By Representative Lombardo of Billerica, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3173) of Marc T. Lombardo relative to taxes on overtime wages. Revenue.
By Representative Roy of Franklin, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2163) of Jeffrey N. Roy relative to clarifying the process for paying the wages of dismissed employees. Labor and Workforce Development.
By Representative Cahill of Lynn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2073) of Daniel Cahill and others for legislation to prohibit health care worker mandatory overtime. Labor and Workforce Development.
By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1322) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to provide hazard pay and protection for essential workers during a "State of Emergency" declaration. Labor and Workforce Development.
This bill (HD 3052) amends Massachusetts wage law to ensure certain hospital workers receive regular weekly pay. It removes an exemption that previously allowed hospital workers who were shareholders in co-operative associations or casual employees of government entities (like cities, towns, or the Commonwealth) to be paid less frequently. The change requires these workers to be paid weekly, aligning them with standard wage payment rules. This directly affects hospital workers in co-ops and government hospital casual roles who were previously excluded from weekly pay requirements. The amendment applies to Section 148 of Chapter 149 of the General Laws.
HD 330 creates a new legal mechanism allowing certain entities to sue construction employers who fail to pay wages on behalf of the Commonwealth. Specifically, "Interested Parties" (including other construction employers, labor organizations, or affected employees) can file lawsuits to recover triple the unpaid wages plus a 20% surcharge. The surcharge funds a wage enforcement program used by the Attorney General to enforce wage laws, educate workers and employers, and provide emergency loans to affected employees for housing, heat, or food. This directly targets wage non-payment in construction projects, aiming to stop unfair competition from employers who underpay workers.
This bill standardizes overtime pay language in Massachusetts law by changing references from inconsistent fractional terms (like "one and two-tenths") to the standard "one and one-half" (1.5x) rate for eligible workers. It directly affects most hourly workers covered by Massachusetts overtime laws and their employers, ensuring consistent application of the 1.5x overtime rate. The bill amends specific sections of Chapter 136 to replace outdated phrasing and repeals related sections from a 2018 law that contained the inconsistent terms. This is a technical correction to clarify existing overtime requirements, not a new policy change.
This bill would require overtime wages earned by hourly workers to be counted as taxable income under Massachusetts state tax law. Specifically, it amends the tax code to define "overtime wage" as pay for hours worked beyond 40 per week for hourly employees (excluding salaried workers), and adds a new tax provision requiring taxpayers to include this amount in their taxable income. The bill directly affects hourly workers who earn overtime pay, as their overtime earnings would now be subject to state income tax. This changes the tax treatment of overtime wages but does not alter tax rates or specify effective dates.
By Representative Gordon of Bedford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2117) of Kenneth I. Gordon relative to wages of deceased employees. Labor and Workforce Development.
This bill (HD 671) sets rules for employers using payroll cards to pay wages in Massachusetts. It directly affects employees who receive pay via these cards, requiring employers to:
1) Allow at least one free withdrawal per pay period (up to full net wages),
2) Disclose all card fees upfront (except third-party fees), and
3) Provide free, easy access to check account balances (via phone or online).
The law aligns with federal protections under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to prevent hidden fees and ensure wage access.
