have sparked a national conversation on these agents’ tactics and goals. The letter, as part of an effort led by Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore, urges top state officials to establish a task force on investigations of federal immigration actions and abuses, issue guidance to law enforcement, and create an online portal where Bay Staters can submit complaints and evidence.

“The Trump Administration’s willingness to use the power of the federal government to hurt and even kill United States citizens is shocking. Massachusetts must be prepared for the possibility that President Trump unleashes his masked agents on the people of the Commonwealth for having the audacity to stand up to him,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m thrilled that so many of my colleagues understand the seriousness of this situation and joined me to urge the Governor and Attorney General to take steps to protect our people before we’re faced by the crisis we’re seeing in other states. We may not have much power to stop the authoritarian actions of this federal government, but we can certainly be prepared to act if the Constitutional rights of our residents are being violated.”

Recent ICE and Border Patrol operations in Minnesota and Maine show extensive violations of the First and Forth Amendments of the United States Constitution, with repeated actions suppressing the right to free speech and protections against unreasonable search and seizure. Videos on social media and eyewitness accounts show repeated, indiscriminate use of pepper spray and rubber bullets, destruction of property, and excessive use of force by federal officers. Further, in addition to the two US citizens killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, there have been at least nine other shootings by ICE officers since September, and 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025.

The letter states, “without a doubt, state prosecution of federal officials who abuse their authority faces a narrow legal path. Still, with sufficient evidence and will, a state may bring a prosecution against federal officials who violate state criminal law while acting in a manner that is not necessary and proper in the performance of their official federal duties.” It then lays out three actions to prepare to respond to abuses of federal authority in Massachusetts, including:

1.       Convene a Rapid Response Task Force

The letter requests that state leaders create a rapid response task force whose purpose is to respond to allegations of federal abuse and ensure the integrity of investigations. Its responsibilities would include coordination between local, state, and federal law enforcement, securing crime scenes, obtaining witness testimony and video evidence, and seeking court orders to preserve evidence obtained by federal officials.

2.       Issue Guidance to State and Local Law Enforcement

The Attorney General is urged by the letter to issue guidance to local District Attorneys and police chiefs on their authority to collect evidence of federal agent abuses and secure crime scenes. And further, that the AGO issue guidance for prosecutors on what evidence is necessary to bring a case against a federal agent when appropriate. California released similar guidance this week.

3.       Create an Online Mechanism to Receive Complaints and Evidence from Witnesses

The letter urges the Commonwealth to develop a website for residents to file written complaints of misconduct by federal agents and upload evidence via an online portal. This is similar to tip lines created by states like California, Colorado, and Maine.

Although the Trump Administration claims that its immigration actions are meant to protect American citizens and get dangerous criminals off our streets, experts say the aggressive tactics of ICE agents and Border Patrol officers are neither necessary nor effective. Operations in Minneapolis have disrupted the daily lives of residents, and immigration sweeps have caught up many community members who have lived and worked peacefully in the US for sometimes decades. The CATO institute in November released a report that showed just 5% of recent detainees had a violent criminal conviction, and 73% of detainees had no criminal conviction at all. These indiscriminate actions have led to scenes like 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos – whose father has legal status due to an ongoing asylum case – being put into an ICE vehicle and sent to a Texas; or US Citizen ChongLy "Scott" Thao being removed from his home by ICE officials in his underwear in frigid winter temperatures.

Though Governor Healey yesterday announced a proposed set of actions which would, in part, need to be approved by the Legislature, the actions put forth by the senators’ letter can be implemented with only executive orders and internal agency guideline changes.

The letter concludes, “We thank you for your leadership in responding to abuses by the federal government to date, including the initiatives announced yesterday. With accountability now in the hands of state officials, a streamlined and coordinated response to any abuse of federal authority here in the Commonwealth will benefit us all.”

Signatories include Senators Michael Moore, Cindy Friedman, Paul Mark, Patricia Jehlen, Mark Montigny, Jason Lewis, Joan Lovely, John Keenan, Michael Barrett, James Eldridge, Robyn Kennedy, Michael Brady, Rebecca Rausch, Adam Gomez, John Cronin, Paul Feeney, Liz Miranda, Sal DiDomenico, Jacob Oliveira, Pavel Payano, Barry Finegold, Nick Collins, and Michael Rush. The full letter can be viewed online here.

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Senate Passes Housing Affordability Package Focused on Property Tax Relief

(BOSTON 1/23/2026) — The Senate took action last week to make housing more affordable in Massachusetts, approving new tools that give cities and towns the ability to lower the cost of property taxes and put money directly back in residents’ pockets.

Senators approved five separate measures to provide meaningful relief to some of the state’s most vulnerable residents and blunt the skyrocketing costs of housing in every part of the state.

If signed into law, the measures together would prevent residents from being blindsided by sharp tax bill spikes, make it easier for seniors to access tax deferral programs, allow cities and towns to implement tax rebates, and create a new program for qualifying seniors to lower their tax bills.

“I hear it everywhere I go: the biggest issue most Bay Staters face is the crushing cost of housing. Last week, the Senate acted to provide tax relief to families, seniors, veterans, and low-income homeowners struggling under the weight of property taxes. We also made it easier to access programs and initiatives that can help keep Bay Staters in their homes,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “While I was not able to secure an amendment creating a special property tax exemption for disabled senior Veterans similar to my bill S.2046, I will continue to push for this important policy because those in the military who gave it their all deserve the same in return from their government.”

Protecting Residents from Property Tax Shocks

S.2899, An Act to prevent property tax bill shocks, gives cities and towns the ability to shield their most vulnerable taxpayers from the shock of an extraordinarily high tax bill in a year when the community’s residential property tax levy is rising by more than 10%. Senators passed the bill on a 37-1 roll call.

If they choose to, municipalities could offer a tax credit to gradually phase in the increase for vulnerable households, mitigating the shock felt by taxpayers when they receive third- and fourth-quarter tax bills, which fold in the entire tax increase. Qualifying groups of taxpayers include people aged 65 and older who own and occupy the home, people enrolled in MassHealth, and people living with children under age 6. Senators amended the bill during the course of debate (Amendment 1) to give cities and towns the further option of expanding eligibility to cover people living with children under the age of 18.

A New Tax Relief Tool for Residents

Lower- and middle-income taxpayers who already receive a local residential tax exemption would be able to receive enhanced relief in the form of a rebate if cities and towns take advantage of a local option contained in S.2900, An Act relative to municipal tax relief. The bill passed on a 37-1 roll call vote.

If a city or town takes advantage of this tool, the local government would be able to determine their residents’ eligibility and set their own thresholds around assets, income, or other factors. Building on this bill, Senators adopted an amendment (Amendment 9) that boosts the existing senior property tax exemption by giving municipalities the option of further expanding eligibility and raising the limit of possible exemption from $1,000 to $1,500.

Helping Seniors Age in Place

An Act relative to senior property tax deferral, S.2901, would expand eligibility for the Senior Tax Deferral program by lowering eligibility to seven years of state residency, instead of the current ten-year requirement, to keep more money in seniors’ pockets at a time when property values and tax bills are steadily climbing. Senators approved the legislation 37-0.

The bill also gives a respectful amount of time to grieving families of people who have taken advantage of the Senior Tax Deferral, allowing heirs more time to plan for and pay the deferred taxes by delaying an increase in the interest rate for deferred taxes until a year after the taxpayer’s death, and delaying the date on which a foreclosure petition may be filed until 18 months after their death. A successful amendment adopted today (Amendment 1) prioritizes current military servicemembers by ensuring that these interest rate and lien changes are mirrored in an existing property tax deferral for active members of the military.

Means-Tested Senior Property Tax Exemption

S.2902, An Act authorizing the establishment of a means tested senior citizen property tax exemption, would make it easier for municipalities to offer local property tax exemptions to seniors. It builds on the success of the recently-increased Senior Circuit Breaker. Departing from a piecemeal system of towns and cities petitioning to offer their own senior tax exemption, the bill creates a statewide opt-in program that prioritizes longtime residents and gives controls to local authorities. The Senate passed the bill on a 37-0 roll call.

Giving Back to Armed Forces Veterans

S.1948, An Act relative to veteran property tax work-off, bolsters the targeted tax relief offered to veterans and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans. Continuing their career of service or honoring their spouse’s sacrifice, they would be able to reduce their property taxes by up to $2,000 per year in exchange for providing volunteer services to their municipality, an increase from the current $1,500 cap, under a provision that local governments can choose to adopt. Senators approved the bill, 38-0.

