Press Room

The Massachusetts Senate today passed legislation to protect firefighters, construction workers, and the public by strengthening penalties for fire code and building code violations that result in death or serious injury.

The Massachusetts Senate today advanced legislation that establishes serious criminal penalties for fire code and building code violations that cause the injury or death of a firefighter, construction worker, or any member of the public.

An Act implementing the recommendations of the Walsh-Kennedy Commission report establishes criminal penalties for fire code and building code violations that cause the injury or death of a firefighter, construction worker, passerby, or other person hurt by a violation. The legislation also codifies criteria for the training and certification of people conducting ‘hot work’—including welding, plasma cutting, and spark-producing construction—and establishes enhanced penalties for hot work violations.

One year after the Legislature strengthened Massachusetts’ Shield Law, the Commonwealth continues to lead the nation in protecting reproductive and transgender health care providers and in ensuring patients can access legally-protected care, despite continued attacks on health care rights at the federal level.

Two years after the Legislature passed the landmark Affordable Homes Act, the law continues to deliver measurable progress toward increasing housing production, lowering barriers to building, and helping more Massachusetts residents find homes they can afford.

Today, Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) and House Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy), released the following statement.

Today the Massachusetts Legislature voted to expand reproductive healthcare for Massachusetts residents by removing restrictions on abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Today, the Massachusetts Legislature passed comprehensive legislation to strengthen oversight, transparency, and accountability within the Commonwealth’s child welfare system.