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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Top Tech Committee Advances Three Bills in Senate

(BOSTON 7/24/2025) — This week, the Senate Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity voted to advance three pieces of legislation; a bill that would tax streaming services to fund community media programs, legislation that would protect minors against predatory algorithms designed to keep them on social media apps, and a bill that would create a fund to upgrade Massachusetts’ digital infrastructure. All six members of the Committee voted unanimously to report the three bills with a favorable recommendation.

“After collecting thousands of documents and dozens of hours of testimony from stakeholders from across the Commonwealth, I am pleased to share that the Committee is moving another three bills forward in the legislative process,” said Chair of the Senate Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Ensuring local access community programming remains a part of the Bay State’s media fabric, protecting children from unethical Big Tech practices, and upgrading the computer systems that handle our most sensitive data are vitally important proposals that I’m proud we are prioritizing in the Senate. I’d like to thank my colleagues for their thoughtful consideration of these bills, and I look forward to continuing these conversations on Beacon Hill.”

The bills include:

An Act to modernize funding for community media programming – S.41

Community media programming is largely funded through taxes levied on cable TV operators such as Xfinity and Spectrum for their use of cables, wires, and other infrastructure that delivers their services to Bay Staters’ homes. However, while cable TV subscription revenue shrinks as an increasingly large portion of Americans’ media diets turn to online streaming services, so does funding for the municipally operated media organizations that deliver local programming, hybrid meetings, and important news to residents.

As it stands, streaming services are effectively paying nothing to use the same local infrastructure that cable companies are using. Introduced by Senator Jason Lewis, this bill would address that by establishing a board of stakeholders that can set a streaming service assessment rate to supplement declining cable fee revenues.

Massachusetts is home to the highest concentration of community media or PEG centers in the country, with over 250 outlets. By choosing to not act in the face of declining revenues, many of these programs risk severe cuts or closures. This legislation would update a funding model that we know already works for the modern age.

“Access to local community media is vital to support our communities and encourage a healthy democracy,” said Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester). “I was proud to file this bill to ensure that we adequately and sustainably fund local access and community media centers across the state that residents rely on to stay connected to their community and engage with their local government. Thank you to Senator Moore for digging into this issue and working with me as we look to the future of community media.”

An Act protecting children from addictive social media feeds – S.30

Social media platforms developed by some of the world’s largest companies are in a constant arms race to compete for users’ attention. Many big tech companies are willing to do most anything to get it, going so far as to exploit quirks of human behavior and manipulate users’ emotions to intentionally create over-use or compulsive use patterns in the same way the casino industry does. While these practices in algorithm development are harmful for users of all ages, nowhere is it more predatory than in children and teenagers whose developing minds are especially susceptible to the fear of missing out, appearances of popularity, and other social pressures.

This legislation, introduced by Senator Cynthia Stone Creem, would create two powerful regulations to protect minors. The first takes aim directly at addictive feed algorithms, limiting what personal data social media platforms can use to curate feeds for minors. This means barring the use of data commonly collected during these companies’ passive surveillance practices, including click tracking, time-spent statistics, and other data that is typically used to arrange a feed that is likely to keep a user on the platform for longer. The other regulation would ban social media apps from sending minors notifications during the hours of 12am to 6am, times when a buzzing phone could pull teenagers away from much-needed sleep and encourage them to open the app.

Protecting children from predatory practices employed by trillion-dollar tech companies is critical to allowing their minds to mature and develop without Instagram, TikTok, X, and Snapchat manipulating them into developing unhealthy relationships with their platforms. This legislation takes steps toward curbing the worst of these practices.

“This bill is a critical step toward protecting the mental health and well-being of children and teens in Massachusetts,” said Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem (D-Newton). “By limiting addictive algorithms and late-night notifications, we’re helping young people build healthier relationships with technology and sending a message that their well-being matters more than Big Tech’s bottom line.”

An Act relative to the modernization of state agency information technology systems – S.31

Many Massachusetts state agencies still rely on decades-old digital systems that can be slow, inefficient, and insecure against cybercriminals. In an age of increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks from foreign and domestic threats, it is critical that systems which handle Bay Staters’ social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and other sensitive information are resilient enough to defend against those trying to steal it.

