The Massachusetts Senate passed the PROTECT Act on Thursday, May 7, 2026 on a 37-3 roll call vote.
The Senate version was drafted by the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy, chaired by Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), and builds off of and strengthens ideas put forward by Governor Healey and the House of Representatives. The Senate Committee on Steering and Policy has been tasked with leading the Senate’s Response 2025 initiative, driving policies forward that protect Massachusetts residents, defend the Commonwealth’s values and lead the state through this challenging time to respond to an adversarial federal government.
The Trump Administration and the Department of Homeland Security are instilling fear in immigrant communities across the nation, and right here in Massachusetts. The PROTECT Act offers avenues and tools for the Commonwealth to provide protections for our residents — specifically at sensitive locations including courthouses, houses of worship, schools, health care facilities, and childcare centers. The language also affirms court opinions, clarifying that there is no role that our state and local law enforcement must play in aiding with federal civil immigration enforcement.
You can learn more about the legislation at the links below. Keep an eye on this page for updates as the differences between the House and Senate versions of the PROTECT Act will need to be reconciled, before heading to the Governor’s desk for her signature.
Senate Passage of the PROTECT Act
FACT SHEET: Senate PROTECT Act
BILL TEXT: S.3072, An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment
PRESS RELEASE: Senate Advances the PROTECT Act – April 30, 2026