Legislative Matters Committee

• Governing Body: City Council Committee on Legislative Matters
• Meeting Date: May 19, 2026, at 6:03 PM
• Meeting Type: Remote Participation
• Chair: Councilor J.T. Scott
• Attendees:
  • Councilor Lance Davis
  • Councilor Will Mbah
  • Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen
  • Councilor Kristen Strezo (Joined during Item 3)
  • Chair J.T. Scott
• Staff and Guests Present:
  • Clerk Fisher-Casiole
  • Gideon Epstein (ACLU of Massachusetts)
  • Liaison Radassi (Mayor's Office)
  • Director Teresa Nagel (SOYA)
  • Chief Benford (Somerville Police Department)
  • Solicitor Amara (Law Department)
  • Brendan Salisbury (Legislative and Policy Analyst)

The committee considered the minutes from the following previous meetings:

• May 5, 2026
• April 28, 2026

Action: The minutes were laid on the table and subsequently approved by a unanimous roll call vote (5-0) at the conclusion of the meeting.

The committee discussed Ordinance 260522, proposing an amendment to Section 2-6 of the Code of Ordinances (the Welcoming Community Ordinance) to enhance civil rights protections.

Public Comment

• Gideon Epstein (ACLU of Massachusetts): Provided introductory remarks supporting the amendments. He emphasized the importance of the contract review provision to prevent the city from engaging in data-sharing networks with federal immigration enforcement.
  • Quote: "These amendments represent some of the most consequential things that local lawmakers can take at the municipal level to safeguard immigrant's rights and more broadly, the civil liberties of the broader community in Somerville."

Key Discussion Points

• Section 3 (Role of City Staff): Prohibits city resources from being used to facilitate federal operations targeting First Amendment activities.
  • Legal Language: "No one from the city unless they are required to do so by federal or state law can assist, cooperate, or allow time, money, facilities, property, equipment, personnel, or other resources to be used to facilitate an operation by federal or out-of-state agencies seeking to arrest or otherwise penalize People for engaging in protected First Amendment rights."
• Section 13 (Contract Review): Requires the City Solicitor to review contracts and grants to ensure they do not conscript the city into constitutional violations.
• Implementation: Director Teresa Nagel (SOYA) reported on "Know Your Rights" training for staff and the distribution of signage for private businesses to clarify that federal agents cannot trespass without a judicial warrant.
• Drafting Concerns: Councilor Davis raised concerns regarding the phrase "without limitation" and the redundancy of federal law exceptions already covered in Section I of the ordinance.

Official Actions and Votes

1. Motion to Standardize Phrasing: To remove the phrase "without limitation" throughout the document for consistency with the city's drafting manual.
   • Vote: 5-0 (Davis, Mbah, Ewen-Campen, Strezo, Scott in favor).
2. Motion to Protect Religious Expression: To include "religious expression" in the list of protected activities in Section 13B1.
   • Vote: 5-0 (Davis, Mbah, Ewen-Campen, Strezo, Scott in favor).

Outcome: The item was kept in committee pending a clean resubmittal by the Policy Analyst and Law Department.

The committee reviewed Ordinance 251822, requesting an amendment to Chapter 7 of the Code of Ordinances to establish a rental registry and energy disclosure requirements.

Discussion

• Administration Stance: Liaison Radassi stated the administration supports the policy but requested a delay until after the budget process to finalize which department will oversee enforcement and staffing.
• Committee Response: Councilor Davis and Chair Scott expressed frustration over the multi-year delay of this ordinance. Chair Scott noted that if the administration does not provide a clear path forward, he intends to push the ordinance for a vote in August or September to establish the legislative framework regardless of executive readiness.

Outcome: The item was kept in committee.

Motion: To approve the minutes of April 28 and May 5 and to adjourn.

• Vote: 5-0 (Roll Call: Davis-Yes, Mbah-Yes, Ewen-Campen-Yes, Strezo-Yes, Scott-Yes).
• Adjournment Time: 7:53 PM