This is a procedural bill submitting a required report on emergency housing assistance. It directs the Executive Offices for Administration and Finance and Housing and Livable Communities to file the December 11, 2025 biweekly report detailing shelter application processing times (63, 46, and 42 days), as mandated by prior laws (Sections 10 of Chapter 1, Acts of 2025, and Section 19 of Chapter 88, Acts of 2024). The bill itself does not create new policy but ensures compliance with existing reporting requirements. It was placed on file on January 8, 2026, completing its procedural step.
This bill allows public employees who took unpaid parental leave (for birth or adoption) exceeding one month to count that time toward their retirement benefits by making payments. Employees can pay the retirement system the equivalent of what they would have contributed during the leave period, plus interest, either as a lump sum or in installments. The buyback is limited to a maximum of two years of unpaid leave and applies only to leave taken for childbirth or adoption. This directly affects public sector workers on extended parental leave who wish to maintain full retirement credit for that time.
HD 5491 is a procedural submission from Massachusetts' Capital Debt Affordability Committee, not a new law. The committee recommends allowing up to $3.3372 billion in new general obligation debt (the "bond cap") for the state's fiscal year 2027 capital spending. This represents a $110 million increase (3.41%) over the 2026 amount, based on their analysis of debt affordability using 30-year modeling focused on conservative revenue growth (4.6% annual rate) and interest rate assumptions (starting at 5%). The recommendation ensures annual debt payments stay below 7% of projected budget revenue over the next decade, while respecting the state's $35.487 billion direct debt limit for FY2027. This submission is required annually under Section 60B(f) of Chapter 29 of Massachusetts General Laws.
HD 5492 is a procedural bill requiring the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations to submit the Division of Standards' 2024 annual report to the legislature. The report details the division's activities, including nearly 28,000 pricing inspections conducted across Massachusetts in 2024. This bill does not create new laws but ensures routine submission of the required annual report as mandated by Section 57 of Chapter 98.
Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (pursuant to Section 21(3)(f) of Chapter 32 of the General Laws) submitting its PERAC - annual COLA report
HD 5493 is a procedural bill requiring the Department of Unemployment Assistance to provide a communication containing projections for the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund for November 2025. It does not create new policy or affect specific groups, as it relates solely to routine reporting. The bill was placed on file on January 8, 2026, indicating it was formally recorded but did not advance further. This is a standard administrative communication, not a substantive legislative change.
This is not a legislative bill but a routine submission by the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association. The document (HD 5495) is the Association’s annual "Inventory of Programs, Services, Interventions and Reinvestments (PSI) Comprehensive Matrix" for calendar year 2025, detailing their current programs and associated costs. It lists specific programs (like "Teaching Cert," "We Can dogs," and "NCCHC's Program") with provider types (in-house or outsourced), cost amounts, and years of operation. The submission was formally "Placed on file" on January 8, 2026, as part of standard administrative reporting - no legislative action or voting record is associated with this document.
This is not a legislative bill but a required report submission. The Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) submitted its per capita cost report for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 as mandated by Section 2 of Chapter 28 of the 2023 General Appropriations Act (line item 8900-0001). The report details annual costs per inmate at each DOC facility, broken down by security level, including facilities like M.C.I. Cedar Junction and Shattuck Hospital. It provides concrete data on incarceration costs but does not enact new policy or affect any group directly beyond fulfilling a statutory reporting requirement.
HD 5496 is a procedural bill that transmits a report from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission's Primary Care Task Force to the legislature. It does not create new laws or policies; it simply communicates the findings of the task force's work. The bill references existing primary care policy research (like the Massachusetts Primary Care Dashboard) but does not alter any state programs or funding. This is a routine administrative submission, not a substantive legislative change.
Report of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (pursuant to Section 2EEEEEE (d) of Chapter 29 of the General Laws) summitting it Federal Match and Debt Reduction Fund December 2025 report
Senate, January 8, 2025 -- The committee on Agriculture and Fisheries to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 54) of Joanne M. Comerford for legislation to regulate the sale of hemp products and establish the Hemp Product Education Fund, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2800).
Senate, January 8, 2026 -- Text of the Senate amendment (Senator Rausch) to the House Bill relative to any vacancy among town meeting members in Milford (House, No. 4171).