Having been passed by the Senate, all five bills go to the House for further consideration.

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Hundreds of State Legislators Urge Federal Agencies to Withdraw Proposed Endangered Species Act Rollbacks

(BOSTON 12/23/2025) — This week, more than 190 state legislators from 34 states and territories, including Second Worcester District State Senator Michael Moore, submitted a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) urging the agencies to withdraw four proposed rules that would weaken wildlife and habitat protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The letter highlights the ESA’s proven track record of preventing extinction for 99% of listed species and facilitating the recovery of iconic wildlife such as bald eagles, sea turtles, and gray whales. State legislators warn that the proposed changes could undermine decades of conservation progress, weaken state-federal partnerships, and jeopardize economic benefits tied to biodiversity and outdoor recreation.

“The biodiversity of United States wildlife is one of our most prized resources. To weaken protections against these animals is a betrayal of future generations of Americans who may not be so lucky to share a world with them,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The same administration that is killing much-needed offshore wind projects in the name of ‘protecting whales’ is in the same breath advocating for the weakening of laws specifically designed to preserve their species. Protecting wildlife is a non-partisan issue – I strongly urge President Trump to reconsider these moves.”

As outlined in the letter, the legislators assert that the four proposed rules would:

• Weaken Threatened Species Protections: Under the proposed FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0029, threatened species would no longer be automatically protected from killing, harming, or habitat destruction through the ESA.

• Exclude Areas from Critical Habitat Designation: FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0048 would require the Fish and Wildlife Service to consider economic impacts in critical habitat decisions, therefore decentering the role of science in what is typically a rigorous, data-driven process.

• Reduce Interagency Consultation: FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0044 would limit requirements for federal agencies to consult with one another to ensure their actions do not jeopardize listed species or destroy critical habitat.

• Remove Eligibility for New Critical Habitat Designation: FWS–HQ–ES–2025–0039 would make the process more difficult for designating unoccupied critical habitats for protection.

State legislators emphasize that the ESA has been one of the most popular and bipartisan conservation laws in U.S. history — and that public support for wildlife conservation remains strong today. A June 2025 poll found that 84% of Americans believe it is important to prevent species extinction, with broad support for habitat protections.

The letter concludes by calling on the FWS and NMFS to withdraw these proposed rules from consideration and uphold America’s long-standing commitment to conservation leadership.

This letter was spearheaded by Colorado State Representative Karen McCormick, Maryland State Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr, and Michigan State Senator Sue Shink, with organizational assistance from the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL).

The full letter can be viewed online here.

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Massachusetts Legislators Announce Opposition to AI Regulation Moratorium Order

(BOSTON 12/18/2025) — This week, five Senators and eight Representatives seated on the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity sent a letter to the Commonwealth’s congressional delegation, Governor Maura Healey, and Attorney General Andrea Campbell urging any and all action to combat President Trump’s recently-signed executive order on artificial intelligence. The order, which many legal scholars describe as illegal, directs US Attorney General Pam Bondi 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.

The letter, an effort led by Committee co-chairs Senator Michael Moore and Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier, warns that the industry and President Trump are prioritizing profits over the privacy and safety of Bay Staters. It also states that the order is a violation of the separation of powers and principles of federalism.

“President Trump’s executive order preempting state-level AI regulation is nothing less than a giveaway to the trillion-dollar Big Tech companies and ultra-wealthy CEOs that funded his campaign. One of the most basic functions of government is the power to protect its people – by taking away our power to place reasonable guardrails around the development and use of artificial intelligence, the President is neutering our ability to defend Bay Staters against the worst drawbacks of this technology, including AI-generated deepfakes, predatory algorithms, dangerous misinformation campaigns, and more,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “AI is a powerful new technology that we are just starting to understand the implications of on society; the only way to ensure AI works for us without upending our world and driving even further inequality is to draft common-sense regulations to make it so. President Trump’s executive order is an abdication of duty to the American People and I strongly urge Governor Healey, Attorney General Campbell, and our Congressional delegation to do everything in their power to make sure this irresponsible order does not stand.”

"Here in Massachusetts, we have demonstrated that supporting AI innovation and establishing responsible guardrails are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they go hand in hand." added Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfield). "We've invested more than $100 million in AI development while working collaboratively with industry to ensure this technology reflects our shared values of safety, equity, and accountability. The attempt to bypass state authority through executive order undermines the productive public-private partnership we have strived to build. States have both the responsibility and the expertise to protect our residents while fostering innovation."

This is not the first time big tech companies have attempted to enact an AI regulation moratorium – over the 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.

While President Trump earlier this year 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.

President Trump’s executive order has received opposition from a bipartisan coalition of governors, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, and more.

The letter, addressed to Governor Maura Healey, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and Representatives Richard Neal, Jim McGovern, Stephen Lynch, Bill Keating, Katherine Clark, Seth Moulton, Lori Trahan, Ayanna Pressley, and Jake Auchincloss, calls on them to "take all legislative and legal measures possible" to oppose the executive order and ensure the Commonwealth can protect its residents.

Signatories of the letter include Senators Michael O. Moore, Pavel M. Payano, Barry R. Finegold, Paul W. Mark, and Michael J. Barrett, and Representatives Tricia Farley-Bouvier, James K. Hawkins, Joan Meschino, Steve Owens, Steven J. Ouellette, Tommy Vitolo, Thomas W. Moakley, and Christopher R. Flanagan. The full letter can be found online here.

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State Legislators Visit Europe for AI Policy Exchange

(BOSTON 12/16/2025) — Last week, Senator Michael Moore participated in the Transatlantic Tech Exchange, meeting with European Union officials, experts, and academics to discuss the state of technology regulation policy. The trip brought together influential policymakers from the United States and Europe to engage in conversations related to artificial intelligence safeguards, AI innovation, and data privacy. Senator Moore was part of a bipartisan delegation that also included Utah State Representative Doug Fiefia and Virginia State Delegate Michelle Maldonado for visits to Paris and Brussels where conversations with their counterparts helped deepen their understanding of technology policy debates in the European Union.

The trip was organized by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), with funding from the Project Liberty Institute (PLI).

“Europe and the United States may be separated by an ocean, but we are facing the same fork in the road when it comes to artificial intelligence regulation and data privacy policy,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “It is clear that the EU is steps ahead of the US when it comes to tech policy, with legislation like the landmark General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law and the world-first EU AI Act. This opportunity to have in-depth conversations with lawmakers and experts who were instrumental in crafting these laws gives us invaluable knowledge on their approach to regulating big tech companies and how we can best foster innovation while protecting the most fundamental rights of everyday people.”

“The Transatlantic Tech Exchange aims to build trust and mutual understanding between American and European lawmakers across the political spectrum,” said GMF Technology Senior Program Coordinator Adrienne Goldstein. “The December trip shed light on European regulatory priorities, drivers of competitiveness, ongoing state AI regulatory efforts, and opportunities for global collaboration on kids' safety and AI redlines.”

Key takeaways from the trip include a strong emphasis that regulation does not stifle innovation; rather regulation challenges entrepreneurs in ways that result in a stronger, more innovative product that respects the privacy of the people. Another conclusion was the importance of comprehensive action; one policy encompassing the whole of the states is more effective than dozens of individual policies. This, however, is complicated by President Donald Trump’s executive order banning all state-level AI regulations, and congressional Republicans’ disinterest in passing comprehensive national policies regarding AI and tech companies. Until current federal officials’ attitude changes, or new leadership is elected to office, state-level regulation is the best path forward to address the worst drawbacks of new technologies, including AI-generated child pornography, predatory algorithms, dangerous misinformation campaigns, and more.

In response to questions about whether regulation plays a significant role in the reasoning why more startups seem to come from American entrepreneurs rather than Europeans, officials explained that the primary reason is due to the availability of private financing and investment. They found that, while regulatory environment is a factor in an individual’s decision of where to start a company, the primary competitive advantage for the US is the strength of its capital – leaving a significant opening for common-sense American regulation that does not materially change the attractiveness of the country.

“The US and the EU aren’t so different,” stated Senator Moore. “The lessons we learn from each other will help us build a smarter, safer, and more responsible future. I’d like to thank the German Marshall Fund and Project Liberty Institute, as well as all the lawmakers and academics we met with, for making this exchange of ideas possible.”

