Massachusetts lawmakers are advancing legislation that would establish a permanent state commission dedicated to recruiting and recommending Muslims for appointed government positions, a move that puts the state on a collision course with the Trump administration’s sweeping rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Senate Bill S.2134, introduced by Democratic State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, would create an 11-member panel appointed by Democratic Gov. Maura Healey and other state officials. The commission’s stated purpose includes identifying “qualified American Muslims for appointive positions at all levels of government, including boards and commissions,” according to bill language reviewed by Fox News.
The bill cleared initial committee markups and currently sits in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Muslims account for an estimated 2 to 3 percent of Massachusetts’ population, according to Pew Research Center and U.S. Census figures.
“Massachusetts has always prided itself on being a leader in equality and civil rights, a legacy this bill builds upon,” Eldridge said in a press release accompanying the proposal. “This commission will help the state better understand and address the challenges they face, while strengthening inclusion and civic participation.”
The proposal comes as President Trump has moved aggressively to dismantle DEI programs across the federal government and pressured private sector employers to follow suit. The administration terminated federal DEI contracts, eliminated DEI offices inside federal agencies, and directed the Department of Government Efficiency to flag DEI-related spending for cuts.
Massachusetts is not alone in pushing back. Several blue states have moved to codify DEI programs into state law as the federal government retreats from them, setting up legal and political standoffs with the administration over the boundaries of state authority.
