2025-2026 Legislative Session

Across the country, fundamental freedoms are at stake: from abortion bans to the criminalization of trans people to mass deportation of our immigrant neighbors. Here in Massachusetts, our leaders can – and must – prioritize residents’ health, safety, and economic security and refuse to play political games with Bay Staters’ lives. We need courageous leadership now more than ever.

In the face of threatened federal attacks on our liberties, it is time for swift, bold, pragmatic, and steady action. In Massachusetts, we have an obligation to build firewalls for freedom to protect people from government overreach and an opportunity to move freedom forward in these challenging times. Together, we can make the Commonwealth a safer, more just, and more welcoming place for all.

ACLU of Massachusetts’ priorities for the 2025-2026 legislative session:

Firewalls for Freedom

To push back against threatened federal attacks on civil rights and civil liberties, Massachusetts must build firewalls for freedom to protect our people and communities.

Location Shield Act (HD2965, SD501) to protect safety and privacy by stopping the sale of cellphone location data | Learn More
Dignity Not Deportations (HD3596, SD1107) to end voluntary ICE contracts that facilitate mass deportations
Press Shield (HD3667, SD2338) to protect journalists from government harassment
Freedom from Library Censorship (HD625, SD141) to stop book bans in Massachusetts schools
Massachusetts Data Privacy Act (HD2110, SD267) to protect digital privacy and real-world safety
Face Surveillance Protections (HD794, SD503) to rein in surveillance technologies

Technology for Liberty

Our everyday activities online create a detailed data trail, revealing almost everything about our private lives. We must protect data privacy to ensure real-world safety.

Location Shield Act (HD2965, SD501) to protect safety and privacy by stopping the sale of cellphone location data | Learn More
Massachusetts Data Privacy Act (HD2110, SD267) to protect people’s digital privacy and real-world safety
Face Surveillance Protections (HD794, SD503) to rein in surveillance technologies
Driver Privacy Act (HD1032) to establish standards for roadway surveillance by law enforcement
Responsible Robotics Act (HD960, SD264) to ensure the responsible use of advanced robotic technologies

Democracy & Voting Rights

Our democracy works best when everyone can participate. All Bay Staters should feel empowered to contribute and shape their own communities within a dynamic and responsive democratic system.

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Modern Open Meeting Access (HD368) to guarantee hybrid access to open meetings
Press Shield (HD3667, SD2338) to protect journalists from government harassment
Protection Against Election Misinformation (HD1181, SD265) to prevent the use of technology to spread election lies
Same Day Voter Registration (HD856, SD667) to ensure no eligible voter is denied the ability to cast a ballot
Accessible Polling Place Oversight (HD2136, SD642) to ensure access for voters with disabilities
Decoupling Voting from the Municipal Census (HD2673, SD636) to end disenfranchisement by bureaucracy

Reproductive Freedom

The decision about whether, when, or how to become a parent is one of the most important life decisions we make. We should all be able to make that decision without barriers or political inference.

Location Shield Act (HD2965, SD501) to stop the sale of cellphone location data that can be used to harm abortion providers, patients, and helpers | Learn More
Full-Spectrum Pregnancy Care (HD1456, SD1199) to prevent out-of-pocket costs for pregnancy care
Prioritizing Patient Access to Care (HD2651, SD1742) to remove barriers to care later in pregnancy
Abortion Access Act (HD2989, SD1858) to enhance access and remove barriers to care

Racial & Economic Justice

Systemic inequalities in education, housing and employment cannot go unchecked. We’re fighting to ensure all have equal access to opportunities and to end discriminatory laws and policies that deny marginalized communities a fair shot.

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Road to Opportunity Act (HD2487, SD1424) to end debt-based driving restrictions | Learn More
Access to Counsel and Justice in Evictions (HD3912, SD1771) to provide legal representation to low-income tenants and landlords
Massachusetts Civil Rights Act Updates (HD3323) to enable redress in court for civil rights violations
Disparate Impact Discrimination (HD3194, SD1760) to provide remedies for government policies that result in discriminatory outcomes
End Legacy Admissions (HD3615, SD38) to increase educational equity in higher education

Immigrants’ Rights

Immigrants are our friends, family members, neighbors, colleagues and employees. We must ensure immigrants can live with dignity, with opportunity and due process.

Dignity Not Deportations (HD3596, SD1107) to end voluntary ICE contracts in our state that facilitate mass deportations
Safe Communities Act (HD3816, SD1670) to protect immigrants’ rights
Access to Justice (HD3302) to ensure impartial treatment and due process for immigrants
Integrity of State Data Systems (SD1457) to prevent misuse of state data for civil immigration enforcement

Harm Reduction & Treatment for Substance Use

Public health crises require public health solutions. Investing in public health over punishment saves lives and strengthens communities.

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Overdose Prevention (HD4212, SD2483) to expand harm reduction services and save lives
Treatment Not Incarceration (HD873, SD1634) to prevent people on probation from being locked up for relapsing
Consistent Access to Care (HD3398, SD1647) to guarantee uniformity in provision of medication for opioid use disorder across correctional facilities
Narcan Distribution (HD3401, SD914) to save lives when people leave correctional facilities

Criminal Law Reform

Incarceration separates families and creates lifelong barriers to employment, housing, and other necessities. Massachusetts must address the scale and harm of our state’s incarceration system.

Raise the Age (HD3632, SD2115) to promote better outcomes for young people by expanding juvenile court jurisdiction
Clean Slate (HD1788, SD949, HD2078, SD1356) to automate record sealing in the Commonwealth when people become eligible
End Life Sentences Without the Possibility of Parole (HD348, SD1006) to stop condemning people to guaranteed death in prison
Reform Parole Supervision (SD2327) to ensure reasonable conditions of parole and reduce incarceration for technical violations
Police Accountability for Sexual Misconduct (HD1760, SD645, SD1613) to ensure that sexual assaults by officers can be redressed in court