This bill requires Massachusetts employers with 500 or more employees to offer pre-tax transit benefits to non-union workers. It mandates that employers provide this benefit or face fines ($100 for first violation, $250 for each subsequent month of non-compliance). The state will run a public awareness campaign with MBTA and other transit agencies to inform workers about these benefits. Employers must also provide multilingual written notices to employees about the available benefits. The law takes effect one year after passage.
H 4449 requires government contractors and subcontractors working on projects over $100,000 to disclose recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations within the past two years, including whether hazards were corrected. It applies to all companies bidding on state contracts, their subsidiaries, and applicants for trench excavation permits, mandating written disclosure of serious, willful, or repeat violations of federal workplace safety laws. Contractors must update this information every six months and provide evidence that safety hazards were fixed. Government agencies must review these disclosures when evaluating bids and can refer unresolved violations to safety authorities. The bill does not change OSHA enforcement but adds transparency requirements for state contracting and permitting.
By Mr. Fattman (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Brian Arthur O'Connor for legislation to repeal the beverage container recovery law. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
By Ms. Edwards, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Lydia Edwards for legislation to protect accessory dwelling units. Housing.
By Mr. Durant, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Peter J. Durant for legislation relative to creditable service for Vincent Provencher. Public Service.
H 4407 requires Massachusetts public colleges and universities to establish clear, written policies for granting college credit to high school students who earn qualifying scores on Advanced Placement exams, complete International Baccalaureate programs, or take dual enrollment courses. These policies must specify minimum score requirements, how credit applies toward degree requirements (e.g., general education or major courses), and how credits transfer between institutions, with all policies posted online for transparency. The state Department of Higher Education will review these policies every three years and report findings to the legislature. The bill also creates an Office of Early College to oversee statewide early college programs, which are partnerships between high schools and colleges allowing students to earn college credit while still in high school.
H 4371 establishes a 15-member commission to study the misuse of service animals in Massachusetts, including intentional misrepresentation (e.g., falsely claiming a pet is a service animal). The commission will examine current laws, fraud prevalence, benefits for people with disabilities, and practices from other states, with a report due by April 2026. It will recommend potential policy changes, such as clarifying "service animal" definitions or creating civil penalties for fraud, and assess the feasibility of registering service animals. The bill does not create new laws but sets up a review process to inform future legislation.
This bill requires Massachusetts public high schools to ensure all students submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) before graduation, with clear exemptions for students or parents who decline. Schools must provide support for FAFSA completion and use accessible, multilingual forms for opt-outs - no citizenship questions required. It creates a dedicated FAFSA Trust Fund (effective 2026) to support schools in implementation, including training and workshops for underserved communities, funded by state appropriations and private donations. The law mandates annual reporting on FAFSA submission rates and exemptions, broken down by demographics, with the school requirement taking effect in 2027.
This bill (H 4327) amends a state law to require parents to provide financial support to adult children who need it, expanding the current requirement that only covered minor children. It directly affects parents obligated to pay support and adult children who may seek financial assistance from their parents. The key change modifies the legal language in the support order statute to replace "minor children" with "minor or adult children," making adult children eligible for support under the same legal framework. This is a concrete policy change to the existing law, not a new program or funding mechanism.
H 4408 establishes a state grant program to address student food insecurity at public colleges and universities in Massachusetts. The bill creates a "Hunger-Free Campus Trust Fund" to provide grants to eligible institutions - including minority-serving colleges and municipally administered schools - to support on-campus food assistance programs. Participating schools must meet specific requirements, such as designating staff to connect students with federal food aid, accepting nutrition benefits at campus vendors, and implementing meal-sharing initiatives. The program requires annual reporting on grant usage, campus activities, and student outcomes to track progress toward reducing food insecurity among students.
This bill (H 4417) modifies the membership structure of Massachusetts' Juvenile Justice Policy and Data Board. It increases the board size from 21 to 23 members and adds a specific role for the executive director of the Commission on LGBTQ+ Youth (or a designee). The bill also revises membership requirements to include three individuals with direct juvenile justice experience: two parents whose children were in juvenile court and one adult who was subject to juvenile court as a child, all selected from specified advocacy organizations. These changes directly affect who serves on the board, aiming to incorporate broader lived experience and specialized perspectives into juvenile justice policy decisions.
This bill prohibits Massachusetts public and private degree-granting colleges and universities from considering applicants' family ties to alumni or donors during admissions decisions. It also bans institutions from disclosing relatives' educational history or donation records in application materials. The bill requires the state department of higher education to study how binding early decision policies impact student diversity - including economic status, racial/ethnic representation, and first-generation students - and report findings within one year. These changes will take effect for admissions leading to the 2026-2027 school year.
