Author: Cindy Friedman

Friedman-led Legislation Creates New Accountability for Federal Agents and Keeps Local Police Out of Civil Immigration Enforcement 

(BOSTON—5/7/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today passed sweeping legislation to protect residents from the Trump administration’s weaponization of federal immigration enforcement. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington)—who led the Senate’s PROTECT Act efforts as Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy—voted in support of the legislation, which passed on a bipartisan roll call vote of 37-3.

The PROTECT Act 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.  

The bill also blocks unauthorized deployment of other states’ National Guards into Massachusetts and allows parents facing detention or deportation to pre-arrange guardianship for their children. 

“Today, the Massachusetts Senate is taking action to protect immigrant families, defend constitutional rights, and stand up to the fear and cruelty being fueled by Donald Trump’s weaponization of federal immigration enforcement,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Across our Commonwealth, we are seeing children torn from their parents, students pulled off the street, and families living in fear—and we refuse to accept that as normal in Massachusetts.” 

“The PROTECT Act is comprehensive legislation that defends the values enshrined in the Massachusetts Constitution, particularly equal protection under the law for all,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “This bill will increase protections for our residents, spells out plainly and clearly that Massachusetts law enforcement officers are not responsible for aiding civil immigration enforcement, and importantly, stands up for our immigrant community in the face of an adversarial federal government.… Read more.

(BOSTON—4/30/2026) The Massachusetts Senate advanced its version of the PROTECT Act today—a major legislative package to protect the rights of all Massachusetts residents, particularly immigrants, young children, and victims of crimes. Below are statements of support.

Members of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy

Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Senator William N. Brownsberger (D-Belmont), Senator Joanne M. Comerford (D-Northampton), Senator Cynthia Stone Creem (D-Newton), and Senator Pavel M. Payano (D-Lawrence):

“The actions of federal immigration enforcement officials, at the direction of President Trump and Congressional Republicans, have brought fear and chaos to neighborhoods across Massachusetts and our nation. These actions must be met with a policy response that makes clear that we will defend both the people and the values of this Commonwealth—and which goes as far as we can as a state to deliver protections to the residents of Massachusetts, especially our immigrant communities.

“The Senate version of the PROTECT Act, which builds off the work of Governor Healey and our colleagues in the House of Representatives, is the product of countless conversations with immigrants’ rights advocates, government officials, law enforcement stakeholders, residents of the Commonwealth, and our colleagues in the Senate.

“These conversations have shaped the Senate’s version of this bill, which would:

• Ensure sensitive locations remain places of trust where all residents have the safety they deserve;
• Prohibit state and local law enforcement from engaging in civil immigration enforcement;
• Ban government entities from entering into new 287(g) agreements;
• Protect residents from direct actions by federal law enforcement that violate individual protections under the United States Constitution; and
• Prohibit state and local law enforcement from unnecessarily questioning a person about their immigration or citizenship status or stopping a person because of their citizenship or immigration status.

… Read more.

Landmark bill reduces plastic waste, invests in climate preparedness, and protects natural resources statewide 

(BOSTON—4/15/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today passed the Mass Ready Act, an environmental bond bill that takes action to support the removal of ‘forever chemicals’ from drinking water, help municipalities withstand floods and droughts, and make outdoor recreation possible for more residents through improved trails and parks. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) voted in support of the measure. 

In an effort to preserve the natural world and cut down on pollution, the legislation would remove single-use plastic bags from retail checkout counters and take other steps to curb unnecessary and wasteful reliance on single-use plastics. 

The bill—S.3050, formally known as An Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities—features policy proposals such as the preservation of public beach access, expedited timelines for culvert replacement projects, and requirements to inform prospective homebuyers and renters of flood risks, in addition to $3.94 billion in bonding authorizations.  

The bonding measures would allow strategic state borrowing, including $120 million for PFAS remediation in public water supplies and private drinking water wells, $500 million for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program to help prepare for extreme weather and climate challenges, and $50 million for MassTrails grants to support the development of recreational trail systems across Massachusetts. 

“Bonding is the quintessential investment in the Commonwealth’s future, as it authorizes borrowing to sustainably fund longer term projects in Massachusetts,” said Senator Friedman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Care Financing. “In addition to bond authorizations I secured to support funding for communities in my district, I am also pleased with the policies this bond bill proposes to improve our environment and our climate resilience. Particularly, the Senate led on an issue that I know many of my constituents care deeply about — allowing cities and towns to limit the use of rodenticides in their communities and prevent harmful impacts to their local ecosystems.” … Read more.

$1.57 Billion Plan Pairs Fair Share Investments with Innovative Policy Solutions; Provides $1 Million in Support for Local Projects 

(BOSTON—4/9/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today approved a budget plan that pairs statewide education and transportation investments with innovative policies to spur new multifamily housing construction, boost the family medicine workforce, protect immigrants, and ease strained municipal budgets with regionally equitable Fair Share investments. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) cast her vote in support of the measure. 

The legislation, S.3041, exempts building materials from the sales tax for qualifying housing projects and boosts the primary care workforce by delivering scholarships to UMass Medical graduates who agree to practice in underserved populations in Massachusetts after graduation. 

The bill sends significant funding to city and town budgets to help with the costs of heavy winter storms, increases reimbursements for special education services, and strengthens scientific research operations at public universities. 

“This supplemental budget not only invests in our statewide education and public transportation infrastructure using Fair Share Act funds, but also contains creative policy solutions to strengthen our health care system by creating a scholarship program for primary care physicians,” said Senator Friedman, who serves as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing and as Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “Importantly, this legislation includes items that respond to the actions of the federal government as part of the Senate’s Response 2025 initiative through the delivery of additional support to the Immigrant Legal Defense Fund and the creation of a new sales tax credit to incentivize multi-family home production and mitigate the impact of federal tariffs on building materials. This is the second year that the Senate has used surplus Fair Share Act dollars to bring funding directly to local projects in education and public transportation, and I am so excited to support these projects for the benefit of residents here in the 4^th Middlesex district and across the state.”   … Read more.

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.