Massachusetts Peace Action has partnered with allied organizations and legislators to submit a set of bills to the Massachusetts state legislature concerning immigration, divestment from weapons manufacturers, transparency in politics, and the state National Guard. Below are the 5 bills that have been submitted.
Contact your legislators to support our bills, using our easy tool!
Immigration
The PROTECT Act
AN ACT TO PROTECT THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND SAFETY OF ALL MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS: The Protect Act prohibits police, court, and correctional officials from initiating contact with ICE and feeding them our personal information. This means immigrants can contact officials without fear that they’ll be reported to ICE. It also prohibits civil immigration arrests at courthouses unless supported by a judicial warrant, as well as other key protections.
Lead Sponsors: Reps. Andres Vargas and Judith Garcia
Committee: Public Safety and Homeland Security
For more information, visit the website posting and the MA Legislature page on the bill (HD.5608).
Take action and contact your representatives and the Governor today!
Weapon Divestment Bills
Israel Divestment Bill
AN ACT RELATIVE TO PENSION DIVESTMENT FROM COMPANIES PROVIDING MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO THE STATE OF ISRAEL: The Pension Reserves Investment Management Board will divest all assets from companies selling weapons to Israel, unless such a company declares within 30 days that they will not renew or enter a deal for weapon sales with Israel.
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven
Committee: Joint Committee on Public Service
Primary Advocate: Paul Shannon
For more information, visit the Israel Divestment Bill Fact Sheet and website posting, and MA Legislature page on the bill (H.2984).
Responsible Investment Bill
AN ACT PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT: Requires the state Public Fund and Board of the Pension Fund to divest from entities involved with the manufacturing, production, sale, or promotion of weapons of mass destruction — including nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons as well as high explosives such as bombs, missiles and grenades.
Lead Sponsors: Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen; Reps. Samantha Montaño and Lindsay N. Sabadosa
Committee: Joint Committee on Financial Services
Primary Advocates: Walae Hayek, Cole Harrison, Timmon Wallis
For more information, visit the Responsible Investment Bill Fact Sheet and website posting, and MA Legislature page on the bill (S.767/H.1264).
Ethics and Transparency
Travel Conflict of Interest Bill
AN ACT TO CLOSE TRAVEL LOOPHOLE IN THE STATE CONFLICT OF INTEREST LAW, AND TO PROVIDE FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY REGARDING GIFTS: Enforces the State Ethics Commission to revise the travel expense disclosure form to include whether an elected public official has been lobbied by an organization funding their travel, and will create a database of all such travel expense forms.
Lead Sponsor: Sen. Nick Collins
Committee: Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
Primary Advocate: Jeff Klein
For more information, visit the Travel Conflict of Interest Bill Fact Sheet and website posting, and MA Legislature page on the bill (S.2109).
National Guard
Defend the Guard Bill
AN ACT PROHIBITING THE MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL GUARD FROM BEING DEPLOYED INTO ACTIVE COMBAT WITHOUT A FORMAL DECLARATION OF WAR BY CONGRESS: Inserts a new section into the Massachusetts General Laws prohibiting the state from releasing the National Guard unless there has been an official declaration of war or an explicit official action has been taken.
Lead Sponsor: Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen
Presenter: Rep. Christine P. Barber
Committee: Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs
Primary Advocates: Brian Zakrajsek, Brian Garvey
For more information, visit the Defend the Guard Bill Fact Sheet and website posting, and MA Legislature page on the bill (S.2471/H.3829).
Contact your legislators to support our bills!
Follow this link to view a list of other state bills we support and oppose.