Author: Cindy Friedman

Honors National Civil Rights Hero Who Stood Against Japanese Internment 

(BOSTON—1/29/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today passed legislation designating January 30 of each year as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution, and reaffirms the Commonwealth’s commitment to protecting constitutional freedoms.  

The bill, S.2132, designates the day to recognize the life and legacy of civil rights leader Fred Korematsu, a second-generation Japanese American who courageously challenged the federal government’s decision to incarcerate Japanese Americans during World War II.  

After refusing to comply with the internment order, Korematsu was arrested and ultimately brought his case to the United States Supreme Court.  The Court ruled against him in Korematsu v. United States, and decades later, evidence revealed that the federal government had knowingly withheld and falsified information. 

Korematsu’s conviction was subsequently overturned in 1983. 

“The fight Fred Korematsu led to stand up against unjust policies and a complete disregard of civil liberties by the federal government is an important reminder that we must not take our freedoms for granted,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “Fred Korematsu left a legacy that we must honor, especially given the current display of federal overreach, and I am so proud that the Senate is leading on this initiative to ensure Fred’s fight against discrimination is never forgotten in Massachusetts.” 

By establishing Fred Korematsu Day, Massachusetts joins several other states, including California, Hawai‘i, and Florida, in formally recognizing the enduring significance of Korematsu’s stand for justice. 

The legislation also underscores the importance of acknowledging both the historical and ongoing challenges faced by Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, including discrimination, surveillance, and rising anti-Asian sentiment.   … Read more.

Legislation Reforms Literacy Education Standards, Aids Teachers’ Professional Development  

(BOSTON—1/29/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today passed legislation that supports young learners by ensuring reading instruction is rooted in proven, evidence-based practices. 

The bill creates new statewide standards for literacy education and assessment, offers professional development resources for educators, and offers flexible options and supplemental funding for public schools that work to implement evidence-based curricula. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) voted in favor of the measure, which passed unanimously. 

The bill, S.2924, An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, ensures that every Massachusetts student from kindergarten to 3rd grade learns to read using phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and phonemic awareness—practices that data show as the best building blocks for lifetime learning. 

“As a former elementary school teacher and parent of a child that had challenges learning to read, I understand how important it is for student development for schools to use high-quality instructional materials,” said Senator Friedman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “This legislation will help close the early literacy gap that is seen in communities across the Commonwealth by ensuring that districts are using evidence-based learning materials and, to help offset the cost of acquiring this curriculum, includes funding to support this effort. After securing $125,000 for Billerica to purchase high-quality literacy curriculum last year, I am excited for the opportunity to roll this practice out across the Fourth Middlesex district and statewide.” 

To support school districts and educators with implementation, the legislation would create a new Early Literacy Fund seeded with $25 million in ‘Fair Share’ funding to help districts with costs and support educators’ professional development.… Read more.

Local option bills empower cities and towns to offer new and enhanced tax relief 

(BOSTON—01/15/2026) The Senate took action today to make housing more affordable in Massachusetts, approving new tools that give cities and towns the ability to lower the cost of property taxes and put money directly back in residents’ pockets.  

Senators approved five separate measures to provide meaningful relief to some of the state’s most vulnerable residents and blunt the skyrocketing costs of housing in every part of the state. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) voted in favor of each proposal, including S.2901, which contained an amendment Senator Friedman filed addressing property tax deferrals. 

If signed into law, the measures together would prevent residents from being blindsided by sharp tax bill spikes, make it easier for seniors to access tax deferral programs, allow cities and towns to implement tax rebates, and create a new program for qualifying seniors to lower their tax bills. 

“Property taxes ensure essential and useful services can be delivered to residents by all our cities and towns across the Commonwealth, but we also know that many residents struggle to afford increases in their property tax bills,” said Senator Friedman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “The slate of bills passed today will alleviate specific tax burdens to our most vulnerable populations and allow for municipal services to continue at the highest quality, without pricing out residents. I was especially glad to see an amendment I filed was adopted, which ensures that the families and beneficiaries of senior citizens and active military members who received a property tax deferral are not faced with a bill for the full balance of property taxes without allowing time for probate issues or other circumstances to clear up. … Read more.

Letter outlines work the Senate has done to respond to harmful actions by the federal government

(BOSTON—12/5/2025) Today, Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) sent a letter to her colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate providing an update on actions taken as part of the Senate’s Response 2025 initiative. Response 2025 is guided by the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy, which is chaired by Senator Friedman, and focuses on identifying and elevating policies that protect Massachusetts residents, defend the values of the Commonwealth, and lead the state through this challenging time.

