Healthcare (Substance Abuse)

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 30, 2026

H 2218: An Act to further enhance behavioral health workforce development

By Representative LaNatra of Kingston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2218) of Kathleen R. LaNatra and others relative to licensed mental health counselors and licensed supervised mental health counselors. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly enhances behavioral health workforce development for mental health counselors, directly strengthening mental health services under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2790: An Act relative to supporting parents in recovery from substance use disorder and enhancing child welfare

HD 2790 requires Massachusetts' Department of Children and Families to create action plans for parents with substance use disorder, allowing parents to help design these plans and listing available resources. It mandates objective standards in plans to gradually increase restricted parenting time and permits recovery coaches or licensed counselors to attend department meetings. The bill also requires the department to provide family counseling after six months of maintained recovery (if appropriate for the child's best interests) and to train staff using input from recovery professionals and medical experts. This directly affects parents in child welfare cases seeking to maintain or regain parenting rights while addressing substance use.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates family counseling after recovery and involves recovery coaches/counselors, directly supporting mental health services within healthcare context.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4191: An Act to protect correctional officers

HD 4191 increases penalties for assaulting correctional officers and other facility staff, requiring a minimum 5-year prison sentence for such assaults. It also creates new workplace protections for workers exposed to synthetic cannabinoids (K2/Spice) during their jobs, including correctional officers, first responders, and healthcare workers. Affected employees can now access medical leave under Massachusetts law, workers' compensation, and continued health insurance during recovery. The bill requires them to use other short-term disability benefits first before accessing the new medical leave benefits.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for assaulting correctional officers and provides workplace protections, directly strengthening corrections staff safety within the criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures healthcare workers maintain health insurance during recovery from work-related exposure, protecting access to care.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides medical leave, workers' comp, and health insurance for workers exposed to workplace hazards (e.g., synthetic cannabinoids), strengthening employment protections and safety standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Paid Leave

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1543: An Act to support college students in recovery

This bill requires public colleges and universities to create alcohol- and drug-free housing programs for students recovering from substance use. These programs must offer on-site counseling, mentoring, and peer support services. Additionally, all public institutions must provide overdose prevention training and make naloxone available to students, faculty, and staff. The law directly affects public higher education institutions and students seeking recovery support.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates recovery support services in public colleges, enhancing student program access and safety within higher education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health services (counseling, peer support) and naloxone access in colleges, directly advancing substance use recovery healthcare programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1455: An Act relative to civil commitments and the appeal of those commitments

This bill amends Massachusetts law to clarify court procedures for civil commitments related to alcohol or substance abuse disorders. It updates references to "Appeals Court" instead of "appellate division" and adds that initial reviews of such commitments (under Chapter 123, Section 35) must follow the same process as Superior Court reviews for pre-trial detentions (Chapter 276, Section 58A). The bill also expands jurisdiction for civil commitment orders to include Boston Municipal Court civil sessions, alongside District Court. These changes streamline how courts handle initial reviews of commitments, directly affecting individuals subject to court-ordered treatment for substance abuse.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies civil commitment appeal procedures for substance abuse, aligning with due process and reducing potential wrongful commitments, supporting rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies court procedures for substance abuse civil commitments, ensuring proper legal review aligns with protecting patient rights in mental health care.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2521: An Act establishing a commission to study the availability of the continuum of care services for persons with substance use disorder

HD 2521 creates a commission to study how people with substance use disorders access treatment services across Massachusetts. The commission will examine current regional availability of detox, counseling, residential care, and outpatient services, identify barriers like funding gaps or transportation issues, and assess the need for regional facilities. It must include government officials and community partners, and submit a report with recommendations within one year. This bill directly affects individuals seeking addiction treatment by focusing on improving their access to a connected care system. The commission's findings will inform potential new legislation to address gaps in care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates commission to study barriers in substance use disorder care access, aiming to improve service availability and identify funding/transportation gaps, aligning with healthcare access improvement goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1918: An Act eliminating cost sharing for certain behavioral health services

By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 718) of Julian Cyr for legislation to eliminate cost sharing for substance use disorder treatment services. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill eliminates cost sharing for substance use disorder treatment, directly expanding access to mental health services and reducing financial barriers to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1593: An Act requiring opioid use disorder education

This bill requires Massachusetts public and private schools to incorporate opioid use disorder education into existing health curricula. Schools must teach students about opioids, overdose identification, naloxone use and access, reducing stigma around naloxone, and medical amnesty for laypeople who assist during overdoses. The mandate applies to all school districts, charter schools, and approved private or residential schools. The law directs schools to build this content into current health education programs without creating new standalone courses.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates opioid education in health curricula, enhancing student health literacy and safety programs within educational framework95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates opioid education in schools covering overdose identification, naloxone access, and stigma reduction - directly advancing public health initiatives and improving access to life-saving information.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1860: An Act relative to suicide prevention signage at certain facilities

By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1395) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation relative to suicide prevention signage at certain facilities. Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates suicide prevention signage at facilities, directly advancing mental health services under the healthcare topic's scope.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 825: An Act to ensure compliance with the anti-shackling law for pregnant incarcerated women

This bill amends Massachusetts' anti-shackling law to better protect pregnant and postpartum incarcerated women. It defines "postpartum recovery" as the period after childbirth (minimum 6 weeks, extendable by a doctor) and replaces outdated terms like "post-delivery recuperation" with this new definition. The law prohibits shackling any pregnant or postpartum woman "under any circumstances or in any setting," requires facility administrators to report restraint use within 48 hours (without personal details), and mandates annual public compliance reports to the legislature. These changes directly affect incarcerated women in state and county facilities and require staff training, facility administrators, and the secretary of public safety to implement and report on new safeguards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits shackling pregnant/postpartum incarcerated women, advancing protections for vulnerable individuals in corrections under criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits shackling of pregnant/postpartum women, protecting health during critical medical period per bill's definition of postpartum recovery.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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