Massachusetts Bills

passed · Massachusetts · House May 7, 2026

H 2164: An Act relative to institutions of higher education

This bill amends wage payment laws to include employees of nonprofit institutions of higher education (like colleges and universities) under existing agricultural work protections. It directly affects nonprofit colleges/universities and their employees by adding them to the list of workers exempt from certain wage payment rules. Key provisions create civil immunity for these institutions starting July 1, 2024, shielding them from lawsuits claiming monthly wage payments violated the law. The bill makes a specific policy change to expand an existing exemption and modify liability rules for nonprofit higher education employers.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Massachusetts · House May 7, 2026

H 2185: An Act to provide fair wages to employees of public institutions of higher education

HD 4041 requires the state of Massachusetts to cover the full cost of fringe benefits (including pensions and health insurance) and incremental salary increases from collective bargaining agreements for employees at public universities and colleges. It applies to faculty and staff covered by agreements with the University of Massachusetts or the Board of Higher Education, excluding grant-funded or auxiliary positions. The bill mandates that these institutions must certify each agreement will ensure average salaries for each job category reach at least the national average (adjusted for cost of living) by the contract’s end. This shifts funding responsibility from institutions to the state budget for these specific costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Andy Vargas (D) · 23 co-sponsors

passed · Massachusetts · House May 7, 2026

H 2146: An Act ensuring domestic violence victims' protections for all employees in the Commonwealth

HD 288 creates new leave protections for contract workers (e.g., staffing agency employees) who are victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, or kidnapping. It allows up to 15 days of unpaid leave per year for purposes like seeking medical care, legal help, court appearances, or securing housing related to the abuse. Employers must permit this leave but can decide if it’s paid, require documentation (such as a protective order or sworn statement from a professional), and must keep all related information confidential. The bill specifically excludes regular employees (covered under existing law) and requires contract workers to use other available leave first before taking this leave.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Massachusetts · House May 7, 2026

H 2137: An Act providing for payment by the Commonwealth of wages for members of the United States Coast Guard during the shut-down, so-called, of the United States Government

This bill requires Massachusetts to pay the salaries of U.S. Coast Guard members who live in the state during a federal government shutdown, when federal pay would otherwise stop. It directly affects Massachusetts-resident Coast Guard members who would otherwise face income loss during shutdowns. The state will cover these payments using funds recommended by the Governor, with the Commonwealth seeking full reimbursement from the federal government once the shutdown ends. The law ensures these service members receive consistent pay without creating a permanent state expense.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Massachusetts · House May 7, 2026

H 3100: An Act exempting disabled veterans from sales tax when leasing a motor vehicle

This bill exempts disabled veterans with a permanent service-connected disability (as determined by the VA) from paying sales tax when leasing one motor vehicle. It directly affects veterans who meet the VA's disability criteria and use the vehicle for personal, noncommercial purposes. The key provision replaces existing language to specifically include leased vehicles under the sales tax exemption, limiting it to a single vehicle per veteran. The exemption applies only to the lease transaction itself, not to vehicle purchases or commercial use.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

passed · Massachusetts · House May 7, 2026

H 3147: An Act relative to the conservation land tax credit

This bill expands eligibility for Massachusetts' conservation land tax credit to include private nonprofit trusts focused on land conservation (with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status). It increases the annual tax credit limit from $2 million to $5 million over multiple years, then resets to $2 million for certain provisions. The changes apply specifically to land conservation organizations meeting federal tax-exempt criteria. The policy directly affects land trusts and conservation nonprofits by increasing financial support for preserving open space. The bill modifies tax credit thresholds in Chapters 62 and 63 of Massachusetts General Laws, with phased implementation from 2026 through 2035.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

passed · Massachusetts · House May 7, 2026

H 3178: An Act establishing an electric agricultural and landscape equipment tax credit

This bill creates a refundable tax credit program for farmers and landscape businesses that purchase electric equipment. Eligible taxpayers operating farms (as defined in Chapter 128) or landscape businesses (as defined in Chapter 112) can receive a credit equal to up to 25% of the total cost of qualifying electric-powered agricultural or landscaping equipment. The credit directly reduces tax liability and is refundable, meaning it can be paid as cash if it exceeds the taxpayer's owed taxes. The program applies specifically to new purchases of such equipment, with no mention of additional eligibility requirements beyond the defined business types.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

passed · Massachusetts · House May 7, 2026

H 3066: An Act investing in clean transportation

This bill (HD 3128) updates tax code definitions to include commercial vehicles used in interstate shipping. It adds "rolling stock" (defined as trucks, tractors, and trailers operated by common carriers for interstate goods transport) to tax law definitions in two sections of the General Laws. The bill specifically inserts this term into provisions regarding sales and storage of such vehicles, affecting commercial trucking companies that operate across state lines. It does not create new clean transportation programs or funding, but adjusts existing tax definitions to explicitly cover commercial freight vehicles. The title "investing in clean transportation" appears inconsistent with the bill's actual technical scope, which focuses solely on tax code terminology.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Transportation

passed · Massachusetts · House May 7, 2026

H 3330: An Act relative to municipal light plants

HD 553 allows municipal light boards (local utility boards) to provide infrastructure services like pole installation and equipment maintenance to other public utilities - including state, tribal, or municipal utilities - both inside and outside Massachusetts. It permits these boards to sell, rent, or lease related equipment and ensures employees working on such projects have the same labor rights as if performing duties within their home municipality. The bill modifies existing laws to explicitly include tribal utilities (as defined under federal regulations) and expands the scope of services municipal light plants can offer beyond their own service areas. This directly affects municipal light boards, tribal utilities, and other public utility entities seeking infrastructure partnerships.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed both · Massachusetts · House May 7, 2026

H 1073: An Act relative to wastewater treatment and disposal in the town of Sandwich

HD 1493 allows the town of Sandwich to directly contract with a private operator for wastewater treatment and disposal services at Joint Base Cape Cod without public bidding, for up to 99 years. It enables Sandwich to acquire land access rights (easements) and ownership interests in the facilities to secure service, and permits the town to finance infrastructure upgrades through debt (up to 30 years) eligible for state funding under Chapter 29C. The bill also permits Sandwich to form agreements with neighboring towns like Mashpee, Bourne, and Barnstable for shared wastewater services. This directly affects Sandwich’s ability to manage its wastewater infrastructure and costs while navigating the unique federal/state land ownership at Joint Base Cape Cod.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Massachusetts · House May 7, 2026

H 2088: An Act to restore collective bargaining for teachers and other school employees

HD 3268 restores collective bargaining rights for teachers and other school employees in Massachusetts by removing legal barriers from existing law. The bill amends Chapter 69 of the General Laws to eliminate restrictive language (like "of practices" or "or practices") and ensures school employee bargaining is subject to Chapter 150E, the state's labor relations law. This directly affects public school staff by enabling them to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions through unions. The key mechanism is deleting specific clauses that previously limited collective bargaining authority for school employees.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Massachusetts · House May 7, 2026

H 2093: An Act relative to collective bargaining rights for legislative employees

HD 2970 extends collective bargaining rights to all Massachusetts legislative staff, including committee members, clerks, HR personnel, and other general court employees. It defines "legislative employees" broadly to cover all such staff, while allowing exclusion of certain managerial or confidential roles (like top aides to legislative leaders) from bargaining units. The bill also updates conflict-of-interest rules to specifically address bargaining representatives under Chapter 150E. This policy change directly affects over 1,000 legislative employees across the state legislature.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results