Introduced by Senator Brendan Crighton, this bill would create a new Massachusetts Innovation Fund and State Agency Technology Upgrades Account, as well as a governing board to evaluate proposals and award financial assistance to state agencies with qualifying technology modernization projects.

Having been advanced out of the Senate Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity with favorable recommendations, the bills now go to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means for further review.

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Bill Elevating National Guard to Cabinet-Level Position Advanced by Senate Committee

(BOSTON 7/21/2025) — This week, S.2183 – An Act elevating the National Guard to a cabinet level position was advanced by the Senate Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. The bill, introduced by Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore, would eliminate layers of bureaucracy and minimize risks of miscommunication during emergencies by bringing the leader of the Massachusetts National Guard into the Governor’s cabinet.

The Massachusetts National Guard is a reserve component of the United States Army and Air Force that operates in part under state authority. The Guard responds to an array of domestic emergencies, overseas combat missions, counterdrug efforts, reconstruction missions, and more. Guard soldiers can be called upon at any time by either the State Governor, or the President of the United States with permission, as they are trained to respond to natural disasters and civil emergencies, and to support federal military missions. Currently, the Guard must report to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, who then reports to the governor – creating risk of delays or miscommunications in situations where urgent response is necessary.

“The Massachusetts National Guard exists to protect and assist Bay Staters in emergencies, but none of that matters if command gets caught up in bureaucracy or reports from the ground are miscommunicated through a game of telephone between the Governor and the Adjutant General,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This common-sense legislation elevates the leader of the National Guard to the Governor’s cabinet, streamlining communication and recognizing the importance of the role the Guard plays in the security of the Commonwealth. In emergencies, seconds matter – allowing the head of the state government to correspond directly with the commander of its protecting force will save lives.”

Beyond elevating the National Guard Adjutant General to the Governor’s cabinet, this legislation also creates the Executive Office of the Military Division, of which the Adjutant General will serve as the secretary and report to the Governor. This office will centralize communications between the Guard and state and local first responders to coordinate responses.

In June, the urgency of this legislation was highlighted by President Trump’s decision to deploy thousands of National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles despite the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Additionally, with the increasing instability of international relations, national security threats are becoming more and more prominent. As the United States approaches the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament, during which Massachusetts will host seven games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, it is imperative that our Commonwealth’s first line of defense has a direct line of communication with the leader of our state to keep our constituents and visitors safe, as well as to protect against overreach of power from a federal administration that has already demonstrated its willingness to do so.

Having been advanced by the Senate Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, the bill now moves forward to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means for further review.

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Bill Banning PFAS-Containing Artificial Turf Advanced by Senate Committee

(BOSTON 7/21/2025) — This week, the Senate Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight voted to advance S.2187 – An Act prohibiting state and municipal contracts for the purchase and installation of artificial turf fields, introduced by Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore. The bill, which was reported favorably the same week as its hearing, would stop any state agency, municipality, or organization using public funds from purchasing or installing artificial turf containing “intentionally-added PFAS,” toxic chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, and other serious health conditions.

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

“Artificial turf has long been attractive as a lower-maintenance and safer alternative to grass fields for sports and recreation, but recent studies have shown that many of the most popular types of plastic turf contain carcinogenic PFAS chemicals. When these toxic chemicals leach into the ground over time, they contaminate water sources, poison our ecosystems, and harm the bodies of the people who unknowingly play on these fields,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This bill recognizes government's role in protecting public health by stopping your tax dollars from being used to purchase and install artificial turf that we know pose a threat to our communities’ well-being. I’m thrilled that the Committee has voted to advance my bill, and I look forward to continuing this important conversation as we progress through the legislative process.”

