Massachusetts Bills

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2937: An Act relative to Brockton school police

This bill proposes a technical amendment to Chapter 32 of Massachusetts General Laws. It adds "Brockton School Police" as a defined term after "Authority" in Section 3. The change solely updates the legal reference to formally recognize Brockton's school police unit within existing law, with no new policies, funding, or operational changes. It directly affects how the Brockton School Police is referenced in state statutes.

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2885: An Act relative to public safety dispatchers

This bill amends an existing law to add "public safety communications dispatchers, supervisors or operations managers" to a list of covered personnel. It specifically updates Section 3 of Chapter 32 by inserting these roles after "signal maintenance repairmen," expanding the scope of the provision. The change directly affects public safety dispatchers and their supervisory staff by including them under the same legal provisions as signal maintenance repairmen. The bill makes a technical adjustment to the law's definition without creating new programs or funding.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2198: An Act reducing emergency department boarding

HD 2148 limits involuntary emergency holds to 72 hours at facilities not authorized by the department to perform psychiatric evaluations, requiring immediate release after that period. For psychiatric holds lasting over 48 hours at such facilities, the bill mandates referral to the Committee for Public Counsel Services to appoint legal counsel. This directly affects patients in emergency departments and the hospitals managing their care, changing how facilities handle extended involuntary holds. The law establishes specific time limits and legal safeguards for patients held in non-authorized facilities.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2818: An Act relative to Massachusetts certified emergency telecommunicators

HD 621 amends Massachusetts law to expand the definition of "certified emergency telecommunicators" to include specific emergency dispatch roles. The bill adds full-time dispatchers, dispatch supervisors, communications center directors, and communications chiefs to the list of positions requiring certification by the state 911 Department. This certification follows established state regulations (MA 560 CMR 5.04), ensuring these roles meet standardized training and competency requirements. The change directly affects emergency dispatch personnel in these specific titles across Massachusetts public safety communications centers.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2199: An Act ending unnecessary hospitalizations

HD 2149 requires mental health professionals and police to first explore community-based crisis alternatives - like Mobile Crisis Intervention, Behavioral Health Urgent Care, or peer-run programs - before seeking involuntary hospitalization for individuals experiencing mental health crises. The bill mandates that if a community alternative exists and the person consents, professionals must arrange transport to that option instead of hospitalization. It also requires the state department to collect and annually report demographic data (including age, race, and diagnosis) on all involuntary hospitalization applications to legislative committees. This policy directly affects people in mental health crises and the clinicians/police officers who determine their care pathways.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2971: An Act to provide public safety telecommunicators with the same internal benefits as first responders

This bill (HD 3047) requires public safety telecommunicators - emergency call dispatchers who handle 911 and non-emergency calls for police, fire, and medical services - to receive the same internal benefits as first responders. These benefits include health coverage, retirement plans, and other agency-provided perks, but the bill explicitly states that telecommunicators' compensation and pension benefits will remain unchanged. It applies to all dispatchers employed by public safety agencies, including those who supervise others in this role. The policy change ensures these critical frontline staff receive equitable internal support without altering their current pay or retirement terms.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 3499: An Act to promote low-income access to solar

HD 2664 requires Massachusetts' Department of Energy Resources to make solar incentive programs accessible to low-income renters and small businesses. It creates a verification process using income thresholds (80% of area median income or 200% of federal poverty level) or proof of participation in programs like Medicaid, SNAP, or housing assistance. The bill bans credit checks for eligibility, prohibits early termination fees for residential customers, and mandates monthly updates for solar credits. Multi-unit buildings qualifying as low-income housing (e.g., under Chapter 40B) are exempt from program limits like bill credit maximums.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2980: An Act relative to retirement benefits for county correctional nurses

HD 471 clarifies which county correctional nursing positions qualify for retirement benefits under existing law. It adds specific titles - such as registered nurse, psychiatric nurse, nurse practitioner, and paramedic - to the list of eligible roles within correctional facilities. The bill ensures these nursing positions are explicitly included in retirement coverage, preventing them from being excluded under other classification groups. This change directly affects county correctional nurses holding these specific titles by confirming their eligibility for retirement benefits. The bill amends existing retirement law to provide clear eligibility for these roles.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2802: An Act relative to the retirement benefits of certain employees of the department of mental health

This bill amends Chapter 32 of the General Laws to expand retirement benefit eligibility. It specifically adds "employees of the department of mental health within bargaining unit 8" to the list of eligible workers covered under the existing retirement provisions. The change directly affects mental health department employees in bargaining unit 8, who were previously excluded from this specific benefit. The key mechanism is a technical addition to the statutory language defining who qualifies for these retirement benefits. This is a narrow procedural adjustment to the law, not a broad policy change.

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2781: An Act relative to the Department of Youth Services

This bill amends a law to include specific Department of Youth Services (DYS) employees in an existing provision. It directly affects DYS staff holding the roles of Assistant Program Director, Program Director, or Casework Manager who have served in those positions for at least 10 years. The change adds these long-serving employees to the list of individuals covered by the law, expanding eligibility for whatever the provision currently provides (e.g., benefits, protections, or procedural rights). The bill makes a technical adjustment to the law's language without creating new programs or funding.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2817: An Act relative to retirement for nuclear reactor operators

This bill amends retirement eligibility under Chapter 32 of the General Laws to include specific UMass Lowell radiation safety and reactor operator positions. It adds job titles like "Director of Radiation Safety," "Nuclear Reactor Supervisor," and "Reactor Engineer" to the list of roles qualifying for retirement benefits. The change directly affects UMass Lowell employees in these defined roles, ensuring they meet the same retirement criteria as other eligible staff. The bill makes a technical adjustment to existing law without altering broader policy.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2771: An Act relative to attorneys at the Department of Children and Families

This bill amends a section of Massachusetts General Law (Chapter 32) to explicitly include "employees of the department of children and families holding the position of attorney who have been employed in such capacities for 10 years or more" in a legal reference. It directly affects DCF attorneys with 10+ years of service by adding them to the specific list of covered employees in the law. The change is purely procedural, updating the legal language to ensure these attorneys are formally recognized within the existing statutory framework. No new benefits, duties, or policy changes are created by this amendment.

Bill results