Senate Delivers Mass Ready Act to Build a More Resilient, Sustainable Massachusetts

(BOSTON 4/17/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate this week passed the Mass Ready Act, an environmental bond bill that takes action to support the removal of ‘forever chemicals’ from drinking water, help municipalities withstand floods and droughts, and make outdoor recreation possible for more residents through improved trails and parks.

In an effort to preserve the natural world and cut down on pollution, the legislation would remove single-use plastic bags from retail checkout counters and take other steps to curb unnecessary and wasteful reliance on single-use plastics.

The bill – S.3050, formally known as An Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities – features policy proposals such as the preservation of public beach access, expedited timelines for culvert replacement projects, and requirements to inform prospective homebuyers and renters of flood risks, in addition to $3.94 billion in bonding authorizations.

The bonding measures would allow strategic state borrowing, including $120 million for PFAS remediation in public water supplies and private drinking water wells, $500 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program to help prepare for extreme weather and climate challenges, and $50 million for MassTrails grants to support the development of recreational trail systems across Massachusetts.

During Senate debate, Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore secured three amendments, including:

Amendment 1 – PFAS-free Firefighter gear grants

This amendment authorizes $25 million in bonding for the reduction of firefighters’ PFAS exposure through three main avenues – the purchase of PFAS-free protective turnout gear, the responsible disposal of equipment contaminated with PFAS, and the research and development of safer turnout gear that does not contain PFAS. The grant process will be managed by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, and municipalities will be able to apply for grants following the final passage of the Mass Ready Act.

PFAS, or Polyfluoroalkyl substances, is a class designation that includes nearly 10,000 chemicals used to make everyday items fireproof, waterproof, or non-stick. 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.

Amendment 3 – Restricting the use of Rodenticides

This amendment allows cities and towns to restrict the use of the most destructive anticoagulant rodenticides, many of which pose a great threat to the biodiversity of the Commonwealth. Anticoagulant rodenticides stop an animal’s body from creating blood clots using medications like warfarin, bromadiolone, and difethialone. This method of poisoning can take days to kill an animal that ingests it, creating an opportunity for the poisoned rodent to be eaten by predators like eagles, hawks, foxes, coyotes, and more – causing a cascading harm up the food chain and endangering Massachusetts’ fragile ecosystems. It also endangers the health of pets, who may eat unfinished rodenticide or find a rodent poisoned by it.

While the amendment practically bans the use of this class of pest control in the vast majority of situations, it maintains limited exceptions for licensed applicators in specific circumstances. Permits for use of anticoagulant rodenticides may be issued by the Department of Public Health for one-time indoor use to address an urgent public health emergency, though permits are limited to 14 days and require a written rationale on the need for this class of rat poisons over other alternatives.

Amendment 12 – Food trust program funding

This amendment increases the bond allocated to the Massachusetts Food Trust Program to $7.5 million from the bill’s original $5 million – an increase of $2.5 million that will help provide fresh, healthy food to underserved communities.

The Massachusetts Food Trust Program provides funds to local Community Developmental Financial Institutions in a public-private partnership. By financing independent grocers and farmers, the program helps expand access to fresh, locally grown food in low-income communities and areas that are underserved by national and regional chain supermarkets.

“From my years as a Massachusetts Environmental Police Officer to the office I hold in the State Senate, protecting our environment and the health of our communities has been a career-long mission of mine. The Mass Ready Act is a huge leap toward building a smarter, healthier, and more sustainable society here in the Commonwealth” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m thrilled to have voted approve the important policies within this bill, and I’m proud to have secured three of amendments to this bill with the support of my colleagues. From providing funds to strip carcinogens out of our firefighters’ safety gear, to banning rat poisons that have been devastating our ecosystems, to expanding access to healthy, fresh food in the Gateway Cities and beyond, these policies will have a material impact on the everyday lives of Bay Staters. I’d like to thank my colleagues in the Senate for their support, and I’m hopeful that the House will join us in this effort to protect the world around us while making Massachusetts a cleaner, more sustainable place.”

The Senate’s Mass Ready Act would authorize state borrowing to invest in a resilient environment and an accessible natural world. Bonding authorizations support priorities in five key areas:

• Guarding Against Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events. Highlighted by $500 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, supporting climate resiliency planning in cities and towns.

• Protecting Clean Drinking Water and Soil. $450 million for the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust to protect access to clean water across the Commonwealth, in addition to $120 million for PFAS remediation in public and private wells. $125.5 million to support resource conservation and preservation initiatives, including $5.5 million for the Healthy Soils Grant Program.

•  Investing in Infrastructure. $225 million for coastal infrastructure and resilience. $800.5 million for properties and roadways owned and managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). $521.6 million for state and municipally owned dams across the Commonwealth.

• Conserving the Natural World. $30 million for tree-planting initiatives across the Commonwealth. $50 million for MassTrails Grants, including $10 million for accessibility upgrades that protect access to trails for all Massachusetts residents. $20 million to support the biodiversity goals of the Department of Fish and Game (DFG).

• Supporting Farmers and Nutritional Food Access. $20 million for capital investments to support the growth and economic competitiveness of the Commonwealth’s agricultural, commercial fishing and cranberry-growing sectors. $132.5 million for the Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) program including $7.5 million for the Massachusetts Food Trust Program (MFTP) to increase access to healthy, affordable food.

A core policy in the Senate’s Mass Ready Act would respond to increasing amounts of litter and pollution by prohibiting single-use plastic bags at retail stores. Shoppers would instead be able to check out with a recyclable paper bag or a reusable plastic bag.

Massachusetts residents are estimated to use billions of plastic bags per year. A plastic bag tossed to the side of a road can pose immediate risks, such as the suffocation or starvation of wildlife, while also fragmenting over time into microplastics that pollute the earth.

