by Grace Cowell
MAPA’s 2025-26 Commonwealth Peace and Justice Agenda is a set of five bills that we filed in the state legislature, many in partnership with other progressive organizations. They address pressing issues facing our nation today, including immigration rights, genocide, weapons of mass destruction, lack of government transparency, and the power to deploy military forces.
In collaboration with the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), MAPA is supporting the Safe Communities Act (SD.1670/HD.3816), sponsored by Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Reps. Manny Cruz and Priscila Sousa. This bill would protect the state’s immigrant communities by prohibiting collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE through the deputization of these local officials as immigration agents. The bill would allow immigrants to make calls to the police and show up to a court date without the fear of deportation, as the Act prohibits questioning about immigration status by officials in these spaces, effectively increasing trust and safety for all Massachusetts residents.
The first of two bills related to weapons divestment is the Israel Divestment Bill (HD.3630), sponsored by Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven. Massachusetts is home to facilities belonging to multiple of the world’s top weapons manufacturers in which the state Pension Reserves Investment Management Board (PRIM) holds stock. As these companies have been supplying Israel with weapons, funding genocide, under this bill, PRIM would divest stocks, securities, or other obligations, from any company renewing or entering a weapons deal with the State of Israel within 30 days.
Along with the Coalition for Responsible Investment, MA Warheads to Windmills Coalition, and Nuclear Ban U.S., MAPA supports the Responsible Investment Bill (SD.1399/HD.3001), sponsored by Sen. Pat Jehlen and Reps. Sam Montaño and Lindsay Sabadosa. The bill requires the state Public Fund and Board of the Public Fund to divest from entities involved in the manufacturing, producing, or sale of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), including nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, as well as any explosives, incendiaries, and poison gases.
The Travel Conflict of Interest Bill (SD.1945) is sponsored by Sen. Nick Collins and aims to close a loophole in state ethics rules that allow legislators to accept travel from lobbying organizations if they label it “in the public interest.” Many sitting legislators have accepted nearly annual Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) funded trips to Israel, and then voted on bills filed by the JCRC in the same legislative session. Beyond prohibiting this conflict of interest, the bill requires legislators to disclose in a form available to the public if travel has been funded by a lobbying group, increasing transparency.
The final bill is the Defend the Guard Bill (SD.1117), which Sen. Pat Jehlen is sponsoring. This bill moves to prohibit the Massachusetts National Guard from being called upon by the federal government for active combat unless a formal declaration of war has been made by congress. The bill upholds congressional oversight provided by the U.S. Constitution and inhibits the President’s ability to wage endless wars and put Americans at risk without oversight. Thus far, the Defend the Guard Bill has gained bipartisan support.
As the legislative session continues over the next two years, it is vital to urge our state legislators to support these bills to address some of the most pressing issues facing the commonwealth. Contact your legislators today by visiting https://masspeace.us/StateBillSupport!
Grace Cowell is a MAPA Legislative/Political intern and a student at Northeastern University