German Marshall Fund of the United States describes itself as a non-profit, non-partisan policy organization committed to the idea that the United States and Europe are stronger together.

Project Liberty Institute is a private, independent, non-profit foundation, which describes itself as dedicated to advancing democratic values and digital governance to shape a people-centered digital economy.

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Legislature Votes to Protect Integrity of U.S. Constitution

(BOSTON 11/25/2025) — Last week, the Massachusetts Legislature passed joint resolutions H.4692 and S.2684 which rescind all previous applications for a national Constitutional Convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. This joint initiative is in response to concerns that Congress and the Trump Administration could attempt to use prior Massachusetts resolutions to call for an Article V Constitutional Convention to advance their own political agenda, moves that could have broad and sweeping implications on current protections under the U.S. Constitution.

“Massachusetts’ applications for a Constitutional Convention are from a different time, reflecting a Commonwealth that existed almost 50 years ago,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “We will not let those applications be weaponized by an administration that seeks to tear up our Constitution and replace it with something that endangers some of the values that Bay Staters hold dear. With the passage of this resolution, we are formally retracting our calls for a Constitutional Convention and protecting the modern-day Massachusetts that we have fought so hard for.”

The Legislature’s action makes Massachusetts the 17th state to rescind all prior applications for an Article V convention, and reaffirms that any constitutional decisions should reflect the will of today’s elected lawmakers and the people they represent.

An Article V convention is a process outlined in the U.S. Constitution allowing states to propose amendments if two-thirds (34) of state legislatures call for it. An Article V convention could open the entire Constitution to unpredictable changes, as there are no clear guidelines or limitations on what delegates could propose. While an Article V convention has never been called before in American history, there is recent conservative momentum to add up all active resolutions to meet the two-thirds threshold.

Massachusetts had several outdated Article V resolutions pending before Congress, including one sent in 1977 asking for an Article V convention to constitutionally ban abortions. These dormant calls have been cited in national legal strategies pushing for a convention, arguing they could still be considered active and contribute to the 34-state count. Sixteen states have already taken action to rescind all of their previous calls.

Both chambers of the Legislature voted to approve the resolutions, and the House and Senate Clerks will transmit copies of the resolutions to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and to the Secretary of the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C.

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Legislature Enacts Closeout Supplemental Budget, Sends New Affordability and Protection Policies to Governor

(BOSTON 11/25/2025) — The Massachusetts Legislature last week passed a supplemental budget that prioritizes affordability for Massachusetts residents and protections for those being negatively impacted by decisions at the federal level.

As part of allocating the final expenses of Fiscal Year 2025, the legislation, H.4761, provides funding for MassHealth, hospitals and reproductive care; ensures that students at public colleges and universities are delivered the financial aid they depend on; adds funding for the universal meals program for children in public schools; and funds operational enhancements to improve how Massachusetts residents access supplemental nutrition assistance, or SNAP.

It also directs state funds to support transportation and public safety ahead of the upcoming 2026 World Cup, ensures accountability in sheriffs’ operations, and brings transparency to former state institutions where residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities suffered abuse.

“The Legislature this week voted to close the books on the FY25 budget, and along with it allocate essential dollars for our students, support healthcare in Massachusetts, create oversight structures for our sheriffs’ offices, provide closure to individuals who lived in state-run institutions, and more,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This bill reaffirms that the Commonwealth is committed to doing right by our constituents, even when the federal government walks away. Nowhere is this more true than with this bill’s provisions protecting federal employees affected by the ongoing government shutdown in Washington DC. I’m proud of our work, and I look forward to seeing this legislation be signed into law.”

Details of policy and spending contained in the closeout supplemental budget agreement are below.

Policy Provisions

Accountability for Sheriffs. Directs an investigation into sheriffs’ Fiscal Year 2025 spending deficits. The investigation will include analyses of compliance with state finance law, spending on programs that are outside required operations, and payroll changes over time. Funds no-cost phone calls program and Section 35 treatment programs for people with alcohol and substance use and withholds funding the remainder of the sheriffs’ deficit until the Inspector General (IG) reports on sheriff spending, with a preliminary report due on February 27, 2026, and a final report due May 31, 2026.

Transparency for Institutional Records. Opens the door for families and scholars to access archived patient records from state institutions for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions, if the records are at least 75 years old or if 50 years have passed since the patient’s death. The policy change applies to records from more than 25 institutions—many of them now closed, including the Fernald Developmental Center—where residents were abused or neglected by practices in the institutions.

Matching Funds Program for World Cup 2026. Creates a new Sports and Entertainment Fund initially provided with $10 million to support transportation, public safety, wayfinding, and similar costs related to Massachusetts’ seven 2026 FIFA World Cup matches. State dollars spent on the initiative would have to be privately matched. Going forward, the Sports and Entertainment Fund would be able to receive funding to support a competitive grant program administered by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) to attract major sports or entertainment events to provide event services, sports development, sports marketing, or construction, functioning, and operation of an event.

State Leadership on Immunization Standards. Grants authority to the Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner to determine routine childhood immunizations and vaccination schedules rather than relying on the recommendations of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Criminalizing Impersonation of Federal Agents. Criminalizes the impersonation of a federal officer and increases penalties for impersonating a public official, including a federal officer.

Housing Stability for Federal Employees. Protects unpaid federal employees from residential eviction or foreclosure during and immediately after any federal shutdown.

Privacy for People Seeking Name Changes. Removes the automatic requirement of a public notice for name-change petitions filed in court.

Managed Care Organizations. Adjusts the managed care organization assessment to align with federal changes that require a broad-based and uniform assessment.

Harness Racing and Simulcasting Extension. Extends authorization for harness racing and simulcast wagering from December 15, 2025, to December 15, 2027.

Collective Bargaining Agreements. Ratifies 14 new collective bargaining agreements for public employees.

Fiscal Provisions

The legislation resolves outstanding expenses from the fiscal year that ended in June and has a net cost to the state of $806.9 million after accounting for federal reimbursements. The legislation includes $2.31 billion in total gross spending.

Health Care. Addresses a number of deficiencies across the public health and health care sectors, including:

• $1.67 billion for MassHealth, with a $303 million net cost to the state after federal reimbursements;

• $374 million for Steward hospital payments, with a $236 million net cost to the state;

• $10 million for Health Care For All to conduct a public awareness campaign to inform vulnerable populations about new Medicaid work requirements put in place by the recent federal spending bill;

• $5 million in direct support for reproductive health care.

Student Financial Assistance. Establishes a Public Higher Education Student Support Fund to maintain financial aid benefits for students attending public colleges and universities. Also appropriates $18.3 million to strengthen student financial aid assistance and ensure existing student stipend amounts are maintained.

Universal School Meals. Provides $12 million to support the universal meals program for public school students.

DTA Enhancements. Provides $10 million for operational and technical enhancements at the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) to improve recipients’ access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits with the aim of mitigating against harmful federal cuts.

Life Sciences. Transfers $10 million to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) to support and bolster scientific research and development in the Commonwealth.

Public Defense Services. Provides $2.5 million for Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) indigent persons fees and court costs.

Snow and Ice Removal. Provides $60.7 million for MassDOT snow and ice expenditures.

Affordable Housing Support. Transfers $50 million to the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund.

Excess Capital Gains. After accounting for spending contained in the agreement, the remainder of collected excess capital gains will be distributed as follows:

• $502.2 million (90 per cent) to the Transitional Escrow Fund;

• $25.1 million (5 per cent) to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund; and

• $25.1 million (5 per cent) to the Commonwealth’s Pension Liability Fund.

Student Opportunity Act Transfer. Transfers $100 million in excess surtax collections to the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) Investment Fund.

Both branches of the Legislature voted to enact the closeout supplemental budget on Wednesday, sending it to the Governor for her signature.

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Senate Acts to Reform Cannabis Industry Oversight, Licensure

(BOSTON 11/25/2025) — Last week, the Massachusetts Senate acted to reform oversight of the maturing cannabis industry by reorganizing the state’s regulatory agency and making targeted updates that support recreational consumers and small businesses. The reforms come after several years of legislators calling for reforms, led by Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore who has written several letters calling for more oversight of the CCC and introduced legislation creating an internal special audit unit within the agency.

The legislation approved by the Senate – An Act modernizing the Commonwealth’s cannabis laws, S.2722 – takes into account the cannabis industry’s growth over the past seven years by streamlining the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), which would now operate with three members including a chair appointed directly by the Governor.

