JALSA Legislative Priorities 2023

In selecting our priorities for the 193rd session of the Massachusetts General Court, we are guided by the commandment to pursue justice – Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof. The legislative initiatives below will lead to Massachusetts being a more equitable place, providing opportunities for all who live here to lead healthy and economically-secure lives, free from discrimination. 

As the legislative session continues, we may add additional priorities to this list below.

  • An Act providing affordable and accessible high-quality early education and care to promote child development and well-being and support the economy in the Commonwealth: The “Common Start” bill will guarantee that every child in the Commonwealth has access to quality early childhood education.

    An Act relative to universal school meals: The “Feed Kids” bill will enable all public school students to receive breakfast and lunch at school, free of charge.

    An Act preventing high-income tax avoidance An Act to protect the intent of the Fair Share Amendment: Protecting the revenue generated from the Fair Share Amendment to ensure that it is collected in the way the ballot measure intended.

    An Act to Raise the Minimum Wage: Will raise the minimum wage to $20 and index it to inflation; would increase the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers.

  • An Act establishing a zero carbon renovation fund: Will establish a fund to support the decarbonization of existing buildings. A special focus of this will be environmental justice communities .

    An Act providing for climate change adaptation infrastructure and affordable housing investments in the Commonwealth: Known as “HERO - Housing and Environmental Revenue Opportunities,” this bill raises the deeds excise tax to fund a Global Warming Solutions Trust and the Affordable Housing Trust.

  • An Act promoting housing stability and homelessness prevention in Massachusetts: Provides legal counsel for low-income tenants and owner-occupants in eviction proceedings.

    An Act promoting housing opportunity and mobility through eviction sealing (HOMES): Protect tenants from being unfairly branded with an eviction record if they do not have a judgment against them, were not actually evicted, or if they didn’t do anything wrong.

    An Act granting a local option for a real estate transfer fee to fund affordable housing: An act enabling act to allow communities the option of enacting a real estate transfer tax for the purpose of creating affordable housing.

  • An Act to End Debt-Based Driving Restrictions and Remove Economic Roadblocks: Ends debt-based license suspensions (which make it difficult for people to get to work and earn money to pay off their debts) and encourage on-time payments by requiring the RMV to send electronic reminders to enable people to click and pay or request an indigency hearing.

    An Act to keep families connected: Eliminates the cost of prison phone calls.

  • An Act expanding affordable coverage through ConnectorCare: This bill creates a pilot program to expand eligibility for the ConnectorCare program to more MA residents, increasing access to affordable health care coverage with lower costs.

    An Act Ensuring Access to Full Spectrum Pregnancy Care: This legislation would require health insurance plans to cover all pregnancy care—including abortion, prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum care—without any kind of cost-sharing.

  • An Act protecting reproductive health access, LGBTQ lives, religious liberty, and freedom of movement by banning the sale of cell phone location information: (Lipper-Garabedian and Creem) Bans the collection and sale of cell phone location data, this data could be used to prosecute individuals who come to Massachusetts seeking an abortion.

    An Act to implement the recommendations of the special commission on facial recognition technology.

  • An Act making voting administrative changes to create equitable systemic solution: Will allow for same day voter registration.

  • An Act relative to Massachusetts state sovereignty: Bans law enforcement agencies from signing 287(g) agreements with the Department of Homeland Security to prevent state law enforcement agencies from taking on federal immigration enforcement roles.

    An Act establishing basic needs assistance for Massachusetts immigrant residents: Allows lawfully present but federally ineligible immigrants to obtain food stamps (SNAP) and cash assistance (TAFDC).

    An Act to increase family stabilization through the earned income tax credit: Expands the state EITC to individuals who file their taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

  • JALSA will support the legislative agenda of the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, which will be working with legislators to develop an omnibus bill for this session to strengthen our current laws in this area.