During the course of today’s debate, Senators voted to amend the bill with additional significant policies and bonding authorizations, including:

• Ensuring Clean Water in Schools. Dedicates $15 million for a grant program administered by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to address PFAS, lead, and other contaminants in schools and childcare centers through the installation of filtered water stations and faucets. Priority for the award of funds may be given to school districts or childcare centers in low income or environmental justice communities. (Amendment 2)

• Preventing PFAS Pollution. Focuses on proactive prevention of PFAS or 'forever chemical' pollution with $5 million to promote the use of safer alternatives to PFAS in products and manufacturing. Funds research, technical assistance, and a competitive grant program. (Amendment 87)

• Protecting Wildlife from Unintended Poisonings. Creates a local-option mechanism for towns and cities to choose to ban anticoagulant rodenticides. While anticoagulant poisons are targeted at killing rodents, they can prove a danger to pets or travel up the food chain and harm or kill other animals such as eagles and hawks. (Amendment 3 – introduced by Senator Moore)

• Monitoring Ocean Health. Protects natural wildlife and supports commercial fisheries by requiring more robust, centralized data collection around ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is caused by rising carbon levels in the air and other factors such as stormwater runoff and fertilizer pollution—and leads to damaged marine biodiversity and smaller shellfish crops. Authorizes $500,000 in bonding to establish a monitoring system. (Amendments 222 and 262)

Details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate press room.

The Senate passed the bill on a 36-3 roll call vote and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review.

###

Senate Acts to Reduce Firefighters’ Exposure to PFAS and Curb Rodenticide Use

(BOSTON 4/16/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate yesterday approved two important policies to reduce exposure to dangerous chemicals in the Commonwealth; one that creates a $25 million grant program for the development and purchase of PFAS-free firefighter turnout gear, and another that bans most uses of anti-coagulant rodenticides in the Bay State. Introduced by Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore, both policies were adopted as amendments to the broader Mass Ready Act on a unanimous and bipartisan basis.

“I introduced these two amendments to the Mass Ready Act because I strongly believe that, when newer and cleaner solutions are developed, the harms of using risky chemicals begin to far outweigh the benefits. Thanks to my colleagues’ support, we are now one step closer to stripping toxic PFAS chemicals out of the gear our firefighters wear every day and firmly on the path to limiting the use of anti-coagulant rodenticides,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I could not be more thrilled about the huge policy wins these amendments represent, and I know that the firefighters who will no longer have to wear toxic gear and the wildlife that will no longer inadvertently ingest poisonous prey are thankful too. I’d like to express my gratitude to my colleagues who voted in support of these amendments, to Senate President Karen Spilka for her leadership on these issues, and to all the advocates who have worked so hard to draw attention to these important issues.”

Amendment 1 – PFAS-free Firefighter Gear Grants

This amendment authorizes $25 million in bonding for the reduction of firefighters’ PFAS exposure through three main avenues – the purchase of PFAS-free protective turnout gear, the responsible disposal of equipment contaminated with PFAS, and the research and development of safer turnout gear that does not contain PFAS. The grant process will be managed by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, and municipalities will be able to apply for grants following the final passage of the Mass Ready Act.

PFAS, or Polyfluoroalkyl substances, is a class designation that includes nearly 10,000 chemicals used to make everyday items fireproof, waterproof, or non-stick. These chemicals have become ubiquitous in products ranging from cookware to furniture to children’s toys – and critically, as a lining in firefighting turnout gear – 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.

“This is another great day for our PFFM membership in our fight against occupational cancer that continues to plague the Fire Service,” said Paul Jacques, Legislative Agent for the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts. “Thank you to Senator Moore, Senate President Spilka, Ways & Means Chair Rodrigues, Senator Rausch, Chair Cronin, and Senator Cyr, as well as the entire Senate for passing this vital amendment to protect firefighters across the Commonwealth.”

This amendment is another step in the process of reducing Massachusetts firefighters’ exposure to PFAS chemicals, and comes halfway through the implementation of S.2902. Introduced by Senator Moore and passed in 2024, the bill creates new regulations for manufacturers of firefighting personal protective equipment, requiring a written notice to the purchaser that the equipment contains PFAS, the reason PFAS were used, and what specific PFAS chemicals are contained within the equipment. Further, the bill prohibits the manufacturing, distribution, or sale of firefighting turnout equipment that contains PFAS chemicals beginning on January 1st, 2027.

Protective turnout gear is expensive and firefighters typically have two sets – an expense of close to $10,000 per firefighter. Not only can these grants be used to purchase new PFAS-free gear, they can also be used to reimburse cities and towns who have already done so, alleviating some pressure on otherwise strained local budgets.

Amendment 3 – Restricting the use of Rodenticides

This amendment restricts the use of the most destructive anticoagulant rodenticides, many of which pose a great threat to the biodiversity of the Commonwealth. Anticoagulant rodenticides stop an animal’s body from creating blood clots using medications like warfarin, bromadiolone, and difethialone. This method of poisoning can take days to kill an animal that ingests it, creating an opportunity for the poisoned rodent to be eaten by predators like eagles, hawks, foxes, coyotes, and more – causing a cascading harm up the food chain and endangering Massachusetts’ fragile ecosystems. It also endangers the health of pets, who may eat unfinished rodenticide or find a rodent poisoned by it.

While the amendment practically bans the use of this class of pest control in the vast majority of situations, it maintains limited exceptions for licensed applicators in specific circumstances. Permits for use of anticoagulant rodenticides may be issued by the Department of Public Health for one-time indoor use to address an urgent public health emergency, though permits are limited to 14 days and require a written rationale on the need for this class of rat poisons over other alternatives.

“Thank you to the Senate for taking this meaningful step forward to protect the wildlife and companion animals from anti-coagulant rodenticides in the Commonwealth. Empowering local communities to regulate the products used within their borders enables them to more effectively preserve their natural resources and wildlife,” said Melissa Ekvall, Senior Advocacy Outreach and Research Coordinator for MSPCA-Angell. “We are grateful to Senator Moore and his team for their leadership and their commitment to the animals of Massachusetts”

“We are so grateful to Senator Moore, and all the cosponsors and proponents, who helped get the rodenticide amendment approved yesterday,” said Sam Anderson, Senior Director of Government Affairs at Mass Audubon. “And to the nearly 5,000 advocates who reached out to make their voices heard along with the 66 partner organizations and community groups, we are eternally grateful for your commitment to protect our wildlife and pets by reducing the use of anticoagulant rodenticides that poison the environment.”

This amendment is based on S.2721, a bill originally introduced by Senator Moore.

Details on the full legislation can be found online here.

The Mass Ready Act was passed on a 36-3 roll call vote. It has now been sent to the House of Representatives for further review.