“In the first year of this legislative session we have made great progress in responding to the actions of both the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans that would have a significant negative impact on Massachusetts and its residents,” said Senator Friedman. “The role of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy is to work with Senate members to identify policy solutions that will mitigate potential harm and safeguard residents from threats or negative impacts of federal policy and funding changes. The letter sent to Senate members provides a list detailing Response 2025 policies that have received action on the Senate floor. It’s important for the Commonwealth’s residents to know that they have elected representation committed to fighting back against the Trump Administration’s harmful, often unpredictable policies, and this work will continue in the second year of this legislative session.”

The letter to Senate members can be found on the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy’s webpage, directly linked here.  … Read more.

Rescission prevents outdated petitions from being used to justify a national Constitutional Convention 

(BOSTON—11/19/2025) Today, the Massachusetts Legislature passed joint resolutions H.4692 and S.2684 which rescind all previous applications for a national Constitutional Convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. This joint initiative is in response to concerns that Congress and the Trump Administration could attempt to use prior Massachusetts resolutions to call for an Article V Constitutional Convention to advance their own political agenda, moves that could have broad and sweeping implications on current protections under the U.S. Constitution. 

The measure was identified by the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy as a Senate Response 2025 initiative, aimed at protecting our residents, defending our values, and leading Massachusetts through these challenging times. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), who chairs the committee, voted in favor of the resolution. 

“As we continue to see our Constitution being trampled on and challenged each day at the federal level, we do not need ambiguous language from over a half century ago on the books here in Massachusetts opening up a Pandora’s box of constitutional chaos,” said Senator Friedman. “Although a Constitutional Convention under Article V has never been called, we can’t take any chances. We are now the crucial 17^th state to rescind our previous calls for convention. This means that any Article V convention will need to be decided by today’s residents, not by outdated resolutions and shoddy legal reasoning. Given the makeup of today’s Supreme Court, this resolution will serve as an important safeguard preventing an ambush on our rights and our democracy.”… Read more.

Bill stabilizes governance and responsibly increases legal possession of marijuana for personal use 

(BOSTON—11/19/2025) The Massachusetts Senate acted today to reform oversight of the maturing cannabis industry by reorganizing the state’s regulatory agency and making targeted updates that support recreational consumers and small businesses. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) voted in support of the bill’s passage through the Senate. 

The legislation approved by the Senate—An Act modernizing the Commonwealth’s cannabis laws, S.2722—takes into account the cannabis industry’s growth over the past seven years by streamlining the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), which would now operate with three members including a chair appointed directly by the Governor. 

The bill updates licensure policies to meet the needs of businesses and consumers today and in the future, allowing retailers to expand and hold a maximum of four licenses and removing operational barriers for smaller companies to enter the medical marijuana market. Following the successful introduction of recreational consumption since voters approved legalization in 2016, recreational consumers would be allowed to possess a maximum of two ounces, an increase from the current one-ounce limit. 

“The voters of the Commonwealth made cannabis legal at the ballot box in 2016 and since then, the Legislature has consistently reviewed the state of the industry and made tweaks when necessary,” said Senator Friedman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “This bill strengthens the regulatory framework overseeing the cannabis industry, while also making adjustments to policies such as the amount of cannabis that can be legally possessed, based on our evaluation of the current laws and evolving practices.… Read more.

Budget invests in health care, checks sheriffs’ spending, and supports upcoming World Cup 

(BOSTON—11/19/2025) The Massachusetts Legislature today passed a supplemental budget that prioritizes affordability for Massachusetts residents and protections for those being negatively impacted by decisions at the federal level. The enacted budget includes policies identified as part of the Senate’s Response 2025 initiative to combat negative impacts from federal decisions. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy, the committee tasked with leading Response 2025, voted in favor of the closeout budget. 

As part of allocating the final expenses of Fiscal Year 2025, the legislation, H.4761, provides funding for MassHealth, hospitals and reproductive care; ensures that students at public colleges and universities are delivered the financial aid they depend on; adds funding for the universal meals program for children in public schools; and funds operational enhancements to improve how Massachusetts residents access supplemental nutrition assistance, or SNAP. 

