For the past 18 months, UU Mass Action has organized with coalitions and advocates across the state to pass our priority bills. Last week, hours past the July 31 deadline, our state legislators wrapped up the 2023-2024 formal legislative session (the part of session that most bills pass during).
While a few important pieces of legislation passed the finish line, the majority of our priority bills - bills that are incredibly urgent for MA residents - did not pass. While this is a failure of leadership and disappointing, it is unsurprising: "just two years ago, one national study deemed the Massachusetts Legislature the least effective state legislative body in the country" according to the Globe.
We know that the bills only go as far as they did because of grassroots power. With over 7000 bills filed, nearly all of our bills were in play until the last moment. We want to thank you for all the organizing and advocacy you have participated in with us this session. And, as we look towards the next session, we all the more so will need to continue to build our power to move these critical issues forward. Below is what we know about where our priorities landed, and will continue to share updates as our coalition partners share outcomes from their campaigns.
Climate Justice: Running the clock down to the very last moments, the Massachusetts legislature adjourned without passing any climate policy. Read the full Mass Power Forward press release here, the Environmental Justice Table's statement here, and more articles below. We do want to celebrate that the final Affordable Homes Act (H.4977) includes $150 million for public housing decarbonization, and $275 million for sustainable and green housing initiatives. It's not every day that you help win nearly half a billion dollars to transform Massachusetts!
Indigenous Justice: Though none of the MA Indigenous Legislative bills passed, Gov. Healey signed off to change the state flag and seal of MA by appointing an advisory commission to complete the work of the former Special Commission on the Seal and Motto. If all goes well, by this time next year we should see the results of that process: a new flag, seal, and motto for the Commonwealth. This is building off the victory of the passage of this bill in previous session. You can learn more here.
Housing and Economic Justice: The Housing Bond Bill passed in the final hours of the session. Despite concerns that the overall bill does little to immediately address the housing crisis facing low- and middle-income residents of MA, we are celebrating the inclusion of a foreclosure mediation pilot program, which has been a priority for our partners. You can read the full statement here.
Decarceration and Immigrant Justice: The Prison Moratorium, Human Rights Bill, and Visitation Bills unfortunately did not make it passed the finish line. You can read Families for Justice as Healing's Prison Moratorium update here. We have also been working to secure funding for No Cost Calls program we helped pass into law in the fall, including better reporting language. We secured $10 million, though we believe that is insufficient. You can read the full press release here.