Where do key bills stand in the Mass. Statehouse? Check out our legislative tracker

With thousands of bills introduced in the Massachusetts legislature each year, it can be difficult to keep track of what has passed, and what has not.

This scorecard will help you keep track of what has happened in this, the second year of the 193rd session of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We'll update it as the session continues.

What bills have become law?

So far, little that could be considered major legislation has been signed into law. Bills that have passed both houses and been signed into law by Gov. Maura Healey mainly concern alcohol licenses in different municipalities, the creation of sick banks for state workers and municipal home rule petitions.

Which measures have been approved, individually, by each branch?

Gun control. The House passed its version of gun control legislation in October, and the Senate passed its version Feb. 1. Both the senate and the house have acted unilaterally different aspects of the bill as it was first filed. The two chambers must work out the differences between the two bills before final legislation can be sent to the governor.

Rainy day fund: Each branch has acted favorably to a bill filed by Healey that would use $800 million in interest accrued by the state’s $8 billion rainy day fund, to provide cash on hand to use when seeking federal funding for proposals and projects. The proposal would ensure Massachusetts has the money to satisfy requirements in many federal grant programs that states cover a portion of proposed project costs.

What has come out of the Senate?

The Senate has passed the following measures, which have not yet passed the House:

Early education: Sponsored by Senators Robyn Kennedy, D-Worcester, and Sal DiDomenico, D-Everett, the Early Ed Act would make permanent pandemic-era grants to providers, set pay and benefit standards for early education/child care workers, and raise the income thresholds for families to receive subsidies, among other provisions. Passed unanimously on March 14.

Blue Envelope Bill: Sponsored by Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, the bill would allow residents who have been diagnosed on the autism spectrum to place driving documents in a blue envelope that they can hand to law enforcement if stopped on a motor vehicle violation. The envelope would alert police to the driver’s developmental disability and the possibility that the motorist may become escalated or have alternative responses to the traffic stop.

Legalization of fentanyl test strips: Sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Creem, D-Newton, the legislation legalizes the sale, distribution and possession of fentanyl test strips and other testing equipment used to check substances for contaminants.

Wheelchair warrantee extension: Sponsored by Sen. John Cronin, D-Lunenberg, the measure would protect consumers who use wheelchairs by providing a two-year minimum warrantee that covers repairs, rentals and replacements.

Prohibiting the declawing of cats: Sponsored by Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford, the bill would prohibit the “inhumane” declawing of feline companion animals except for medical necessity.

Real estate appraisals: A bill sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Creem, D-Newton, would require all real estate appraisals be performed by licensed appraisers.

Free menstrual products: A bill sponsored by Sen. Patricia Jehlen, D-Somerville, would require that public buildings such as schools, correctional institutions and group homes to have disposable menstrual products available for use free of charge in all gender-appropriate and neutral bathrooms.

Healthy Youth Act: First introduced a decade ago by Rep. James O’Day, D-West Boylston, the bill would set curriculum standards across Massachusetts public school districts for teaching sex education. In the past, it has passed the Senate but been mostly ignored by the House. This year, the legislation got a boost from Gov. Maura Healey, who assembled a panel of experts to put together a new sex education framework. The Senate legislation, sponsored by Sen. Sal DiDomenico, D-Everett has been reported out of committee and referred to Senate Ways and Means. The Senate passed it again on Feb. 29.

What has the House passed?

Revenge porn: The House reported in January that it had passed a package of bills to prevent abuse and exploitation. The legislation combines several initiatives covering issues including teen “sexting” and revenge porn. It increases criminal penalties for certain violations; extends the statute of limitations to 15 years for certain acts of domestic violence; and allows a new, nonphysical, category – coercive control – to applications for retraining orders. Coercive control can include threats to release sexual images, regulating communications and isolating someone from family or friends. The Senate plans to vote on its own version of a revenge porn bill later in March.

What's waiting in the wings?

Safe injection site pilot program: This measure, sponsored by Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro; and Representatives Dylan Fernandes, D-Falmouth, and Marjorie Decker, D-Cambridge, would establish a 10-year pilot program for establishing overdose prevention sites, also called safe injection sites, in approved locations. The Worcester Board of Health recently voted in support of establishing such a center, pending state approval. The Senate version of the bill was referred to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, while the House version was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

PFAS and firefighting gear: Senators Julian Cyr, D-Falmouth, and Michael Moore, D-Millbury, have filed legislation that would ban the manufacture, sale, distribution or use of firefighting gear that has been intentionally treated with PFAS. It has been favorably voted out of committee. A separate measure, sponsored by Moore, would create a public safety fund to put the state on a path to support the development, design and testing of PFAS-free gear that would meet or exceed National Fire Protection Association standards. It has been languishing in committee.