###

Senate Acts to Lower Housing Costs, Expand Primary Care, Invest in Education and Transportation, More

(BOSTON 4/13/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate last week approved a budget plan that pairs statewide education and transportation investments with innovative policies to spur new multifamily housing construction, boost the family medicine workforce, protect immigrants, and ease strained municipal budgets with regionally equitable Fair Share investments.

The legislation, S.3041, exempts building materials from the sales tax for qualifying housing projects and boosts the primary care workforce by delivering scholarships to UMass Medical graduates who agree to practice in underserved populations in Massachusetts after graduation.

The bill sends significant funding to city and town budgets to help with the costs of heavy winter storms, increases reimbursements for special education services, and strengthens scientific research operations at public universities.

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

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

Regional

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

Auburn

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

Grafton

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

Millbury

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

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

Shrewsbury

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

Westborough

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

• $12,500 for the Westborough Public Library

Worcester

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

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

Policy and funding highlights of the bill include:

Education Investments

As part of the Senate’s $618 million Fair Share investment in education, the legislation addresses Massachusetts’ shrinking primary care workforce with a pilot scholarship program.

The new approach uses $10 million in Fair Share funds to offer full-tuition scholarships for UMass Chan Medical School students pursuing family medicine if they commit to remaining in Massachusetts and serving populations in need for five years after graduation.

The legislation invests $100 million to ensure that Massachusetts’ public universities are able to withstand reductions in federal research funding and continue to strengthen their life-saving research and development operations, grow their renowned talent pipelines, and build strategic partnerships for the future. The funds would buoy the education and scientific research sectors through a new Public Higher Education Bridge Funding Reserve.

The bill features a new $32 million investment to provide immediate relief for strained municipal budgets by increasing special education reimbursement rates in the current fiscal year. That investment is part of a larger $232 million appropriation for special education costs and circuit breaker reimbursements.

The bill also includes $150 million toward supporting high-quality and accessible early education and care; $40 million for early literacy initiatives; and $18.3 million to expand financial assistance offered to Massachusetts students enrolled at state universities and UMass campuses. Additional investments of $2.5 million would boost school-based mental health support, and $1 million would help public schools implement bell-to-bell cell-phone free school policies.

Transportation & Municipal Relief Investments

As part of the Senate’s $763 million Fair Share investment in transportation, the bill sends $100 million to help towns and cities with extraordinary winter costs, including funds specifically marked for communities that were impacted by significant winter storms such as the historic Blizzard of 2026.

The bill also includes generational funding in statewide Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs), funding for unpaved roads, and $535 million in direct support for the MBTA for operational funding, commuter rail support, and the low-income fare relief program.

The legislation’s transportation and education investments are possible because of the Fair Share surtax on households that earn more than $1 million per year. Fair Share revenues have continued to exceed expectations year after year, leading to mid-year supplemental packages such as this one.

Incentivizing New Housing Construction

The legislation includes a new targeted sales tax exemption for building materials to incentivize the construction of new affordable, moderate-income, and middle-income housing units for certain housing projects.

To target production in areas with the greatest need, the program focuses on projects that include at least 15% affordable units and projects in communities where the median household income is below 120% of the average household income.

Legal Defense for Massachusetts Immigrants

In response to federal legal actions targeting immigrants living in Massachusetts, the legislation invests an additional $1 million in legal defense services for immigrants, allocated from the state’s general fund.

The funding comes following the success of an initial $5 million investment by the Legislature that created the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative, which has already provided legal aid to hundreds of Massachusetts residents.

The Senate and the House proactively split off critical funding for the Group Insurance Commission (GIC), which was originally contained in this bill, and fast-tracked that $300 million supplemental appropriation to the Governor earlier this week.

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

###

Healey Administration Announces Grant Awards to Local Fire Departments

(BOSTON 4/10/2026) — Last week, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced that 307 Massachusetts fire departments will share $5 million in grant funding to support the purchase of new safety equipment. Within the Second Worcester District, the towns of Grafton, Millbury, Shrewsbury, Westborough, and the City of Worcester will share nearly $100,000 in grants between them.

“Our firefighters put their lives at risk on a daily basis to protect their neighbors. The least we can do is ensure that they have the best of the best when it comes to equipment to keep themselves safe too,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m thrilled that the Governor has made it a priority to ensure these dollars reach the fire departments that need them most. I’m also encouraged that turnout gear – the protective equipment firefighters wear when battling flames – will be required to come with a notice if they are made with toxic PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ if they are purchased this year, and will be required to be PFAS-free if purchased next year thanks to my 2024 legislation. I look forward to continuing our work in the legislature to further protect our firefighters’ health and safety.”

Passed in 2024, S.2902 – based on S.1556 and S.1502 – implements new regulations on manufacturers of firefighting personal protective equipment, requiring a written notice to the purchaser that the equipment contains PFAS, the reason PFAS were used, and what specific PFAS chemicals are contained within the equipment. Further, the bill prohibits the manufacturing, distribution, or sale of firefighting turnout equipment that contains PFAS chemicals beginning on January 1st, 2027. PFAS, or Polyfluoroalkyl substances, is a class designation that includes nearly 10,000 chemicals used to make everyday items fireproof, waterproof, or non-stick. 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. Full details of the legislation can be found online here.

Fire departments across Massachusetts were invited to apply to the Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program, which provides reimbursement on purchases of nearly 100 different types of equipment. Eligible items include hoses and nozzles, turnout gear, ballistic protective equipment, portable and mobile radios, thermal imaging cameras, hand tools and extrication equipment, hazardous gas meters, and more. In many cases, the purchase of this equipment will help departments attain compliance with Occupational Safety & Health Administration or National Fire Protection Association safety standards.

The grant amounts include:

• Town of Grafton – $13,313.83

• Town of Millbury – $19,000

• Town of Shrewsbury – $25,000

• Town of Westborough – $18,729.06

• City of Worcester – $19,922,36

The full list of awardees can be found in the Governor’s press release online here.

###

NCSL Urges Congress to Maintain States’ Rights to Regulate Banks, Lenders

(BOSTON 4/8/2026) — The National Conference of State Legislatures recently sent a bipartisan letter calling on DC lawmakers to change course on a draft bill eliminating states’ ability to draft financial privacy and data security regulations that exceed federal standards. The bill, meant as an update to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), would amend Section 507 to preempt any state-level law that establishes privacy or security regulations for financial institutions subject to GLBA – even when those laws strengthen protections for consumers. The letter is addressed to Representative French Hill (R-AR), Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, and to Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), the Committee’s Ranking Member.

