Massachusetts Bills

This bill (H 4617) allows advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to fulfill certain healthcare documentation requirements currently limited to physicians. Specifically, it amends Massachusetts health laws to permit APRNs to provide diagnostic evaluations, medical necessity determinations, written orders, prescriptions, and treatment recommendations for insurance coverage and reimbursement purposes. The bill explicitly states it does not expand APRNs' existing scope of practice. It directly affects healthcare providers (APRNs and physicians), healthcare facilities, and insurers by changing reimbursement eligibility rules.

This bill requires Massachusetts' Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate the state's implementation of the "Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform." It directly affects behavioral health providers (like community centers and crisis teams), state agencies, and historically marginalized communities by mandating biennial strategic planning to address staffing, funding, cultural competency, and service coordination. Key mechanisms include setting goals for crisis services (mobile teams, stabilization centers), ensuring reimbursement for critical capacity, and creating a public data dashboard to track service usage, equity gaps, and outcomes. The bill also directs coordination with public safety agencies to streamline crisis response protocols and prioritize feedback from people with lived experience and marginalized groups.

By Representative Davis of Great Barrington and Senator Mark, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Leigh Davis for legislation to authorize the Dalton Fire District to continue the employment of interim fire chief Christopher Francis Cachat. Municipalities and Regional Government.

By Representative Biele of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 899) of David Biele for legislation to dedicate certain park and field space in the South Boston section of the city of Boston. Environment and Natural Resources.

This bill allows the town of Stow and its related groups to publish legal notices online instead of exclusively in print newspapers. It permits notices to appear on local newspaper websites, specific digital news platforms, a statewide repository, or a town-wide website, provided these digital options meet established criteria. The legislation ensures that these new digital methods do not change the required timing for when notices must be published.

This document is a formal submission from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reporting on social-emotional learning grants for fiscal year 2025. It presents data regarding student demographics and likely factors influencing program participation, such as racial composition. The text serves as an informational record rather than a new law, as it is a communication of existing data to the legislature.

Report of the Office of the Comptroller (pursuant to Section 6B(b) of Chapter 29 of the General Laws) submitting its Federal Grants Fourth Quarter FY26 report

This document is a formal report submitted to state lawmakers detailing the financial activity of the Nonpublic Ambulance Service Reimbursement Trust Fund for fiscal year 2025. It explains that the fund collects fees from nonpublic ambulance providers to help cover costs, noting that fee collection resumed in March 2024 after a temporary pause in 2023 due to federal guidance. The report states that the fund collected approximately $32.3 million in fees and received $34.2 million in federal funds, which were used to make $68.5 million in supplemental payments to providers. It also clarifies that the fund ended the year with a small negative balance because payments to providers are often made before the corresponding fees are collected.

Senate, July 22, 2026 -- The committee on Public Service, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2907) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Pavel M. Payano for legislation to establish credible service for eligible police officers and firefighters; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2939) of Kelly A. Dooner and Justin Thurber (by vote of the town) for legislation relative to the appointment of retired police officers as special police officers in the town of Dighton, report the accompanying Order (Senate, No. 3196).

This bill formally submits the Supporting Healthy Alliances Reinforcing Education (SHARE) legislative report for fiscal year 2026 to the General Court. It directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to distribute continuation grants to 58 specific school districts, collaboratives, and charter schools across Massachusetts. The document lists the approved recipients and their corresponding grant amounts, ranging from approximately $42,300 to $70,000, to support ongoing educational initiatives. No new policy changes or operational requirements are introduced by this action, as it serves solely to record the allocation of previously authorized funds.

Report of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (pursuant to Section 289 of Chapter 238 of the Acts of 2024) submitting its Incentivizing Diverse and Highly Effective Educators report