Massachusetts Senate adopts Distracted Driving Awareness resolution; refers seat-belt and MWRA petitions to committees

The Massachusetts Senate adopted a series of resolutions during its session and approved referrals of two petitions to committee, including a measure designating April 2025 as Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Sen. Moore, the senator from the Second Worcester district, read a resolution commending the National Safety Council for designating April 2025 as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. As read into the record, the resolution notes that “more than 3,000 Americans are killed in distracted driving crashes each year” and that the economic toll of motor vehicle crashes in the United States exceeds $480,000,000,000 annually. The resolution “strongly urges residents and businesses in the commonwealth to practice safe driving behaviors” and directs the Clerk of the Senate to transmit a copy to the National Safety Council, Inc. The measure was adopted by voice vote.

The action gives the Senate a formal stance endorsing the council's month-long public education campaign and reiterates the chamber's call for cooperation among government, employers and the public to reduce distracted-driving injuries and deaths.

The Senate also considered committee reports and petitions. The Committee on Rules reported a petition accompanied by a bill filed by Joan M. Comerford that would promote public education on the importance of wearing seat belts when riding in vehicles carrying many passengers. The senator from the Third Bristol and Plymouth district, Sen. Dooner, moved to suspend Senate Rule 36 and Joint Rule 12 to consider the matter forthwith; the suspension was approved by voice vote and the petition was referred to the Committee on Transportation for further consideration.

Separately, a House petition from Representatives Edward R. Phillips and Michael F. Rush seeking authorization for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) to provide sewer service to a parcel of land in the town of Sharon was received under suspension of joint rules and referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. That referral was also approved by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.

Sen. Dooner read two gubernatorial proclamations on behalf of the governor recognizing April 25 as Parliamentary Law Month and designating a day in honor of parliamentary authority Dr. George Demeter. The Senate presented proclamations to members of the Hellenic Bar Association, the Order of AHEPA, the Sons of Pericles, the Daughters of Penelope and the George Demeter unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians.

Before adjourning, the chamber approved an order that, when it adjourns, it reconvene Monday next at 11:00 a.m. The Senate also stood adjourned in memory of Antonio “Tony” Gonzalez of Ludlow; members offered a memorial statement summarizing his business and community roles. The adjournment and the in‑memoriam motion were adopted by voice votes.

All formal actions cited in the transcript were approved by voice votes; specific yes/no tallies were not specified in the record.

The Senate will continue consideration of referred petitions at the committees named above; no final committee actions on those measures were recorded in this session.