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| Good morning. Rain again today, but at least it's not falling on your parade — unless your parade happens to be a legislative session, in which case, buckle up. Let's get into it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Lead
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| Beacon Hill leaders announced Wednesday they've struck a deal on the PROTECT Act, a bill that would make Massachusetts one of the strongest states in the country for shielding immigrants from federal enforcement. The compromise — expected to reach Governor Maura Healey's desk by the end of the week — bans ICE from making warrantless civil arrests at courthouses, public schools, childcare centers, and healthcare facilities. It also codifies the 2017 Lunn v. Commonwealth decision, which already bars local police from holding people solely on immigration detainers, and blocks any new agreements letting local or state officials moonlight as federal immigration agents. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Here's what makes this deal notable: it's closer to what Healey and Senate President Karen Spilka's chamber originally wanted than what House Speaker Ron Mariano's chamber proposed. The House had focused narrowly on courthouses; the Senate and Healey pushed for a much broader list of "sensitive locations." In the end, negotiators added schools, daycare centers, and hospitals to the protected list — but notably left out houses of worship, a late-stage compromise that will likely disappoint some faith leaders and immigrant advocates. State Senator Cindy Friedman, who helped hammer out the deal, didn't mince words about the stakes: "People are being hurt needlessly… there is great fear and trepidation throughout our Commonwealth because of the acts of the federal government." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This isn't happening in a vacuum. It comes weeks after an ICE agent fatally shot a man in Maine, amid a national wave of aggressive deportation enforcement, and as tens of thousands of Haitian immigrants in Massachusetts lose temporary protected status. Expect House and Senate votes later this week, and expect legal challenges almost immediately once Healey signs it — some legal experts have already flagged that protections for non-state-owned spaces like private hospitals could invite lawsuits. Watch for how the Trump administration responds; Massachusetts is positioning itself as a legal battleground state on immigration enforcement, and this bill raises the stakes considerably. Full story at WBUR → | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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What Else You Should Know
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| A GOP gubernatorial candidate's $31 million Montana problem. Michael Minogue, the state Republican Party's endorsed candidate for governor, owns a $31 million home in Montana's ultra-exclusive Yellowstone Club — the same private ski enclave where Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Tom Brady have kept properties. Minogue has built his campaign around understanding the financial squeeze facing Massachusetts families, which is going to be an awkward contrast for his opponents to point out — and they will. Boston Globe → | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teen killed, four hurt in Abington police chase. A 17-year-old from Weymouth died and four teen passengers were seriously injured Wednesday morning when a stolen Hyundai Santa Fe crashed into a tree after police tried to stop it. The pursuing officer, on the job less than two years, has been placed on leave for his own well-being. State Police are investigating. Boston Globe → | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stoughton's town manager and police chief both sidelined. After weeks of public feuding — including a harassment lawsuit — the Stoughton Select Board placed Town Manager Tom Calter and Police Chief Donna McNamara on paid leave pending an independent investigation. Residents at the meeting weren't happy, chanting "recall" as the decision came down. WCVB → | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mayor Wu's street safety plan draws quick backlash. Following the death of cyclist Louisa Gag on Tremont Street, Mayor Michelle Wu released a six-page letter promising to strengthen the city's Streets Cabinet. Advocacy group Families for Safe Streets says it's more of the same — no timelines, no accountability, no commitment to unstalling delayed safety projects. More than 4,000 people had signed a petition demanding faster action. Boston.com → | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| House primary care bill adds AI guardrails, pharmacy oversight. House Democrats advanced a reworked primary care reform package Wednesday that borrows a key idea from the Senate's version — a primary care spending target — while adding new rules on artificial intelligence use in health care and tighter oversight of pharmacy benefit managers. It cleared committee 19-0 and heads to a full House vote today. Boston Globe → | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senators press federal regulators on school bus safety after WBUR/ProPublica investigation. Senators Ed Markey and Maria Cantwell sent a letter demanding the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration explain gaps in its crash-tracking system, after reporting found dozens of deadly collisions missing from the safety record of Transdev, a major school bus contractor — reporting that began after a Boston kindergartener was killed by his own school bus. WBUR → | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Worth Your Attention
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End-of-Session Tracker
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⏳ Formal sessions end July 31 — 1 days left
FY2027 Budget (conference report) (H5555) HouseSenateConferenceGov's DeskSigned Energy Affordability (House bill; Senate swapped in S.3143) (H5175) House ✓Senate ✓ConferenceGov's DeskSigned Ballot Spending Transparency (S2916) House ✓Senate ✓ConferenceGov's DeskSigned |
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💰 Money Watch
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Yesterday's Biggest Contributions
Big Spending This Week
Data from the MA Office of Campaign & Political Finance |
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This Week on Beacon Hill
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Thursday, July 30, 2:00 PM Massachusetts Data Privacy Act Topic: Data Privacy Conference Committee Meeting Location: A-2 , Boston Thursday, July 30, 4:00 PM Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight (1 bills) Topic: Matters concerning late file bills Location: A-1 , Boston
Friday, July 31, 10:00 AM Joint Committee on the Judiciary (1 bills) Topic: Hearing 16: Late File Hearing II Location: A-2 , Boston
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New on the Ballot
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Recent filings with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance: Ballot Question Committees
Change of Purposes
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One More Thing
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| The Mass Brief publishes every morning. Forward this to a friend who needs to know what's happening in Massachusetts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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