Abandoned fishing gear: A bill filed by Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, would establish the legal framework to allow the state Division of Marine Fisheries to enforce the removal of abandoned fishing gear from coastal waterways. Currently, abandoned fishing gear is considered private property but poses a threat to the whales and other sea creatures and also to navigation while polluting the ocean with plastics. The bill was referred to the Joint Committee on Rules.

End-of-life options:  Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, and Reps. James O’Day, D-West Boylston, and Ted Philips, D-Sharon, voted out end-of-life options favorably from the Joint Committee on Public Health. The measure, backed by almost 100 of the state’s legislators, would allow terminally ill adults over 18 to obtain a prescription for medication they could self-administer to end their suffering.

Expand the Bottle Bill: Sen. Cynthia Creem, D-Newton, filed a bill that would expand the types of containers and beverages subject to a cash deposit to ensure they were returned for recycling. The deposit would also increase from a nickel to a dime. Currently only containers of carbonated beverages are subject to the deposit.

Restricting Styrofoam: Legislation sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Decker, D-Cambridge, and Sen. Michael Barrett, D-Lexington, would ban the use of polystyrene, also know as Styrofoam, containers for serving, packaging and transporting food and beverages, starting in August 2025. The bill was reported out favorably from the Joint Committee on Public Health.

Setting a minimum teacher pay: A bill filed by Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, D-Somerville, would set a base for educator pay; starting at $65,000 for teachers who require licenses and $45,000 for others offering direct educational services, such as paraprofessionals.

Permanent Standard Time: A measure submitted by Rep. Angelo Puppolo, D-Springfield, and Assistant Senate Minority Leader Patrick O’Connor, R-Weymouth, was sent to “study” from the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. If enacted, it would establish Standard Time as the only time in the state, with no yearly swing to daylight-saving time in March. Sleep experts say that the yearly shift disrupts people's sleep and contributes to increases in car accidents and health problems. The measure would only become law if Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire also adopt the change.

Crumbling concrete foundations: Legislation sponsored by Sen. Ryan Fattman, R-Sutton, and Rep. Jon Zlotnik, D-Gardner, would bar the use of concrete containing pyrite and/or pyrrhotite in foundations and structural elements of bridges, roadways, homes and buildings. The naturally occurring mineral degrades when exposed to moisture and oxygen. The bill would also establish a relief fund to subsidize homeowners as they replace damaged foundations. The Senate version has been reported out of committee and referred to Ways and Means.

Domestic violence victims' protections: The legislation, sponsored by Senator Fattman and Rep. Joseph McKenna, R-Webster, was first filed after the death of Amanda Dabrowski, who was murdered inside the Worcester restaurant where she worked by a man she had briefly dated. The measure would extend workplace benefits and protections enjoyed by direct employees of Massachusetts businesses to those hired through staffing agencies or other third-party entities. Under these protections, victims of relationship violence would have access to 15 days of emergency leave so that they can receive medical attention or counseling, secure housing, seek a restraining order or meet with law enforcement. The Senate version has been reported out of committee and referred to Ways and Means.

Massachusetts Disaster Trust Fund: Sponsored by Comerford and championed by Healey, who included her own version of the proposal in her budget plan for next fiscal year. The $250 million fund would cover local expenses related to natural disasters and other weather events. Voted out of the Senate Committee on Agriculture.

Safe Communities Act: Sponsored by Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Marlborough, the bill would set uniform standards for all Massachusetts police departments that would protect the immigration status and physical location of residents interacting with law enforcement officials until their cases have been concluded. Police would be barred from reaching out to contact federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to relay such information. Local law enforcement could answer questions about whether certain individuals are in custody. Once a criminal defendant has served their sentence, local officials could call ICE to remand them to federal custody.

Location Shield Act: Sponsored by Creem, the bill would prohibit the sale of cellphone location data gathered through myriad apps to brokers that aggregate and sell information. The bill is deemed to be a protection for all residents and visitors to the state, particularly members of vulnerable communities; LGBTQ+ and those seeking reproductive health care. It was heard by the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure in June.

Farm bills: Concern about climate change and the frequency and intensity of damaging storms may have lent urgency to the Joint Committee of Agriculture to advance an omnibus measure that rolls 13 farm-related initiatives into one. The bills address issues ranging from food security to recruiting farm workers; diversifying the state’s agricultural industry, opening the door to nontraditional farmers and persons of color.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Mass. legislative tracker: Status of key bills in Statehouse