Labor & Employment (Paid Leave)

passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 21, 2026

H 1160: An Act exempting visiting trainees from certain employment requirements

By Representative Galvin of Canton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1160) of William C. Galvin relative to unemployment insurance and family medical leave benefits for certain visiting trainees. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill exempts visiting trainees from employment requirements to qualify for unemployment insurance and family medical leave benefits, expanding access to key worker protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Unemployment

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 30, 2026

H 2875: An Act relative to a universal sick leave bank policy

By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2875) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to a universal sick leave bank policy for state agencies. Public Service.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentUniversal sick leave bank policy expands worker benefits and strengthens employment standards by ensuring state employees can take paid sick leave without penalty.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Dec 15, 2025

H 34: An Act relative to parental and family leave equity for members of public retirement systems

So much of the recommendations of the Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement System (House, No. 26) as relates to parental and family leave equity for members of public retirement systems

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes parental/family leave equity for public retirement system members, expanding worker benefits and strengthening employment standards for covered employees.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track

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

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2297: An Act relative to access to paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance for graduate student workers

By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 747) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to allow for graduate student workers to have access to paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides paid leave and unemployment insurance to graduate student workers in higher education, strengthening workforce stability and well-being within the higher education sector.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides paid medical leave access for workers, improving healthcare access by reducing financial barriers to medical care.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly extends paid family/medical leave and unemployment insurance to graduate student workers, expanding their employment benefits and protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Unemployment

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2215: Resolve establishing a special commission on paid family and medical leave for public employees

By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 1293) of Joanne M. Comerford for legislation to establish a special commission on paid family and medical leave for public employees. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates commission to study paid family/medical leave for public employees, directly advancing worker benefits under Labor & Employment topic.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Public Employees Workforce Development

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1113: An Act to provide paid family and medical leave to all educators

SD 1113 provides paid family and medical leave for all educators employed by Massachusetts school districts or education collaboratives. The bill specifically defines these educators as "covered individuals" and designates school districts as "covered employers" for leave purposes. School districts will fund their required contributions to the leave program using existing income surtax revenue (from Chapter 62), not from general operating budgets. This ensures educators can take paid leave for family or medical needs without impacting their employment benefits or health insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUses existing income surtax revenue (Chapter 62) for funding, avoiding general budget impact and promoting fiscal responsibility.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides paid family and medical leave for educators, directly supporting teacher retention and well-being through existing funding mechanisms.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides paid family and medical leave for educators, directly expanding worker benefits under Labor & Employment95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3919: An Act improving maternal and child health related to Hyperemesis Gravidarum

This bill creates a special legislative commission to study and recommend improvements for care of individuals experiencing Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), a severe pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting condition. The commission, composed of diverse health professionals, patients, advocates, and officials, will examine insurance coverage barriers for HG treatments, provider training gaps, paid leave policies, public awareness, and research needs. It will develop recommendations for legislative action by September 2026 to address these areas. The commission's work directly aims to improve support and resources for people affected by HG, particularly in underserved communities. This is a procedural bill establishing a study group, not an immediate policy change.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStudies insurance barriers for HG treatments and aims to improve maternal health access through commission recommendations, aligning with expanding coverage and patient access indicators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExamines paid leave policies as part of maternal health commission, targeting worker benefit improvements through legislative recommendations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Women's Health Paid Leave

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4151: An Act enabling employees on unpaid parental leave to purchase creditable service

This bill allows public employees on unpaid parental leave (for birth or adoption) to count that leave time toward their retirement service. Employees who took leave exceeding one month can pay into their retirement fund - either as a lump sum or installments - to make the leave period "creditable" for retirement benefits. The buyback is limited to a maximum of two years of unpaid leave and must be completed before retirement begins. This change directly affects state or local government workers using extended unpaid parental leave.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows public employees to buy back unpaid parental leave for retirement credit, expanding retirement benefits and protecting employment-related benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1462: An Act relative to bereavement leave

This bill expands bereavement leave under Massachusetts family leave law. It creates an 8-week leave entitlement (with 2 weeks paid) for employees to cope with the death of a family member, covering funeral attendance, arrangements, and grieving. Employees must provide documentation like an obituary, death certificate, or mental health provider note. The leave counts toward the existing annual 26-week maximum for family and medical leave and can be taken intermittently. This directly affects all covered Massachusetts workers who experience a family member's death.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides 2 weeks paid leave for mental health needs during bereavement, requiring mental health provider documentation, directly supporting mental health services under healthcare topic.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands paid bereavement leave (8 weeks, 2 paid), enhancing worker benefits and family leave protections under MA law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track