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HD6221 • 2025

An Act establishing Elizabeth Freeman Day of Equality, Healing and Remembrance in the Commonwealth

An Act establishing Elizabeth Freeman Day of Equality, Healing and Remembrance in the Commonwealth

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The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Williams, Bud L.
Last action
2026-06-17
Official status
Referred to House Committee on Rules
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act establishing Elizabeth Freeman Day of Equality, Healing and Remembrance in the Commonwealth

An Act establishing Elizabeth Freeman Day of Equality, Healing and Remembrance in the Commonwealth By Representatives Williams of Springfield and Davis of Great Barrington, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Bud L.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act establishing Elizabeth Freeman Day of Equality, Healing and Remembrance in the Commonwealth By Representatives Williams of Springfield and Davis of Great Barrington, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Bud L.
  • Williams and Leigh Davis for the issuance of an annual proclamation by the Governor to designate August 22 as Elizabeth Freeman day of equality, healing, and remembrance.
  • State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
  • Status: Referred to House Committee on Rules

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-17 House

    Referred to the committee on House Rules

Official Summary Text

An Act establishing Elizabeth Freeman Day of Equality, Healing and Remembrance in the Commonwealth
By Representatives Williams of Springfield and Davis of Great Barrington, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Bud L. Williams and Leigh Davis for the issuance of an annual proclamation by the Governor to designate August 22 as Elizabeth Freeman day of equality, healing, and remembrance. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
Status:
Referred to House Committee on Rules

Current Bill Text

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Bill HD.6221

Chapter 6 of General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 15FFFFFFF the following section:-

Section 15GGGGGGG. The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting apart August 22 as Elizabeth Freeman Day of Equality, Healing, and Remembrance, in recognition of the courageous contribution of Elizabeth Freeman, an illiterate and enslaved Black woman - Known in 1781 as "Mum Bett" - who sued for her freedom at great personal risk and won, and who's case, Brom and Bett v. Ashley, was a spark that ignited the legal end of slavery in Massachusetts by demonstrating the power of the 1780 Massachusetts Constitution, which declares that all are born free and equal.

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