H 4778 is a procedural bill authorizing the Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses to meet during a legislative recess to study three specific bills (H301, H310, H311) related to community development and small businesses. The committee must report its findings and recommendations, including draft legislation, to the General Court by December 31, 2026. This bill does not create new policies but establishes a process for the committee to examine existing proposals and develop future legislative recommendations. It directly affects the committee's workflow and future legislative planning, not the public or businesses.
Message from Her Excellency the Governor returning with recommendation of an amendment the engrossed Bill increasing the membership of the board of health of the town of Marblehead from three to five members (see House, No. 3912).
Order relative to authorizing the committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight to make an investigation and study of certain House documents relative to Diwali Day.
This bill (H 4673) shields licensed law enforcement officers, EMTs, ambulance services, and other emergency medical personnel from legal claims or penalties when they transport individuals to community behavioral health centers in good faith. It directly affects first responders and behavioral health centers by removing liability concerns during these transports. The key provision creates legal immunity for "good faith" actions or inactions related to such transports, as defined in existing law. This change aims to encourage timely access to mental health care without fear of lawsuits for responders acting appropriately.
This bill amends Massachusetts law to extend the statute of limitations for certain lawsuits. Specifically, it changes the time limit for filing tort claims related to latent diseases caused by toxic exposures (like asbestos) from 3 years to 6 years. This directly affects individuals who develop illnesses years after exposure to harmful substances and seek legal compensation. The change applies to all such cases accruing before, on, or after the bill's effective date, including ongoing lawsuits.
This bill (H 4694) amends Chapter 40A of Massachusetts law to explicitly allow housing authorities to develop affordable or public housing, expanding eligibility beyond current entities like corporations. It directly affects municipal housing authorities and developers working with them, enabling them to create new affordable housing projects under existing legal frameworks. The key change adds housing authorities to the list of entities permitted to pursue affordable housing development under Chapter 40A. This is a technical update to existing law, not a new funding program or major policy shift.
HD 5346 would exempt Software as a Service (SaaS) products - like cloud-based software accessed online - from state sales taxes. It directly affects SaaS providers (businesses selling these services) and their customers, removing a tax burden they currently face. The bill amends tax law by deleting language that treated software transfers as taxable tangible goods and adding a new provision specifically excluding SaaS sales from taxation. This policy change simplifies tax treatment for online software services by making them tax-exempt, aligning with how many similar services are handled in other jurisdictions.
HD 5359 is a procedural bill submitting a report from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regarding the operational status of the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. The report, referenced in Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025, was formally placed on file with the legislature on November 26, 2025. This communication does not enact new policy but provides legislative oversight on the hospital's condition. The bill directly affects state legislators who review the report for potential follow-up actions.
H 4664 requires the Massachusetts governor to set conditions and issue written authorization for out-of-state military units (not under federal command) to operate within the state for military duty. The governor must then provide the state legislature with written notice detailing the operation's scope, purpose, and duration. If the governor receives credible information about a federal mobilization affecting Massachusetts, they must notify the legislature within 24 hours, including specific details like scope and duration, and provide updates as needed. The bill explicitly states it does not interfere with existing interstate agreements for National Guard deployments.
HD 5358 is a procedural bill submitting a routine biweekly report on the emergency housing assistance program. It directs the Executive Office for Administration and Finance and the Executive Office for Housing and Livable Communities to submit the October 16, 2025 report as required by prior laws (Chapter 1 of the Acts of 2025 and Chapter 88 of the Acts of 2024). This bill does not create new policy or affect specific groups - it only facilitates the standard reporting process for an existing program. The "days" data shown in the bill text appears to be part of the report's content but is not explained in the legislative text.
This bill (HD 5357) is a routine procedural requirement for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to submit its regular gaming revenue reports, including sports wagering revenue, through September 2025. It does not create new policy or alter revenue calculations; instead, it mandates the Commission continue its existing practice of providing these financial reports to the state. The bill title references Section 69 of Chapter 23K of the General Laws, which governs these reporting obligations. The attached table shows historical revenue data for Encore Boston Harbor (2019-2024) but does not reflect changes made by this bill.
HD 5362 requires the Department of Revenue to submit a monthly report detailing year-to-date net state tax revenue for September 2025, as specified under Section 5(e) of Chapter 62F of the General Laws. This procedural bill mandates a specific reporting format and timeline for the Department of Revenue, directly affecting state tax administration. It does not change tax laws or impact taxpayers, as it solely governs the presentation of existing revenue data. The bill was placed on file on November 26, 2025, with no further legislative action noted.
