Legislative Update
Some great news! Two of our key bills were voted favorably out of committee in February. They are Prohibiting Native Mascots in MA (S.247 /H.443) and Changing the MA Flag and Seal (S.1877/H.2776).
S.1811/H.2948 An Act to protect Native American Heritage also moved successfully out of committee.
Unfortunately, the Indigenous Peoples Day bill H.3665 did not move out of the committee where it was heard, despite hundreds of your letters in support, hours of testimony, and lobbying of committee members. We thank you for all that you have done, and promise that we will get a new Indigenous Peoples Day bill introduced in January of 2021.
H.444 Improving Indigenous Educational Outcomes also failed to pass out of committee.
Please stay tuned to our MA Indigenous Legislative website and facebook page MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda for updates. Thank you for all your support!
Bill Details
More Information about the bill
Bill Name: “An Act to Protect Native American Heritage”
House Number: H.2948 https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H2948
Senate Number: S.1811 https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S1811
House Presenters: David Biele, Dave Rodgers
House Cosponsors: Julian Cyr, Mary Keefe, Tommy Vitolo, Patricia Jehlen, Jon Santiago, Jack Lewis, Mary Keefe, Stephan Hay, Denise Provost
Senate Presenter: Nick Collins
Senate Cosponsors: Julian Cyr, Mary Keefe
Committee(s): Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
Bill Description: To ensure that Native American funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony held in governmental/municipal or in non-profit collections are not sold for profit.