This page summarizes bills in the legislature that if passed would have an impact on passenger and/or freight rail service in our region of the state.
192nd Session (2021-2022)
An Act Relative to an Interstate Compact for Western MA Rail Service
House Bill H.3532
Filed by Rep. Mark (2nd Berkshire) and Rep. Sabadosa (1st Hampshire)
1/10/2022
Hearing before the Joint Committee on Transportation
Written Testimony in support of H.3532 (PDF) | Trains In The Valley
Written Testimony in support of H.3532 (PDF) | Western Mass Rail Coalition
3/14/2022
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
An Act to establish fast, frequent, and reliable passenger rail service between Pittsfield and Boston via Springfield
Senate Bill S.2345
Filed by Sen. Lesser (First Hampden and Hampshire)
1/10/2022
Hearing before the Joint Committee on Transportation
Written Testimony in support of S.2345 (PDF) | Western Mass Rail Coalition
An Act funding a study of passenger service on the Housatonic rail line
House Bill H.3571
Filed by Rep. Pignatelli (4th Berkshire)
1/10/2022
Hearing before the Joint Committee on Transportation
Written Testimony in support of H.3571 (PDF) | Western Mass Rail Coalition
2/3/2022
Committee recommended ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
An Act creating a New Deal for Transportation in the Commonwealth
Senate Bill S.2265
Filed by Sen. Boncore (First Suffolk and Middlesex)
3/3/2022
Reporting date extended to April 29, 2022
An Act Relative to Massachusetts’s Transportation Resources and Climate
Often referred to as the Transportation Bond Bill or the Infrastructure Bond Bill
Baker-Polito Administration Files $9.7 Billion Infrastructure Bond Bill
Press Release | Office of Governor Charlie Baker | March 17, 2022
House Bill H.4561
Filed by Governor Baker
5/18/2022
Reported out of Transportation Committee, New House draft | H.4798
6/21/2022
Second reading, New House draft | H.4897
Bill now includes $250 million for East-West Rail and a new commission to study what the governance structure should be for East-West Rail.
6/23/2022
The bill passed the House to be engrossed.
2023 State Budget
An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2023 for the maintenance of the departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and certain activities of the commonwealth, for interest, sinking fund, and serial bond requirements, and for certain permanent improvements
Commonly referred to as the Fiscal Year 2023 state budget
The current status can be found on this official link
FY2023 Budget
See also
Recent bills that became law in Massachusetts
Bills that became law that have an impact passenger and/or freight rail service in our region of the state.
Further reading
How an Idea Becomes a Law (PDF)
Office of the Clerk of the Senate
Page last updated: June 24, 2022
Page last reviewed: July 17, 2020