Press Room

Massachusetts Senate leaders announced today that the Senate will take up RetirementPlus legislation to allow longtime public school teachers to buy into the enhanced savings program if they missed out when the program was initially launched 25 years ago.

An Act relative to teacher retirement election provides fairness to longtime teachers who missed out initially on the RetirementPlus enhanced savings program by allowing them to buy into the program.

The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) consolidated supplemental budget agreement reached by the Legislature provides $1.35 billion in meaningful education and transportation investments and prioritizes municipal relief, housing development, and mitigates the revenue impacts of federal tax changes.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means today advanced two separate bills: one to remove toxic chemicals from the manufacture of intravenous (IV) bags; and one to promote the growth of the commercial interior design industry in Massachusetts.

An Act relative to toxic-free medical devices would ban the use of DEHP, a toxic chemical, in intravenous bags and tubing in Massachusetts. Intravenous (IV) bags are supposed to be tools in the fight against disease and illness, but many IV bags currently contain DHEP, which is added to improve flexibility of plastic but can leach into patients.

An Act relative to advancing the profession of commercial interior design would open up business opportunities for small interior design firms by creating new licensure for the industry.

Across multiple days of debate on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, the Massachusetts Senate adopted amendments that boost funding for mental health support for students, civics and language classes for immigrants pursuing U.S. citizenship, and a new program to promote safe and healthy social media use by schoolchildren.

The Massachusetts Senate today unanimously passed a $63.37 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2027 that invests responsibly in public education and municipalities, unlocks new opportunities for housing growth, and upholds the Commonwealth’s core commitments to its residents.