Massachusetts Bills

Report of the Department of Public Health (pursuant to 105 CMR 451.403) submitting the inspection report for Hampden County Jail and House of Correction, the Plan of Correction from the facility and the Plan of Correction acceptance letter from the Division of Environmental Health Regulations and Standards (EHRS)

This bill (HD 5600) is a routine procedural communication from the Chief Justice of the Trial Court, not a substantive law. It transmits a report detailing the prosecution and disposition of child protection cases involving child victims for fiscal year 2025. The report includes statistical data on case outcomes, such as the number of cases with mandatory sentences of 10+ years. It does not create new legal requirements or directly affect any individuals or entities; it is solely an informational filing for legislative records. The bill was placed on file on February 5, 2026.

HD 5577 is a procedural bill requiring the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to submit a report on public safety and transportation planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Boston, as mandated by Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025. The report details security coordination (including communication, tactical operations, and emergency management), traffic mitigation strategies for roads and transit, estimated costs, and funding sources like federal grants, state supplements, and private sponsorships. It directly affects Massachusetts state agencies and local communities preparing for the event, which includes seven matches at Gillette Stadium and related fan activities. The submission is due to the legislature by December 31, 2025, and does not create new laws but outlines existing planning efforts.

Senate, February 5, 2026 -- Text of the further Senate amendment (Senator Jehlen) to the Senate Bill amending certain laws relative to individuals with disabilities (Senate, No. 2563).

HD 5580 requires the Massachusetts Assisted Living Residence (ALR) Commission to submit a report to the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, following a 2025 fire at Gabriel House Assisted Living. The report includes key recommendations such as reinvesting certification fees into the ALR Certification Unit and proposing more frequent facility reviews (every 12-18 months instead of biennially) with additional funding. It also suggests updating regulatory language to clarify nursing responsibilities, ensuring alignment with scope-of-practice rules for LPNs and RNs. The bill itself is procedural, focusing on the report's submission rather than immediate policy changes.

Report of the Norfolk District Attorney (pursuant to Section 32(e) of Chapter 12 of the General Laws) submitting its Community Based Juvenile Justice Program CY2025 report

Report of the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees (pursuant to Section 3 of Chapter 75 of the General Laws) submitting its rules and regulations adopted and/or amended by the Trustees of the University of Massachusetts in 2025

Report of the Department of Public Health (pursuant to 105 CMR 451.403) submitting the inspection report for Dukes County Correctional Facility, the Plan of Correction (POC) from the facility and the POC acceptance letter from the Division of Environmental Health Regulations and Standards (EHRS)

HD 5596 is a procedural bill requiring the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to submit its Highway Owners Representative annual report for fiscal year 2025, as mandated by Section 39M½(L) of Chapter 30 of the General Laws. It does not create new policy or affect specific individuals or groups; it simply formalizes a routine reporting requirement for MassDOT. The bill contains no substantive provisions or policy changes, only directing the submission of an existing annual report. This is a standard administrative filing, not a legislative action with policy implications.

Report of the Essex County District Attorney (pursuant to Section 32(e) of Chapter 12 of the General Laws) submitting its Community Based Juvenile Justice Program CY2025 report

This is not a new bill but the required inaugural annual report for Massachusetts' Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund, submitted as mandated by Section 2HHHHHH(d) of Chapter 29. The report details that the fund received $14 million in 2025 from the state's FY25 surplus but made no expenditures, as no qualifying disasters occurred after the fund's initial transfer. It outlines the fund's structure - established in 2024 to provide flexible state assistance for communities affected by natural or catastrophic events like floods, storms, or wildfires - with unspent balances rolling over to future years. The report confirms no programs were activated in 2025, as the fund was only funded late in the year and no disasters met the eligibility criteria.

This bill is a procedural communication submitting the January 8, 2026, biweekly report on Massachusetts' emergency housing assistance program. It is submitted by the Executive Office for Administration and Finance and the Executive Office for Housing and Livable Communities, as required by prior legislation (Acts of 2025, 2024). The report tracks data on the program's operations, including applicants seeking shelter due to emergencies like fire or flood. It does not create new policy but fulfills a reporting requirement for oversight of existing emergency housing assistance.