Earlier this year, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment conducted a multi-agency research initiative examining sport players’ chemical exposure on synthetic turf fields using crumb rubber infill. This study concluded that there was no difference in exposure to certain chemicals, metals, or air emissions among players on crumb rubber filled synthetic turf than a traditional grass field. While this study provided creditable evidence that recycled rubber for turf fields are fine for public health, the study found the presence of PFAS “forever chemicals” in the blades of the synthetic grass. Specifically, the study “...completed a non-targeted chemical analysis of the crumb rubber and did not detect PFAS. The suspected source of PFAS chemicals is not crumb rubber infill or air, the focus of this study, but the artificial turf blades.”

Turf fields are mainly used for youth or school recreational activities, such as organized sports, community events, fitness classes, collegiate sports, and more. Yet, many who utilize these fields to better their health or gather with their community are unaware of the dangers presented in the artificial turf blades. Several municipalities in Massachusetts, including the City of Boston, have already taken steps to ban or restrict the use of artificial turf to promote public health and sustainability practices. S.2187 would align our state law with the values of several local governments in the Commonwealth as well as provide the optimal solution to combat PFAS exposure for vulnerable populations.

While the bill bans the use of public funds on the purchase and installation of artificial turf fields containing intentionally-added PFAS, it allows schools, cities, and towns who have already purchased and installed turf fields to continue to use them until the end of their useful life. Fields would then have to be replaced with compliant turf or with standard grass.

This bill is the latest in a series of PFAS-related legislation championed by Senator Michael Moore. Just last year, Massachusetts made history by becoming the first state to enforce a PFAS ban in firefighting equipment to protect the health and long-term wellbeing of our first responders – an initiative led by Senator Moore in partnership with the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and activist Dianne Cotter. Moore continues his campaign to protect Bay Staters’ health with bills banning the use of PFAS in food packaging and creating a PFAS research and public safety fund.

Having been advanced by the Senate Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, the bill now moves forward to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means for further review.

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Senate Acts to Protect Consumers from Predatory Debt Collection

(BOSTON 7/19/2025) — Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed the Debt Collection Fairness Act to protect consumers and keep people from being pushed into financial ruin if they are sued for financial debt. The new law would make debt collection practices fairer, protect wages, and make clear that no person can be imprisoned for unpaid consumer debt.

The legislation, S.2537, would strengthen consumer protections to ensure that individuals can retain some financial security when they are sued for debts that are frequently old and potentially bought by debt collection companies for pennies on the dollar.

The bill would protect thousands of families across Massachusetts – including many in communities of color – by reducing the interest rate on consumer debt from 12% to 3%, exempting most wages and child support from garnishment, and establishing a five-year statute of limitations for legal claims.

The bill also prohibits employers from penalizing employees due to wage garnishment or personal debt, and adds further protections for individuals coping with financial hardship.

 “This legislation represents a common-sense set of policies that will help families escape vicious cycles of debt faster so that they can get back to their lives,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Predatory lenders and debt collectors have deliberately designed a system that can turn a small loan to bridge the gap between paychecks into thousands of dollars of crushing debt at extreme interest rates in the blink of an eye. The Senate is acting to break that cycle and create reasonable consumer protections for all Bay Staters.”

The legislation was reported out of the Joint Committee on Financial Services on June 20, 2025, and from the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on July 10, 2025. Votes of both committees are available online, along with a full summary of the legislation and a recording of the Senate’s livestreamed debate and vote on the bill.

Having passed the Senate, the bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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Senate Acts to Reform Child Custody Law to Conform with National Standards

(BOSTON 7/19/2025) — Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed legislation to modernize laws that protect children and families going through child custody proceedings.

The legislation, S.2550, would ensure Massachusetts courts follow the same procedures as the other 49 states in the country, bring laws up to date with international best practices, and simplify the process for families going through multi-state custody cases.

More specifically, this legislation creates clear rules for multi-state custody cases and prioritizes the home state of the child when determining custody jurisdiction, thereby preventing forum shopping by a parent seeking a more-favorable outcome in another state. It also updates the law to streamline case registration and enforce out-of-state determinations, enhances protections for children and families who are going through custody proceedings in Massachusetts, and boosts flexibility for families through the creation of hearing notice requirements and by allowing remote participation in proceedings.

