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League-Supported/Opposed Legislation 2021-2022

The legislative advocacy efforts of the LWVMA are led by the Legislative Action Committee (LAC), composed of the League’s volunteer legislative specialists.  Each legislative specialist follows one or more focus areas.  For those areas, the specialist researches bills filed with the Massachusetts legislature, recommends League action, writes testimony on the League’s position to submit to the relevant committee of the legislature, and follows the progress of the bill. The bills LWVMA acts on must be consistent with LWVMA or LWVUS positionsThe specialist may also join with approved coalition partners or advocacy groups to work together to support or oppose bills. The Legislative Action Committee decides on support for or opposition to a bill, with the LWVMA board of directors retaining final authority on those decisions.

Legislative specialists encourage League members who are interested in closely following an area of legislation or a specific bill to contact them and be added to that specialist’s “team” for notifications of committee hearings and other activities related to specific legislation.

To contact any of the legislative specialists, email specialists@lwvma.org.

Bills Followed by LWVMA in the 2021-2022 Legislative Session, listed by subject area

The bill numbers listed are the numbers initially assigned.  Those numbers will change many times during the legislative process.  You can find the new numbers by clicking on the numbers below, then following the links under “Bill History” on a bill’s page on the legislature’s website.

For the outcome of these bills as of the end of the formal session July 31, 2022, click here.

Affordable Housing, Clare Gordon, Lori Stewart

 Bill #TopicBill TitleLWVMA Action

H.202/S.111  

Summary

Emergency family housing assistance

An Act improving emergency housing assistance for children and families experiencing homelessness 

Support
Testimony

H.1373/S.867  

Summary

Prohibiting exclusionary zoning

An Act promoting fair housing by preventing discrimination against affordable housing

Support
Testimony

H.1428/S.898

Summary

Codifying the Mass. Rental Voucher Program-MRVP

An Act codifying the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program/An Act relative to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program

Support
Testimony

H.1436/S.874

Summary

Right to counsel

An Act promoting housing stability and homelessness prevention in Massachusetts

Support
Testimony

H.1808/S.921

Summary

Eviction Sealing

An Act promoting housing opportunity and mobility through eviction sealing (HOMES)

Support
Testimony

H.3049

Summary

No longer active this session

Increase Community Preservation Revenue

An Act to increase community preservation revenue

 

 

Support
Testimony

H.1377/S.868

Summary

Real estate transfer fees to benefit affordable housing

An Act empowering cities and towns to support affordable housing with a fee on certain real estate transactions

Support

Agriculture, Louise Haldeman

    

 

Children and Family Issues, Palma McLaughlin

 Bill #TopicBill TitleLWVMA Action

H.199/S.96 

Set floor for welfare benefits

 An Act to Lift Kids out of Deep Poverty   

Support
Testimony

H.311/S.176 

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

H.715/S.298   

 

 

Outline how schools handle meal debt

An Act to Promote Student Nutrition 

Support
Testimony

H.1642/S.951    

No longer active this session

Domestic violence training for child advocates

 

An Act relative to to improving training for child advocates to recognize indicators of domestic violence 

Support
Testimony

H.1709/S.937         

 

 

Establishes 18 as legal age to be married in Massachusetts

An Act to End Child Marriage in Massachusetts

Support
Testimony

H.1643/S.1112

Summary

Adds coercive control to definition of domestic violence

An Act improving protections relative to domestic violence

Support

 S.104          

 

 

Expands the list of professions, volunteers, and citizenry required to report suspicions of child abuse

 

An Act to authorize the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to establish additional mandated reporters for the purpose of the protection and care of children

Oppose
Testimony

Criminal Legal System, Nancy Bettinger

Bill #TopicBill TitleLWVMA Action

H.2504/S.1578

Summary

Curtails use of solitary confinement

An Act to provide criminal justice reform protections to all prisoners in segregated confinement

Support
Testimony

H.1462/S.1035

Summary

Requires treatment, not imprisonment  after  relapse while on probation or pre-trial release

An Act relative to treatment, not imprisonment

Support
Testimony

H.2440/S.1550

Summary

Protects the right of incarcerated people to receive visits by family and friends

