Labor & Employment (Unemployment)

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2332: An Act relative to employment benefits of certain employees of the Department of Developmental Services

HD 2332 expands eligibility for certain employment benefits to long-serving employees at the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. It specifically adds Human Services Coordinator and Residential Supervisor positions (across multiple levels) that provide care, custody, and supervision to individuals with developmental disabilities. Employees in these roles who have worked for 10 or more years will now qualify for the benefits previously available to other eligible staff. The bill directly affects these specific DDS and Commission employee categories, modifying existing benefit eligibility rules. This is a concrete policy change to extend benefits to a defined group of care providers based on tenure.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands benefits eligibility for long-serving employees in care roles, strengthening worker benefits per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 433: An Act relative to non-fault unemployment insurance overpayments

HD 433 modifies Massachusetts' unemployment insurance rules for overpayments. It limits deductions from future benefits to 10% of the weekly rate for recipients not at fault, sets a 3-year deadline for recovery in such cases, and expands waiver eligibility for people on public assistance (like SNAP or TAFDC) or facing financial hardship. The bill also requires a 60-day waiting period before collections begin and clarifies when overpayments must be waived due to department errors or specific hardship situations (e.g., pandemic-era payment mistakes). It directly affects unemployment benefit recipients who received overpayments through no fault of their own.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentLimits deductions to 10% for non-fault overpayments, sets 3-year recovery deadline, expands waivers for vulnerable groups (SNAP/TAFDC), and delays collections - protecting workers' benefit access.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2480: An Act relative to school bus transportation professionals

The bill title "An Act relative to school bus transportation professionals" does not match the actual content provided. The bill text amends Section 24 of Chapter 151A to create an exemption from work search requirements for individuals with a certified return-to-work date within 12 weeks. This provision affects unemployment benefit recipients who have a confirmed job return date, not school bus professionals. The bill addresses unemployment insurance regulations, not transportation industry standards.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExempts unemployment beneficiaries with confirmed return-to-work dates from work search requirements, expanding access to benefits without job search obligations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3528: An Act relative to municipal unemployment insurance reform

This bill modifies Massachusetts unemployment insurance rules for two specific groups. It prohibits unemployment benefits for municipal employees providing services to educational institutions (like school staff working for towns). Additionally, it reduces unemployment benefits by 65% for individuals receiving pensions from their previous employer (based on their prior work with that employer), but only if they worked at least 75% of their service years for that employer and the reduction aligns with federal tax rules. Social Security payments are exempt from this reduction. The changes directly affect municipal workers in education and those receiving pensions who file for unemployment.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill reduces state unemployment spending by eliminating benefits for school staff and cutting pensioners' benefits by 65%, decreasing government expenditure.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentReduces unemployment benefits by 65% for pensioners and prohibits benefits for municipal education staff, weakening worker financial protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Aug 13, 2026

S 1376: An Act relative to unemployment insurance

By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1376) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to unemployment insurance. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill addresses unemployment insurance, a core worker benefit under Labor and Workforce Development, aiming to strengthen financial support for unemployed workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workforce Development

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passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 15, 2026

H 2067: An Act waiving the requirement for on call fire fighters to disclose stipends as income

By Representative Berthiaume of Spencer, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2067) of Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr. relative to waiving the requirement for on call fire fighters to disclose stipends as income for unemployment compensation. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentWaives stipend disclosure requirement for on-call firefighters, expanding access to unemployment benefits by removing an income reporting barrier.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workforce Development

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 453: An Act amending the unemployment insurance law for workers with fluctuating work schedules

This bill amends Massachusetts' unemployment insurance law to better support workers with irregular schedules. It changes how "highest quarter" wages are calculated for benefit eligibility, replacing the current method with a new standard. If using the highest quarter wage calculation makes someone ineligible for benefits, the bill ensures they receive half of their total wages from the two highest quarters instead. This directly affects hourly and part-time workers whose income fluctuates significantly from week to week. The change aims to prevent eligible workers from being denied benefits due to the current calculation method.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAmends unemployment calculation to ensure fluctuating schedule workers receive benefits they'd otherwise lose, expanding access to unemployment insurance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Unemployment

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 452: An Act relative to fair hiring practices

SD 452 prohibits Massachusetts employers from discriminating against job applicants based on unemployment status, such as refusing to hire, screening, or advertising jobs that require current employment or disqualify the unemployed. It also bans employers from demanding personal social media or email passwords during hiring, except for specific investigations into security breaches or company data leaks. Exceptions allow employers to consider relevant work history or recent job experience as legitimate hiring factors. This law directly affects all Massachusetts employers and job seekers, aiming to reduce bias in hiring and protect personal digital privacy.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits unemployment-based hiring discrimination and bans social media password demands, directly protecting job seekers' rights and advancing fair employment standards.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits employers from demanding social media passwords, directly protecting data privacy and digital rights under technology policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Social Media

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1413: An Act relative to the promotion of the WorkShare program

This bill requires Massachusetts' executive office of labor to study industries hardest hit by pandemic-related job losses and create a report on how to expand the WorkShare program. The report must identify current and potential participants, plus recommend outreach strategies to promote the program. It also mandates the agency to develop a marketing plan - including print/digital materials and website ads - to actively promote WorkShare to eligible employers within 12 months. The bill directly affects Massachusetts employers in high-unemployment sectors by improving access to a program that helps avoid layoffs through reduced work hours.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPromotes WorkShare program to prevent layoffs and maintain worker benefits during pandemic job losses, directly advancing employment standards95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1902: An Act relative to unemployment insurance

This bill amends Massachusetts unemployment insurance rules to adjust eligibility and coverage requirements. It changes the base period wage requirement so workers must have earned wages in at least two quarters (instead of the full period) equaling 30 times their weekly benefit rate. It also raises the employee threshold for mandatory coverage from 25 to 50 employees and clarifies that employers of covered entities (like government agencies) don't count toward this employee total. These changes directly affect workers seeking benefits and employers required to provide unemployment insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdjusts eligibility to expand access by lowering base period requirement (2 quarters vs full period), making unemployment benefits more accessible to workers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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