On July 30, the Massachusetts Senate made history by passing a press shield law, filed by Senator Becca Rausch, on a unanimous 40-0 vote. This legislation prohibits government bodies from compelling journalists to reveal their sources, except in certain limited circumstances and only with clear and convincing evidence that the source disclosure is necessary and there is an overriding public interest in the disclosure. Currently, Massachusetts is one of just nine states in the nation without a press shield law on our books.

The Bay State is the birthplace not only of American democracy but also freedom of the press as we know it. In 1780, John Adams wrote in the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights that "[t]he liberty of the press is essential to the security of freedom in a state: it ought not, therefore, to be restrained in this commonwealth." This is one of the earliest constitutional protections for a free press in the entire world.

The legislation passed by the Senate is modeled on a bill Senator Rausch filed at the start of the term, which was favorably reported by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary earlier this year. Its language covers both traditional media and volunteer journalism, which has become essential in many communities. The measure has broad support from across the political spectrum.