On September 9, 2025, CPR and a coalition of diverse advocates testified in favor of Senate Bill 155 and House Bill 261, which would establish a legal framework for Supported Decision-Making (SDM) agreements in Massachusetts. CPR testified alongside other members of the Massachusetts Advocates for Supported Decision-Making (MASDM) Coalition, including people with disabilities and their supporters who talked about how SDM can transform lives.
SDM allows me to choose people I trust to help me think through my decisions, while I remain the decision-maker. It gives me dignity and the freedom to stay in control of my own life … SDM is not meant to replace guardianship. It is simply another option.”
Jonathan Gardner, MASDM Co-Chair and cancer survivor
As showcased in CPR’s written testimony, at least 23 states and the District of Columbia have already passed comprehensive SDM agreement legislation. CPR strongly urges Massachusetts to join them. To learn more about the many States that have formally recognized SDM in their laws across the United States, visit CPR’s new interactive map.