It also directs state funds to support transportation and public safety ahead of the upcoming 2026 World Cup, ensures accountability in sheriffs’ operations, and brings transparency to former state institutions where residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities suffered abuse.  

“This closeout supplemental budget makes targeted and timely investments in the services that our residents rely on and that we as a state are committed to supporting in a time when the federal government is taking services away,” said Senator Friedman. “I am especially pleased that this supplemental budget is in line with the Senate’s Response 2025 initiative and adopts policies to ensure the state takes a science-based approach on immunizations, prevents the impersonation of a federal officer, provides privacy for people seeking name changes, and provides relief for federal workers impacted by the most recent and future government shutdowns.… Read more.

Bill guards against political bias in library decisions, protects librarians from reprisals 

(BOSTON—11/13/2025) The Massachusetts Senate today took action to protect freedom of thought in Massachusetts schools and public libraries and safeguard open access to books and other educational materials as part of its Response 2025 initiative to respond to federal threats. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy which is tasked with leading the Response 2025 initiative, voted in support of the measure. 

As school libraries are increasingly faced with politically-charged debates over banning access to particular library books, the bill—An Act regarding free expression, S.2696—creates clear guidelines for how schools and libraries decide which books to make available, and how local leaders determine whether a book is appropriate or should be removed from the shelf. 

The legislation requires that school library materials be age-appropriate, serve an educational purpose, and be chosen based on a teacher or employee’s professional training—leaving aside personal, political, or doctrinal views which could affect their decision to place the book on the shelf. 

“The right to free expression is the cornerstone to a free society, and this bill protects librarians, authors and creators across the Commonwealth and their ability to do their jobs and share their ideas,” said Senator Friedman. “I’m proud of the Senate for once again taking action on a bill identified by the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy as a Response 2025 initiative. Together as a body, the Senate will continue to pass policies that defend the values we hold dear in Massachusetts.” … Read more.

Senate bill heightens punishments for assaults on MBTA, RTA, Commuter Rail employees 

(BOSTON—11/13/2025) The Massachusetts Senate today took action to support public transit workers by stepping up penalties for people who assault them while they are on duty. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) voted to support the legislation. 

An Act relative to assault and battery upon a transit worker, S.2697, responds to an increased number of assaults targeting workers on Massachusetts’ public transportation systems by ensuring a heightened minimum punishment.  

On the MBTA alone, workers in 2024 were targeted by 33 assaults with weapons and 72 physical assaults, according to testimony heard by the Legislature at a recent public hearing. The bill ensures that all transit workers are covered, including those who are not directly employed by the state, such as workers employed by Keolis, the state’s contracted commuter rail operator. 

Workers on the MBTA, commuter rail lines, regional transit authorities, and other public transit systems also face possible assault with bodily fluids, such as saliva. MBTA workers were targeted by 38 bodily fluid assaults in 2024. This legislation explicitly punishes bodily substance assaults in addition to other types of assaults. Convicted perpetrators of any such assaults would face a heightened minimum 90 day sentence or $500 fine. The maximum punishment is up to two and a half years in a county facility or up to a $5,000 fine. 

“Ensuring that our transit workers are safe on the job is essential, not only for their well-being but for that of their riders,” said Senator Friedman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy.… Read more.

Legislation to increase the accessibility of public library digital resources 

(BOSTON—11/13/2025) The Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously today to help Massachusetts public libraries more easily and accessibly provide in-demand digital resources such as e-books and audiobooks.   

An Act addressing challenges facing public libraries and digital resource collections, S.2710, would create a special legislative commission to assess and address challenges faced by public libraries and digital resource collections. Over the last several years, e-books and audiobooks have become an increasingly prevalent resource used by library patrons, yet they have become a financial burden for already strained public libraries. 

The commission would be tasked with examining the evolving landscape of digital resources in public libraries, focusing on costs, access, privacy, and policy implications. 

“As our society has increasingly become more reliant on digital resources, our public libraries have adapted as well, providing a host of services to patrons digitally,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “As readers more frequently choose to read e-books on their personal devices, we should be exploring ways to increase access to these materials and ensure that people can read what they want with minimal wait times. I look forward to seeing the commission’s report should this bill continue to move through the legislature and be signed by the Governor.” 

The commission would study cost trends that affect libraries and the sustainability of electronic resources, as well as assessing how consumers use these resources. The commission is also tasked with researching expert opinions on the legal differences between digital licensing and traditional print use, identifying how these variations influence user experience and equitable access to diverse collections.… Read more.