League-Supported/Opposed Legislation 2023-2024
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Bills Followed by LWVMA in the 2023-2024 Legislative Session, listed by subject area
Affordable Housing, Lori Stewart & Lucy Kennedy
Topic
Eviction Record Sealing
Bill Title
An Act promoting housing opportunity and mobility through eviction sealing (HOMES)
LWVMA Action
Status
Enacted as part of The Affordable Homes Act
Access to Counsel
An Act promoting access to counsel and housing stability in Massachusetts
$2.5M Access to Counsel pilot program enacted as part of FY’25 budget
Real Estate Transfer Fee to benefit affordable housing
An Act granting a local option for a real estate transfer fee to fund affordable housing
Support
Testimony
Extension to 7/31/24; no new info
Emergency family housing assistance
An Act improving emergency housing assistance for children and families experiencing homelessness
Support
Testimony
Senate Ways and Means
Codifying Mass Rental Voucher Program MVRP
An Act codifying the Mass. Rental Voucher Program
Support
Testimony
House Ways and Means
Prohibiting exclusionary zoning
An Act promoting fair housing by preventing discrimination against affordable housing
Support
Testimony
Extension to 7/31/24; no new info
Increase community preservation revenue
An Act to increase community preservation revenue
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Children and Family Issues, Palma McLaughlin
Topic
Lift Our Kids
Bill Title
An Act to lift kids out of deep poverty
LWVMA Action
Support
Testimony
Status
10% increase passed as part of FY’25 budget
Universal school meals
An Act relative to Universal School Meals
Support
Enacted in FY’24 budget
Basic needs assistance for immigrant residents
An Act Establishing Basic Needs Assistance for Massachusetts Immigrant Residents
Support
Testimony
Included in FY’24 supp budget; rescinded in future budgets
Domestic violence training for salon employees
An Act to mandate domestic violence and sexual assault awareness education for aestheticians, barbers, cosmetologists, electrologists, hairdressers, manicurists, and massage therapists
Support
Testimony
Passed in Senate; sent to House Ways and Means
Criminal Legal System, Nancy Bettinger & Leslie Nelken
Topic
Promoting humane treatment and rehabilitation
Bill Title
An Act related to rehabilitation, re-entry and human rights for incarcerated people
LWVMA Action
Support
Testimony
Status
House Ways and Means
Establishes corrections inspector general
An Act establishing a correctional inspector general office
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Juvenile diversion
An Act promoting diversion of juveniles to community supervision and services
Support
Testimony
Senate Ways and Means
Parole review for the elderly incarcerated
An Act relative to parole review for aging incarcerated people
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Establishes the right to a parole hearing after 25 years in custody
An Act to reduce mass incarceration
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Restructures the juvenile justice system to include 18 to 20-year-olds
An Act to promote public safety and better outcomes for young adults
Support
Testimony
Passed in Eco Dev bill- TBD
Requires treatment, not imprisonment after relapse while on probation or pre-trial release
An Act relative to treatment, not imprisonment
Support
Testimony
Senate Ways and Means
Education policy K-12, Caroline Ellis
Topic
Affordable Early Education & Childcare
Bill Title
An Act Providing Affordable and Accessible High Quality Early Education and Care to Promote Child Development and Well-Being and Support the Economy in the Commonwealth (Common Start)
LWVMA Action
Support
Testimony
Status
Passed in Senate; House handled by offering $475M in C3 grants in FY/25 budget
Ensures K-12 education includes accurate histories contributions of racial and ethnic groups
An Act to promote racially inclusive curriculum in schools
Support
Testimony
Bundled into new bill and sent to Ways and Means;
Elder Affairs, Pat Costello
Elections and Voting, Nancy Brumback & Nell Forgacs
Topic
Voting reforms including Same Day Registration
*Note that the four provisions of S.410 have been filed as separate bills in the House, below
Bill Title
An Act making voting administrative changes to create equitable systemic solutions (ACCESS Act)
LWVMA Action
Support
Testimony
Status
Sent to study
Same-day voter Registration
An Act establishing same day registration of voters
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Monitor polls for disability access
An Act enforcing accessibility for voters with disabilities
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Implement risk-limiting post-election audits
An Act Protecting Elections using Risk-Limiting Audits
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Felon voting
Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to voting rights
Support
Testimony
Recessed to Thursday, November 14, 2024
Voter ID requirements posted
An Act mandating the posting of identification requirements at polling places