“Child custody proceedings can be difficult and stressful moments for everyone involved,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This bill helps bring the Commonwealth’s laws into alignment with the rest of America’s and smooths out what is typically a tumultuous period for parents and their children. Allowing courts to more quickly bring clarity to families under a transparent and fair set of rules is an obvious step we can take to benefit all involved.”

The standard for child custody jurisdiction was established under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), drafted in 1997 by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. If passed, Massachusetts would join all other states in adopting the uniform laws.

The legislation was reported out of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary on June 12, 2025, and from the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on July 10, 2025. Votes of both committees are available online, along with a full summary of the legislation and a recording of the Senate’s livestreamed debate and vote on the bill.  

Having passed the Senate, the bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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Massachusetts Legislature Approves FY26 Budget

(BOSTON 7/1/2025) — The Massachusetts Legislature yesterday enacted a $61.01 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2026, a fiscally responsible plan that protects core services for the state’s most vulnerable residents, maintains critical investments, and positions the Commonwealth to confront the underlying budget challenges that are a result of federal funding uncertainty.

Approved on a bipartisan basis in both chambers, the budget neither raises taxes on residents and businesses nor spends dollars from the state’s stabilization fund—also known as the ‘Rainy Day Fund’—which currently stands at a historic $8.1 billion.

“The investments we’ve made in the FY26 budget are a reflection of our confidence in the future of the Commonwealth, despite ongoing uncertainty at the federal level. By bolstering core services, making prudent spending decisions, and directing funds to local communities, we are doing what we can to support the economic engines of the state. Education, healthcare, social services, and housing are key priorities in Massachusetts, and we are committed to ensuring that remains so – no matter what the federal government does or does not do,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m also pleased to have secured $1.5 million in investments into my district, which will support educational programs, community services, infrastructure, Veterans services, and more in our neighborhoods.”

During Senate debate, Senator Moore was able to secure a number of earmarks that will direct investments into the Second Worcester District. They include:

Regional

• $500,000 to Veterans Inc in Worcester to support its services and programs for Veterans.

• $250,000 for firefighter cancer screenings, distributed through a municipal grant program. This comes in response to firefighters’ long-term exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals found in firefighting foam and their protective turnout gear. Senator Moore recently celebrated his ban on the use of PFAS in firefighter safety gear being signed into law.

• $250,000 to Ecotarium in Worcester for animal care, zoo operations, and habitat improvements.

• $90,000 to Ecotarium in Worcester for afterschool STEM education programs at community centers, libraries, and more throughout Central Massachusetts.

• $80,000 to Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce for student events and workshops throughout Central Massachusetts.

• $21,000 for CASA Project Worcester County to support its efforts to provide legal representation to vulnerable children during court proceedings.

Grafton

• $70,000 to Grafton for the removal of invasive plants

Millbury

• $57,000 to the Millbury Senior Center for repairs and improvements

Shrewsbury

• $35,000 to Shrewsbury for a search and rescue vehicle

• $12,000 to Shrewsbury for electronic voting equipment

Westborough

• $35,000 to the Westborough Fire Department for emergency medical equipment and supplies

Worcester

• $80,000 to the Worcester Police Department for software improvements and equipment

• $20,000 to the South Worcester Neighborhood Improvement Corporation for community services

The Legislature’s final budget increases spending by $3.3 billion over Fiscal Year 2025, with the much of the increase attributed to MassHealth. Aligned with estimated tax revenue growth, the spending plan is based on a consensus tax revenue estimate of $41.214 billion for the coming fiscal year, a 2.25 per cent increase over the current fiscal year’s benchmark. Based on strong Fair Share surtax revenue collections to date, the Legislature’s budget includes $2.4 billion in available Fair Share generated revenues to support education and transportation investments, an increase of $1.1 billion over the last fiscal year.

The Legislature’s budget invests an additional $33 million in the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund. With the addition, the Fund’s balance would reach a historic high of $8.26 billion by the end of FY26. Since 2017, when the Fund’s balance was $1.3 billion, the Legislature has grown the account by 523 per cent as of FY24.

