To view MAPA’s 5 priority state bills, please follow this link.
State Bills We Support
Carceral Bills
Prison Moratorium (S.2114/H.3422)
An Act establishing a jail and prison construction moratorium: Pauses jail, prison, and detention center construction and expansion for five years. It does NOT prevent essential repairs.
Sponsors: Sen. Joanne M. Comerford; Rep. Chynah Tyler
Committee: Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
Advocacy Organization: Families for Justice as Healing
Elder and Medical Parole (S.1722/H.2693)
An Act relative to elder and medical parole: Establishes the right to a parole hearing for people 55+ who have served 15 years or at least half their sentence, and addresses gaps in existing medical parole legislation to improve access and equity.
Sponsors: Sen. Liz Miranda; Reps. Lindsay N. Sabadosa; Erika Uyterhoeven
Committee: Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
Advocacy Organization: Families for Justice as Healing
Harm Reduction and Racial Justice (S.1391/H.2225)
An Act relative to harm reduction and racial justice: Removes criminal penalties for drug possession, drug conspiracy, and drug paraphernalia.
Sponsors: Sen. Julian Cyr; Reps. Samantha Montaño; Mike Connolly
Committee: Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery
Advocacy Organization: Families for Justice as Healing
Survivors Act (S.1256/H.1587)
An Act relative to justice for survivors: Establishes a fair and consistent process for courts to utilize diversion, alternative sentencing, and sentencing relief for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Sponsors: Sen. Michael F. Rush; Reps. Christine P. Barber; Brandy Fluker-Reid
Committee: Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Advocacy Organization: Families for Justice as Healing
Climate Bills
Outdoor Air Quality (S.1548/H.2369)
An Act to ensure cleaner air for communities overburdened by outdoor air pollution: Creates an advisory committee to study air pollution hotspots and recommend locations for air filtration units.
Sponsors: Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen; Reps. Christine P. Barber; Mike Connolly
Committee: Joint Committee on Public Health
Advocacy Organization: 350 Mass
Indoor Air Quality (H.2427)
An Act to improve indoor air quality for highly-impacted communities: Creates a task force to study and remediate indoor air pollution and mold in a variety of buildings including schools and housing
Sponsors: Reps. Judith A. Garcia; Samantha Montaño
Committee: Joint Committee on Public Health
Advocacy Organization: 350 Mass
Fossil Fuel Divestment (H.2811)
An Act to mandate the review of climate risk in order to protect public pension beneficiaries and taxpayers: Assesses the public fund investments for any climate risks and divest the fund from those risks.
Sponsor: Rep. Mindy Domb
Committee: Joint Committee on Public Service
Advocacy Organization: Warheads to Windmills Coalition
Indigenous Rights Bills
Native Mascots (S.312/H.575)
An Act prohibiting the use of Native American mascots by public schools in the Commonwealth: Currently about 25 public high schools in the state have Native American sports mascots. This bill ends that practice.
Sponsors: Sen. Joanne M. Comerford; Rep. Brandy Fluker-Reid
Committee: Joint Committee on Education
Advocacy Organization: Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda
Indigenous Peoples Day (S.2113/H.3292)
An Act establishing an Indigenous Peoples Day: This bill replaces Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day in the Massachusetts General Laws.
Sponsors: Sen. Joanne M. Comerford; Rep. Christine P. Barber
Committee: Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
Advocacy Organizations: Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda
Celebrate and Teach Native American Culture and History (S.444/H.628)
An act relative to celebrating and teaching Native American cultures and history: This bill addresses the lack of Indigenous curriculum in Massachusetts public schools.
Sponsors: Sen. Rebecca L. Rausch; Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis
Committee: Joint Committee on Education
Advocacy Organization: Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda
Educate Native Youth (S.412/H.649)
An Act providing for the creation of a permanent commission relative to the education of American Indian and Alaska Native residents of the Commonwealth: As a State Education Agency, the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must engage in timely and meaningful consultation with stakeholders. Representatives of Indian tribes located in the state are explicitly identified as stakeholders.
Sponsors: Sen. Liz Miranda; Rep. Samantha Montaño
Committee: Joint Committee on Education
Advocacy Organization: Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda
Protect Native American Heritage (S.2335/H.3597)
An Act to protect Native American Heritage: Ensures that Native American funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony (those of cultural, traditional or historical importance to their heritage) held in governmental, municipal or non-profit collections are not sold for profit.
Sponsors: Sen. Liz Miranda; Reps. David M. Rogers; David Biele
Committee: Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development
Advocacy Organization: Massachusetts Indigenous Legislative Agenda
Healthcare
Medicare for All (S.860/H.1450)
An Act establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts: Moving to a Medicare for All “single-payer” system would help control health care costs in the long-term while ensuring that every resident has a right to quality, affordable health care.
Sponsors: Sen. James B. Eldridge; Reps. Lindsay N. Sabadosa; Margaret R. Scarsdale
Committee: Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
Advocacy Organization: Mass-Care
Rent Control
Rent Control Bill (S.1447/H.2328)
An Act enabling cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenants: Creates a local option for rent control by ending the current statewide ban. When this legislation is passed, every city and town will regain the power to decide whether to implement a local rent control policy.
Sponsors: Sens. Patricia D. Jehlen; Adam Gómez; Reps. Dave Rogers; Samantha Montaño
Committee: Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
Advocacy Organization: Homes for All Massachusetts
State Bills We Oppose
Military
Draft Registration Bill (S.2429/H.3718)
An Act to ensure benefits through enhanced Selective Service registration: Enhances Selective Service registration procedures for individuals ages 16-26, automatically registering them with the Selective Service System when they turn 18 when applying for a driver’s license, learner’s permit, identification card, or motor vehicle registration.
Sponsor: Sen. Patrick M. O’Connor; Reps. Kathleen R. LaNatra; Kenneth P. Sweezey
Committee: Joint Committee on Transportation