By the end of the formal legislative session on July 31, 2022, 9,393 bills had been filed. The League was following over 170 of them. We are pleased with some significant legislative victories in voting reforms, the climate crisis, reproductive rights, immigration rights and meeting basic human needs. Many other bills we supported came close to passage.
Here is a list of the bills we followed and their fate at the July 31 deadline. The legislature remains in informal session through the end of the year, so additional action on bills is still a possibility. There are also indications the legislature may reconvene in a formal session to deal with some major bills that were left hanging. See our webpage on this session’s legislation for bill summaries and our testimony on them.
Outcome of LWVMA-supported bills:
Passed and signed into law—as stand-alone law:
H.805/S.459 (VOTES Act) An Act Fostering Voting Opportunities, Trust, Equity, And Security (VOTES Act), including jail-based voting reforms. Election Day voter registration was cut. (See Elections and Voting here.)
H.3456/S.2289 Work and Family Mobility Act—passed over Governor veto; effort to repeal with ballot question underway (See Immigration here.)
H.715/S.298 Act to Improve Student Nutrition (School Meal Debt), (See Children and Families here.)
H.3302/S.2158 An Act to promote offshore wind energy and renewables– This bill became the basis for the new omnibus climate bill, H.5060 An Act driving clean energy and offshore wind. After passage in the House and amendments by the Senate, a compromise bill was crafted in a joint conference committee, before final passage in the House and the Senate. The bill was sent to the Governor who returned it with amendments. After consideration of the Governor’s amendments, the bill was signed into law on August 11, 2022. While the wind bill is critically important to our need to deploy clean renewable energy as rapidly as possible, it was not a climate bill. The amendments by the Senate added many necessary features to ensure Massachusetts meets the emissions reduction goals mandated by law in March 2021. The new law has garnered national recognition as one of the most ambitious and transformative laws in the nation, placing Massachusetts at the forefront of states working to achieve an equitable clean energy future. This bill included provisions from a number of other climate and energy bills we were supporting, even when the original bill did not advance, including climate, environmental, and equity goals and standards; workforce and infrastructure improvements; reforms needed to transition of gas and other fossil fuel based energy sources for heating and cooling; 2035 deadline for all vehicles sold in state to be zero emission, electrification of MBTA buses, and remove woody biomass from renewable classification. (See Environment—Climate Change and Energy here.)
Passed and signed into law—as part of other legislation:
H.4954/S2996 An Act expanding protections for reproductive rights—signed after Roe overturned and included the provisions in two bills we supported: An Act ensuring access to full spectrum pregnancy care and An Act to require public universities to provide medication abortion (See Women’s Issues here.)
H.199/S.96 (Lift Our Kids) An Act to lift kids out of deep poverty—2022 and 2023 budgets included increases in cash assistance but still below poverty level; pursue more increases next session; bill itself stayed in House Ways & Means (See Children and Families, Meeting Basic Human Needs here.)
H.1290/S.761 (Common Application for assistance) An Act to streamline access to critical public health and safety-net programs through common applications–Passed as H.5108 sponsored by Gov. Charlie Baker, An act providing for the development and implementation of a secure common application portal for individuals to simultaneously apply for state-administered needs-based benefits and services (See Meeting Basic Human Needs here.)
H.3152/ S.2082 An Act to modernize participation in public meetings—deadline to allow remote public meetings extended from July 15 to March 31, 2023, as part of larger bill on emergency regulations (See Good Governance here.)
H.1709/S.937 An Act to End Child Marriage in Massachusetts—provisions passed as part of the budget (See Children and Families here.)
H.605/S.362 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, The Common Start bill—Senate passed its version, House version stayed in Ways & Means, but budget established a first year down payment on this bill by including more than $500 million in new early education funding. (See Education- policy here.)
Came close:
H.2354/S.1445 An Act to access disposable menstrual products in prisons, homeless shelters and public schools—passed Senate; stuck in House W&M, strong support next session (See Women’s Issues here.)
H.673/S.318 An Act relative to healthy youth—once again this sex education bill passed the Senate and was not released by House W&M (See Women’s Issues here.)
S.1821 (Earned Income Credit State Match) An Act improving the earned income credit for working families—An earned income credit was in the Senate’s Economic Development bill S.3018 and in Conference Committee when the legislature adjourned on 7/31. Legislature may reconvene to deal with this bill. (See Meeting Basic Human Needs here.)
H.851/S.524 An Act preserving open space in the Commonwealth—different versions passed House and Senate; in conference committee when session ended. (See Environment, Natural Resources here.)
H.135/S.47 An Act to regulate face surveillance—attached to bond bill in House, rejected by Senate (See Good Government here.)
H.1808/S.921 (Eviction Sealing) An Act promoting housing opportunity and mobility through eviction sealing (HOMES)—provisions in this bill were added to the Senate Economic Development bill which was in conference when legislature adjourned. Legislature may reconvene to deal with this bill. (See Affordable Housing here.)