The bill updates licensure policies to meet the needs of businesses and consumers today and in the future, allowing retailers to expand and hold a maximum of four licenses and removing operational barriers for smaller companies to enter the medical marijuana market. Following the successful introduction of recreational consumption since voters approved legalization in 2016, recreational consumers would be allowed to possess a maximum of two ounces, an increase from the current one-ounce limit.

During debate, an amendment introduced by Senator Michael Moore passed to maintain the ability of CCC Commissioners to receive complaints and information regarding the quality, efficiency, and integrity of the CCC’s programs and operations. This enhances the Commission’s oversight powers despite S.2722’s new language that builds a stronger firewall between Commissioners and ongoing investigations being conducted by CCC employees. Amendment 3 was adopted with unanimous support.

“It is certainly no secret that the Cannabis Control Commission has been facing serious dysfunction and scandal since it was created in 2016. This legislation takes a reasonable and considered approach to reforming this troubled agency based on the structures of regulating agencies that we know work right here in Massachusetts,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m also pleased that my amendment protecting whistleblowers received the unanimous support of my colleagues. The CCC’s Commissioners are meant to serve a dual role – both as a regulator of the cannabis industry, and as a regulator of the Cannabis Control Commission itself. While I understand the purpose of building a firewall between Commissioners and the work being done by the CCC itself, given the myriad scandals the agency has faced over the last several years, language in this bill should not stop Commissioners’ ability to receive whistleblower reports and other feedback about the agency’s work. This amendment clarifies that the path of whistleblower reports still goes through the Commissioners who have the power to immediately take action to correct failures of the agency they oversee.”

The House of Representatives passed a version of the bill on June 4, 2025, based on several separate bills for which public testimony was solicited earlier this year by the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy.

Senators filed and considered 59 amendments to the bill. One of the amendments adopted during today’s session, Amendment 17, removes some obstacles for social equity businesses by automatically allowing marijuana deliveries in all communities, while preserving local autonomy by allowing municipalities to request the CCC to ban deliveries for two years at a time. Senators also adopted Amendment 33, which directs the CCC to work with medical experts and other agencies to study ongoing federal developments around hemp-derived cannabinoids and a potential regulatory framework for intoxicating hemp products.

Full details of the legislation are available online in the Senate Press Room.

The Senate passed the bill on a 30-7 roll call vote, sending it to the House for further consideration.

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Senate Acts to Protect Transit Workers

(BOSTON 11/17/2025) — The Massachusetts Senate today took action to support public transit workers by stepping up penalties for people who assault them while they are on duty.

An Act relative to assault and battery upon a transit worker, S.2697, responds to an increased number of assaults targeting workers on Massachusetts’ public transportation systems by ensuring a heightened minimum punishment.

On the MBTA alone, workers in 2024 were targeted by 33 assaults with weapons and 72 physical assaults, according to testimony heard by the Legislature at a recent public hearing. The bill ensures that all transit workers are covered, including those who are not directly employed by the state, such as workers employed by Keolis, the state’s contracted commuter rail operator.

Workers on the MBTA, commuter rail lines, regional transit authorities, and other public transit systems also face possible assault with bodily fluids, such as saliva. MBTA workers were targeted by 38 bodily fluid assaults in 2024. This legislation explicitly punishes bodily substance assaults in addition to other types of assaults. Convicted perpetrators of any such assaults would face a heightened minimum 90 day sentence or $500 fine. The maximum punishment is up to two and a half years in a county facility or up to a $5,000 fine.

“Transit workers, regardless of how they support our transportation systems, work one of the most important jobs in our society; helping people get where they need to go. Those who seek to harm these workers for simply doing their jobs will face consequences,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “We owe these employees protection, and this bill shows that we have our transit workers’ backs. I’m proud to have joined together with my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill unanimously.”

The Senate passed the bill on a 38-0 roll call vote, sending it to the House for further consideration.

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Senate Passes Bill Guarding Against Politically Motivated Book Bans

(BOSTON 11/17/2025) — The Massachusetts Senate last week took action to protect freedom of thought in Massachusetts schools and public libraries and safeguard open access to books and other educational materials as part of its Response 2025 initiative to respond to federal threats.

As school libraries are increasingly faced with politically-charged debates over banning access to particular library books, the bill — An Act regarding free expression, S.2696 — creates clear guidelines for how schools and libraries decide which books to make available, and how local leaders determine whether a book is appropriate or should be removed from the shelf.

The legislation requires that school library materials be age-appropriate, serve an educational purpose, and be chosen based on a teacher or employee’s professional training — leaving aside personal, political, or doctrinal views which could affect their decision to place the book on the shelf.

“Massachusetts has long led the nation in education and a big part of that is the abundance of information; if you are curious about the world around you, our public libraries will have a book where you can learn all about it — even controversial subjects. This legislation protects this legacy of freedom of thought while creating structured processes for how we decide whether a book is appropriate or not,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “At a time when book bans are being enacted across the nation, Massachusetts is acting to protect the most basic rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution: freedom of speech, freedom of information, and freedom of expression. I am proud to have voted to approve this bipartisan bill because our constitutional rights are and will always be worth fighting for.”

Local school districts and municipal public libraries would have the flexibility to craft their own policies that align with state protocols and the standards of the American Library Association. For school libraries, an appropriate process for considering whether to remove a book would include assurance that a challenged book remains available to library patrons while the process plays out, guarding against frivolous or unfounded complaints.

The bill would protect librarians and school employees from retaliation over their selection of library books, ensuring that they do not suffer professional, civil, or criminal penalties if they have acted in good faith and followed their library materials policy. To help the state track challenges to books in libraries around the state, the bill also calls for data on such proceedings to be compiled annually and filed with the Legislature.

During the course of last week’s debate, Senators voted on a 37-0 roll call to add language to the bill (Amendment 4) strengthening the voice of authors to make their work available to the public. As amended, the bill now gives book authors and creators the right to challenge their book’s removal from a school library in court.

The Senate voted 35-3 to approve the bill and send it to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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Senate Strengthens Access to Digital Materials in Public Libraries

(BOSTON 11/17/2025) — The Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously last week to help Massachusetts public libraries more easily and accessibly provide in-demand digital resources such as e-books and audiobooks.  

An Act addressing challenges facing public libraries and digital resource collections, S.2710, would create a special legislative commission to assess and address challenges faced by public libraries and digital resource collections. Over the last several years, e-books and audiobooks have become an increasingly prevalent resource used by library patrons, yet they have become a financial burden for already strained public libraries.

The commission would be tasked with examining the evolving landscape of digital resources in public libraries, focusing on costs, access, privacy, and policy implications.

“E-books, audiobooks, and other digital resources are increasingly in demand by the public, but providing these resources are cost prohibitive for libraries and often come with unwieldy sets of restrictions,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The commission established by this bill will help streamline the process for libraries to license books and other digital materials, expanding access to knowledge to more Bay Staters.”

The commission would study cost trends that affect libraries and the sustainability of electronic resources, as well as assessing how consumers use these resources. The commission is also tasked with researching expert opinions on the legal differences between digital licensing and traditional print use, identifying how these variations influence user experience and equitable access to diverse collections. Additionally, it investigates how consumer data is managed, used, and shared through library digital platforms to identify potential privacy and consumer protection concerns.

While libraries can often purchase physical books at significant discounts, digital content is rented by the library, often for a higher price than what a regular consumer would pay. These contracts often expire after a period of time, or a number of checkouts, meaning libraries are forced to pay recurring fees at a disproportionately high price.

Over the past decade, Massachusetts libraries have spent more than $50 million in local, state, and federal tax dollars to provide access to digital resources. Yet due to the high recurring cost of renting these materials, most libraries’ electronic resources collections are relatively small, with the average patron having to wait over two months for access to popular titles.

By reviewing the actions of other states in digital resource development and management, the commission aims to provide informed recommendations for legislative and executive measures that support the sustainability and accessibility of electronic resources, ensure the continuation of public lending to residents, and safeguard consumer data.

The Senate passed the bill to be engrossed on a 37-0 roll call. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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Senate Approves Bills on National Guard Command, Military Family Benefits

(BOSTON 11/7/2025) — The Massachusetts Senate yesterday voted unanimously to pass two significant bills relating to the Massachusetts National Guard and US Military families.