“Massachusetts’ nation-leading consumer protection laws are no accident – they are the product of decades of advocacy, research, and accountability for corporations that have played fast and loose with the private information of everyday Bay Staters. The update to the GLBA that Congress is currently drafting would undermine that work and strip states of the tools we need to defend consumers against bad actors, whether they are greedy financial corporations or cybercriminals looking to steal sensitive data,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “As the chair of the Massachusetts Legislature’s top tech committee, the vice chair of its top finance committee, and the co-chair of the NCSL’s banking committee, this action stands at the intersection of the issues that are most important to me. The GLBA was intended from its conception to establish minimum data protection standards for banks, credit unions, and lenders; by preempting state laws, Republican majorities in Congress are effectively loosening these standards. I stand with the NCSL as they ask DC to reconsider this action. And if they don’t? Ask yourself – who does that benefit?”

The GLBA was passed in 1999 and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Its most splashy policy change at the time was a relaxation of the Depression-era Glass-Steagall Act rules that legalized mega-mergers between investment banks, commercial banks, and insurance companies. But another critical piece – the policy most relevant when discussing the GLBA today – is its establishment of a three-pronged approach to protecting the sensitive consumer data collected by the institutions Americans bank with, receive loans from, and invest through. Its ‘pretexting provision’ bans the solicitation and disclosure of personal data by false pretenses; the ‘financial privacy rule’ requires that a financial institution provide written privacy policies to its customers; and the ‘safeguards rule’ requires institutions regularly assess internal and external risks to customer data and implement comprehensive security programs to keep its data safe. Critically, these provisions established minimum rules, allowing states to go beyond them if their legislatures chose to do so.

In the years since its passage, several states have written rules that go further than the GLBA’s data privacy protections, most notably California. America’s most populated state and amongst the world’s largest economies, California’s standard effectively became the nation’s standard after its passage, broadening the scope of data covered by the law, reversing the GLBA’s data sharing opt-out provision to require an explicit opt-in if an institution wishes to share a consumer’s data, allowing California residents to sue financial institutions for certain data breaches, and more. While not written into law in most states, many of these stricter standards are extended nationwide to simplify a covered financial institution’s compliance and legal exposure.

Despite over 20 years of these regulations being in place, Congress – with GOP majorities in both chambers – has decided to include a preemption clause in an update to the GLBA it is currently drafting. Republicans argue that allowing states to go above and beyond the law’s baseline standards create a fragmented regulatory environment, but the NCSL letter argues that these concerns are overstated and don’t capture the reality of how states and institutions have acted over the past two decades. The letter states, “In practice, state financial privacy and data security laws have increasingly converged around core principles, including reasonable data security obligations, limits on use and sharing of sensitive financial data and strong enforcement by state regulators. Many businesses already mitigate compliance burdens by aligning their practices with the highest applicable standards across jurisdictions, rather than tailoring policies on a state-by-state basis.”

States have proven that they can act faster and are more responsive to cybersecurity and data privacy risks than Congress, the letter argues. “An inflexible across-the-board preemption of state authority would freeze consumer financial privacy standards in statute, stifle innovation and prevent states from responding to unforeseen harms, including data breaches, misuse of biometric or geolocation data and risks arising from new financial technologies and artificial intelligence.”

Privacy and consumer protection laws have a long precedent for acting as a minimum standard, as the GLBA has. HIPAA, FERPA, and COPPA are settled in law as a regulatory floor just as the GLBA has been until recently, the letter states. It argues that states should retain the long-held authority to respond to risks that uniquely affect their residents and financial markets.

“We respectfully urge the committee to reconsider the scope of the draft’s preemption language and to restore GLBA’s traditional balance between national standards and state authority. NCSL and state legislators stand ready to work with the committee to strengthen consumer financial privacy and security while respecting the essential role states play in protecting residents, overseeing markets and responding to emerging risks,” the letter closes.

The proposed language preempting state laws on GLBA regulations continues a pattern of DC considering revoking or following through on revoking state regulatory authority. Senator Moore led a group of 13 Massachusetts legislators last year urging Congress to reject language in the so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ that would place a 10-year moratorium on state-level artificial intelligence regulation. NCSL also early this year urged Congress to address betting markets like Polymarket and Kalshi that operate under ‘event contract’ rules, evading state-level laws by misrepresenting business practices. While the AI regulation moratorium was stripped from the OBBB and failed in a subsequent bill, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order implementing it on a shaky legal footing, while Congress has still yet to address the betting market issue.

The letter is signed by Marcus C. Evans Jr., President of NCSL and a Democratic Representative in the Illinois House, as well as Barry Usher, NCSL President-Elect and a Republican Senator in the Montana Senate.

Full text of the letter can be viewed online here.

###

Senate Passes FARM Bill to Support the Farms that Feed Massachusetts

(BOSTON 4/2/2026) — Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate passed the FARM Bill, agricultural legislation aimed at supporting Massachusetts’ 7,000 farms, making it easier for families to buy fresh and healthy food, and protecting the state’s food supply for the future.

The legislation – formally known as S.3029, An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts – is a major step forward in supporting Massachusetts farmers and growing the state’s agricultural economy. It builds on a recent special commission report focused on making Massachusetts agricultural operations sustainable for the 21st century.

The FARM Bill helps owners of small farms to grow their businesses by removing hurdles and making agritourism ventures possible, such as corn mazes and ‘pick your own’ berry and fruit operations. The legislation also supports expanding farm operations with a local option property tax exemption for new agricultural buildings.

“Farms in Central Massachusetts provide fresh, nutritious, and sustainable food both to the communities they reside in as well as to cities and town across the Commonwealth,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This bill furthers the Legislature’s commitment to supporting these small businesses while expanding the economic opportunities that allow them to hire more workers and support the economy. It also helps get the fresh produce grown on these farms onto school lunch tables and into low-income families’ grocery carts. I’m thrilled to stand with the hardworking men and women who do this honest work, and I look forward to finding more ways to support farms in the Second Worcester District and beyond.”

The bill makes it easier for residents to access healthy food, making permanent the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) to help families afford fresh produce and the Farm to School program to bring local ingredients into schools. By codifying these programs, the Senate is continuing its response to federal actions that threaten food access as a part of the Senate’s Response 2025 initiative. A further Response 2025 priority requires that state emergency planning efforts prioritize the security of the local food supply chain given federal cuts to emergency planning.

