We’re entering the bring-it-on-home portion of the two year (2025-2026) legislative session, when more and more House and Senate-passed bills will need to be reconciled by conference committees before a compromise version of the bill can be sent to the Governor to be signed into law.
Conference committees are comprised of two Democrats and one Republican from each chamber.
Take a look through the conference committees currently underway, and those that are coming up below.
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An Act to build resilient infrastructure to generate higher-ed transformation
Description of the bill
This bill, referred to as the BRIGHT Act, addresses the deferred maintenance and decarbonization of the Commonwealth’s 29 public college and university campuses.
Conference committee details and progress update:
I am leading this conference committee for the Senate, joined by my colleagues Senators Mike Rush and Kelly Dooner. On the House side, my Higher Education Committee Co-Chair Representative Dave Rogers is leading, joined by Representatives Mike Finn and Kelly Pease. The name symmetry is not lost on us!
We are making good progress to come to a final bill that best supports our public higher education institutions.
Phone-free schools
Description of the bills
The House and the Senate passed different bills targeting students using phones in schools. The bill passed by the Senate, An Act to promote student learning and mental health, requires school districts to prohibit student phone use during the day. The legislation approved in the House, An Act promoting safe technology use and distraction-free education for youth, takes this a step further and limits minors’ access to social media platforms.
Conference committee details and progress update
The conference committee is led by Senator Brendan Crighton for the Senate and Representative Daniel Cahill for the House. The rest of the conferees are Senators Mike Rodrigues and Peter Durant and Representatives Frank Moran and David Vieira.
I have heard from many constituents with concerns about the age verification provisions for social media use in the House’s bill. This is not included in the version that passed the Senate.
An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment
Description of the bill
Also known as the PROTECT Act, this bill holds federal immigration agents legally accountable for civil rights violations, bars local and state police from participating in federal immigration enforcement, and prohibits immigration arrests at courthouses, houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and childcare facilities.
Conference committee details and progress update
Led by Senator Cindy Friedman and Rep. Cahill, the conference committee includes Senators Pavel Payano and Ryan Fattman and Representatives Andy Vargas and Marcus Vaughn.
I have continued to hear from waves of constituents with their support for this and other legislation protecting immigrant rights in the Commonwealth.
An Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities
Description of the bill
This bill, known as the Mass Ready Act, or the environmental bond bill (EBB), makes critical investments to protect our natural and working lands, fortify infrastructure in the face of climate change and severe weather, safeguard drinking water, and strengthen environmental protection efforts across the Commonwealth.
Conference committee details and progress update
Led by Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Mike Finn, the conference committee includes Senators Becca Rausch and Peter Durant and Representatives Christine Barber and Ken Sweezey.
My team and I are tracking several provisions in this bill to help ensure they are kept in the final bill that comes out of the conference committee, including funding for the Quabbin Watershed, Connecticut River Valley community provisions, and funding for accessible trails.
An Act enhancing child welfare protections
Description of the bill
This bill 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), and the Family Resource Center (FRC) network in order to take a comprehensive approach toward making sure all children receive the support they deserve. Also included is a Foster Children Bill of Rights, which is legislation I’ve filed for many sessions.
Conference committee details and progress update
I am leading this conference committee for the Senate, joined by my colleagues Senators Robyn Kennedy and Patrick O’Connor. On the House side, Representative Jay Livingstone is leading, joined by Representatives Judith Garcia and Alyson Sullivan-Almeida.
