H.3398, An Act to promote diversity on public boards and commissions, would set goals for state boards and commissions to better reflect the population of the Commonwealth. The bill would require data collection and reporting from appointing authorities and encourage them to make more intentional and good-faith efforts to find diverse candidates. Public boards and commissions are charged with developing rules and regulations that enforce laws, govern industries, and set standards for licensure. They are also tasked with providing relevant information to policy makers to inform them on the impact legislation may have on different sectors or communities across the Commonwealth. This legislation would be an important step in ensuring the public sector includes women and people of color at every table where decisions are made.

H.3384, An Act relative to language access and inclusion, would ensure all public-facing agencies, and the outside service providers they rely on, offer interpretation services and translate vital documents for non-English speakers. Existing language access plans, policies, and protocols vary widely from agency to agency, and many are not implemented. This bill would provide minimum standards for such plans and mandate implementation. All Commonwealth residents deserve to have equal access to state agencies and their services regardless of an existing language barrier.

H.655, An Act to promote comprehensive and inclusive curriculum in schools, would require Massachusetts K-12 school curriculum to accurately represent and be inclusive of all Americans to promote mutual understanding and prepare students to be well-informed citizens. This would include teaching accurate histories, writings, and contributions of cultural and ethnic groups that have been historically underrepresented, marginalized, or excluded. The bill also establishes a Comprehensive and Inclusive Curriculum Trust Fund, from which DESE would be able to authorize grants to school districts to help them implement updates to the curriculum.

H.1608, An Act relative to restraining orders as they pertain to hate crimes, would update our restraining order statute. Today, an individual subject to a hate crime must demonstrate 3 or more separate acts of willful and malicious conduct in order to be eligible for a restraining order. This bill would mandate that any one violation of our hate crime and constitutional rights statutes be automatic grounds for restraining order eligibility. The bill would also appropriately and realistically broaden the current statute to allow an individual to file for a restraining order when a relative is subject to an assault or battery as an attempt at intimidation of the individual.

H.3427, An Act designating January 30 of each year as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution in Massachusetts, would establish January 30th as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution. Fred T. Korematsu, born January 30th, was a second-generation Japanese American who fought for civil rights and against Japanese internment during World War II. This day will serve as a reminder of Fred Korematsu’s legacy and the ongoing fight for civil liberties, as well as the systemic inequities that AAPI communities and all communities of color still face and are working to dismantle.

The caucus secured $100,000 for the Asian Business Empowerment Council (ABEC) in the House budget. In June of 2024, ABEC released a groundbreaking report entitled “Setting Roots in Rocky Soil: The State of AAPI-owned Businesses in Massachusetts.” This report outlined the challenges AAPI-owned businesses face along with a roadmap for addressing roadblocks. As a result of this report, they have crafted workshops for businesses covering financial health and commercial lending, integrating AI into business marketing, and increasing customer traffic for restaurants. They have also provided one-on-one business support services including for technical assistance and strategic guidance.

The House provided level funding for the 21-person AAPI Commission. The Commission is the only permanent body in our state government charged with championing issues important to the AAPI community. This important funding covers program costs, staffing, their internship program, and the AAPI Youth Council.

The House provided level funding for the Institute for Asian American Studies, the only institute of its kind in the nation. This funding allows the Institute to continue to do community-based research on issues impacting the AAPI community, focusing on the impact of anti-Asian racism. The Institute is currently preparing to release the first-ever statewide survey focused exclusively on AAPI residents of the Commonwealth.

The caucus secured $50,000 for the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association for transitional services for Afghan refugees. Massachusetts has ensured that support continue to be prioritized for the Afghan community. This money would provide translation services and ESOL classes that will help refugees navigate finding a meaningful job, setting up bank accounts, and applying for housing.