Press Room

Today the Massachusetts Senate passed An act relative to advancing the profession of commercial interior design. Under this legislation, commercial interior designers would have the opportunity to become registered professionals in the state of Massachusetts. As the law currently stands, with certain state and federal projects requiring licensure, Massachusetts designers often have to contract with larger firms or individuals with architectural licenses in order to be eligible for these projects. This often results in lost revenue for interior designers in this majority-women field.

This Thursday, the Massachusetts Senate will take up and debate An Act to provide for the future information technology needs of Massachusetts (the FutureTech Act) and An Act relative to advancing the profession of commercial interior design.

The Massachusetts Senate has unanimously approved a $57.999 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). Following robust and spirited debate, the Senate adopted over 400 amendments, and took 43 roll call votes, adding $89.6 million in spending for statewide initiatives and local priorities for communities around the Commonwealth.

The Senate will begin the third day of debate of the Fiscal Year 2025 budget on Thursday morning. As of the beginning of debate on Thursday, the upper chamber adopted 375 amendments, rejected 281 amendments, and has taken 26 roll call votes.

Approximately halfway through debate of the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, the upper chamber has dealt with 635 amendments, spanning categories including environment, economic development, and health and human services. As of 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Senate has adopted 245 amendments, rejected 204 amendments and taken 14 roll call votes.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Tuesday released a $57.9 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) that reflects the Senate’s vision of creating a more affordable, equitable, and competitive Massachusetts by investing in residents and communities across every district of the Commonwealth, while continuing to be fiscally responsible and chart a sustainable path forward.

Today, Senate leaders unveiled MassEducate, a proposal for tuition-free, universal community college for all Massachusetts residents which is aimed at boosting the state’s workforce and expanding opportunity for students and families in every part of the state.

Today the Massachusetts Senate took action to protect residents and consumers from predatory tactics and promote fairer interactions with businesses in the state, passing bills that would ban third-party residential electric suppliers, enhance the state’s Lemon Law for car buyers, and mandate home insurers cover residential oil spill damages.