The first, S.2675 – An Act clarifying the duties of the adjutant general, writes into law that the Adjutant General – Massachusetts’ highest-ranking military officer – has command of all troops in the state National Guard while carrying out the orders of the Governor. A technical clarification, the bill brings state statute around the National Guard chain of command into line with the model used by the vast majority of other states.

Under a bipartisan amendment introduced by Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore, the Adjutant General must also ensure that National Guard members receive training on how to identify whether or not orders violate Constitutional or statutory rights. The amendment was adopted unanimously.

The second bill passed, S.2676 – An Act to enhance access, inclusion, support and equity for military connected families, also known as the EASE Act, would guarantee that a child of a military family would have a seat in the classroom at their current school in Massachusetts, even if their parent or guardian is temporarily transferred elsewhere on official orders. If a military family moves permanently and arrives in a Massachusetts community, the bill also requires a timely and seamless transition for students who receive special education services.

To strengthen public safety and increase access to justice around military bases, the legislation allows certain information from the military to be admissible as evidence in state courts for people seeking temporary domestic violence restraining orders. The bill also allows for federal judges to transfer juvenile cases to Massachusetts courts for offenses that occur on military bases. Over the course of yesterday’s debate, Senators adopted an amendment with bipartisan support that further directs National Guard leadership to track and report suicide data among veterans of the Massachusetts National Guard. Senators passed the entire bill with a 39-0 roll call.

“Clarifying the chain of command within the National Guard and ensuring fair treatment for our military families is a bipartisan issue, and I’m thrilled that the Senate has acted this week on a unanimous basis,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Specifically regarding the National Guard bill, this is an issue that I have been sounding the alarm on for months. This legislation ensures there is no ambiguity about who is in command of our Guard during an emergency, but it goes even further thanks to an amendment I introduced with bipartisan support. National Guard troops across the country are being asked to potentially violate the sovereignty of other states and the constitutional rights of ordinary Americans by a president who wants to use them like pawns in his game of intimidation. My amendment to the bill is simple: by creating a comprehensive training curriculum for servicemembers, Massachusetts is empowering our National Guard with the knowledge they need to determine, in the event that they are federalized, whether the orders they receive are lawful. The rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution are non-negotiable – the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will not let our Guard be illegally used against its own people.”

Provisions in the EASE Act respond directly to needs that have been raised by military families in recent years. Addressing these concerns is key to further boosting Massachusetts’ standing on the Department of Defense scorecard, a key metric that the federal government takes into account when deciding where to increase or maintain its spending for military bases.

Massachusetts is currently among the top 10 states for defense contract spending. More than 57,000 Massachusetts jobs are supported by the state’s six military installations: Fort Devens, Hanscom Air Force Base, Joint Base Cape Cod, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westover Air Reserve Base, and the Natick Soldier Systems Center.

Both bills were advanced to the floor by 16-0 votes of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on October 30, 2025, after previous drafts were reviewed and advanced by the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs in September and October. All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website.

Both bills acted upon today were approved by the Senate and now move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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Senate Approves FY25 Closeout Supplemental Budget

(BOSTON 10/27/2025) — The Massachusetts Senate yesterday approved legislation that responsibly closes the books on Fiscal Year 2025 and advances policy proposals that would ensure integrity in government operations, support the families of former residents of state institutions, and guard student access to financial aid.

Senators voted 39-0 to approve the closeout supplemental budget, S.2655, which seeks to reestablish public trust in county sheriffs’ offices by creating a Sheriff Fiscal Oversight Council to hold these offices responsible for spending goals and performance metrics. The bill also commissions an investigation of sheriffs’ Fiscal Year 2025 spending in response to sharp annual growth in the sheriffs’ spending deficits – more than 200% in the last fiscal year alone.

The legislation also shines light on a dark chapter of state history by allowing access to former resident records from more than 25 state-run institutions – many of them now closed – for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions. The Senate’s proposal helps provide closure to families and recognize the dignity of former patients while remaining mindful of appropriate limits for personal privacy and sensitive medical records.

As amended by the Senate, the bill restores $18.3 million in funding for student financial aid assistance ahead of the spring semester and proactively protects additional support for community college students earning degrees through the MassEducate program. A new Public Higher Education Student Support Fund ensures that a key stipend for books and supplies remains fully funded as the Senate reaffirms its commitment to universal higher education.

During the course of debate, Senators adopted an amendment to protect thousands of Massachusetts residents who are employed by the U.S. government, including members of the United States Military, and currently not receiving paychecks due to Washington’s ongoing federal shutdown. Amendment 2, adopted on a 38-0 roll call vote, would protect federal workers and Armed Forces service members from losing their housing to a residential eviction or foreclosure during a federal government shutdown.

“The Senate this week voted to close the books on the FY25 budget, and along with it allocate essential dollars for our students, support healthcare in Massachusetts, create oversight structures for our sheriffs’ offices, provide closure to individuals who lived in state-run institutions, and more,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This bill reaffirms that the Commonwealth is committed to doing right by our constituents, even when the federal government walks away, and nowhere is this more true than with this bill’s provisions protecting federal employees affected by the ongoing government shutdown in Washington DC. I’m proud of our work, and I look forward to seeing this legislation reach the Governor’s desk.”

The legislation contains targeted policy and spending provisions that respond to recent federal uncertainty as part of the Senate’s Response 2025 initiative. An investment of $10 million would fund technology enhancements at the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in order to improve the accuracy of benefit payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This Senate-led appropriation would both improve the customer experience for SNAP users and aim to avert harmful cuts brought on by recent federal legislation.

The state would gain greater flexibility in determining childhood vaccine schedules under one section of the bill, which decouples the state definition of ‘routine childhood immunizations’ from federal standards. Further, at a time when federal agents’ actions are sowing controversy and disruption in local communities, the false impersonation of a federal officer would be penalized as a state crime under another provision.

The supplemental budget features a total $2.3 billion to close out government spending for Fiscal Year 2025, which will result in a net final cost to the state of $795 million after revenue from federal reimbursements has been accounted for. The bill funds a range of programs to support essential government services and aid vulnerable populations, including:

• $12 million to support the universal meals program for school children;

• $12.5 million to cover no-cost phone call communications for incarcerated people;

• $14 million to aid people in treatment for substance use and alcohol addiction through Section 35 programs;

• $2.04 billion for MassHealth (with a net cost to the state of only $539 million after reimbursements) covering the rapidly rising cost of providing healthcare;

• $18.5 million to support public health hospitals;

• $18.3 million to strengthen student financial aid assistance;

• $5 million in direct support for reproductive health care;

• $75 million for the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund, which supports affordable rental housing in Massachusetts; and

• $60.7 million for MassDOT’s snow and ice removal expenses.

Additional policy sections include the following provisions:

• Strengthens Fishing Violation Penalties. Allows the Massachusetts Environmental Police to charge by the pound—or charge the total value of the catch up to $10,000—when imposing fines for fishing violations.

• Helps Implement Multistate Nurse Licensure. Facilitates fingerprint-based background checks for the multistate Nurse Licensure Compact that Massachusetts entered into through the 2024 economic development law.

• Strengthens the Health Safety Net. Updates the hospital assessment and increases funds for the Health Safety Net, subject to federal approval.

• Respects Privacy of People Seeking Name Changes. Removes the automatic requirement of a public legal notice for name-change petitions, instead allowing the court to require public notice in a particular case for good cause.

• Updates State Police Injury Compensation. Updates state police compensation for life-altering injuries to focus on the manner of an attack on an officer rather than the design of the weapon used in the attack.

• Facilitates Broadband-Related Work. Allows municipalities to pay utility companies’ estimates for work to prepare utility poles, rights of way, and other infrastructure for broadband projects.

• Institutes New CBAs. Ratifies seven collective bargaining agreements for public employees.

All 91 proposed amendments to the bill are posted on the Legislature’s website together with all subsequent votes and a recording of today’s session.

The Senate passed its version of the closeout supplemental budget as an amendment to a version previously approved by the House of Representatives on October 15, 2025. The underlying legislation was originally filed by the Governor on August 14, 2025. The bill now returns to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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Senate Votes to Expand Menstrual Product Access and Require Ingredient Labels

(BOSTON 10/23/2025) — Last week, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a pair of bills that advance its commitment to health equity by promoting safe and easy access to menstrual products.

One of the bills, S.2640, expands access to necessary products like tampons and pads in public schools, homeless shelters, and jails and prisons. The legislation requires that these disposable products be made available at no cost to people who need them.

