On January 9, 2009, the governor of Massachusetts signed into a law “An Act to Promote Breastfeeding.” The law becomes effective in early April 2009, 90 days after January 9.
The law essentially says that a mother may breastfeed her child in a public place or private place open to the public and where the mother and her child may otherwise lawfully be present. It also excludes from indecency laws any exposure of the breast incidental to nursing. The full text of the law is published below.
My thoughts on the law? It’s wonderful to see any breastfeeding in public law in …read more

After a recent incident in which a nursing mother was asked to leave an iParty store, Massachusetts desperately needs legislation that explicitly protects breastfeeding in public. There are five breastfeeding-related bills pending in the Massachusetts legislature. The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition has planned a breastfeeding lobbying day on Wednesday, May 9. This is your chance to help make a difference!
Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition
Lobbying Day
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
10:00 am – noon
State House Room 109

Tanya from the Motherwear blog has put out the call for all Massachusetts and New York Mothers to support pending breastfeeding legislation in those states. The matter is particularly urgent in Massachusetts, where the Senate bill that would establish the Breastfeeding Mothers Protection Act has been stalled in committee due to opposition from restaurant owners. Tanya wrote an informative post today about the legislation and how to call or email your Massachusetts state legislators to urge passage of the proposed law.