Massachusetts S1649: Resolutions to embrace the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and move the US back from the brink of nuclear war

What the bill says

From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:

WHEREAS, the continued existence of more than 12,000 nuclear weapons worldwide poses a grave and existential threat to the citizens of the Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and repeated threats to use nuclear weapons have dramatically increased the danger of nuclear war; and WHEREAS, the citizens of the Commonwealth have expressed their deep concern about this continuing threat over many decades and continue to do so; and WHEREAS, this concern has been expressed through numerous Town Meetings and City Council resolutions throughout the Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, this concern has also been expressed through numerous resolutions and bills brought before this General Court, including at least 5 such bills introduced in the last legislative session on this topic; and WHEREAS, in general it is the federal government and not the state which has jurisdiction over matters relating to nuclear weapons, this does not mean there is no role for the Commonwealth to play in this regard; and WHEREAS, in fact, it has been shown that the policies and actions of states can lead the way to important and necessary changes at the federal level and even internationally; and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts played a leading role in ending the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union in the 1980s, by adopting a Nuclear Freeze resolution and encouraging …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Joanne Comerford (D, Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester) · primary sponsor
• James Eldridge (D, Middlesex and Worcester)
• Natalie Higgins (D, 4th Worcester)
• Michael Moore (D, Second Worcester)
• David Linsky (D, 5th Middlesex)
• Daniel Donahue (D, 16th Worcester)
• Amy Sangiolo (D)
• Mike Connolly (D, 26th Middlesex)
• James O'Day (D, 14th Worcester)
• Erika Uyterhoeven (D, 27th Middlesex)
• Tackey Chan (D, 2nd Norfolk)
• David LeBoeuf (D)

Latest actions

1. July 31, 2026: New draft substituted, see S3247
2. July 31, 2026: Rules suspended
3. July 31, 2026: Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session with an amendment, see S3247
4. January 15, 2026: Resolution reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Rules
5. August 26, 2025: Hearing scheduled for 09/10/2025 from 1:00 PM-5:00 PM in A-2
6. February 27, 2025: House concurred
7. February 27, 2025: Referred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Votes

• Committee Vote - Senate Committee on Rules (July 31, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security (December 3, 2025): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is S1649?

S1649 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): Resolutions to embrace the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and move the US back from the brink of nuclear war.

What is the status of S1649?

In committee as of July 31, 2026. Latest action: New draft substituted, see S3247 (July 31, 2026).

Who sponsored S1649?

Joanne Comerford (D, Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for S1649?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1649