The second piece of legislation, S.2641, promotes women’s consumer rights by requiring that manufacturers of menstrual health products clearly disclose and display a list of ingredients. The ingredients would be easily accessible on both retail packages and manufacturer websites.

“I’m proud of the Senate’s recent advancements toward increasing access to sanitary menstrual products and introducing more transparency to their ingredients,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “These steps will help make sure these products are available to women who need them and bring peace of mind to those with sensitivities to certain ingredients or additives. I’d like to thank my colleagues for their work on women’s health equity, and I look forward to seeing these bills reach Governor Healey’s desk.”

An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products addresses the struggle to afford menstrual products, a key necessity for personal hygiene, for many menstruating adults, students, and children with lower incomes or housing instability. The 2025 State of the Period survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, found that 24% of teens in the United States struggle to afford menstrual products. The poll also found a high number of teens missing out on class time as a result while 39% of teens reported an impact on their schoolwork as a result of limited access to menstrual products.

An Act relative to menstrual product ingredient disclosure responds to growing concerns around potential health effects of chemicals and other additives. A UC Berkeley study in 2024 also highlighted potential exposure to toxic metals. Massachusetts would follow other states that have already enacted similar laws.

The expanded access bill, S.2640, was advanced by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on October 9, 2025 on a 15-0 vote, following a 5-0 vote in the Joint Committee on Public Health on July 10, 2025. The Senate passed similar legislation in the last two successive terms.

The ingredients disclosure bill, S.2641, was given a 15-0 favorable report by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on October 9, 2025 following a 5-0 vote of the Joint Committee on Public Health on July 10, 2025. All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website.

Both bills were passed by the Senate on bipartisan 39-0 roll call votes and now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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Senate Acts to Expand Highway Safety for Utility Workers and Drivers

(BOSTON 10/23/2025) — Last week, The Massachusetts Senate approved legislation improving the safety of drivers and telecom, gas, and electric utility workers with an expansion of the state’s Move Over law.

Under An Act relative to the Move Over Law, S.2642, motorists would be required to slow down if they are approaching a stationary utility truck or a stopped vehicle with flashing lights on the shoulder of a road or breakdown lane of a highway. Drivers on a highway with multiple lanes in each direction would also be required, if practicable, to change lanes to ensure greater safety for vehicles and individuals in the breakdown lane. The state’s existing Move Over law provides such protections for emergency response vehicles, highway maintenance vehicles, and tow trucks.

“Massachusetts’ Move Over law has saved lives across the Commonwealth. This bill is a straightforward, common-sense expansion of the law to protect others who often find themselves on the sides of busy roads or highways,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This legislation enhances road safety for all. I look forward to seeing this bill be signed by Governor Healey so that we can bring a bit more peace of mind to both utility workers and everyday people.”

Utility workers often work in dangerous settings along busy streets. A gas operations technician was fatally struck by a driver in 2023 while on the job on a major road near Route 128 in Waltham. A police officer also died as a result of the crash.

The current Move Over law already applies to first responders and law enforcement working on the side of roadways. The proposed expansion steps up enforcement and driver education for those who break the law, adding a required education program for motorists who commit a second or subsequent violation. An existing $100 fine would increase to $250 for the second offense and $500 for third and subsequent violations.

The legislation was advanced to the floor on a 15-0 vote of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on October 9, 2025, following a 7-0 vote of the Joint Committee on Transportation on July 7, 2025. All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website.

The legislation has been approved by the Senate and now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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Massachusetts Senate Committee Advances Five AI Regulation Bills

(BOSTON 10/21/2025) — Last week, the Senate Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity voted to advanced five pieces of legislation aimed at placing guardrails around rapidly-advancing artificial intelligence technology. The bills include policies that create broad operational guidelines and responsibilities for those developing and using AI, as well as more targeted actions that will limit the use of AI for the creation of child sexual abuse material or election misinformation, for example.  Members of the Committee voted unanimously on a bipartisan basis to report the bills with a favorable recommendation.

“As things stand, there are very few legal limitations for what individuals, corporations, and developers can do with artificial intelligence technologies like large language models or generative AI. There are even fewer legal protections for those whose data is used to train these models. This regulatory void leads to a lot of uncertainty for everyone, whether you use AI or not,” said Chair of the Senate Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The five bills we are advancing out of Committee this week represent a step toward reasonable, common-sense regulations that will protect Bay Staters from the negative effects of AI while maintaining Massachusetts’ status as one of the most innovative economies in the world. Striking this balance is critically important, and thanks to the work of my colleagues on the Committee, I believe we are doing just that.”

The bills include:

An Act fostering artificial intelligence responsibility – S.35

This bill defines the term ‘electronic monitoring tool’ in the workplace as a device or system that collects data related to worker activity or communication, and creates narrow guidelines for how these tools can be used. Specifically, the legislation allows the use of electronic monitoring tools to ensure the quality of goods or services, conduct assessments of worker performance, ensure compliance with labor laws, protect the health and safety of workers, and administer wages; however the language also specifies that employers may only use these tools when employees are on-duty and employees must give their written consent before they may be electronically monitored.

S.35 specifies that while electronic monitoring tools may be used in the workplace, they may not rely primarily on data collected through these systems when making hiring, promotion, and disciplinary decisions. If an employer wishes to use data collected through these systems when making these types of decisions, they must disclose its use to the affected employee no less than 30 days prior to the decision going into effect.

In an effort to protect employees, the bill also limits the sale or transfer of employee data as well as requires that employee data is maintained in compliance with Massachusetts’ cybersecurity and privacy laws. Further, this legislation requires employers conduct impact assessments and evaluations for discriminatory outcomes related to electronic monitoring tools.

An Act promoting economic development with emerging artificial intelligence models and safety – S.2630

S.37’s primary objective is the creation of a permanent board called MassCompute which will be tasked with the development and deployment of artificial intelligence that is safe, ethical, equitable, and sustainable. MassCompute will be made up of experts and stakeholders in both private industry and public service, and in partnership with the Massachusetts Attorney General, will create and implement regulations related to AI and its usage.

To promote AI development in Massachusetts, the legislation creates an Artificial Intelligence Innovation Trust Fund to support the work of MassTech’s AI Hub, as well as directs the Fund to establish and promote AI entrepreneurship programs.

This legislation is modeled after California legislation which was recently signed into law by Governor Newsom.

An Act to protect against election misinformation – S.2631

This bill prohibits a person or political committee from maliciously distributing deceptive election-related information, AI generated or not, with the intent to mislead voters within 90 days of an election as to:

• The date, time, or place of an election

• The requirements, methods, and deadlines for registering to vote

• The requirements, methods, and deadlines for voting

• Any certification related to an election

• The express endorsement of a candidate or ballot initiative by a political party, elected official nonprofit organization, or other person

S.44 maintains exceptions to this law for news media so long that the broadcast clearly acknowledges that the media is manipulated or there are questions about its authenticity. It also maintains exceptions for 1st Amendment-protected satire or parody.

An Act relative to the use of artificial intelligence and other software tools in healthcare decision-making – S.2632

Modeled after a California law, this legislation ensures that decisions about medical treatments are made by health care providers, and not solely determined by artificial intelligence algorithms used by health insurers. While the bill does not prohibit the use of AI in assisting with decision making, it includes protections against bias and errors in the decision making process.

Further, the bill limits the use of AI in therapy by ensuring therapy or psychotherapy services may only be conducted by a licensed professional. AI as “supplementary support” may be used so long as the patient has provided written consent. These limits on the use of AI in therapy are modeled after an Illinois law.

An Act relative to AI-generated child sexual abuse material – S.2633

S.48 expands existing protections against the creation and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to apply to CSAM created in whole or in part through the use of generative AI. It also defines “child sexual abuse visual materials” as images, including computer generated images and including those made through digitization, that appear to a reasonable person as an authentic representation of a minor.

Having been advanced out of the Senate Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity with favorable recommendations, the bills now advance for further consideration in the Senate.

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Landmark Massachusetts Data Privacy Act Passed by Senate

(BOSTON 9/25/2025) — Today, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously voted to approve one of the strongest consumer data protection bills in the United States, safeguarding online personal privacy and civil liberties for Bay Staters. The Massachusetts Data Privacy Act (MDPA), introduced by Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity Chair Senator Michael Moore, protects young people, empowers consumers with new rights over their personal information, limits how businesses and tech companies can collect and use data, and introduces robust enforcement authority. It also protects residents of the Commonwealth from the exploitation of their precise GPS location, genetic information, health care information, and biometric data such as face or fingerprint scans.

