Press Room

An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder seeks to prevent miscommunication and promote better understanding during traffic stops that involve a person with autism spectrum disorder.

An Act dignifying individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities removes offensive terminology from state law and modernizes how the Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) refer to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

The legislation, S.2537, would strengthen consumer protections to ensure that individuals can retain some financial security when they are sued for debts that are frequently old and potentially bought by debt collection companies for pennies on the dollar.

The legislation would ensure Massachusetts courts follow the same procedures as the other 49 states in the country, bring laws up to date with international best practices, and simplify the process for families going through multi-state custody cases.

An Act relative to the uniform child custody jurisdiction and enforcement act would update Massachusetts laws related to child custody jurisdiction to be in line with those used in every other state. It helps families by making it easier to handle child custody issues when parents live in different states. It also protects everyone involved by making the rules fair and consistent. This legislation is based on a national set of guidelines that all other states already follow. These guidelines were created to reduce confusion and prevent legal battles over which state has the right to decide a custody case.

An Act relative to fairness in debt collection updates Massachusetts debt collection laws to provide stronger protections for consumers, especially working families. It ensures that people can keep more of their wages, sets clear limits on how long debts can be collected, and makes the legal process fairer and more transparent.

The Massachusetts Legislature today enacted a $61.01 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2026, a fiscally responsible plan that protects core services for the state’s most vulnerable residents, maintains critical investments, and positions the Commonwealth to confront the underlying budget challenges that are a result of federal funding uncertainty.

Today, Senate President Karen E. Spilka and House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano released the following statement regarding the Legislature’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget agreement: