Statement of the Road to Opportunity Act Coalition on Favorable Report from Joint Transportation Committee

January 5, 2026 — Press Release

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation has issued a favorable report for Senate Bill 2874, An Act to increase opportunity by ending debt-based driving restrictions — also known as the Road to Opportunity Act. S.2874 is a new draft of S.2368, filed by Senator Julian Cyr.  A similar bill, House Bill 3662, was also filed in the House by Representative Brandy Fluker-Reid.

Members of the Road to Opportunity Act Coalition issued the following joint statement in response:

“We deeply appreciate the leadership of Senator Cyr and Chair Crighton in advancing this critical legislation, and we hope the Senate will take it up swiftly. The Road to Opportunity Act will help Massachusetts residents who are struggling with the high cost of living. It will support people who are trying to earn a living and take care of their families instead of taking away their driver’s licenses for reasons unrelated to dangerous driving — such as unpaid parking tickets, tolls, court fees, or other non-safety related debts. 

“As we enter 2026, many Massachusetts families are feeling a serious financial strain. The Road to Opportunity Act offers a concrete way for the legislature to help people who are trapped in cycles of debt by giving them more tools to earn money and pay off what they owe.”

The Road to Opportunity Act would end the practice of suspending driver’s licenses solely for unpaid fines and fees, while preserving all suspensions related to road safety. The bill would also modernize and improve debt collection by instituting a text- and email-based reminder system that has been shown to work in other states, and by introducing reasonable payment management options like waivers, reductions, and payment plans based on an individual’s personal financial circumstances.

The Road to Opportunity Act Coalition includes over two dozen civil society and interfaith advocacy groups dedicated to economic justice, law reform, and social equity, including the ACLU of Massachusetts, the Committee for Public Counsel Services, Greater Boston Legal Services, and the National Consumer Law Center.

Read the bill text here: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2874/.