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Free public transit on Election Day
An Act to establish free access to ride to Support elections in Massachusetts (FARE Act)
Support
Testimony
House Ways and Means
Ranked choice voting in municipal elections
An Act providing a local option for ranked choice voting in municipal elections
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Allow use of campaign funds for child care
An Act empowering parental participation in elected office
Support
Testimony
Passed in Eco Dev bill- TBD
Allow use of campaign funds for child care
An Act supporting parents running for public office
Support
Testimony
Passed in Eco Dev bill- TBD
Allow municipalities to lower voting age in municipal elections
An Act ensuring municipal participation of the widest eligible range
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Photo ID to vote
An Act requiring photo IDs to vote
Oppose
Testimony
Sent to study
Show ID to vote
An Act ensuring the election integrity through voter identification
Oppose
Testimony
Sent to study
Photo ID to vote
An Act establishing identification at the voting polls
Oppose
Testimony
Sent to study
Environment -- Climate and Energy, Launa Zimmaro
Topic
Climate bank
Bill Title
An Act creating a climate bank in Massachusetts
LWVMA Action
Support
Testimony
Status
Executive order
Transition gas to thermal energy utilities
An Act relative to the future of heat in the Commonwealth
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Supply heating energy from zero emissions sources
An Act relative to the clean heat standard
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Bottle bill expansion
An Act to expand the bottle bill
Support
Testimony
Climate and energy omnibus, status TBD
Reduce waste and recycling costs
An Act to reduce waste and recycling costs in the Commonwealth
Support
Testimony
House Ways and Means
Building decarbonization
An Act relative to Better Buildings
Support
Testimony
House Ways and Means
Building decarbonization
An Act relative to Building Energy and Decarbonization
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
GETS: Grid enhancement technologies
An Act advancing grid enhancement technologies
Support
Climate and energy omnibus, status TBD
Permitting and siting
An Act to expedite permitting for electric decarbonization infrastructure projects
An Act relative to energy facilities siting improvement to address environmental
Support
Climate and energy omnibus, status TBD
Environment -- Natural Resources
Topic
Water Resources – Drought policy
Bill Title
An Act relative to maintaining adequate water supplies through effective drought management
LWVMA Action
Support
Testimony
Status
House Ways and Means
Water Resources – “Water Banking” trust fund
An Act improving municipal water infrastructure
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Water resources – Flushable wipes labeling
An Act protecting water systems through the labeling of flushable wipes
Support
Testimony
Senate Ways and Means
Environmental Protection – pest management
An Act providing for the public health by establishing an ecologically based mosquito management program in the Commonwealth
Support
Testimony
House Ways and Means
Environmental Protection – invasive species
An Act responding to the threat of invasive species
Support
Testimony
House Ways and Means
Environmental Protection – hazardous chemicals (PFAS)
An Act to protect Massachusetts public health from PFAS
Support
Testimony
House Ways and Means
Environmental Protection
An Act increasing the conservation land tax credit (CLTC)
Support
Testimony
House Ways and Means
Good Governance
Topic
Privacy protection
Bill Title
An Act to implement the recommendations of the special commission on facial recognition technology
LWVMA Action
Support
Testimony
Status
House Ways and Means
Prohibits book bans
An Act regarding free expression
Support
Testimony
Senate Ways and Means
Call for Article V Constitutional convention
Resolutions for a United States Constitutional Amendment and a limited amendment proposing convention
Oppose
Testimony
Senate Committee on Rules
Hybrid meetings
An Act to modernize participation in public meetings
Support
Testimony
House Ways and Means
Cable access
An Act to modernize funding for community media programming
Support
Testimony
House Ways and Means
Gun Violence Prevention, Sue McCalley & Caroline Ellis
Topic
Firearms omnibus bill
Bill Title
An Act to modernize firearm laws
LWVMA Action
Status
Signed into law
Health Care, Ellen Church
Topic
Universal single payer healthcare
Bill Title
An Act establishing Medicare for all in Massachusetts
LWVMA Action
Support
Testimony
Status
Sent to study
Uniform collection and reporting process for immunization information
An Act Promoting Community Immunity
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Ensure minimum local public health standards, uniform data collection and reporting
An Act relative to accelerating improvements to the local and regional public health system to address disparities in the delivery of public health services
Support
Testimony
Potential to pass as part of Eco Dev bill; TBD