Fair Share Investments

The Legislature’s budget includes $2.4 billion in Fair Share surtax spending, which is dedicated to investments in public education and state transportation infrastructure.

Notable Fair Share education investments include:

• $360 million for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grant program, which is matched with $115 million in funds from the Early Education and Care Operational Grant Fund, for a total investment of $475 million. Despite the loss of federal funds after the COVID pandemic, the Commonwealth has maintained this vital early education program which has lowered costs for families and increased opportunities for teachers in the field.

• $460 million for Student Opportunity Act (SOA) expansion to support the fifth-year implementation of the SOA and provide $150 in minimum per-pupil aid for school districts.

• $180 million for universal free school meals.

• $120 million for MassEducate, the Commonwealth’s universal free community college program, including non-credit tuition funding for those seeking to become emergency medical technicians and paramedics.

• $192 million to provide child care financial assistance to families in need, which is in addition to the $773.7 million funded through general revenue.

• $91.6 million to maintain Department of Children & Families (DCF) and Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) related child care, which is in addition to the $356.5 million funded through general revenue.

• $85 million to maintain financial aid programs for in-state students attending state universities through MASSGrant Plus, which is in addition to the $175.8 million for scholarships funded through general revenue.

• $83 million for child care supports to maintain current capacity and rates of the child care financial assistance program.

• $50 million for school transportation reimbursement costs, which is in addition to $53.7 million funded through general revenue.

• $14 million for the State University SUCCESS Program, providing wraparound supports to students at public state universities.

• $15.5 million for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI), matching $5 million in general revenue for a total of $20.5 million, to support a pathway to universal pre-kindergarten expansion, including in Gateway Cities and the Summer Step Up program.

• $15 million for early literacy initiatives and programs.

• $8 million for the Reimagining High School Initiative.

Notable Fair Share transportation investments include:

• $470 million in direct investment to support Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) operations, including key initiatives like low-income fare relief, water ferry service and the MBTA Academy. Combined with the $535 million in funding from the recently passed Fair Share supplemental budget, the Legislature provides $1 billion in new investments in FY26 for operational improvements and transportation infrastructure upgrades across the MBTA system.

• $120 million to support Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) across the state. Together with resources from the General Fund, the bill provides a record $214 million for RTAs. 

• $71.8 million for debt service for expanded new bond capacity for the Commonwealth Transportation Fund (CTF) for essential transportation projects across the Commonwealth.

• $55 million in operating support for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).

Education

The Legislature’s FY26 budget supports students of all ages by maintaining investments in public education at every level. The budget fully funds the fifth year of the Student Opportunity Act, provides a historic funding commitment to the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), and stands with public and private institutions of higher education at a volatile time.

With a $1.7 billion total investment in early education and care, the Legislature is building on last year’s investments in early education, which supported the sector’s workforce, protected programming, and maintained access to affordable care for families facing economic pressures.

Notable education funding includes:

• $475 million for the C3 operational grant program, supporting critical operational and workforce initiatives across the early education sector for the third year in a row. 

• $517.6 million for income-eligible child care, including $100.4 million in Fair Share resources.

• $448.2 million for Department of Children & Families (DCF) and Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) related child care, providing critical services for families eligible for subsidized care, including $91.6 million in Fair Share resources.

• $83 million for child care supports to maintain the current capacity and rates of the child care financial assistance program.

• $45.4 million for EEC quality improvement initiatives.

• $20.5 million for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative to maintain access to universal pre-kindergarten and preschool opportunities in underserved areas.

• $20 million for Childcare Resource and Referral Centers to support parents, child care providers, employers, and community groups in navigating the state’s early education and care landscape.

• $20 million for grants to Head Start programs to promote school readiness for young children in low-income households.

• $5 million for grants to early education and care providers for childhood mental health consultation services.

• $1 million to continue a public-private pilot program with employers to create new child care seats.

To support schools across the state, the Legislature follows through on the commitment to fully fund and implement the Student Opportunity Act by Fiscal Year 2027 and invests $7.36 billion in Chapter 70 state aid to public schools, an increase of $460 million over FY25. Further, the budget increases minimum Chapter 70 aid to $150 per pupil.

