Massachusetts Bills

This is a procedural bill (HD 5003) that formally submits a report from the Office of Food and Nutrition Programs School Meal Nutrition Standards Commission to the legislature. It does not create new policy or directly affect any individuals or entities; it simply transmits an existing report required by Section 77 of Chapter 28 (2023 Acts). The bill's sole purpose is to fulfill a statutory requirement for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to submit this commission's findings. No substantive changes to school meal nutrition standards or related programs are proposed or enacted by this bill.

HD 5004 is a procedural bill that transmits the Insurance Fraud Bureau's January 2025 semi-annual e-focus Fraud report to the House committees on Financial Services and Labor and Workforce Development. This submission fulfills a statutory requirement under Chapter 338 of the Acts of 1990 (as amended in 2002), mandating the Bureau to provide regular fraud trend reports. The bill itself does not create new policy but ensures transparency by forwarding the report to relevant legislative committees for review. The report details insurance fraud patterns and activities identified during the reporting period.

This is a procedural bill (not a substantive law) requiring the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association to submit its operational capacity report for January 1-June 30, 2025, as mandated under Section 6A of Chapter 124 of the General Laws. It directly affects the Sheriffs’ Association, which must provide detailed data on prison bed occupancy, facility usage, and staffing for state correctional facilities. The bill itself does not change policy but formalizes the submission of an existing reporting requirement. The attached spreadsheet details facility capacity and occupancy rates for multiple correctional units, but the legislative action is solely the submission process.

This is not a legislative bill but a routine administrative report from the Massachusetts Comptroller's Office. It details $25.24 million in prior-year deficiency payments made to 51 state departments during Q4 2025, with funds recouped from current-year budgets. The report fulfills a requirement under Chapter 140 of the 2024 Acts of Massachusetts and provides financial details on how departments covered unpaid expenses from previous fiscal years. No new policy changes or legislative action is involved.

This bill (HD 4959) is a routine procedural submission, not a policy change. It requires the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to formally transmit its existing gaming revenue reports - specifically including slot machine revenue and associated sports wagering data - to the legislature, as mandated by Section 69 of Chapter 23K of the General Laws. The provided "bill text" is actually the detailed revenue report itself (showing monthly data for Plainridge Park Casino from 2015-2020), not the legislative text. This submission does not affect any policy, taxes, or regulations; it simply fulfills a reporting requirement. The bill itself has no substantive provisions - it is solely a procedural document for record-keeping.

Report of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (pursuant to Section 31 of Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024) submitting its Sustainability and Viability of Long-Term Care report

Report of the Special Commission on Continuing Care Retirement Communities (pursuant to Section 29 of Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024) submitting its final report of findings and recommendations

HD 4961 is a procedural bill requiring the Massachusetts State Police to submit their annual Crime Gun Report for calendar year 2024 to the legislature. It does not create new laws or policies but mandates the formal submission of data on crime gun seizures, including details on seizure locations, associated crimes, gang activity, and whether guns were obtained legally or illegally. The report, which would be filed under M.G.L. Chapter 140, Section 131Q, directly affects how the state police communicate crime gun data to lawmakers. This is a routine administrative submission, not a substantive legislative change.

This is a procedural report, not a legislative bill, required by Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024. It provides a comparative analysis of per diem payment rates for inpatient psychiatric and substance use hospital services between MassHealth's Fee-for-Service (FFS) program and Managed Care Entities (MCEs). The report details rate ranges (minimum, maximum, average, median) for adult/child psychiatric units, specialty services for neurodevelopmental disorders and eating disorders, and substance abuse treatment hospitals, showing MCE rates generally align with or exceed the FFS rate floors. The document informs legislative committees about payment differentials but does not propose new policy changes.

HD 4965 is a procedural communication from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health submitting a report titled "CY22-CY23 Summary of Activities related to Postpartum Depression." The report details screening and referral data for new mothers, including statistics showing 83.8% of women with moderate to severe depressive symptoms (measured via PHQ-9) received referrals to support services. It draws on data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) covering 2021-2023, tracking trends like increased screening from 643 to 707 women over time. This report informs legislative oversight but does not enact new policies or directly affect specific populations.

This bill (HD 4964) is a procedural communication from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. It submits the Department of Mental Health's police-based Jail and Arrest Diversion Initiatives report for fiscal year 2024, referencing prior legislation (Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024). It does not create new policy but formally transmits data on existing diversion programs that aim to redirect individuals with mental health needs away from arrest or jail processing. The submission is a routine administrative step for transparency and oversight.