The FARM Bill additionally requires regular reporting on the distribution of local produce through food banks, universal school meals, Meals on Wheels, the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP), and other food assistance programs. This data will help assesses the damage from detrimental federal actions such as the elimination of the USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which purchased food from historically underserved Massachusetts farmers and provided it to underserved communities.

Supporting Farmers and Growing the Agricultural Economy

The legislation includes key provisions to help farmers remain viable and expand their operations. New farm buildings and structures would receive a five-year property tax exemption under a local option program added to the bill during debate. Senators voted 38-0 to adopt the property tax exemption (Amendment 5).

The bill also expands opportunities for farmers to participate in agritourism, makes the Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) Program permanent, and eases the water permitting process for cranberry growers.

Planning for the Future of Agriculture and Climate Change

The FARM Bill includes forward-looking initiatives to protect farmland and improve long-term planning by creating a statewide agricultural land database and improving the evaluation of the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program to ensure long-term sustainability.

It directs emergency planning efforts to prioritize local food production and avoid supply chain disruptions, and explores renewable energy opportunities on farmland, balancing clean energy goals with agricultural land preservation.

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

###

Animal Anti-Cruelty Legislation Passes Unanimously in the Senate

(BOSTON 3/20/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate yesterday unanimously passed legislation to end the inhumane puppy-mill-to-pet-shop pipeline by cutting off commercial sales of cats and dogs in Massachusetts pet stores.

The bill, nicknamed the PETS Act, would also end harsh, unnecessary testing of animal subjects for non-medical purposes; boost animal wellbeing; and make responsible pet ownership possible for more people.

“Yesterday’s unanimous, bipartisan vote to pass the PETS Act is a testament to the Senate’s commitment to protecting animals here in the Commonwealth. Ending the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores, banning unnecessary animal testing, bolstering anti-cruelty penalties, and establishing protections for pet owners in public housing are all important steps toward improving life both for Bay Staters and our furry friends,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m proud to support legislation like this, and I can’t wait to go further to defend animal welfare in Massachusetts. My bill banning pet ownership for five years following an individual’s animal abuse conviction and another requiring courts consider a pet’s wellbeing during divorce proceedings unfortunately did not make it into this legislation – but I am committed to continuing to advocate for these important policies.”

Under S.3014, An Act promoting pet equity, treatment, and safety, pet shops could display animals from nonprofits for adoption, but for‑profit sales – often linked to large commercial breeders known as puppy mills –would be banned. A growing number of states have banned the sale of cats and dogs in licensed retail pet stores. 

To make pet ownership possible for more Massachusetts residents, the PETS Act would require the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to create a uniform pet ownership program for residents of state-aided public housing. Public housing facilities would be prohibited from discriminating based on a pet’s breed or size. The legislation’s breed acceptance measures go further by prohibiting homeowner insurance companies from factoring a dog’s breed into underwriting, rating, or renewal decisions.

To promote animal welfare, the bill would prohibit manufacturers from subjecting animals to unnecessary chemical testing for non-medical research, sparing innocent animals from harsh conditions. It would also extend a state law which protects dogs from cruelty to cover all household pets, ensuring adequate food, water, and sanitary conditions. The legislation would also protect livestock and other animals by adding civil penalties to enforce existing anti-cruelty statutes.

During today’s session, Senators amended the bill to expand the 2022 research animal protection law and apply its provisions to all research facilities that test on dogs and cats, beyond the law’s original focus on higher education facilities. The law requires facilities to assess the health of former animal test subjects and then, if appropriate, make them available for adoption as pets.

The Senate passed the bill on a 38-0 roll call vote and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review.

###

Senate Passes the BRIGHT Act to Invest in Public Higher Education Facilities

(BOSTON 2/27/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate yesterday unanimously passed the BRIGHT Act, a $3.28 billion bond bill that will invest in upgrades to public higher education campuses across Massachusetts and strengthen the learning experiences of students at community colleges, state universities, and UMass campuses.

The legislation – S.2962, An Act to build resilient infrastructure to generate higher-ed transformation – will update facilities and address the backlog of deferred campus maintenance by harnessing the power of ‘Fair Share’ revenues to back a new state bond issuance.

The generational investment package builds on recent Senate-led policies to make public higher education more affordable and accessible, including tuition-free community college and historic increases to financial aid. Recent advancements make a tuition- and fee-free education possible for all Pell-eligible students attending four-year universities, and allow students from moderate-income families to attend at half the cost.

During debate, the Senate adopted an amendment introduced by Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore ensuring funds from the sale or lease of a public college’s buildings or land would be allocated to the institution that sold it.

“Massachusetts’ public colleges and universities have long been the envy of the nation, and we are continuing our commitment to our students with this investment package,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The BRIGHT Act will direct dollars toward upgrading, modernizing, and in some cases, transforming our campuses across the Commonwealth, bringing the standard for a public higher education in the United States that much higher. Investments in our youth are some of the best we can make, and this bill is yet another reason why I deeply believe the future of the Bay State is bright.”

An expected $2.5 billion worth of projects over the next 10 years will help cover deferred maintenance, repairs, and major capital projects through a mix of bonding and cash investments. Projects include lab modernization, workforce development facilities, and climate resilience and energy efficiency priorities. The bill will also provide support for public colleges and universities to turn unused campus property into housing or mixed-use developments, and simplify the process for selling or leasing surplus land.

To finance BRIGHT Act projects, the legislation would dedicate $125 million per year from the ‘Fair Share’ surtax on high-earning households to create and back a new special revenue bond. The state collected roughly $3 billion in total Fair Share revenues in 2025.

Looking beyond the funding and bonds that would be issued over the next 10 years, the bill ensures the state will permanently bolster the resources that are directed toward higher education capital projects. It requires that the annual $125 million stream of Fair Share surtax revenue continue to be directed toward higher education capital projects in perpetuity.