An Act to strengthen family and community connection with incarcerated people

Support
Testimony

H.2503/S.1560

Summary

Ensures parole hearing when eligible,  expands the size and composition of the parole board

An Act to promote equitable access to parole

Support
Testimony

H.1531/S.980

Summary

Expands the types of juvenile records that can be expunged

An Act relative to expungement of juvenile and young adult records

Support
Testimony

H.1794/S.1022

Summary

Prevents consideration of juvenile adjudication records to “enhance” sentences for later offenses

An Act to prevent the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences based on juvenile adjudications

Support
Testimony

H.1797

Summary

No longer active this session

Establishes the right to a parole hearing after 25 years in custody

An Act to reduce mass incarceration

Support
Testimony

H.1826/S.920

Summary

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

H.1795/S.1558

Establishes systems to collect accurate data on juveniles’ contacts with law enforcement

An Act improving juvenile justice data collection

Support

Education (Finance), Mary Frantz

    

Education (Higher), Susan Loffredo

Bill #TopicBill TitleLWVMA Action

H.1350/S.847

Summary

Establishes pilot at community colleges to remedy student food insecurity

An Act establishing a community college campus hunger pilot program

Support
Testimony

H.1325/S.824

Summary

Guarantees additional funds to counteract cuts in higher education spending and inflation since 2001

An Act committing to higher education the resources to insure a strong and healthy public education system

Support
Testimony

H.2399/S.1470

Summary

Medication abortions provided at public universities

An Act to require public universities to provide medication abortion

Support
Testimony

Education (Policy), Karen Mazza

Bill #TopicBill TitleLWVMA Action

H.605/S.362

Summary

Affordable Early Education & Childcare

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

Support
Testimony

H716/

Summary

No longer active this session

CIVICS studies

An Act creating an inclusive vision for implementing civics studies (CIVICS)

Support
Testimony

H584/S365

Summary

Anti-racism education

An Act relative to anti-racism, equity and justice in education

Support
Testimony

Elder Affairs, Pat Costello

    

Elections and Voting, Nancy Brumback, Linda Freedman

Bill #TopicBill TitleLWVMA Action

H.805/S.459

Summary

Make 2020 voting reforms permanent

An Act Fostering Voting Opportunities, Trust, Equity, And Security (VOTES Act)

Support
Testimony

H.836/S.474

Summary

No longer active this session*

Voting assistance for incarcerated voters

An Act to protect the voting rights of eligible incarcerated people

Support
Testimony

H.813

Summary

No longer active this session*

Same day voter registration

An Act relative to same day voter registration

Support
Testimony

S.435

Summary

No longer active this session*

An Act allowing election day registration

H.76

Summary

Remove absentee ballot restrictions from Constitution

Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution to provide for no excuse absentee voting

Support
Testimony

H.769/S.475

Summary

Allow use of campaign funds for child care

An Act supporting parents running for public office

Support
Testimony

H.3547/S.2261

Summary

Free public transit on Election Day

An Act to establish free access to ride to elections in Massachusetts (FARE Act)

Support
Testimony

S.448

Summary

No longer active this session

Allow municipalities to lower voting age for local elections

An Act ensuring municipal participation of the widest eligible range (EMPOWER Act)

Support
Testimony

H.794

Summary

no longer active this session

An Act establishing health voting habits among youth

H.825/S.485

Summary

No longer active this session

Ranked choice voting in municipal elections

An Act providing a local option for ranked choice voting in municipal elections 

Support
Testimony

H.843

Summary

No longer active this session

An Act ensuring municipal power over whether elections are reformed

H.780

Summary

No longer active this session*

Change processes for electronic transmission of completed absentee ballots by overseas voters

 An Act relative to Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting (UOCAVA)

