Press Room

Legislation advances a Walsh-Kennedy Commission recommendation after devastating Back Bay fire

(BOSTON—3/24/2026) The Massachusetts Senate passed legislation this week to help protect firefighters and construction workers from dangers that can arise from ‘hot work’ such as welding.

The legislation—S.1646, An Act relative to violation of regulation regarding hot work processes—would require consistent tracking and notification of hot work code violations. It helps advance reforms recommended by a special commission following the tragic 2014 fire in Boston’s Back Bay, which was started by nearby welding work.

The Senate voted to pass the bill Monday, three days ahead of the 12th anniversary of the fire that took the lives of Boston Fire Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy.

“This legislation isn’t just a precaution—it is a commitment to the wellbeing and protection of our first responders and residents,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Our firefighters, and anyone whose job includes hot work, should have confidence in the safety of their workplace, and know that they are protected from a tragic situation like the one that took the lives of Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy far too soon. I’m thankful to Senator Collins for his continued work on this issue, and to Chairs Rodrigues and Cronin for advancing this bill. I very much hope to see the measure signed into law.”

“The passage of this legislation will bring long needed accountability to the hot works and welding industry here in the Commonwealth, institute common sense reforms, and honor the calls of firefighters and first responders who put their lives on the line every day,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “By creating a public database to track fire code violations and alert workers, the state will help prevent tragedies like the Back Bay fire of 2014 with appropriate oversight and respectful honoring of the two fallen firefighters’ legacy by passing this bill. I would like to thank Senator Collins for his steadfast advocacy and leadership on this important issue.”

The bill would require the state to track written notices of code violations related to hot work—welding, plasma cutting, and spark-producing construction—and make the information available to the public through an online database and an automated notification system. The Senate passed identical legislation in 2024.

“Firefighters and first responders across the Commonwealth put their lives on the line to keep residents safe every day,” said Senator John J. Cronin (D-Fitchburg), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. “This legislation ensures that our state is proactively addressing workplace safety failures in industries like welding and cutting, so that residents and first responders alike aren’t exposed to unnecessary and excessive danger. I’m grateful to the countless firefighters and public safety officials who have advocated for this bill.”

“The Senate’s action this week advances critical reforms shaped by the work of the Walsh-Kennedy Commission. The loss of Boston Fire Lieutenant Ed Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy is still felt deeply today, and the work to improve our laws continues in their memory.” said Senator Nick Collins (D-South Boston), lead sponsor of the legislation and co-Chair of the Walsh-Kennedy Commission. “By strengthening training, oversight, and accountability around hot work and welding, we are creating safer conditions for our firefighters, the building trades, and the public. While we have made progress in our state and local regulations, this legislation would build upon that progress and codify these enhanced protections into state law.”

The Committee on Ways and Means advanced the bill to the Senate floor with a 16-0 vote on March 19, 2026. All committee votes are posted on the Legislature’s website and full details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate Press Room.

The Senate passed the bill to be engrossed on Monday, March 23, 2026, and sent it to the House of Representatives for further review.

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