Massachusetts House

The Massachusetts House passed a bill to loosen rules on late-term abortions. The Senate is expected to vote on the measure before the legislative session ends next week.

The Massachusetts House passed a bipartisan bill to protect school and public library book access by granting librarians primary authority over material selection and establishing a review process for book challenges. The bill requires materials to be age-appropriate, educationally relevant, and chosen based on professional standards, with removal decisions requiring 'clear and convincing evidence' of a book's lack of value.

The Massachusetts House approved a bill allowing bars to extend last call to 3 a.m. through July 31 with local approval. The Senate is expected to follow suit, and the bill includes provisions for 'social consumption districts' where alcohol can be consumed in public spaces. The legislation aims to support local businesses during summer events, including the FIFA World Cup.

The Massachusetts House passed a data privacy bill allowing consumers to sue large data collectors and opt out of data collection, while permitting sale of sensitive data with consumer consent. The bill, a revised version of a Senate proposal, aims to limit data collection by tech companies and ensure transparency, but faces criticism for being less restrictive than the Senate's original draft.

Massachusetts House Democrats passed a bill to limit the state auditor's power to audit the Legislature and control access to legislative records, drawing criticism from GOP lawmakers and transparency advocates. The bill, which passed 125-28 along party lines, faces opposition from Auditor Diana DiZoglio, who claims it undermines a 2024 voter-approved law. Senate Democrats have taken a different approach, releasing some documents while reserving the right to reject future requests.