Progressive Massachusetts

The MA House just UNANIMOUSLY passed a strong, enforceable data privacy bill!

Highlights include a complete ban on the sale of precise geolocation data, with NO exceptions, and a private right of action against large data holders.

The Senate passed a bill in September, and the two chambers will now have to negotiate final text.

The MA House is voting on a data privacy bill TOMORROW (Thurs, June 4) that includes some big wins (strong protections against the purchase/sale of location data) but some clear areas for improvement. 🕵️🕵️🕵️🕵️

Join civil liberties and labor advocates in urging your state rep to SUPPORT the following amendments:

✔️ #3 to reiterate that use of employer owned devices is a mandatory subject of collective bargaining, filed be Rep. Field
✔️ #7 to restrict employer ability to disclose employee data without express employee consent, filed by Rep. Montaño
✔️ #8 to limit the transfer of employee data outside of operationally necessary reasons, filed by Rep. Montaño
✔️ #10 to ban surveillance pricing for groceries, filed by Rep. Sabadosa
✔️ #13 to strengthen the definition of “affirmative consent,” filed by Rep. Sabadosa
✔️ #16 to fix the data minimization language, filed by Rep. Decker
✔️ #21 to strengthen the private right of action, filed by Rep. Cataldo
✔️ #33 to clarify the definition of “transfer,” filed by Rep. Rogers
✔️ #36 to protect LGBTQ youth data, filed by Rep. Montaño
✔️ #38 to strengthen the data minimization language, filed by Rep. Kilcoyne
✔️ #40 to strengthen the data minimization language, filed by Rep. Owens

And to OPPOSE the following amendments:

❌ #11, which weakens privacy notification, filed by Rep. Phillips
❌ #15, which creates a wholesale exemption to the bill for banks and financial institutions, filed by Rep. Chris Markey
❌ #17, which creates a wholesale exemption for insurers, filed by Rep. Biele
❌ #18, which eliminates the Private Right of Action, filed by Rep. Biele
❌ #19, which creates an exemption to the Location Shield Act for “mobility” data, filed by Rep. Kilcoyne
❌ #20, which creates a loophole in the non-discrimination protections, filed by Rep. Cusack

At the State House today

"Passing the state Climate Superfund Act is one step we must take, following in the footsteps of our Vermont and New York neighbors and coalition partners in the nationwide movement to hold big polluters accountable and keep our communities safe from climate harm."

Big Oil is the New Big To***co; It’s Time They Paid for the Damage | Common Dreams Massachusetts must pass a Climate Superfund Act to hold big polluters accountable and keep our communities safe from climate harm.

"We underinvested for years in certain cities and towns, and now it's their time to receive the distributive justice that they've been looking for," she said. "If there's an increase in demand among the most vulnerable, why would you be cutting the budget?"

How an energy efficiency program in Mass. became so politicized Energy efficiency saves money. Why is Mass Save being blamed for rising bills in Massachusetts?

Join us in two weeks to learn more about the Vote YES for a Safe MA campaign!

Gun Violence Prevention on the Ballot You've probably seen signature collectors out in force for the ten campaigns currently collecting to get questions on the November ballot. But what you need to remember is that there are *11* potential questions, as one question is already guaranteed a spot on the ballot. That's because right-wing e...

Join MEJA and allies on Tuesday 6/2 in Waltham to Smack Down this administration's efforts to dismantle public ed!

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon will be in Waltham this Tuesday—let's turn up and tell her how we feel about her attacks on our education system!

"....the largest group of private-sector workers to have their union recognized since Ford workers joined United Auto Workers in 1941."

Rideshare drivers union in Mass. says it's the 1st to be recognized in the U.S. A rideshare driver union says it’s been recognized by Massachusetts, making it the first certified Uber/Lyft driver union in the nation.

Congrats to our endorsed candidate Senator Ed Markey!

As Markey said in his speech, it's important that we get a *progressive* Democratic majority in the Senate.

Markey wins Democrats’ endorsement at party convention, easily topping Moulton in Senate primary fight - The Boston Globe US Senator Ed Markey secured an overwhelming endorsement for re-election at the Massachusetts Democratic Party convention against his primary challenger, Representative Seth Moulton.