Oppose
Testimony

H.824

Summary

An Act relative to voting overseas

H.762

Summary

No longer active this session

Photo ID to vote

An Act requiring photo IDs to vote 

Oppose
Testimony

H.792

Summary

No longer active this session

An Act ensuring the election integrity through voter identification 

Environment—Climate Change and Energy, Launa Zimmaro

Bill #TopicBill TitleLWVMA Action

H.3350/S.2202

Summary

Decarbonization of buildings

An Act relative to building energy and decarbonization

Support
Testimony

H.3264/S.2138

Summary

TCI funds for transportation and EJ

An Act relative to transportation and environmental justice

Support

H.3292

Summary

Infrastructure funding EJ

An Act achieving a green future with infrastructure and workforce investments

Support
Testimony

H.3298/S.2148
Summary

Transitioning off gas heating

An Act relative to the future of heat in the Commonwealth

Support
Testimony

H.3289/S.2149

Updated bottle bill

An Act to expand the Bottle Bill

Support
Testimony

H.878/S.610/S.517

Producer responsibility for paper and packaging

An Act to save recycling costs in the commonwealth

Support
Testimony

H.3288/S.2136

100% Clean Energy by 2035 and 100% clean heating and transportation by 2045

An Act transitioning Massachusetts to clean electricity, heating, and transportation

Support
Testimony

H.3302/S.2158

Summary

Promotes offshore wind energy

An Act to promote offshore wind energy and renewables

Support
Testimony

S.2155

Summary

No longer active this session

An Act relative to enhancing reliability of renewable resources in the
Commonwealth

Environment—Natural Resources, Carolyn Lee

Bill #TopicBill TitleLWVMA Action

H.898/S.530

Summary

Water Resources – Drought policy

An Act relative to maintaining adequate water supplies through effective drought management

Support
Testimony

S.527/S.505/H.920

Summary

Water Resources – “Water Banking” trust fund

An Act improving municipal water infrastructure

Support
Testimony

H.897/S.529

Summary

Water Resources – Flushable Wipes labeling

An Act protecting water systems through the labeling of flushable wipes

Support
Testimony

H.937/S.556

Summary

No longer active this session

 Environmental Protection – pest management

An Act providing for the public health by establishing an ecologically based mosquito management program in the Commonwealth

Support
Testimony

H.999/S.563

Summary

Environmental Protection –invasive species

An Act responding to the threat of invasive species

Support
Testimony

H.2350/S.1387

Summary

Environmental Protection – hazardous chemicals (PFAS)

An Act restricting toxic PFAS chemicals in consumer products to protect our health

Support
Testimony

H.3362/H.3333/S.2193

Summary

Environmental Protection – air pollution, environmental justice (biomass)

An Act furthering our commitment to non-carbon emitting energy sources/ to prevent biomass energy to protect the air we breathe

Support
Testimony

H.851/S.524  

Summary

Environmental Protection – Public Lands

An Act preserving open space in the Commonwealth

Support
Testimony

H.2960/S.1986

Summary

Environmental Protection

An Act increasing the conservation land tax credit

Support
Testimony

Fiscal Policy, June Michaels

    

Good Governance, Carolyn Lee

Bill #Topic Bill TitleLWVMA Action

H.135/S.47

Summary

Privacy protection

An Act to regulate face surveillance 

Support
Testimony

H.142/S.46

Summary

Privacy protection

An Act establishing the Massachusetts Information Privacy Act

Support
Testimony

H.3152S.2082

Summary

Remote access to public meetings

An Act to modernize participation in public meetings

Support
Letter to Governor’s Council

H.3658/S.2402

Summary

Call for Article V Constitutional convention

Resolutions for a United States Constitutional Amendment and a limited amendment proposing convention

Oppose
Testimony

Gun Safety, Jennifer Muroff, Sue McCalley

Bill #TopicBill TitleLWVMA Action

H.2437/S.1562

Summary

Analysis of crime gun date to determine illegal gun trafficking patterns

An Act relative to crime gun data analysis and reporting

Support
Testimony

H.2491 /S.1540  

Summary

Classifies 3D printed guns and ghost guns (or unserialized, untraceable guns) as illegal