The $3.28 billion that the state would be authorized to issue in support of public higher education capital projects includes:

• $1.25 billion for projects on state university and community college campuses;

• $1.25 billion for projects on University of Massachusetts campuses;

• $120 million to support well-equipped laboratories at public higher education institutions, modern facilities to foster career-oriented collaboration between community colleges and vocational technical schools, and health facilities to promote students’ wellbeing;

• $100 million toward the creation of housing and mixed-use developments on campus properties;

• $100 million to advance regional economic and workforce development through a competitive grant program for equipment and facilities for career technical education and training programs;

• $275 million for the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) Tower Building, where high priority critical repairs are needed;

• $80 million for campus energy efficiency and decarbonization;

• $50 million for a competitive grant program for capital improvements at public higher education campuses, including climate resilience upgrades;

• $30 million for campus master planning; and

• $20 million for technology improvements that support students and facilitate remote and hybrid learning.

Additional details of the bill are available in a fact sheet in the Senate Press Room.

The Senate passed the bill on a 38-0 roll call vote. It now goes to the House of Representatives for further review.

###

Senate Modernizes Unit Pricing Law to Support Small Businesses

(BOSTON 2/26/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate today passed a bill modifying the Commonwealth’s unit pricing exemption law to keep the policy in line with its original intent; to support neighborhood bodegas, convenience stores, and small family-owned grocery shops by modernizing the unit pricing law.  

The bill, introduced and championed by Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore, ensures that smaller retailers will continue to be exempt from unit pricing requirements. While unit pricing laws are extremely useful for consumers to compare prices between similar products at large supermarkets, places like convenience stores typically only stock one or two of each item on offer – creating a costly regulatory burden for small businessowners to implement a label that isn’t useful to most customers.

“The unit pricing exemption is a simple way to cut expenses for small businesses and support the communities they serve. However, in the two decades since the policy was written into law, the $5 million revenue threshold for the exemption has remained the same while the cost of products has risen significantly,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “This legislation makes small tweaks to how a store’s revenue is calculated to ensure the law continues to apply to the corner stores and small businesses it was originally intended to protect. I’d like to thank Senate President Karen Spilka and Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues for recognizing the importance of this issue for our local economies, as well as Senator Pavel Payano and his committee for upholding the spirit of consumer protection laws while making reasonable carveouts for small businessowners who are struggling in today’s economy.”

Massachusetts has offered an exemption from unit pricing for more than two decades to retailers with lower sales volumes – defined as establishments that generate less than $5 million in in-store sales each year, including sales of Lottery products and gift cards. 

With the steady rise of inflation, introduction of higher-value Lottery products, and increased popularity of pre-paid gift cards, local businesses are more apt to exceed the exemption threshold. The legislation – S.2965, An Act updating the unit pricing exemption threshold – removes Lottery and gift card sales from the calculation of whether a store can be included in the statewide unit price exemption. 

During the course of today’s debate, Senators voted to amend the bill to codify an existing exemption that removes gasoline and other motor fuel sales from the calculation.   

Full details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate Press Room. 

The Senate passed the bill on a 37-0 roll call vote. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for further review. 

###

Lawmakers Call on Congress to Address Unregulated Betting Markets

(DENVER 2/18/2026) — The National Conference of State Legislatures’ top finance committee in late January sent a letter to United States Senators urging them to reaffirm existing laws that give states the authority to regulate online sports betting and casino-style gambling. Websites such as Polymarket and Kalshi, which brashly advertise with slogans like “bet on anything,” have experienced unprecedented growth in recent years while skirting gambling regulations by classifying themselves as selling “event contracts.” This legal loophole allows these companies to operate nationwide while dodging important regulatory safeguards, including licensing standards, consumer protections, ‘know your consumer’ requirements, anti-money laundering rules, and regular compliance audits.

The NCSL’s Banking, Financial Services and Insurance Committee, on which Massachusetts Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore serves as co-chair, writes that “prediction markets enable participants to buy and sell contracts based on the outcomes of future events, and in practice they function in ways that closely mirror legal sports wagering.” The letter urges Senators to include language that bolsters states’ existing authority to regulate these platforms under Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association as the chamber considers cryptocurrency-related legislation.

“I want to be very clear: Massachusetts has the legal authority to regulate betting markets that operate like Polymarket and Kalshi. So, why is this letter necessary? Because these corporations are misrepresenting what they are to shield themselves from regulations that protect everyday people and taxes that fund critical state services. Congress must act immediately to force these companies to stop pretending they are anything other than online gambling platforms,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “It is not our goal to eliminate online gambling in Massachusetts, but betting platforms must operate on a level playing field and under a robust set of laws that are designed to defend Bay Staters from addiction, illicit business practices, and other drawbacks of these technologies. I am hopeful that NCSL’s bipartisan call to close this loophole will spur quick action in DC because using complicated classification minutiae to stiff our people will not be tolerated – in Massachusetts or anywhere else.”

Regulated betting markets, including platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel, have contributed $328 billion in economic activity in the 39 states that have legalized sports gambling, and have generated $53 billion in tax revenue while supporting 1.8 million jobs. Unregulated markets like Polymarket and Kalshi offer similar services while significantly reducing their tax and regulatory burden as “commodity” trades, despite over $1.6 billion in trading volume on the recent Super Bowl LX according to some analyses.

The letter comes as Commodity Futures Trading Commission chairman Michael Selig yesterday filed an amicus brief in federal court arguing that his agency has the sole authority to regulate prediction markets, preempting state regulations. Chairman Selig, appointed by President Donald Trump in October 2025 and confirmed by the US Senate in December, argues that the CFTC has exclusive jurisdiction over “event contract” prediction markets.

“Several Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)-registered prediction market platforms have ignored important regulatory safeguards, disregarding state gaming laws and diverting hundreds of millions of dollars in potential revenue that supports essential state and local services, including public safety, schools and infrastructure,” the letter states. “Furthermore, CFTC regulations, adopted under the Commodity Exchange Act, explicitly prohibit contracts involving gaming or any activity unlawful under state law. Thirty-nine state attorneys general have made it clear that these sports related event contracts violate their state laws.”

The letter closes by emphasizing that effective laws regulating sports betting and online gambling have been passed by bipartisan majorities in both red states and blue states. “Preserving state authority and flexibility in this area is essential.”

The letter was signed by co-chairs of the NCSL Banking, Financial Service and Insurance Committee Representative Jim Dunnigan (R-Utah) and Senator Michael Moore (D-Massachusetts), as well as Committee Vice-Chairs Representative Brenda Carter (D-Michigan) and Representative Michael Meredith (R-Kentucky). It was addressed to Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Chairman Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) and to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman John Boozeman (R-Arkansas) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota).

