We’re entering the bring-it-on-home portion of the two year (2025-2026) legislative session and more and more House and Senate bills will be reconciled by bipartisan conference committees which 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 Rodgers is leading, joined by Representatives Mike Finn and Kelly Pease. The name symmetry is not lost on us!
We are making good progress, in collaboration with members of Senate leadership and the Administration & Finance team, to come to a final bill that best supports our public higher education institutions.
An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy
Description of the bill
This legislation creates a new statewide standard for how Massachusetts schools teach reading and literacy to young students.
Conference committee details and progress update
This committee, formed earlier this spring, is chaired by Senator Sal DiDomenico for the Senate and Representative Ken Gordon for the House. The other members include Senators Jason Lewis and Patrick O’Connor and Representatives Simon Cataldo and John Marsi.
I urged this conference committee to retain a few provisions that my team and I worked hard to include in the Senate’s version of the bill:
- A $25 million grant program for achieving geographic and funding equity; and,
- A free, complete high-quality curriculum for kindergarten through grade 3.
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 civil 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.
Throughout the spring, I have heard from waves of constituents with their support for this and other legislation protecting immigrant rights in the Commonwealth. Although this conference committee just began its work, I am hopeful they can complete a bill as soon as possible, particularly as we begin to welcome visitors for soccer’s World Cup.
An Act making appropriations for fiscal year 2027
Description of the bill
The fiscal year 2027 (FY27) budget is now also before a conference committee.
Conference committee details and progress update
I am on this conference committee with Senators Rodrigues and O’Connor and Representatives Michlewitz, Diggs, and Todd Smola from the House.
I am committed to ensuring that the funding and programs needed in communities across the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district, like the Foundation Budget Review Commission, are included in the final version of the budget that heads to the Governor for her signature before July 1.
UPCOMING: An Act financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges
Description of the bill
On May 21, the Senate passed a $2.74 billion bond bill to help fix local roads and bridges, invest in public transit infrastructure, and support housing development across the Commonwealth.
The bill includes $300 million bond authorization for the Chapter 90 projects to improve local roads, including $100 million to be distributed based on road mileage. This funding directly supports the rural communities that I represent that have the road miles but not necessarily the population or economic development, components of the original funding formula.
Conference committee details and progress update
A conference committee has not yet been named for this legislation.
UPCOMING: Blue Envelopes
Description of the bill
On May 19, a bill I filed in partnership with Representatives Mindy Domb and Sean Garballey to make available special “blue envelopes” for Massachusetts drivers with autism spectrum disorder, passed the House after passing the Senate on July 24, 2025.
This bill enshrines in law a program stood up by the Massachusetts State Police to provide a “blue envelope” upon request to drivers with autism spectrum disorder that hold that hold the driver’s license, registration, and insurance cards, as well as specific instructions for the officer on the driver’s diagnosis and possible impairments or triggers. The envelope also includes space for the driver to provide emergency contact information.
Having filed this bill since 2021, I am thrilled that it has passed both branches for the first time. I am tremendously grateful to all the advocates for their fierce work to get this across the finish line.
Conference committee details and progress update
A conference committee has not yet been appointed for this legislation.