Recognizing the continued fiscal challenges faced by cities, towns and school districts as we near full implementation of the SOA, the budget directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to study components of the state’s K-12 school funding formula related to local contribution requirements. DESE would be required to hold four public hearings in different regions of Massachusetts before reporting back to the Legislature by June 30, 2026.

For the second consecutive year, the Legislature fully funds, at $120 million in FY26, MassEducate, the Commonwealth’s universal free community college program that became law in last year’s budget. By again delivering free tuition and fees for residents, the FY26 proposal continues its support for this vital initiative that expands economic opportunity in a regionally equitable manner across the Commonwealth.

Other education investments include:

• $484.9 million for the Special Education (SPED) Circuit Breaker, in addition to the $190 million included in the Fair Share supplemental budget recently signed into law. Together with Fair Share supplemental funding, the Legislature’s FY26 budget fulfills the promise of 75 per cent reimbursement for eligible tuition and transportation costs, recommending $674 million in total to reimburse school districts for the cost of educating students with disabilities.

• $199 million for charter school reimbursements.

• $260.8 million for scholarships to students, including $85 million in Fair Share resources to expand MASSGrant Plus financial aid support for students attending public institutions.

• $103.7 million to reimburse school districts for regional school transportation costs, including $53.7 million in General Fund resources.

• $30 million for higher education wraparound services, including $16 million in General Fund resources, to support services for students attending community colleges through MassEducate, and $14 million in Fair Share resources to support wraparound services for students attending state universities.

• $12 million for rural school aid support.

• $14.3 million for early college programs and $13.1 million for dual enrollment, along with $8 million for Reimagining High School to empower high school students to take college courses prior to graduation.

• $5 million to support continued implementation of the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Higher Education law, including $3 million for grants offered through the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment initiative to help high school students with intellectual disabilities aged 18–22 access higher education opportunities; and $2 million for the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Trust Fund.

• $3 million for the Genocide Education Trust Fund to continue the state’s commitment to educate middle and high school students on the history of genocide.

• $2.5 million for the Civics Education Trust Fund to maintain and support a statewide civic infrastructure, provide professional development to teachers, and ensure that every student can access high quality civics education.

• $1 million for Hate Crimes Prevention Grants to support education and prevention of hate crimes and incidences of bias in public schools. 

Community Support

Highlighting the Legislature’s longstanding commitment to sustainable partnerships between the state and local governments, the budget agreement provides significant resources to support all Massachusetts cities and towns, ensuring that the state can meet the needs of every region, city, and town—and leave no corner of the Commonwealth behind.

The proposal includes $1.323 billion in funding for Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), the primary source of direct flexible state aid to Massachusetts towns and cities, an increase of $14.4 million over FY25. UGGA funding supports resources for municipalities as they collectively confront increased fiscal constraints at the local level.

In addition to traditional sources of local aid, the Legislature’s FY26 budget also increases payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for state-owned land to $54.5 million. PILOT funding provides a supplemental source of local aid for cities and towns working to protect and improve essential services and programs.

Other local investments include:

• $209 million for regional public transportation systems, including $115 million from Fair Share funds to maintain and continue expansions to regional bus service, sustain systemwide fare free transit service, and support RTA commuter operations.

• $115.6 million for local housing authorities.

• $52.4 million for libraries, including $19 million for regional library local aid, $20 million for municipal libraries and $6.2 million for technology and automated resource networks.

• $30.8 million in grants to Councils on Aging, increasing assistance per elder to $16 from $15 in FY25.

• $27 million for the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support local arts, culture, and creative economic initiatives.

• $5 million to implement an immigration legal services program distributed by the office for refugees and immigrants to designated non-profit organizations to increase access to legal representation, advice, and advocacy for immigrants and refugees who are facing enhanced legal threats from the federal government.

