Senate Advances Bills Protecting Library Freedom, Safety of Transit Workers
Legislation to be debated by the Senate next week
(BOSTON—11/6/2025) The Massachusetts Senate Committee on Ways and Means voted today to advance legislation that protects the fundamentally American right to freely access thought, writing and art through books and other materials. It also advanced a bill protecting public transit workers.
An Act regarding free expression, S.2696, creates responsible protocols for how books and other library materials are put on the shelves at school libraries and municipal public libraries, and how local authorities can determine the appropriateness of a book if it is challenged. The bill allows local districts to craft their own policies while setting basic expectations for library materials. The legislation is a new draft of S.2328, originally filed by Senator Julian Cyr.
The Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development advanced the bill with a 6-0 vote on August 14, 2025 after seeking public input at a hearing held on July 22, 2025.
An Act relative to assault and battery upon a transit worker, S.2697, heightens penalties for assaults on public transit workers in response to a growing number of incidents. The bill also specifically punishes assaults against public employees that are committed with bodily substances such as saliva. The legislation is a new draft of H.4645.
This legislation was originally filed in the House of Representatives, which passed a version of the bill on October 22, 2025. The Joint Committee on the Judiciary gave the legislation a favorable report on August 18, 2025 following a public hearing held on May 6, 2025.
After the Committee on Ways and Means voted 17-0 to advance each bill, the Senate voted during its session this afternoon to schedule both bills for debate by the full Senate next Thursday, November 13.
All committee votes are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website.
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