H.2960/S.1986 An Act increasing the conservation land tax credit (CLTC)—part of a bond bill but Senate rejected (See Environment, Natural Resources here.)
H.605/S.362 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, The Common Start bill—Senate passed its version, House version stayed in Ways & Means, but budget established a first year down payment on this bill by including more than $500 million in new early education funding. (See Education-policy here.)
H.2329/S.1386An Act relative to accelerating improvements to the local and regional public health system to address disparities in the delivery of public health services—Passed House and Senate and sent to governor at end of session, governor returned it with suggested amendments after formal session adjourned; possible action if legislature reconvenes or takes up in informal session; proponents urging reject Baker amendments (See Healthcare here)
H.2341/S.1519 An Act relative to out-of-hospital birth access and safety—provisions included as amendments to economic development bill and reproductive rights bill but were dropped from both of those bills at end of session (See Healthcare here.)
Reported favorably but never got out of House or Senate Ways & Means/Rules:
H.769/S.475 An Act supporting parents running for public office—allow use of campaign funds for child care (See Elections and Voting here.)
H.2020/S.1196 An Act relative to wage equity—combined with other bills; did not get out of Senate W&M, strong coalition for next session (See Women’s Issues here.)
H.3157/S.2077 An Act to ensure gender parity and racial and ethnic diversity in public boards and commissions—stuck in Senate W&M; similar legislation struck down in CA; (See Women’s Issues here.)
H.3157/S.2077 An Act to require policies and training to prevent harassment, including sexual harassment—House W&M (See Women’s Issues here.)
H.1984/S.1164 An Act relative to the defense against abusive waivers—Senate W&M; Calif. and US bills passed this year may boost next session (See Women’s Issues here.)
H.898/S.530 An Act relative to maintaining adequate water supplies through effective drought management (See Environment, Natural Resources here.)
S.527/S.505/H.920 An Act improving municipal water infrastructure (See Environment, Natural Resources here.)
H.897/S.529 An Act protecting water systems through the labeling of flushable wipes (See Environment, Natural Resources here.)
H.2350/S.1387 An Act restricting toxic PFAS chemicals in consumer products to protect our health (See Environment, Natural Resources here.)
H.3362/H.3333/S.2197 An Act furthering our commitment to non-carbon emitting energy sources/ to prevent biomass energy to protect the air we breathe (See Environment, Natural Resources here.)
H.142/S.46 An Act establishing the Massachusetts Information Privacy Act-favorably out of joint committee but died in joint committee health care financing (See Good Governance here.)
H.4869 An Act Relative to 3D Printed Weapons and Ghost guns (See Gun Safety here.)
H.4928 (new bill number-four bills on same topic rolled into one new bill) An Act to Create Alternatives for Community Education Services [ACES] (See Racial Justice here.)
H.2437/S.1562 An Act Relative to Crime Gun Data Reporting and Analysis (See Gun Safety here.)
H.2418/S.1579 An Act to Protect the Civil Rights and Safety of all MA residents or Safe Communities Act (See Immigration here.)
H.202/S.111 (Emergency family housing assistance) An Act improving emergency housing assistance for children and families experiencing homelessness—but some funds in budget (See Affordable Housing here.)
H.1428/S.898 (Codifying the Mass. Rental Voucher Program-MRVP) An Act codifying the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program/An Act relative to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program–
The 2023 Budget includes $154.3 million (over 10,000 vouchers) with enhanced benefits and reforms according to CHAPA. (See Affordable Housing here.)
H.1377/S.868 (Transfer Fees to benefit Affordable Housing) An Act empowering cities and towns to support affordable housing with a fee on certain real estate transactions—reported out of Housing, died in Revenue (See Affordable Housing here.)
H.1350/S.847 An Act establishing a community college campus hunger pilot program (See Higher Education here.)
H.1325/S.824 An Act committing to higher education the resources to insure a strong and healthy public education system (See Higher Education here.)
H.2440/S.1550 An Act to strengthen family and community connection with incarcerated people (See Criminal Justice and Courts here.)
H.1794/S.1022 An Act to prevent the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences based on juvenile adjudications (See Criminal Justice and Courts here.)
H.1531/S.980 An Act relative to expungement of juvenile and young adult records (See Criminal Justice and Courts here.)
H.1795/S.1558 An Act improving juvenile justice data collection (See Criminal Justice and Courts here.)
H.311/S.176 An Act to mandate domestic violence and sexual assault awareness education for aestheticians, barbers, cosmetologists, electrologists, hairdressers, manicurists, and massage therapists (See Children and Families here)
H584/S365 An Act relative to anti-racism, equity and justice in education (See Education-policy here.)
H.2978/S.1899 An Act relative to regional transportation ballot initiatives (See Transportation here.)
H.878/S.610/S.517 An Act to save recycling costs in the commonwealth (See Environment- Climate Change and Energy here.)
Sent to study or still pending in joint committee when formal session ended:
H.825/S.485 An Act providing a local option for ranked choice voting in municipal elections (See Elections and Voting here.)