The full letter can be found online here.

###

Senate Passes New Protections for Massachusetts Car Buyers

(BOSTON 2/13/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate acted yesterday to strengthen consumer rights for people who buy new and used vehicles by expanding the state’s car buyer protection law, increasing the mileage for used car warranties, and strengthening the bonds that give relief to victims of auto sale fraud.

Lengthening the state’s Lemon Law timeline, customers who purchase a new or used vehicle would have seven days after receiving delivery of the auto to void the sale if the vehicle fails to pass inspection.

The bill would also boost the maximum mileage for used vehicle warranties by 50,000 miles – up to 175,000 miles – protecting drivers who buy older and more affordable cars.

“Having a reliable car is essential for people who live in rural areas or in places that are underserved by public transportation. We have to make sure that there are robust protections for buyers who are making a purchase that often runs them tens of thousands of dollars,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “By updating our lemon laws and extending manufacturer warranties, we are giving additional peace of mind to hardworking Bay Staters that they won’t fall into financial ruin if their vehicle has a defect.”

Guarding consumers from the effects of fraud, the legislation doubles – up to $50,000 – the surety bond that used car dealers are required to post to receive their license. The bond is held for the benefit of any buyer who experiences fraud. S.2945, An Act modernizing protections for consumers in automobile transactions, also supports people who choose to lease their car by giving lessees a 21-day grace period to catch up on their payments before their car is repossessed.

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

The Senate passed the bill 38-0 and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review.

###

Senate Acts to Strengthen Fair Housing Protections Across Massachusetts

(BOSTON 2/13/2026) — Today, the Massachusetts Senate took action to give everyone a fair shot at access to housing.

Illegal discrimination continues to hamper many homebuyers’ and renters’ ability to find a home. The legislation – S.2947, An Act regarding fair housing practices in the Commonwealth – takes aim at discrimination in the housing market by mandating fair housing training for all real estate agents and strengthening state enforcement of fair housing law.

“Housing discrimination has no place in Massachusetts. In a moment where the Trump Administration is abandoning its responsibility to investigate and prosecute even the most blatant examples of discrimination based on skin color, ethnicity, or housing voucher use, we will step in to protect our neighbors,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “Here in the Commonwealth, fairness and equity are two of our most closely held values. Anyone who violates these core principles must be held responsible.”

In a 2020 study by the Boston Foundation and Suffolk University, researchers found that 71% of Black participants faced housing discrimination and were 30% more likely to be “ghosted” by real estate agents. The same study found that renters of all backgrounds with housing vouchers were highly likely to be prevented from even seeing apartments.

The legislation would toughen penalties for second-offense fair housing law violations, increasing a current 90-day license suspension to 180 days. Violations include discrimination against potential renters or buyers based on characteristics such as their color, ancestry, marital status, or use of a housing voucher. In cases where violations occur, the bill bridges an existing gap in the license suspension process by allowing the Attorney General and fair housing agencies to directly refer findings of violations to the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons.

The legislation comes after the Trump Administration abandoned its responsibility to enforce federal fair housing law, and instead vilified equity measures and the City of Boston for “discriminating against white people”.

Under the bill, applicants for a real estate license would, as part of their broader educational requirements, receive four hours of classroom instruction on fair housing law and current real estate agents would receive two hours of instruction as part of their license renewal process. The training would help agents avoid discrimination against potential buyers or renters based on demographics like race, national origin, religion, disability, or age, all of which is illegal under state and federal law.

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

The Senate passed the bill 38-0 and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review.

###

Charges Announced in the Death of Trooper Enrique Delgado-Garcia

(BOSTON 2/10/2026) — Special prosecutor David E. Meier yesterday announced that four Massachusetts State Police academy instructors had been indicted as part of an independent investigation into the death of State Trooper Enrique Delgado-Garcia. Meier, who was appointed by Attorney General Andrea Campbell following strong advocacy for an independent investigation from the three state senators representing Delgado-Garcia’s hometown of Worcester, was given full autonomy and authority to make charging decisions. More than 150 people testified before a Worcester County Grand Jury as part of Meier’s investigation.

Just weeks away from graduation, Delgado-Garcia died from serious head injuries during a training exercise in a boxing ring at the Massachusetts State Police Academy in September 2024. Delgado-Garcia received his trooper badge and the State Police oath of office was administered in his UMass Memorial Medical Center hospital room in the final hours of his life on September 13th.

Three instructors and one supervisor will face felony charges of involuntary manslaughter, and the supervisor will also face perjury charges for lying to a grand jury. The officials charged include Lieutenant Jennifer Penton, Trooper Edwin Rodriquez, Trooper David Montanez, and Trooper Casey LaMonte.

“Trooper Delgado-Garcia’s death was egregious and preventable. It is absolutely unacceptable that an effective training program for Massachusetts State Police officers must carry risk of serious injury or death for the promising young men and women who aspire to serve their neighbors in the Commonwealth,” said State Senator Michael Moore (D-Second Worcester). “I hope that special prosecutor Meier’s findings are the first steps on the long path to closure for everyone who knew and loved Enrique, and that justice is served to those who played a role in his death. I am encouraged by the changes already being made to the Academy, and I hope reforms will continue to ensure future classes of recruits don’t have to face the dangers that cost Trooper Delgado-Garcia his life.”

“Since last fall, we have been pushing for accountability and justice for Enrique Delgado-Garcia and his family. We are grateful to the Attorney General for appointing an independent investigator and to Attorney David Meier for ensuring a thorough investigation," said State Senator Robyn Kennedy (D-First Worcester). "While the Massachusetts State Police have already implemented necessary changes to the MSP Training Academy program, the findings of the investigation make clear that charges are appropriate and necessary to ensure accountability and justice for Enrique are achieved. This moment does not mark the end of the work. Our thoughts remain with Enrique’s family, and we will continue to stand with them as this process moves forward and as efforts continue to ensure this never happens again.”

In the days following Enrique Delgado-Garcia’s death, the three senators representing Worcester – Senators Moore, Kennedy, and Durant – sent a letter to Attorney General Campbell requesting the appointment of a conflict-of-interest Special Assistant Attorney General to investigate his death and to conduct a broader probe into the Academy’s culture and tolerance of harassment. The letter also requested that all findings be issued as a public report, and for it to include recommendations for changes to policy, practices, and culture at the State Police, including any changes to state laws or regulations.

