Earlier this week, the House (Wednesday) and Senate (Thursday) voted by overwhelming margins to override Governor Charlie Baker’s veto of the Work & Family Mobility Act, which would allow any qualified driver—regardless of immigration status—to obtain a driver’s license.
The success was the testament to the hard work of the Driving Families Forward coalition, led by SEIU 32BJ and the Brazilian Workers Center (along with Field First), as well as bill sponsors Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfield) and Christine Barber (D-Somerville) in the House and Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) and Adam Gomez (D-Springfield).
Sixteen states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico already allow residents the right to apply for driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status, including our neighbors New York, Vermont, and Connecticut. And Massachusetts is poised to be next.
The bill is a win-win all around. It recognizes the essential contributions of our immigrant brothers and sisters, who often depend on a car to get to work, to school, to the hospital, etc. Immigration status shouldn’t be a barrier to getting a license. The bill would help make the roads safer for all, lower insurance rates, bring in more revenue for the state (through license fees), and strengthen our economy.
You can see the final votes below.
