Massachusetts · 194th Legislature (2025-2026) · Proposed Bill
HD 5608: An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust, and equal constitutional treatment ("The PROTECT Act")
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HD 5608 is a proposed bill introduced in the Massachusetts House on January 29, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust, and equal constitutional treatment ("The PROTECT Act"). It lists 87 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (February 2, 2026): Reported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.
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 Representatives Vargas of Haverhill and Garcia of Chelsea, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Andres X. Vargas, Judith A. Garcia and others for legislation to further regulate state and local participation in federal civil immigration enforcement. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 85 · Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Arena-DeRosa | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8th Middlesex |
| Jenny Armini | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8th Essex |
| Shirley Arriaga | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8th Hampden |
| Michelle Badger | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1st Plymouth |
| Christine Barber | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 34th Middlesex |
| John Barrett | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1st Berkshire |
| Hannah Bowen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 6th Essex |
| Simon Cataldo | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 14th Middlesex |
| Michelle Ciccolo | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 15th Middlesex |
| Nick Collins | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | First Suffolk |
| Mike Connolly | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 26th Middlesex |
| Manny Cruz | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7th Essex |
| Leigh Davis | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 3rd Berkshire |
| Marjorie Decker | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 25th Middlesex |
| Sal DiDomenico | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | Middlesex and Suffolk |
| Kip Diggs | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2nd Barnstable |
| Mindy Domb | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 3rd Hampshire |
| Bill Driscoll | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol |
| Michelle DuBois | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 10th Plymouth |
| Pat Duffy | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 5th Hampden |
| Lydia Edwards | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | Third Suffolk |
| Rodney M. Elliott | Co-sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Tricia Farley-Bouvier | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2nd Berkshire |
| Lisa Field | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 3rd Bristol |
| Barry Finegold | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | Second Essex and Middlesex |
| Brandy Fluker-Reid | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 12th Suffolk |
| Sean Garballey | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 23rd Middlesex |
| Judith García | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 11th Suffolk |
| Carmine Gentile | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 13th Middlesex |
| Jessica Giannino | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 16th Suffolk |
| Homar Gomez | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2nd Hampshire |
| Adam Gómez | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | Hampden |
| Carlos González | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 10th Hampden |
| Ken Gordon | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 21st Middlesex |
| Ryan Hamilton | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 15th Essex |
| Jim Hawkins | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2nd Bristol |
| Chris Hendricks | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 11th Bristol |
| Natalie Higgins | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 4th Worcester |
| Russell Holmes | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 6th Suffolk |
| Kevin Honan | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 17th Suffolk |
| Tara Hong | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 18th Middlesex |
| Vanna Howard | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | First Middlesex |
| Pat Jehlen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | Second Middlesex |
| Kristin Kassner | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 2nd Essex |
| Mary Keefe | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 15th Worcester |
| Robyn Kennedy | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | First Worcester |
| Sally Kerans | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 13th Essex |
| Mike Kushmerek | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 3rd Worcester |
| John Lawn | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 10th Middlesex |
| David LeBoeuf | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 17th Worcester |
| Jack Lewis | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7th Middlesex |
| Jason Lewis | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | Fifth Middlesex |
| David Linsky | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 5th Middlesex |
| Jay Livingstone | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8th Suffolk |
| Billy MacGregor | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 10th Suffolk |
| Adrian Madaro | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1st Suffolk |
| Rita Mendes | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 11th Plymouth |
| Liz Miranda | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | Second Suffolk |
| Thomas Moakley | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket |
| Sam Montaño | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 15th Suffolk |
| Frank Moran | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 17th Essex |
| Tram Nguyen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 18th Essex |
| Steve Owens | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 29th Middlesex |
| Francisco Paulino | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 16th Essex |
| Pavel Payano | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | First Essex |
| Ted Philips | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 8th Norfolk |
| Orlando Ramos | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 9th Hampden |
| Becca Rausch | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex |
| Sean Reid | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 11th Essex |
| Estela Reyes | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 4th Essex |
| Dave Rogers | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 24th Middlesex |
| Lindsay Sabadosa | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1st Hampshire |
| Amy Sangiolo | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 11th Middlesex |
| Aaron Saunders | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7th Hampden |
| Adam Scanlon | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 14th Bristol |
| Greg Schwartz | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 12th Middlesex |
| Dan Sena | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 37th Middlesex |
| Dawne Shand | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 1st Essex |
| Priscila Sousa | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 6th Middlesex |
| Tom Stanley | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 9th Middlesex |
| Chynah Tyler | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 7th Suffolk |
| Steve Ultrino | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 33rd Middlesex |
| Andy Vargas | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 3rd Essex |
| Marcus Vaughn | Co-sponsor | Republican | House | 9th Norfolk |
| Tommy Vitolo | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 15th Norfolk |
| Bud Williams | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 11th Hampden |
| Chris Worrell | Co-sponsor | Democratic | House | 5th Suffolk |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Reported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
- Referred to the committee on House Rules