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Massachusetts · 194th Legislature (2025-2026) · Bill

H 1653: An Act protecting employee free speech

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

H 1653 is a bill introduced in the Massachusetts House on February 27, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: An Act protecting employee free speech. Primary sponsor: Marjorie Decker (Democratic). It lists 6 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (November 3, 2025): Accompanied a new draft, see H4674.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1653) of Marjorie C. Decker relative to protecting employee free speech. The Judiciary.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 7

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Marjorie DeckerPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse25th Middlesex
Jamie EldridgeCo-sponsorDemocraticSenateMiddlesex and Worcester
Natalie HigginsCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse4th Worcester
David LeBoeufCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse17th Worcester
Estela ReyesCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse4th Essex
Margaret ScarsdaleCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse1st Middlesex
Steve UltrinoCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse33rd Middlesex

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Accompanied a new draft, see H4674
  2. Hearing scheduled for 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:10 PM in A-2
  3. Hearing rescheduled to 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:10 PM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
  4. Hearing rescheduled to 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-06:00 PM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
  5. Hearing scheduled for 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
  6. Senate concurred
  7. Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source