Press Room

Bill continues Senate’s work to lower prescription drug costs, promote transparency, and increase patient access

Today, the Massachusetts Senate unveiled An Act relative to Pharmaceutical Access, Cost and Transparency, otherwise known as the PACT Act 3.0. This comprehensive pharmaceutical cost control legislation is aimed at addressing the rapidly increasing costs of prescription drugs. By connecting the need for greater drug price transparency with policies to improve oversight for the pharmaceutical industry, the PACT Act 3.0 puts the Senate at the forefront of the state’s efforts to tackle rapidly increasing prescription drug costs. It will also reduce drug costs for patients and lower health care costs overall, as well as provide a no-cost sharing option for certain prescription drugs used to treat chronic illnesses that disproportionately affect communities of color and residents with lower income.

Today, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation to broadly expand access to menstrual products in a wide range of public facilities across the state.

Today, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed An Act enabling pharmacists to prescribe, dispense and administer PrEP, a bipartisan bill that would allow Massachusetts pharmacists to prescribe PrEP—pre-exposure prophylaxis—a life-saving medication that is nearly 100 per cent effective in stopping the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Bill would boost salary transparency, tackle unfair compensation for women and people of color

With the goal of providing financial relief to families across the Commonwealth while making Massachusetts more competitive with other states, the Massachusetts Legislature overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan tax relief package supporting residents across all income levels on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Governor Maura Healey signed into law a provision that would allow Massachusetts high school graduates, regardless of immigration status, to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities.

On Monday, July 31, 2023, the Legislature enacted a $56.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), reconciling differences between the versions of the budget passed by the House of Representatives and Senate and earlier this year. The FY24 conference committee report provides for historic levels of investment in education, housing, regional transportation, health care, workforce development, and more, as part of a broad strategy to grow our state’s economy and make Massachusetts more affordable, inclusive, and competitive.