H.843 An Act ensuring municipal power over whether elections are reformed—local option Ranked Choice Voting elections (See Elections and Voting here.)
S.448 An Act ensuring municipal participation of the widest eligible range (EMPOWER Act); local option to lower voting age in municipal elections (See Elections and Voting here.)
H.794 An Act establishing health voting habits among youth ; local option to lower voting age in municipal elections (See Elections and Voting here.)
S.2102 An Act promoting equality and respect in the legislature (See Women’s Issues here.)
H.264/S.142 (Rights for Homeless Persons) An Act providing a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness (See Meeting Basic Human Needs here.)
H.937/S.556 An Act providing for the public health by establishing an ecologically based mosquito management program in the Commonwealth (See Environment—Natural Resources here.)
H.999/S.563 An Act responding to the threat of invasive species (See Environment—Natural Resources here.)
H.1979/S.1205 Fairness for Farmworkers Act (See Racial Justice here.)
H.1477An Act Relative to Enforcing Federal Law (ICE and 287g agreements)—but provisions in Safe Communities act (See Immigration here.)
H.1819/S.1051 An Act to Reform the Hate Crime Statutes (See Racial Justice here.)
H.1373/S.867 (Prohibiting exclusionary zoning) An Act promoting fair housing by preventing discrimination against affordable housing (See Affordable Housing here.)
H.1436/S.874 (Right to counsel) An Act promoting housing stability and homelessness prevention in Massachusetts (See Affordable Housing here.)
H.3049 (Increase Community Preservation Revenue) An Act to increase community preservation revenue—but budget included some increase in CPA match funds (See Affordable Housing here.)
H.2504/S.1578 An Act to provide criminal justice reform protections to all prisoners in segregated confinement (See Criminal Justice and Courts here.)
H.2503/S.1560 An Act to promote equitable access to parole (See Criminal Justice and Courts here.)
H.1462/S.1035 An Act relative to treatment, not imprisonment (See Criminal Justice and Courts here.)
H.1797 An Act to reduce mass incarceration (See Criminal Justice and Courts here.)
H.1826/S.920 An Act to promote public safety and better outcomes for young adults (See Criminal Justice and Courts here.)
H.1642/S.951 An Act relative to improving training for child advocates to recognize indicators of domestic violence (See Children and Families here.)
H.1643/S.1112 An Act improving protections relative to domestic violence (See Children and Families here.)
H.716 An Act creating an inclusive vision for implementing civics studies (CIVICS) (See Education -policy here.)
S.2265 An Act creating a New Deal for Transportation in the Commonwealth (See Transportation here.)
H.3347/S.2151 An Act promoting zero-emission vehicles (See Transportation here.)
H.3350/S.2202 An Act relative to building energy and decarbonization—some provisions in climate bill (See Environment—Climate Change and Energy here.)
H.3264/S.2138 An Act relative to transportation and environmental justice (See Environment—Climate Change and Energy here.)
H.3292 An Act achieving a green future with infrastructure and workforce investments—workforce and infrastructure provisions included in omnibus climate bill (See Environment—Climate Change and Energy here.)
H.3298/S.2148 An Act relative to the future of heat in the Commonwealth– reforms needed to transition of gas and other fossil fuel-based energy sources for heating and cooling included in omnibus climate bill (See Environment—Climate Change and Energy here.)
H.3288/S.2136 An Act transitioning Massachusetts to clean electricity, heating, and transportation—provisions in omnibus climate bill include 2035 deadline for all vehicles sold in state to be zero emission,
electrification of MBTA buses, and remove woody biomass from renewable classification (See Environment—Climate Change and Energy here.)
H.3289/S.2149 An Act to expand the Bottle Bill (See Environment—Climate Change and Energy here.)
S.2155 An Act relative to enhancing reliability of renewable resources in the
Commonwealth (See Environment—Climate Change and Energy here.)
H.1267/S.766 An Act Establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts (See Healthcare here.)
H.2271/S.1517 An act promoting community immunity (See Healthcare here.)
H.2979/S.788 An act establishing the family caregiver tax credit (See Healthcare here.)
Outcome of LWVMA-Opposed Bills:
Reported favorably and pending House vote:
H.3658/S.2402 Resolutions for a United States Constitutional Amendment and a limited amendment proposing convention (See Good Governance here.)
Reported favorably but never got out of House or Senate Ways & Means/Rules:
S.104 An Act to authorize the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to establish additional mandated reporters for the purpose of the protection and care of children (See Children and Families here.)
Sent to study or still pending in joint committee when formal session ended:
H.780 An Act relative to Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting (UOCAVA)—some provisions were included in the VOTES Act (See Elections and Voting here.)
H.824 An Act relative to voting overseas (See Elections and Voting here.)
H.762 An Act requiring photo IDs to vote (See Elections and Voting here.)
H.792 An Act ensuring the election integrity through voter identification (See Elections and Voting here.)