In addition to limits on what big companies can do with personal data, S.2608 – An Act establishing the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act places strong limits on what personal information can be collected in the first place. It also allows people to opt out of being targeted by advertisers based on their personal data. The bill goes even further for young people, creating a stricter threshold to prevent targeted advertising to minors and the sale of their data.

“Big tech companies make billions of dollars selling your personal data without giving you any say in what information they collect or how they use it. No one should profit from anyone’s personal data. The Massachusetts Data Privacy Act returns the power of choice back to the people because your data belongs to you,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Representing one of the strongest data privacy protection actions in America, the MDPA empowers consumers, places strict limits on data collection, protects sensitive data, and more. This legislation is the culmination of three years of work, collaborations with advocates, and in-depth discussions with stakeholders and lawmakers in states with data protection laws – I could not be more proud to see it advance through the Senate today. I’d like to thank my committee staff for their years of work, Majority Leader Creem for her leadership and support on strong data privacy legislation, as well as Senate President Spilka, Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues, Steering and Policy Chair Friedman and all my colleagues in the Senate for their sense of urgency. I am hopeful that the House will soon join us in passing the MDPA.”

Key highlights of the bill include:

Creates Extensive New Consumer Protections

Guarantees the Consumer’s Right to Know. Specifies that people have a right to know if their personal data is being collected, allows them to see what data was collected, and allows them to find out who their data has been shared with.

Gives Control to Consumers. Empowers people in Massachusetts with control over their personal data through new guaranteed rights to correct inaccurate data, delete personal information, and opt out of having their personal data sold to others.

Creates Strong Enforcement Powers. Gives the Attorney General broad regulatory authority to enforce the provisions of the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act.

Limits the Collection of Personal Data

Curtails Data Collection. Constrains companies’ unfettered collection of personal data by limiting them to only collecting what is reasonably necessary in order to provide their product or service. For certain sensitive types of data, including biometrics, precise GPS location, and healthcare data, businesses could only collect the information if it is strictly necessary.

Protects Sensitive Personal Information

Bans Sensitive Data Sales. Prohibits any kind of entity, including businesses and nonprofits, from selling off a person’s sensitive data. Protected categories of sensitive data include precise geolocation; health care information; biometric data, such as face and fingerprint scans; citizenship or immigration status; information revealing someone’s sex life, and any information about a person’s race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin; and information that pertains to a child.

Limits Data Transfers. Limits entities from transferring sensitive data unless they first obtain the consumer’s affirmative consent.

Gives People Rights Over Targeted Ads

Creates Opt-Out Rights for Targeted Advertising. Gives consumers the right to opt out of having their personal data collected or processed for the purpose of targeted advertising or for sale to third parties.

Enhances Specific Protections for Minors

Bans the Sale of Young People’s Data. Prohibits all entities from selling minors’ personal data.

Blocks Targeted Ads for Minors. Prohibits companies from collecting or processing a young person’s personal information for the purposes of targeting ads.

During the course of today’s debate, Senators voted to adopt meaningful amendments that further strengthened the bill, including:

• Amendment 4: Extends the ban on sales of geolocation data to cover anyone who visits Massachusetts for any reason, including travel to the state to pursue personal health care. 

• Amendment 52: Ensures that businesses cannot sell sensitive data, regardless of whether they are otherwise exempt under the act. 

“Massachusetts urgently needs strong privacy laws to prohibit companies from collecting or manipulating our personal information in ways that threaten our safety, discriminate against us, or otherwise threaten our most essential rights,” said Carol Rose, Executive Director at the ACLU of Massachusetts. “We are deeply grateful to Senate President Karen Spilka, Senator Cynthia Creem, Senator Cindy Friedman, and Senator Michael Moore for their leadership and vision on this critical issue. Protecting privacy is more urgent today than ever before, as the Trump administration unleashes attack after attack on the rule of law and our most cherished freedoms. We look forward to working with leaders in the House to pass these critical democratic protections in their strongest possible form.”

"Consumer Reports applauds the Massachusetts Senate for passing strong privacy legislation. For too long, tech companies have abused their power to exploit our personal data without meaningful accountability,” said Matt Schwartz, Policy Analyst at Consumer Reports. “This bill provides strong, default protections and allows consumers to take real control over their personal information. We thank Senator Moore for his leadership in sponsoring this key legislation, and we look forward to working with the House to continue to move this measure forward.”

“EPIC commends the Senate for passage the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act, which puts meaningful limits on the over-collection and abuse of our personal data. This bill combines the best consumer protections from other state laws to provide Massachusetts residents with some of the strongest privacy protections in the country while minimizing new compliance obligations for companies,” said Caitriona Fitzgerald, Deputy Director of Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). “EPIC appreciates the leadership of Senate President Spilka, Senator Creem, and Senator Moore on this critical and timely issue.”

The Senate’s action on the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act comes in the wake of increasing concerns about what sensitive personal data is being collected by online services and who is accessing it. In an era of increasing federal surveillance on protesters, political opponents, and immigrants, data privacy protections are more important than ever. Recent revelations of contracts data brokers have signed with ICE – who within the last six months have also been subject to a FTC complaint and then hacked by a Russian cybercriminal, high-profile arrests in Worcester, Medford, and Boston, and senior White House advisors discussing the suspension of habeus corpus have pushed the issue to the forefront of policy conversations and urge rapid action.

The Massachusetts Data Privacy Act was advanced as a new draft out of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on September 18 on a 16-0 vote, as a revised version of a bill previously advanced on May 12 by the Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity on a 5-0 vote. The joint committee solicited public testimony on the underlying legislation at a hearing in April. 

Senators’ debate and votes on the legislation were livestreamed and archived video is available online. 

Having been passed in the Senate, the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act now goes to the House for further consideration.

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Senate Approves Bills to Combat Opioid Crisis, Manage Car Rental Costs

(BOSTON 9/19/2025) — Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate approved two bills aimed at combatting the opioid epidemic and managing car rental costs for residents. The approved legislation expands protections for individuals using testing equipment to protect against fentanyl and changes car rental insurance requirements to reduce costs for Massachusetts residents. 

Protecting People Using Fentanyl Testing Equipment 

An Act relative to fentanyl test strips, S.1057, is intended to reduce the tragic toll of overdoses and make life-saving tools accessible to those who need them most. It explicitly exempts fentanyl testing equipment from the list of prohibited drug paraphernalia and expands liability protections to anyone who provides, administers, or uses the tests, including first responders.

“For those struggling with opioid addition, harm reduction is a critical strategy to keeping users safe and saving lives. I am proud to support legislation that keeps families whole and maintains paths to recovery,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “By following in the footsteps of 36 states and DC to pass legislation legalizing fentanyl test strips, we can stem off the worst of this crisis in communities across the Commonwealth. I believe that is a worthy goal.”

The legislation builds upon a 2024 law that provided criminal and civil liability protections for those in the harm reduction community who provide or use fentanyl test strips in good faith. According to the Department of Public Health, nearly 400,000 fentanyl test strips were distributed in 2024, and fentanyl was present in 88.6% of opioid-related overdose deaths that year. This legislation would expand the liability protections beyond those just in the harm reduction community and ensure police officers who seek to distribute the tests or others acting in good faith are afforded legal protection. A fact sheet with full details of the legislation is available online. 

Promoting Affordable Car Rentals 

An Act relative to affordable car rentals, S.2367, aligns Massachusetts with the majority of other states by updating car rental insurance requirements to maintain liability coverage on a secondary basis, making rental companies responsible only if the renter is uninsured or underinsured.  

“Making car rentals more affordable by cutting red tape and reducing government burdens is a prudent move to make visiting the Bay State more affordable and help residents access a car when they need one at a time when costs continue to rise,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This bill is another piece in our pursuit of tackling the cost of living crisis here in the Commonwealth, and I look forward to continuing our work in the Senate to make it easier for working families to get by.”

By shifting primary liability to the renter’s personal auto insurance, the legislation helps make car rentals more affordable and accessible for Massachusetts residents, reducing costs while maintaining necessary protections. A fact sheet with full details of the legislation is available online. 

Votes taken by committee to advance the bills to the floor are available publicly on the respective bills’ webpages, along with summaries of the legislation. A recording of the Senate’s livestreamed debate and votes on the legislation can be found archived on the public website. 

