The Massachusetts Senate unanimously approved An Act Dignifying Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (Senate No. 137), a bill to replace outdated and offensive language in the state statutes, after extended floor remarks by the bill sponsor and multiple senators.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Patricia D. Jalen, urged colleagues to adopt respectful language in law, saying, “Words are important. Language changes. And we should use language that respects the people it refers to and listen to them.” She told the chamber the bill would remove roughly 362 statutory references the disability community regards as disrespectful and replace them with contemporary person‑first wording.

The measure updates references across many areas of state law, including statutes touching health care, education, transportation, housing and civic participation, and reflects requests from disability advocates, according to senators who spoke. Senator Edward J. Kennedy, chair of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, said the bill is the result of “years of partnership, listening, and research,” and noted the legislation coincides with the 35th anniversary of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

Other senators praised longtime advocates who pressed for the change. Senator Mark C. Montigny credited Melissa Riley — described repeatedly on the floor as a persistent self‑advocate and former senate staffer — with sustained pressure to move from a bill to a law. “Melissa made it clear she was looking for a law, not a bill,” Montigny said. Senator James B. Eldridge and others noted Riley’s advocacy and roles with disability organizations and the Special Olympics when describing why the change matters.

Floor action included adoption of at least two technical amendments and a vote ordering the bill to a third reading. The clerk called the roll on passage to be engrossed; the record shows the vote was unanimous with the chamber recording 40 yeas, 0 nays. Senators asked that the final passage be reported and the measure be transmitted for enrollment.

Discussion versus action: senators and advocates presented context, history and personal testimony during debate (discussion). Two floor amendments were adopted (direction/formal amendment action). The bill was ordered to a third reading and passed to be engrossed by roll call (formal action).

Key details recorded on the floor included the approximate count of statutory references to be changed (362), public acknowledgements of advocacy groups such as The Arc of Massachusetts and named advocates present in the chamber, and multiple senators asking that the final votes be taken by a call of the yeas and nays. The Senate chair and committee chairs affirmed ongoing work: committee leaders told colleagues there are additional bills (not detailed on the floor) before the committee to further disability access and rights.

The bill now moves to the next legislative steps for enrollment and, ultimately, presentation to the governor.