The three Worcester senators followed up with another letter in February 2025 requesting Attorney General Campbell provide an update on the status of the investigation. “Trooper Delgado-Garcia’s family has patiently waited for answers to some of the hardest questions they will ever have to ask. Any information that you may be able to share related to the status of the investigation, the estimated duration of the investigation, and any preliminary factual findings would be deeply appreciated,” the Senators wrote in the letter.

Specifics on the events that led to Trooper Delgado-Garcia’s death were not shared in the report or during Meier’s press conference due to the ongoing criminal charges, but the special prosecutor said, “members of the State Police Training Academy committed a series of wanton and reckless acts in connection with various defensive tactics and physical confrontation training exercises conducted at the academy.” Meier emphasized that Delgado-Garcia’s death was not the result of targeted malice, but rather negligence of the Academy’s instructors.

The Massachusetts State Police Academy, located in New Braintree, is known for its intense curriculum, with frequent comparisons to paramilitary-style structures that push recruits to their limits. According to a Boston Globe report, at least 100 recruits were injured in the four most recent recruiting classes, with at least 24 requiring medical care at a hospital or urgent care center. The Globe also reports that dropout rates are significantly higher than national averages.

A new leader of the Massachusetts State Police was announced by Governor Maura Healey shortly after Trooper Delgado-Garcia’s death. Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble has since suspended the Academy’s boxing program and has asked the International Association of Chiefs of Police to review its training style and curriculum.

Enrique Delgado-Garcia graduated from Worcester’s North High School in 2017. Following his graduation, he became a victim-witness advocate for Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.’s office before leaving to join the Massachusetts State Police. Because of his connection to District Attorney Early’s office, the authority who would typically investigate an incident like this, the DA declined to handle the investigation, citing the potential conflict of interest.

###

Senate Acts to Boost Youngest Students’ Reading Education

(BOSTON 2/3/2026) — The Massachusetts Senate last week passed legislation that supports young learners by ensuring reading instruction is rooted in proven, evidence-based practices.

The bill creates new statewide standards for literacy education and assessment, offers professional development resources for educators, and offers flexible options and supplemental funding for public schools that work to implement evidence-based curricula.

The bill, S.2924, An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, ensures that every Massachusetts student from kindergarten to 3rd grade learns to read using phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and phonemic awareness – practices that data shows as the best building blocks for lifetime learning.

During Senate debate, Second Worcester District Senator Michael Moore introduced an amendment to expand Massachusetts’ existing public school vision screening program to include a database where results can be centralized and necessary follow-up appointments or treatment can be tracked to ensure no students fall through the cracks. This language reflects the contents of S.166 – An Act to close the achievement gap by addressing disparities in children’s vision, which Senator Moore has reintroduced over several sessions. Though proper eyesight is necessary to support children’s literacy, the amendment was withdrawn due to insufficient support.

“In recent years, a troubling trend as emerged; children in schools across the nation have been falling behind on their reading abilities,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “The good news is that this trend is reversable – we just need to give teachers the tools they need to get students back up to speed. I’m proud that the Senate is acting on this important issue, and although my amendment to expand children’s vision screenings in schools did not make it across the finish line, I’m still hopeful that we can continue our efforts to support kids in the most formative years of their education. After all, if a student is struggling to see the words on the page of a book, no amount of teaching will help until the child gets the glasses they need.”

To support school districts and educators with implementation, the legislation would create a new Early Literacy Fund seeded with $25 million in ‘Fair Share’ funding to help districts with costs and support educators’ professional development. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) would also make additional professional development resources available.

Schools would have three DESE-approved options to implement the new curriculum requirement: utilize a complete curriculum that is made available for free by DESE; use a curriculum from a list that meets evidence-based criteria; or receive a waiver authorizing the use of another curriculum that meets the same standards but had not been previously reviewed and approved by DESE.

The legislation makes sure parents and schools engage in constructive communication about student progress. It requires twice-yearly assessments to gauge every young learner’s reading progress and to screen for dyslexia, and requires schools to contact a parent or guardian within 30 days if a student has fallen significantly behind and propose a response if that is the case.

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

The Senate passed the bill unanimously on a 38-0 roll call vote, and the legislation was sent to the House of Representatives to reconcile the few differences between Senate and House bills.

###

Massachusetts Senators Urge State Government Officials Prepare for Federal Response

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

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

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

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

1.       Convene a Rapid Response Task Force

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

2.       Issue Guidance to State and Local Law Enforcement

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

###

Senate Passes Housing Affordability Package Focused on Property Tax Relief

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

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

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

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

Protecting Residents from Property Tax Shocks

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

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

A New Tax Relief Tool for Residents

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

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

Helping Seniors Age in Place

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

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

Means-Tested Senior Property Tax Exemption

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

Giving Back to Armed Forces Veterans

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

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

###

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The full letter can be viewed online here.

###

Massachusetts Legislators Announce Opposition to AI Regulation Moratorium Order

(BOSTON 12/18/2025) — This week, five Senators and eight Representatives seated on the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity sent a letter to the Commonwealth’s congressional delegation, Governor Maura Healey, and Attorney General Andrea Campbell urging any and all action to combat President Trump’s recently-signed executive order on artificial intelligence. The order, which many legal scholars describe as illegal, directs US Attorney General Pam Bondi to establish an AI Litigation Task Force whose sole purpose will be to challenge state-level AI regulations in court. It also directs federal agencies to identify “burdensome” state AI regulations and withhold funding for projects such as rural broadband expansion unless states commit to dropping the laws.

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

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

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

This is not the first time big tech companies have attempted to enact an AI regulation moratorium – over the summer, congressional Republicans attempted to slip a 10-year regulation pre-emption into the 1,000+ page so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’. After AITIC members urged opposition to that misguided policy, Senator Ed Markey led an effort to strip the language from the US Senate’s version in a 99-1 vote. Similarly, the artificial intelligence industry tried to insert another moratorium into the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act, but once again the provision was dropped.

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

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

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

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

###

State Legislators Visit Europe for AI Policy Exchange

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

###

Legislature Votes to Protect Integrity of U.S. Constitution

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

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

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

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

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

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

###