Great Horned Owl © John Grant |
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Exciting news on our work to ban rodenticides in Massachusetts! The House bill received a favorable report from the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. This means the bill is now headed to the House Committee on Ways and Means. As you may know, the Senate version of the bill is already being considered by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. |
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This was an important step in the process, but the work isn't over. It's important that we continue to communicate to legislators the impact of anticoagulant rodenticides. |
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This win means we now get to advocate with other committees. Both the Senate and House Ways and Means Committees will be reviewing the bill. This is a tricky time for the bill because most bills get stopped at this point, especially stand-alone bills. |
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To increase the odds of success, our core “ask” of legislators has shifted. We will now be asking our legislators to advocate with their colleagues and legislative leadership for An Act Restricting the Use of Rodenticides in the Environment (H5217/S2721) to be added to the Mass Ready Act, An Act to build resilience for Massachusetts communities (S2542).” |
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| | Heather Packard (she/her) Community Organizer |
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| Volunteer Team Captains Needed to Help Bring Nature to the Ballot |
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| The Nature for Massachusetts ballot initiative, which would use existing state revenue to create a permanent Nature for Mass fund, needs volunteer Team Captains to be a leader in their community and support other volunteers to help us collect a final round of signatures, so we can secure the Nature for Mass fund’s spot on the 2026 ballot! |
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| Plan a Meeting with Your Legislators this Spring! |
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Rescue Raptors Campaign Update |
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| | The House HRPs that already had a hearing are now attached to H5217, which means they will fail if H5217 fails and they will become moot if H5217 passes. So, advocacy for these HRPs that are “accompanied” is over—BUT please know that your HRPs have done what was needed. They educated legislators and helped ensure that H5217 received a favorable report, and they can still be re-filed in January 2027 for the next legislative session if H5217 doesn’t pass. Thank you! |
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| Now any new HRPs filed will continue to push the Ways and Means committees to continue to move the bill H5217/S2721 forward. |
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| Policy & Advocacy Briefing |
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| Mass Audubon’s policy agenda includes an ambitious legislative slate for the 2025-2026 session. Watch the recording or view the slides to get an update on Mass Audubon’s advocacy campaigns and prioritized state legislation, including an overview of the Mass Ready Act (Environmental Bond Bill) which may include all our prioritized legislation! |
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| Every Thursday, 12:00 - 1:00 pm via Zoom |
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| Drop-in to ask a question about the grassroots advocacy campaigns Rescue Raptors or Nature for MA ballot initiative. |
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Massachusetts Ocean Day 2026 |
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| Tuesday, March 31st at the Massachusetts State House |
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| Join MASSPIRG Students, New England Aquarium, and partners to educate our state decision makers about coastal biodiversity, plastics, resilience, and the blue economy. |
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| Thursday, April 9, 7:00 - 8:00 pm via Zoom |
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| Learn more about the harms of these bioaccumulating rodent poisons, alternative rodent control options, and how to take action to help get these poisons banned statewide! |
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| Tuesday, April 14, 7:00 - 8:00 pm via Zoom |
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| Get an update on the statewide rodenticide strategies & resources. Hear from local leaders sharing updates on their community’s campaign. |
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208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 |
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