Legislation establishes statewide standards governing interactions between state, local and federal immigration enforcement JULY 31, 2026 The Massachusetts Legislature recently 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 r

JULY 29, 2026 Co-Chairs of the Conference Committee tasked with reconciling the House and Senate versions of the PROTECT Act announced on Wednesday, July 29th that compromised legislation had been reached. Ongoing actions by this federal government have been detrimental to the safety and security of many communities across the nation. ICE in particular continues to engage unlawfully, sowing terror in communities that has ultimately left families fearful of sending their child

Legislation creates AI safety guardrails, funds housing and research, bans deceptive cryptocurrency kiosks, implements ‘fun agenda’ JULY 24, 2026 Following two days of debate, Senator William J. Driscoll, Jr. (D-Milton) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to pass an economic development package that lifts up small businesses and burgeoning industries, bans predatory kiosks used in cryptocurrency scams, and reins in the potential dangers of artificial intelligenc

Special recognition would help immediate family honor their loved ones JULY 17, 2026 The Massachusetts Legislature recently passed legislation to create a new special license plate to honor the memories of fallen law enforcement officers by offering a symbol of respect to their surviving spouses, parents, and children. The bill—S.2903, An Act honoring Blue Star Families—directs the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to create a new Blue Star Families plate to help the fami

Bill creates new licensure structure for home care workers, including background checks and a public list of verified agencies JULY 17, 2026 Senator William J. Driscoll, Jr. (D-Milton) recently joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to pass legislation that helps older adults age in place in Massachusetts by improving the industry that assists elders with basic care like cooking, dressing, and bathing. The Senate’s legislation strengthens the integrity of the h

Legislation responds to reports that nearly 7 in 10 nurses have experienced workplace assault, requiring annual security reviews and new protections for victims JULY 17, 2026 Senator William J. Driscoll, Jr. (D-Milton) recently joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to support the safety of frontline health care workers by improving vital security protocols at hospitals and doctors’ offices across the state. Responding to a troubling spate of violent incidents,

Legislation prohibits DEHP — linked to breast, liver, lung, and testicular cancer — from intravenous bags and tubing used in Massachusetts hospitals JULY 17, 2026 The Massachusetts Legislature recently voted to ban the use of a toxic chemical commonly added to plastic intravenous (IV) bags and linked to cancer cases in Massachusetts. The bill would phase out the use of DEHP—a toxic chemical—in IV bags and tubing in Massachusetts. Many IV bags currently contain DEHP, whic

Legislation Prioritizes Children’s Health Over Corporations’ Addictive Algorithms JULY 10, 2026 Senator William J. Driscoll, Jr. (D-Milton) recently stood with his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate and passed legislation that reins in how their platforms’ most addictive features target young people. The bill cracks down on settings that are engineered to keep minors perpetually on social media platforms at the expense of the health and wellbeing of users. Features

JULY 9, 2026 During a recently held Senate session and as acting President, Senator William J. Driscoll, Jr. (D-Milton) had the opportunity to lead the adoption of a Town of Bridgewater home rule. This home rule updates the town charter by replacing gender-specific pronouns with gender-neutral language. The bill—H.4781, An Act authorizing Bridgewater town charter amendment for gender neutral language—modernizes the town charter through the adoption and use of more inclusive l

By Beth McDermott at The Enterprise of Brockton June 30, 2026 Easterseals Massachusetts hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 18 to celebrate the launch of its new Adaptive Carriage Driving Program at the Equestrian Center in Bridgewater. The program features a custom-designed carriage that can accommodate both power wheelchairs and multiple seating configurations, making it the first of its kind in the United States, according to a community announcement. The event brought t