License midwives practicing in out-of-hospital settings
An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options
Support
Testimony
Enacted
Tax credit for caregivers of family members at home
An Act to establish the family caregiving tax credit
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Death with dignity
An Act Relative to End of Life Options
Support
Testimony
Senate Ways and Means
Immigration, Amy Cooper
Topic
Provide services in multiple languages
Bill Title
An Act relative to language access and inclusion
LWVMA Action
Support
Testimony
Status
Executive Order issued by Governor Healey; bills sent to study
“Safe Communities Act” prevents state/local involvement in federal immigration enforcement
An Act to protect the civil rights and safety of all Massachusetts residents
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Fair wages for agricultural workers
An Act establishing fairness for agricultural laborers
Support
Testimony
Reporting date extended to 7/31/24; no new info. Added as an amendment to Eco Dev bill; then withdrawn
Tuition equity for all MA HS graduates
An Act to ensure tuition equity for Massachusetts residents/ An Act providing access to higher education for high school graduates in the Commonwealth
Support
Testimony
Passed as part of FY24 budget
Ends 287g ICE agreements
An Act relative to Massachusetts state sovereignty
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Meeting Basic Human Needs, Clare Gordon
Topic
Rights for Homeless persons
Bill Title
An Act establishing a bill of rights for individuals experiencing homelessnes
LWVMA Action
Support
Testimony
Status
Sent to study
Earned Income Credit State Match
An Act improving the earned income credit for working families
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
IDs for homeless individuals
An Act to provide identification to youth and adults experiencing homelessness
Support
Testimony
Passed in Senate; Sent to House Ways and Means
Racial Justice, Felina Silver
Topic
Commission to study improving education outcomes for Indigenous youth
Bill Title
An Act providing for the creation of a permanent commission relative to the education of American Indian and Alaska Native residents of the Commonwealth
LWVMA Action
Support
Status
Bundled into new bill and sent to Ways and Means
Curriculum standard to include MA Indigenous peoples
An Act relative to celebrating and teaching Native American culture and history
Support
Bundled into new bill and sent to Ways and Means
Bans use of Native American mascots in schools unless tribe has granted permission
An Act prohibiting the use of Native American mascots by public schools in the Commonwealth
Support
Senate Ways and Means
Establishes Indigneous Peoples Day as a state holiday
An Act establishing an Indigenous Peoples Day
Support
7/29/24 Placed in the Orders of the Day
Transportation, Franny Osman & Lois Levin
Topic
Regional transit authorities
Bill Title
An Act to increase regional transit accessibility in the Commonwealth
LWVMA Action
Support
Testimony
Status
Sent to study
Authorizes municipality to impose tax surcharge to fund transportation-related projects
An Act relative to regional transportation ballot initiatives
Support
House Ways and Means
Sets deadlines to electrify regional transit authorities
An Act Electrifying Regional Transit Authorities
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Sets deadlines to electrify school buses
An Act Setting Deadlines for School Bus & Public Fleet Electrification and Programs to Encourage Electrification of Private Fleets
Support
Sent to study
Sets deadline to electrify the commuter rail
An Act Setting Deadlines to Electrify the Commuter Rail
Support
Testimony
Sent to study
Women's Issues, Jan Soma
Topic
No cost menstrual products
Bill Title
An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products
LWVMA Action
Support
Testimony
Status
Passed in Senate; Sent to House Ways and Means
Ensures age appropriate, medically accurate sex education in schools
An Act relative to healthy youth
Support
Testimony
Passed in Senate; Sent to House Ways and Means
Health insurance coverage for all pregnancy related care
An Act ensuring access to full spectrum pregnancy care
Support
Testimony
Senate Ways and Means
Ban on mandatory arbitration in the workplace
An Act relative to defense against abusive waivers
Support
Testimony
House Ways and Means
Equal Pay
An Act relative to transparency in the workplace
Support
Testimony
Enacted, Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act
Equal Pay
An Act relative to pay range disclosure
Support
Testimony
Enacted, Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act
Parity on public boards
An Act to promote gender and racial and diversity on public boards and commissions
Support
Testimony
House Ways and Means
Black maternal health omnibus-new
An Act relative to birthing justice in the Commonwealth
Support
Testimony
Enacted
Independent commission to investigate State House sexual harassment/abuse
An Act promoting equality and respect in the legislature
Support
Testimony
Sent to study