Press Room

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means today voted to advance the BRIGHT Act, a $3.28 billion bond bill that supports public higher education students’ access to modernized infrastructure and facilities at Massachusetts’ community colleges, state universities, and UMass campuses.

An Act to build resilient infrastructure to generate higher-ed transformation, known as the BRIGHT Act, will enable Massachusetts’ public higher education campuses to repair aging infrastructure, modernize lab and research space, and plan for the future through development of unused property.

Today, the Massachusetts Senate took action to give everyone a fair shot at access to housing. Illegal discrimination continues to hamper many homebuyers’ and renters’ ability to find a home. The legislation—S.2947, An Act regarding fair housing practices in the Commonwealth—takes aim at discrimination in the housing market by mandating fair housing training for all real estate agents and strengthening state enforcement of fair housing law.

(BOSTON—2/12/2026) The Massachusetts Senate acted today to strengthen consumer rights for people who buy new and used vehicles by expanding the state’s car buyer protection law, increasing the mileage for used car warranties, and strengthening the bonds that give relief to victims of auto sale fraud.

The Massachusetts Senate today unanimously passed legislation to help the certified public accountant (CPA) workforce grow and meet consumer demand while upholding its longtime professional standards. The bill updates the standards for certification as a certified public accountant to feature a balanced mix of on-the-job work experience and a college degree.

Today, the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts Senate announced their respective appointments to the Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions, which the Legislature established last week to conduct public hearings and issue recommendations related to each of the 11 initiative petitions that may appear on the ballot before voters in November.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means today advanced three consumer protection and professional licensure bills for consideration next week by the full Senate, including a measure to combat unfair discrimination in the housing market.

An Act regarding fair housing practices in the Commonwealth advances the goal of ensuring every Massachusetts resident has a fair opportunity to access housing.