The FY26 budget codifies fare-free RTA service, which will require all RTAs to eliminate passenger fares for fixed routes and ADA-required paratransit service. With this measure, the Legislature continues to prioritize regional equity, support RTAs as an essential public service that connects communities, and provide a crucial connection for commuters, students, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Health, Mental Health, and Family Care

The Senate’s FY26 budget funds MassHealth at $22.1 billion, an increase of over $2 billion over the last fiscal year. As the largest cost driver in the state’s budget, MassHealth alone accounts for 62 per cent of the total spending increase over the FY25 budget. Amid ongoing uncertainty in Washington, this budget maintains access to comprehensive health care coverage for over 2 million Massachusetts residents. MassHealth covers affordable, accessible, and comprehensive health care services for more than one in four residents, nearly half of all children, and seven out of every ten nursing facility residents.

Other health investments include:

• $3.26 billion for a range of services and focused support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including $2 billion for community residential services and $287 million for the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Community Day and Work program.

• $1.82 billion to support the Personal Care Attendant program and its historic collective bargaining agreement which raised the wage scale to $25 per hour.

• $694 million for adult support services, including $19 million to support jail diversion initiatives to better serve individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders and connect them with appropriate treatment.

• $650.1 million for nursing facility Medicaid rates, including $25 million in additional base rate payments to maintain competitive wages in the Commonwealth’s nursing facility workforce.

• $381 million for Department of Mental Health (DMH) hospital and community-based services, including $4.8 million to fully fund the operation of the Pocasset Mental Health Center.

• $237.7 million for Department of Public Health (DPH) hospital operations, including $31 million to fully fund and maintain operations of the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children through the duration of FY26.

• $187.1 million for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS), including $500 thousand in new funding to develop the state’s recovery coach workforce, which will support key initiatives from last session’s Substance Use Disorder and Recovery Coach Licensure Act.

• $132 million for children’s mental health services.

• $102 million for nursing facility enhanced Medicaid rates to begin implementation of the 2024 Long-Term Care Act, including $25 million to support the nursing home workforce.

• $73.1 million for domestic violence prevention services.

• $39.3 million for Early Intervention (EI) services, maintaining necessary support and services for infants and young toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities.

• $35 million for Family Resource Centers (FRCs) to maintain mental health resources available to families.

• $26.5 million for family and adolescent health, including $11.2 million for comprehensive family planning services and $6.7 million to enhance federal Title X family planning funding.

• $22.7 million for school-based health programming and services, including $3 million for school-based mental health services.

• $14.3 million for suicide prevention and intervention, with an additional $1.8 million for Samaritans Inc. and $1.1 million for the Call2Talk suicide prevention hotline. This investment protects and fully funds 9-8-8, the 24/7 suicide and crisis lifeline.

• $14.7 million for maternal and child health, including $10.8 million for pediatric palliative care services for terminally ill children and a policy adjustment to ensure that children up to age 22 can continue to be served through the program.

• $12.75 million for Meals on Wheels and other nutrition programs for seniors.

• $9.3 million for community health centers, including $1 million for gender affirming care services.

• $5.5 million for children advocacy centers to maintain critical support available to children that have been neglected or sexually abused.

• $5.5 million for the Office of the Child Advocate.

• $3.75 million for the Massachusetts Center on Child Wellbeing and Trauma.

• $3 million for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) grants to bolster social emotional learning support for K-12 students.

• $2.5 million for clinical care, veterans’ mental and behavioral health issues, including post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, substance use disorder and suicide prevention administered by the Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program.

• $2 million for grants for improvements in reproductive health access, infrastructure, and safety.

• $1.25 million for the Young Mothers Experiencing Acute Trauma Pilot Program, a behavioral intervention program that works to stabilize and support young women, most of whom are mothers, who are traumatized survivors of abuse and neglect.

• $150,000 for Reproductive Equity Now Foundation, Inc. to operate a free and confidential abortion legal hotline for Massachusetts-based health care providers and helpers, as well as patients obtaining care in-state.

The budget establishes a legislative commission to study the future of the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children, including a review of the hospital’s finances and programs.

To help residents manage high prescription drug costs, the budget also extends the right of consumers to use coupons to pay for prescription drugs. The provision is extended through 2031.

