Prison Moratorium
An Act establishing a jail and prison construction moratorium
ON THIS PAGE:
- About the bill
- Bill history
- Advocates
What this bill would do:
- Would pause the designing of a $50 million women’s prison in Massachusetts, as well as other construction projects
- Free public funds for use to serve Massachusetts’ communities
Why we need it:
MA is planning to build a $50 million women’s prison despite having the lowest rate of incarceration in the United States. Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women oppose this project, and want elected officials to use their power to release women and resource communities rather than build jails and prisons. This includes decriminalization of drugs and sex work, diversion, community-based sentencing, parole, expanding medical parole, establishing elder parole, and clemency.
4
years in consideration by the legislature
2
times killed by the legislature
The Logistics
- Establishes a 5-year pause on building new prisons or jails so we can focus on releasing and resourcing communities
- The moratorium does not prevent essential repairs
Does your legislator support the Prison Moratorium?
Bill History
The legislature’s website makes it extremely difficult to track bills from session to session, so we have compiled the complete bill history here. Each time the bill is killed, it is highlighted in red text and the people or committee to blame are linked where possible.
194th Session: 2025-2026
October 2025: Reported favorably and referred House Ways and Means 10/30/2025
July 2025: Reporting date extended to December 3, 2025
May 2025: Hearing held 05/13/2025
February 2025: Bill referred to Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
193rd Session: 2023-2024
December 2024: No further action taken
June 2024: Senate bill reported favorably by Senate Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
June 2024: “Sent to Study” H.4517
June 2024: Senate bill amended as S.2821
February 2024: Reporting date extended to July 1st
June 2023: Hearing scheduled for 06/27/2023
Advocacy Organizations
Our allies leading the fight for this bill
