Legislative Timeline
2009-2010 Legislative Session
January - February 2009
Safer Alternatives bill, H-757 An Act for a Competitive Economy Through Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals, filed by Representative Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington) and Senator Steven Tolman (D-Brighton) with 99 Representatives and 35 Senators signed on as co-sponsors.
Safe Cleaning Products Bill, H-2161 An Act to Require Environmentally Safe Alternatives to Harmful Cleaning Products, filed by Representative Frank Smizik (D-Brookline) with 45 co-sponsors.
2007-2008 Legislative Session
July 31, 2008
Last day of the Massachusetts 2007-2008 formal legislative session. Both the Safer Alternatives Bill and the Safe Cleaning Products Bill were in the House Committee on Ways and Means when the session ended.
June 2008
A letter requesting a vote on the Safer Alternatives Bill is delivered to Speaker DiMasi with the signatures of 85 Representatives.
May 2008
Safe Cleaning Products Bill passed from Committee on Health Care Financing to House Committee on Ways and Means.
February 19, 2008
Safe Cleaning Products Bill receives a favorable report from the Joint Committee on Public Health, assigned to Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.
January 29, 2008
Revised and amended version of the Safer Alternatives Bill Passed unanimously by the Massachusetts Senate under a new name and number: S-2481 An Act Providing for Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals. Bill assigned to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
January 9, 2008
Safer Alternatives Bill Senate vote postponed.
January 2, 2008
Safer Alternatives Bill Senate vote postponed.
November 20, 2007
Safer Alternatives Bill again brought to Senate floor for a vote, vote again postponed. Senate adjourns until 2008.
November 15, 2007
Safer Alternatives Bill brought to Senate floor for a vote, vote postponed.
November 14, 2007
Senate Committee on Ways and Means Gives the Safer Alternatives Bill a favorable report.
November 5, 2007
Safer Alternatives Bill Receives a favorable report from Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. Assigned to Senate Committee on Ways and Means and given a new number: S-2406.
July 25, 2007
Safe Cleaning Products Bill has a hearing before the Joint Committee on Public Health.
June 11, 2007
Safer Alternatives Bill has a hearing before the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.
January 2007
Safer Alternatives Bill (S-558 & H-783, An Act for a Healthy Massachusetts, Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals) filed with 84 state Representatives and 30 Senators signed on as cosponsors.
Safe Cleaning Products Bill (H-2246 An Act Relative to Environmentally Safe Alternatives to Harmful Cleaning Products & S-2204 An Act to Reduce Asthma and Other Health Threats from Cleaning Products Used in Schools, Hospitals and Public Housing) filed with 6 Senators and 32 Representatives co-sponsoring.
2005-2006 Legislative Session
December 2006
Legislators Begin Cosponsoring Safer Alternatives Bill for the 2007-2008 legislative session.
November 2006
AHT Announces Legislative Priorities July 28, 2006.
July 28, 2006
Governor Mitt Romney signs the Massachusetts Mercury Products Bill into law.
July 6, 2006
The Mercury Products Bill, with conference committee changes, is sent to Governor Romney's Desk. The Governor has ten days to take action on the bill.
May 31, 2006
Mercury Products Bill passes the Senate with a unanimous roll call vote.
March 29, 2006
Safe Cleaning Products Bill reported out of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.
February 17, 2006
Safer Cleaning Products bill reported out of the Joint Committee on Public Health.
February 2, 2006
Mercury Products Bill passes the House of Representatives with a unanimous roll call vote, after amendments on the Floor. Assigned to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
January 31, 2006
Mercury Products Bill (edited) reported favorably by House Ways & Means Committee, assigned new number: H-4665.
January 11, 2006
Dear Colleague Letter, signed by 81 Representatives, delivered to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Robert DeLeo. Letter requests that House of Representatives make a New Year's Resolution to pass the Mercury Products Bill and that the bill receive a favorable report from the committee as soon as possible.
August 4, 2005
Mercury Products Bill (edited) reported favorably from Environment Committee, assigned new number: H-4319.
July 14, 2005
Legislature votes to override Romney Veto of budget line item 7100-0350, the TURI Safer Alternatives Analysis. House vote is 145 to 4. Senate vote is unanimous.
June 30, 2005
Governor Romney vetoes budget line item 7100-0350, the TURI Safer Alternatives Analysis.
June 27, 2005
Environment Committee holds hearing on Safer Alternatives Bill.
May 25, 2005
Public Health Committee holds hearing on Safer Cleaning Products Bill
Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow holds Lobby Day at the State House.
May 23, 2005
Legislature includes line item 7100-0350 in the state budget to provide $250,000 in funding for the Toxics Use Reduction Institute to do an analysis of safer alternatives to 5 toxic chemicals.
May 2,2005
Environment Committee holds hearing on Mercury Products Bill.
December 2004:
3 bills filed:
Mercury Products Bill: An Act Relative to Comprehensive Mercury Management (H-1392 & S-554)
- Sponsored by Representative Douglas Petersen and Senator Susan Tucker
- Co-sponsored by 86 Representatives and 29 Senators
- Assigned to the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
Safer Alternatives Bill: An Act for a Healthy Massachusetts, Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals (H-1286 & S-553)
- Sponsored by Representative Jay Kaufman and Senator Steven Tolman
- Co-sponsored by 56 Representatives and 15 Senators
- Assigned to the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
Safer Cleaning Products Bill: An Act Relative to Reducing Asthma by Using Safer Alternatives to Cleaning Products (H-2738 & S-1223)
- Sponsored by Representative Frank Smizik and Senator Dianne Wilkerson
- Co-sponsored by 57 Representatives and 15 Senators
- Assigned to the Joint Committee on Public Health
