Legislation also boosts investment opportunities for regional economy
(BOSTON—11/6/2025) Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) and her colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously today to provide enhanced safety, stability and educational opportunities for military families. The legislation advanced today also positions the Commonwealth for greater federal defense investment and economic growth around its six military bases.
An Act to enhance access, inclusion, support and equity for military connected families, S.2676—also known as the EASE Act—would guarantee that a child of a military family would have a seat in the classroom at their current school in Massachusetts, even if their parent or guardian is temporarily transferred elsewhere on official orders. If a military family moves permanently and arrives in a Massachusetts community, the bill also requires a timely and seamless transition for students who receive special education services.
To strengthen public safety and increase access to justice around military bases, the legislation allows certain information from the military to be admissible as evidence in state courts for people seeking temporary domestic violence restraining orders. The bill also allows for federal judges to transfer juvenile cases to Massachusetts courts for offenses that occur on military bases. Over the course of today’s debate, Senators adopted an amendment with bipartisan support that further directs National Guard leadership to track and report suicide data among veterans of the Massachusetts National Guard. Senators passed the entire bill with a 39-0 roll call.
During the same session, the Senate passed An Act clarifying the duties of the adjutant general, S.2675, which writes into law that the Adjutant General—Massachusetts’ highest-ranking military officer—has command of all troops in the state National Guard while carrying out the orders of the Governor. A technical clarification, the bill brings state statute around the National Guard chain of command into line with the model used by the vast majority of other states. Under a bipartisan amendment that was adopted unanimously, the Adjutant General must also ensure that National Guard members receive training on how to identify whether or not orders violate Constitutional or statutory rights. Senators voted 38-0 to pass the legislation.
“Finding ways to support our active servicemembers, military families and veterans is something that Massachusetts does well,” said Senator Friedman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “Our servicemembers have given an incredible sacrifice to our nation, and it’s important that we find ways to make the Commonwealth the best place for them to live, work and support their families. I believe the actions taken in the Senate today do just that. And in the face of threats of deploying US troops to cities nationwide, I was pleased to see a Steering and Policy-identified Response 2025 initiative adopted to clarify that the National Guard answers only to the Adjutant when not under federal control, including training on identifying unconstitutional orders. I thank my colleagues in the Senate who served and those in the 4th Middlesex for their service as we approach Veterans Day.”
Provisions in the EASE Act respond directly to needs that have been raised by military families in recent years. Addressing these concerns is key to further boosting Massachusetts’ standing on the Department of Defense scorecard, a key metric that the federal government takes into account when deciding where to increase or maintain its spending for military bases.
Massachusetts is currently among the top 10 states for defense contract spending. More than 57,000 Massachusetts jobs are supported by the state’s six military installations: Fort Devens, Hanscom Air Force Base, Joint Base Cape Cod, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westover Air Reserve Base, and the Natick Soldier Systems Center.
Both bills were advanced to the floor by 16-0 votes of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on October 30, 2025, after previous drafts were reviewed and advanced by the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs in September and October. All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website.
Separately, the Senate approved legislation—H.3388, An Act designating veterans suicide awareness and remembrance day—that will set aside September 22 of each year as Military Service Members and Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day. That bill, which has already been passed by the House of Representatives, acknowledges that suicide among service members and veterans is an epidemic and calls for annual recognition with a proclamation from the Governor.
All three bills acted upon today were approved by the Senate and now move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
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