Press Room

Today the Massachusetts Legislature took action to protect freedom of thought and expression in Massachusetts schools and public libraries and safeguard open access to books and other educational materials.

The Massachusetts Legislature enacted emergency public health legislation today to clear the way for a speedy revitalization of Norwood Hospital. The legislation, H.5553, allows the state to take the Norwood Hospital property by eminent domain and transfer it to a new, nonprofit operator.

Amid federal subpoenas of journalists and FBI raids of reporters’ homes, the Massachusetts Senate has passed legislation that would defend Massachusetts journalists’ constitutional right to report facts and hold institutions accountable.

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

An Act enhancing child welfare protections safeguards the wellbeing of vulnerable children in state care and foster care. The bill strengthens and builds on the work of existing entities including the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Family Resource Center (FRC) network and our public schools in order to take a comprehensive approach toward making sure all children receive the support they deserve.

Today, Representative Jay Livingstone (D-Boston), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, and Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, issued the following statement:

Today the Massachusetts Legislature passed sweeping legislation to protect residents from overreach by federal immigration authorities and to ensure that local and state law enforcement are not involved in federal immigration enforcement. If signed into law, the legislation would create among the strongest protections in the nation for residents who have immigrated to their communities.

The Massachusetts Senate today passed legislation that increases residents’ access to information about how decisions are made inside the Legislature and the Governor’s office, along with critical free press protections that allow journalists to protect their sources.