Additionally, it requires the Department of Public Health to form a strategic task force to prepare recommendations for the continuity of abortion and abortion-related care in the Commonwealth in the event of the federal government ending support for reproductive care. 

Expanding and Protecting Opportunities

The Legislature is committed to expanding opportunity and supporting the state’s most vulnerable residents. This budget therefore maintains the annual child’s clothing allowance, providing $500 per child for eligible families to buy clothes for the upcoming school year. The budget also fully annualizes the FY25 10 per cent increase to Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) benefit levels to help families move out of deep poverty. Additionally, the budget ensures that pregnant women can access TAFDC, regardless of where they are in their pregnancy.

The Legislature’s budget dedicates $86 million to support food security and child nutrition initiatives, including $50.5 million for Emergency Food Assistance to assist residents in navigating the historical levels of food insecurity, $20.1 million for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) to ensure access to healthy food options, and $15.5 million for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program.

Economic opportunity investments include:

• $467 million for Transitional Assistance to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and $209 million for Emergency Aid to Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) to provide the necessary support as caseloads increase, which annualizes the deep poverty increases implemented in the FY25 budget.

• $101.3 million for DTA caseworkers to protect access to crucial financial assistance, food support, and employment and training programs for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.

• $58.9 million for adult basic education services to improve access to skills necessary to join the workforce.

• $50.5 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program.

• $20.1 million for the Healthy Incentives Program to support healthy food access for households in need.

• $20.6 million for employment services programs to help people with lower incomes move toward economic independence through pathways of self-sufficiency.

• $15.5 million for the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program.

• $5 million for the Secure Jobs Connect Program, providing job placement resources and assistance for homeless individuals.

• $3.1 million for the Innovation Pathways program to continue to connect students to training and post-secondary opportunities with a focus on STEM fields.

• $1 million for employment programs for young adults with disabilities.

Housing

As the state envisions a more fiscally sustainable path for its future, increasing affordable housing opportunities and addressing housing challenges remain at the forefront of the Legislature’s agenda. This budget therefore invests more than $1.15 billion in housing initiatives, dedicating resources for housing stability, residential assistance, emergency shelter services, and homelessness assistance programs. 

Housing investments include:

• $253 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP).

• $207 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT).

• $115.6 million for local housing authorities.

• $113.3 million for assistance for homeless individual shelters.

• $57.3 million for the HomeBASE program to support sustainable exits from shelter.

• $19.5 million for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), providing rental assistance to people with disabilities.

• $18.2 million for homeless program administration to move people from the Emergency Assistance shelter system.

• $16 million for the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

• $10.6 million for assistance for unaccompanied homeless youth.

• $10 million for sponsor-based supportive permanent housing to support 16 new housing units and case management services for vulnerable individuals.

• $8.9 million for the Home and Healthy for Good re-housing and supportive services program, including funding to support homeless LGBTQ youth.

• $6.5 million for resident service coordinators to help residents maintain stable tenancies at local housing authorities, which are required to provide households with the services they need.

• $5.85 million for housing consumer education centers.

• $2.5 million for access to counsel.

In addition to these investments in housing, the budget includes a provision requiring that residential rental broker’s fees must be paid by the contracting agent, often the landlord of an apartment, ensuring that renters are not burdened with unexpected and extraordinary costs.

The budget also kickstarts two studies on ways to bring down housing costs for Massachusetts residents and increase housing production. One study for a sales tax exemption for multifamily housing projects stalled by federal tariffs. Another that would incentivize new affordable housing developments when considering local tax levy requirements.  The budget further creates a commission to help begin to explore solutions to address the remediation of concrete housing foundations that have crumbled because of the presence of pyrrhotite.

Further, the budget includes a provision that will allow candidates for elected office in Massachusetts to use their campaign funds for adult care services being provided to that candidate’s parent or other adult dependent, that occur because of campaign activities. In the 2024 economic development bill, the Legislature approved the use of campaign funds for childcare.

Both chambers of the Legislature having voted to enact the legislation, the budget will now be sent to the Governor for her signature.

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