Makes farm-to-table programs permanent, combats federal cuts and climate change threats APRIL 2, 2026 Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) joined his colleagues in th e Massachusetts Senate in passing the FARM Bill, agricultural legislation aimed at supporting Massachusetts’ 7,000 farms, making it easier for families to buy fresh and healthy food, and protecting the state’s food supply for the future. The legislation—formally known as S.3029 , An Act fostering agricultural re

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Boston – March 31, 2026 – Through further review of the Gateway Municipality initiative, Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) has identified millions more intended for investment in Gateways that, since 2010, was likely provided to unqualified municipalities. The total that Senator Driscoll has uncovered has grown from $25 million, as revealed in his January 2026 report , to now total more than $61 million. The ineligible cities and towns identified cont

Bill ends commercial sales of cats and dogs in pet stores, strengthens cruelty protections, and prohibits breed-based discrimination in public housing and insurance coverage MARCH 20, 2026 This week, Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate in unanimously passing legislation to end the inhumane puppy-mill-to-pet-shop pipeline by cutting off commercial sales of cats and dogs in Massachusetts pet stores. The bill, nicknamed the PE

By Katie Lannan , State House Reporter at GBH Six years later, Massachusetts legislators say the pandemic highlighted issues of public health, preparedness and food security. March 16, 2026 Six years ago, Massachusetts state government launched an unprecedented series of actions as COVID-19 started spreading within the state. On March 10, 2020, then-Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency around the coronavirus outbreak. Over the next week, he announced what started

The long planned new entrance and ramp will be added to the Milton stop along the Mattapan Trolley Line MARCH 12, 2026 The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) recently announced the Milton Sloped Walkway Project along Adams Street in Milton is to begin in April. Projected to be completed in August 2026, this is the first major project as part of the long planned and long delayed Mattapan Trolley Line Renovation. More details on the project, here: https://www.mbt

MARCH 5, 2026 Yesterday, Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) joined most of the Senate and all Democrats in calling on the Massachusetts federal delegation to reaffirm Congress’s constitutional authority to declare war and authorize the use of military force. Through a letter addressed to Massachusetts federal Senators and Congresspeople, the State Senate urges their support of a war powers resolution. A resolution that reaffirms that national security is best preserved whe

As the Trump Administration Abandons Fair Housing, Senate Acts to Protect Residents from Discrimination MARCH 4, 2026 Recently, Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate in an action to give everyone a fair shot at access to housing. Illegal discrimination continues to hamper many homebuyers’ and renters’ ability to find a home. The legislation— S.2947 , An Act regarding fair housing practices in the Commonwealt h—takes aim at dis

Invests in Vital Repair Projects, Lab and Vocational Training Facilities, Campus Supported Housing Development FEBRUARY 27, 2026 This week, Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to unanimously pass the BRIGHT Act, a $3.28 billion bond bill that will invest in upgrades to public higher education campuses across Massachusetts and strengthen the learning experiences of students at community colleges, state universities, and UMass

FEBRUARY 27, 2026 Included in the recently Senate-passed An Act to build resilient infrastructure to generate higher-ed transformation was an amendment filed by Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) . Allocating $20 million to Bridgewater State University, a higher education institution in the Senator’s district, the funding is meant for renovations to Tillinghast Hall. This funding compliments the millions also secured by Representative Dennis C. Gallagher (D-Bridgewater)

FEBRUARY 20, 2026 Following strong pushback against proposed plan design changes to the Group Insurance Commission’s (GIC) healthcare coverage, the GIC has delayed the vote to implement the new plan proposal. Specifically, Senator Bill Driscoll Jr. (D-Milton) joined 20 other Senators and 60 Representatives in calling on the Governor to maintain the current plan design structure. The Senators' letter to the Governor expresses their concern with the GIC plan design proposal th