An Act Relative to 3D Printed Weapons and Ghost Guns

Support
Testimony

Health Care, Janice Goodell, Valentina Pasquantonio

Bill #TopicBill Title LWVMA Action

H.1267/S.766

Summary

No longer active this session

Universal single payer health coverage for all

An Act establishing Medicare for all in Massachusetts

Support
Testimony

H.2329/S.1386

Summary

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

H.2271/S.1517

Summary

Uniform collection and reporting process for immunization information

An Act promoting community immunity

Support
Testimony

H.2979/S.788

Summary

Tax credit for caregivers of family members at home

An Act establishing the family caregiver tax credit

Support
Testimony

H.2341/S.1519

Summary

License midwives practicing in out-of-hospital settings

An Act relative to out-of-hospital birth access and safety

Support
Testimony

Immigration, Jennifer Muroff

Bill #TopicBill Title LWVMA Action

H.2418/S.1579

Summary

“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

H.3456/S.2289

Summary

Allow drivers’ licenses to all regardless of immigration status

An act relative to work and family mobility during and subsequent to the COVID-19 emergency

Support
Testimony

H.1477

Summary

Prohibits county sheriffs and state officials from entering into contracts with federal immigration and customs enforcement (ICE)

An Act relative to enforcing federal law

Support
Testimony

Meeting Basic Human Needs, Clare Gordon

Bill #TopicBill TitleLWVMA Action   

H.264/S.142

Summary

Rights for Homeless Persons

An Act providing a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness

Support
Testimony

H.1290/S.761

Summary

Common Application for Assistance

An Act to streamline access to critical public health and safety-net programs through common applications

Support
Testimony

S.1821

Summary

Earned Income Credit State Match

An Act improving the earned income credit for working families

Support
Testimony

H.199/S.96

Summary

Lift Our Kids

An Act to lift kids out of deep poverty

Support
Testimony

Racial Justice, Vedna Lacombe-Heywood, Jennifer Muroff

Bill #TopicBill TitleLWVMA Action   

H.1819/S.1051

Summary

Enhance hate crime statues to add protected classes and increase penalties

An Act to reform the hate crime statutes

Support
Testimony

H.2519/S.1552

Summary

Grant program to establish community/clinician response to 911 calls

An act to create alternatives for community emergency services (ACES)

Support
Testimony

 H.1979/S.1205

Summary

 Fair wages for agricultural workers

An Act establishing fairness for agricultural laborers

Support
Testimony

See our testimony for the Special Commission on Qualified Immunity here.

Transportation, Tanya Roy, Lois Levin

Bill #TopicBill TitleLWVMA Action

S.2265

Summary

No longer active this session

Omnibus transportation bill

An Act creating a New Deal for Transportation in the Commonwealth

Support
Testimony

H.3347/S.2151

Summary

Promotes use of ZEVs thru rebates and special rates disclosure

An Act promoting zero-emission vehicles

Support
Testimony

H.2978/S.1899

Summary

 

Authorizes municipality to impose tax surcharge to fund transportation-related projects

An Act relative to regional transportation ballot initiatives

Support
Testimony

Women’s Issues, Jan Soma, Susan Loffredo

Bill #Topic Bill TitleLWVMA Action

H.2020/S.1196

Summary

Equal Pay

An Act relative to transparency in the workplace

Support
Testimony

H.3157/S.2077

Summary

Parity on public boards

An Act to ensure gender parity and racial and ethnic diversity in public boards and commissions

Support
Testimony

H.1935/S.1171

Summary

Harassment prevention in workplaces

An Act to require policies and training to prevent harassment, including sexual harassment

Support
Testimony

H.1984/S.1164

Summary

Ban on mandatory arbitration in the workplace

An Act relative to the defense against abusive waivers

Support
Testimony

H.2354/S.1445

Summary

No cost menstrual products

An Act to access disposable menstrual products in prisons, homeless shelters and public schools

Support
Testimony

S.2102

Summary

Independent commission to investigate State House sexual harassment/abuse

An Act promoting equality and respect in the legislature

Support
Testimony

H.1196/S.673

Summary

Health insurance coverage for all pregnancy related care

An Act ensuring access to full spectrum pregnancy care

Support
Testimony

H.673/S.318

Summary

Ensures age appropriate, medically accurate sex education in schools

An act relative to healthy youth

Support
Testimony

Bills Followed by LWVMA in Previous Legislative Sessions

Asterisk (*) indicates the essence of the bill was included in another bill, even though this bill was sent to study