Mothers Out Front (MOF) members across Massachusetts waged a sustained, coalition-powered campaign to stop one of the most damaging energy bills in recent state history: a bill shaped by utility priorities that would have rolled back climate protections already signed into law.Â
While Representative Mark Cusack, the chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy (TUE), and the utilities called it an energy affordability bill, climate advocates across the state called it what it was: a climate rollback. Thanks to long-standing relationships with legislators, community members, and organizational allies, MOF was ready to respond quickly and stay in the fight. We showed up at hearings, flooded legislators with calls and emails, and joined with partners across the state to protect our children and our communities.
Early Warning: September 2025
In September 2025, it became clear that we were facing fast-moving legislation, and a call was made to join our Rapid Response Crew to stay informed and take swift action. At the September 9 Climate Action Call, members were asked to contact their representatives and urge them to press Cusack to strengthen the affordability provisions in the governor’s energy bill, H.4144, and to protect Massachusetts’ legally binding 2030 climate goals. Cusack had already signaled interest in rolling back those goals, and MOF members moved quickly to make clear that was not acceptable.
Ready to Act: October 2025
The October 7 Climate Action Call focused on writing personal testimony to TUE Committee co-chairs Senator Barrett and Representative Cusack. Members were encouraged to speak from the heart about the future they want for their children and grandchildren, and to call for an end to gas expansion and a faster transition to clean energy.Â
MOF collected individual letters to bundle into a collective testimony packet for the committee. Members were also watching closely for the House release of its version of the energy bill, knowing that Chair Cusack intended to move fast.
We Show Up: November 2025
On November 7, 2025, Commonwealth Beacon broke the news: H.4744, Cusack’s bill, would pull back the state’s commitments to clean energy goals. Multiple sources described it as an “obey in advance” move in the face of federal pressure on climate policy. MOF members moved immediately.
On November 13, members packed the Massachusetts State House for a rally and TUE Committee hearing on legislation to prevent gas expansion. The room was full of blue shirts. Several lawmakers were surprised to find their names listed as co-sponsors of H.4744, since parts of their own bills had been folded in without their full knowledge, and some stood up to leadership and asked to be removed. Cusack had announced his intention to steamroll the bill to a House floor vote by November 19.
It did not happen. A tidal wave of emails and phone calls from MOF members and allies to rank-and-file House members, Speaker Mariano, and Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz stopped the vote in its tracks. One representative was quoted as saying they had never seen so much advocacy on a single bill. Leadership publicly acknowledged that the climate rollback provisions had overshadowed the bill’s affordability message.
The Wall Street Journal cited H.4744 as evidence that Democratic-led Massachusetts was reconsidering its emissions targets. MOF and its allies helped send a different message: the people of Massachusetts were not cooperating with any rollback.
Staying at the Table: December 2025
With the immediate threat paused, MOF joined Mass Power Forward, a statewide coalition of climate organizations, for a Lobby Day in December. Members met with Representative Owens of Cambridge and Watertown, Representative Gordon of Bedford and Burlington, Representative Montano of Jamaica Plain, and Representatives Sangiolo and Schwartz of Newton, all of whom are climate supporters.
We thanked them for their work and for delaying House leadership’s attempt to push through H.4744. But the message from our allied representatives was clear: the bill was not dead. Some version of its provisions would almost certainly appear in the final House energy bill. They needed advocates to keep the pressure on, pushing for amendments to remove gas-industry-friendly measures and strengthen climate protections. They all spoke regularly with Ways and Means Chair Michlewitz and committed to continuing to share the information MOF provided. They made a specific ask: letters from MOF chapters and members that they could forward directly to the Ways and Means Committee.
Keeping the Pressure On: January 2026
In the first month of the year, the House Ways and Means Committee held listening sessions on the bill. Knowing this was a key moment for change, MOF members across nearly 60 legislative districts contacted their representatives, offering insights and asking them to attend and speak up. According to the State House News Service, Chair Michlewitz described a “packed house” for the sessions.
Somerville Representative Erika Uyterhoeven put into words what legislators were hearing from constituents across the state:
“It’s really a question of if we have the political will to put the resources where they belong, so that we can both lower energy costs while also doing our part to stop the climate crisis. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how many of my colleagues are hearing the same message I’m hearing. Like, no one’s happy about Eversource and National Grid raking in huge profits, right? It’s hard to justify that.”
Also in January, MOF held a Climate Action Call focused on real solutions to energy affordability. More than 100 members attended, with many more accessing the recording and action toolkit afterward. Kyle Murray of the Acadia Center joined to present expert analysis. Members left equipped with clear talking points and immediately put them to use with their legislators.
A Partial Win: February 2026
The sustained pressure from MOF and our allies paid off, even though it didn’t change as much as we hoped. In February 2026, the Ways and Means Committee reported a new draft of the bill, H.5151, replacing H.4744. One significant victory was that the proposal to make the state’s 2030 emissions-reduction mandate nonbinding was dropped. In other words, a bill favoring polluters was not allowed to override the legislated will of the people for a cleaner environment.Â
The Fight Continues
Despite community mobilization, H.5151 retained several damaging provisions. The proposed cuts to Mass Save, the state’s flagship energy-efficiency program, were deeply concerning. We moved our focus to the Senate, where climate mandates have historically had stronger support. MOF continued to press through spring 2026, advocating for a strong Senate energy bill with provisions to protect Mass Save, reform the Gas System Enhancement Program (GSEP), and advance neighborhood electrification. On May 12, MOF members joined a host of allied organizations at Mass Power Forward’s spring Lobby Day, meeting with senators, strengthening alliances, and keeping the pressure on.
This fight against climate rollback in MA is what sustained advocacy looks like. MOF members across Massachusetts spent the better part of a year making phone calls, writing emails, packing hearing rooms, meeting with legislators, and showing up alongside coalition partners at every stage of a fast-moving legislative battle. We did not entirely stop a bad bill. But we helped protect the state’s 2030 climate goals, slowed a damaging process, and kept our legislators informed and accountable throughout. The relationships we built and the pressure we maintained continue to make a difference.
Join Us in Advocacy
Interested in joining this fight against climate rollback in Massachusetts?Â
- Contact the MOF State Campaign Team to access resources and the latest advocacy toolkit. Â
- Learn More About the MA State Campaign