Having been approved by the Senate, both bills now advance to the House of Representatives for consideration. 

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Nicky’s Law Expansion Passed by Massachusetts Senate

(BOSTON 9/18/2025) — Today, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously approved S.165 – An Act to update Nicky's Law to protect individuals with disabilities in MassHealth day habilitation programs. The bill is an expansion of a law approved in 2020, known as Nicky’s Law, which created a statewide registry of care providers who have had certain allegations of abuse substantiated against them by the Disabled Persons Protection Commission (DPPC). This new legislation, introduced by Second Worcester Senator Michael Moore, would expand the coverage of the original law to include individuals working for day habilitation programs contracted by MassHealth.

“Placing your trust in a caretaker to ensure the safety and wellbeing of a child, parent, family member, or loved one with a disability is hard. When that trust is violated, it can feel like the ultimate betrayal – not only by the caretaker who did it, but also the system that allowed it to happen,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I introduced Nicky’s Law several years ago in response to the heartbreaking story of Nicky Chan, who was physically abused by his caretaker in 2014. I’d like to thank Nicky’s mom, Cheryl, as well as the Arc of Massachusetts and the Disabled Persons Protection Commission for their advocacy for this expansion of Nicky’s Law to cover day habilitation programs – their partnership has been invaluable during this process. This legislation represents another step toward making sure Nicky’s story does not happen to anyone else.”

The original Nicky’s Law, championed by Senator Moore, was designed to flag caretakers who were found to have seriously abused people with intellectual or developmental disabilities so that they cannot be hired in a similar position by another employer. This action was taken in response to years of advocacy from Cheryl Chan, a Massachusetts mom whose son Nicky, diagnosed with severe autism as a child, was abused on several occasions by his caretaker. The bill directed the DPPC to create and maintain a registry of individuals who had credible allegations of abuse made against them while working for programs contracted by the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS), which could be checked against during the hiring process of new caretakers.

While day habilitation programs were originally covered under 2020’s Nicky’s Law, funding of these programs has since been shifted from DDS to MassHealth, creating an unintended loophole in the registry’s coverage. S.165 adjusts the language of the law to re-incorporate day habilitation programs, just as was originally intended.

“The Arc of Massachusetts extends its immense gratitude to the Massachusetts Senate for their unanimous passage of An Act to update Nicky's Law to protect individuals with disabilities in MassHealth day habilitation programs. This is a huge step forward and a critical measure that will expand the Abuser Registry to protect the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Maura Sullivan, CEO of The Arc of Massachusetts. “We are incredibly grateful to our bill's dedicated Senate sponsor, Senator Michael Moore, and to Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues and the Senate President Karen Spilka. This bill has been a top priority for The Arc for several years. This amendment strengthens the registry and closes a critical loophole to ensure the safety and well-being of people with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are thrilled to see this bill move to the next stage and remain committed to ensuring its final passage into law.”

"The fight to protect vulnerable citizens will continue until we have protections in place in every setting where people with disabilities are provided care and support. The community of families, loved ones, caregivers and individuals with disabilities themselves live daily with the reality that abuse will always occur, but any legislation that we can pass to continue to fund and maintain this abuser registry means fewer abusers will have access to those we love,” said Cheryl Chan, Nicky’s mom. “The irony of this bill is personal; Nicky was brutally abused in a day habilitation program; a setting that the original bill signed into law in 2020 did not cover. The advocacy community led by the Arc of Massachusetts and multiple stakeholders who passionately pushed for the registry knew that we would need to keep pressing to expand the law, and here we are. I could not be more proud of the work and commitment it has taken to keep this alive in the hearts and minds of the legislators, and I will be forever grateful for their ongoing support. This is not the end, we will not go away, but every single one of us should celebrate how we have stewarded the humanity and rights of all citizens to live in safety and with dignity, as free as possible from those who would bring them harm."

“The DPPC Abuser Registry has proven highly effective in preventing abusers of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities from continuing to serve this vulnerable population. Unfortunately, an unintended consequence of a funding change for day habilitation clients removed these programs from purview of the Abuser Registry,” said Nancy A. Alterio, Executive Director of the Disabled Persons Protection Commission. “The passage of this bill in the Senate marks an important step to reincorporate day habs into the Abuser Registry as initially intended by Nicky and Dana’s Law. The DPPC appreciates the work of Senator Moore in sponsoring this measure, the advocacy of The Arc of Massachusetts, and the support of the Senate and its leadership to advance this bill and promote the protection of adults with disabilities.”

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

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Worcester Elected Officials Urge DCR to Uphold Sewer Fee Collection Obligations

(BOSTON 8/29/2025) — This week, two state senators and four state representatives representing the City of Worcester sent a letter to Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper and Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle asking the DCR to uphold its payment obligations as outlined in a sewer use agreement between the agency preceding DCR and the City of Worcester.

The agreement, signed in 2000, outlines a policy that allowed the towns of Holden, Rutland, and West Boylston to transfer their wastewater through the City of Worcester’s sewer system for treatment, eliminating the need for a new water filtration plant for the towns that was estimated to cost nearly $1 billion. In exchange for its water treatment services, Worcester received its preferred reimbursement rate calculation method. While DCR’s role, as outlined in the agreement, was to ensure Worcester received payment for these services, DCR has not upheld its end of the agreement as Holden has recently failed to pay its bill.

“The City of Worcester did not have to sign this agreement,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “In entering this deal with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the city saved the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – and by extension the taxpayers – $1 billion. All Worcester asked was that DCR ensure the fees for its services were paid on time and in full. With the Town of Holden unable or unwilling to pay Worcester for the use of its wastewater treatment services, the least DCR can do is uphold its end of the deal and secure the funding that the city is rightfully owed.”

"For 25 years, the City of Worcester has upheld its responsibility to transport wastewater from the towns of Holden, Rutland, and West Boylston through their sewer system as part of an intermunicipal agreement brokered by the state. This arrangement has proved to be a valuable and cost-effective public service, saving taxpayers over a billion dollars in additional infrastructure costs,” said Representative Jim O’Day (D-West Boylston). “Despite promises from the state's Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) that Worcester would be paid fairly for this service, the city has been left carrying an immense financial burden. It's time that the Commonwealth honor its clear responsibility under the contract, enforce the agreement, and restore fairness to its residents.”

“For over 20 years, the city of Worcester has provided a critical service to the towns of Holden, West Boylston, and Rutland, saving these towns and the Commonwealth upwards of a billion dollars,” said Senator Robyn Kennedy (D-Worcester). “From day one, the Department of Conservation and Recreation was at the center of the agreement between Worcester and the towns. It is unacceptable for DCR to abdicate its responsibility to manage that agreement and to collect the fees that are owed to Worcester for use of their wastewater treatment services. The Worcester State Legislative Delegation has and will continue to push to ensure Worcester is paid for the services it provides.”

In the agreement, the Department of Conservation and Recreation has two methods of collecting fees for the towns’ use of Worcester’s wastewater infrastructure if the town does not make its required payments. The first, called the ‘Cherry Sheet Intercept’ process, allows the DCR to collect what is owed to Worcester from the town’s local aid from the Legislature. The second allows DCR to request a legislative appropriation to pay the city. It is stated in the 2000 deal: “Should any town fail to remit such payment within 30 days, the [DCR] shall initiate the Cherry Sheet Intercept process against the town and request a legislative appropriation and authorization to pay Worcester.” Despite this clear language, DCR in 2023 sent a letter to legislative leadership in which they omitted their obligations to start the Cherry Sheet Intercept process to collect the funds before going to the Legislature for the dollars.

DCR claims that it does not have the authority to intercept Cherry Sheets despite previously sending a letter to Holden threatening to use the authority to uphold the fee structure outlined in the contract. The delegation’s letter to DCR states that the legal basis for this claim is unclear and asks the agency to explain how they came to that conclusion.

“Twenty-five years ago, the City of Worcester, in good faith, negotiated and entered into an agreement with DCR. It’s time for DCR to fully perform and honor the good faith agreement between the state and the City of Worcester. The City of Worcester should be made whole by DCR under the terms of the agreed-upon contract,” the letter states.

The letter is signed by Senators Michael Moore and Robyn Kennedy, as well as Representatives James O’Day, David LeBoeuf, Daniel Donahue, and John Mahoney. A full version of the letter can be found online here.

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