‘Blue envelope’ bill again clears Senate

JO COMERFORD

JO COMERFORD

For the second straight year, the Massachusetts Senate has approved the “blue envelope” bill sponsored by state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton. The bill would create a program to improve interactions between police and drivers with autism.

For the second straight year, the Massachusetts Senate has approved the “blue envelope” bill sponsored by state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton. The bill would create a program to improve interactions between police and drivers with autism. CONN.GOV

By SAMUEL GELINAS

Staff Writer

Published: 07-30-2025 3:17 PM

BOSTON — State Sen. Jo Comerford’s “blue envelope” bill, which seeks to bridge communication between law enforcement and drivers with autism spectrum disorder, came closer to becoming law late last week after a unanimous 39-0 vote in the Senate.

The Northampton Democrat explained that people who have been diagnosed with autism and who have nonetheless passed their driver’s test can become overstimulated when confronted with sirens, lights and stressful situations.

Her solution, backed by police chiefs throughout the state, is blue envelopes that are meant to be an aid to “avoid misinterpretation or escalation,” she said, noting that police officers will immediately know that the driver has autism and will be trained to act accordingly.

The blue envelope contains instructions for both the officer and drivers who have been diagnosed with autism on how to respond in the situation, along with license, insurance and registration information that is required during a traffic stop. Drivers can also share emergency contact information on the envelope.

The envelopes are designed to act as a visual cue for police and other public safety officials during stressful and potentially dangerous traffic stops.

“The ‘blue envelope’ bill makes our commonwealth a safer place for people who are neurodiverse,” Comerford said. “It moves us closer to equal opportunity and access for people of all abilities.”

She is confident the bill will have supporters in the House.

“There are great House sponsors I know that care about the bill, too,” she said.

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The Senate unanimously approved a similar bill in January 2024, and the Massachusetts State Police then proactively implemented a Blue Envelope program last spring. This bill, S.2558, would codify the practice into state law.

Since April 2024 when the program was implemented, 8,500 people in the state have obtained blue envelopes through local officers and the Registry of Motor Vehicles, according to Comerford.

She said the bill showcases “the power of representative democracy,” and credited her constituents as being at the heart of advocating for blue envelopes. Comerford was particularly moved by a Leverett mother who was afraid about how her son, who has autism, would react if he were pulled over by police.

Ardent supporters have included Deerfield Police Chief John Paciorek Jr. and University of Massachusetts Amherst Police Chief Tyrone Parham, in addition to statewide support from police chiefs and organizations that include The Arc of Massachusetts and Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts.

Senators also adopted an amendment from Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury, to mandate training once every five years for police officers on safe interactions with people who have autism.

The mandate would “make sure they actually get the training so they can recognize some of the characteristics of someone who may have a developmental disability, and being able to recognize those characteristics to work with them,” Moore said. “We did a lot of that work in police reform — making sure that police interact appropriately, hopefully, with the general public. Every demographic should be treated fairly and appropriately.”