Labor & Employment (Workers' Compensation)

passed · Massachusetts · House Jun 29, 2026

H 5429: An Act providing injured on duty compensation to Chelmsford firefighter Nicholas Spinale

This bill grants injured Chelmsford firefighter Nicholas Spinale paid leave without loss of salary, effective retroactively to April 7, 2026, for the time he is unable to work due to injuries sustained on that date. The legislation ensures he does not have to waive his rights to workers' compensation benefits, though any leave pay received will be reduced by the amount of workers' compensation he collects. If his injuries are permanent, the bill allows him to apply for accidental disability retirement with a specific pension amount and provides continued benefits to his surviving spouse if he dies before age 65. Additionally, the state agrees to reimburse the town of Chelmsford for all costs related to his medical treatment and injury leave.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides paid leave and salary protection for an injured firefighter, expanding worker benefits and protecting rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Workers' Compensation

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 15, 2026

H 4061: An Act relative to protecting against workers compensation premium fraud

By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4061) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf for legislation to authorize the commissioner of insurance to maintain a publicly accessible database for certificates of insurance. Financial Services.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents workers' compensation premium fraud, ensuring legitimate claims and benefits reach eligible workers, directly protecting employment-related benefits system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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passed · Massachusetts · House Dec 22, 2025

H 2151: An Act to protect injured workers

By Representative Nguyen of Andover, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2151) of Tram T. Nguyen and others for legislation to protect injured workers. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly aims to 'protect injured workers' under Labor and Workforce Development, directly advancing worker protection and safety standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation Workforce Development

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1256: An Act relative to injured correctional officers

By Mr. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1713) of Edward J. Kennedy for legislation relative to injured correctional officers compensation. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides compensation for injured correctional officers, directly protecting workers' rights and workplace safety within public safety sector.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1412: An Act relative to workers' compensation

This bill amends Massachusetts workers' compensation law to clarify when benefits may be suspended. It directly affects injured workers who are medically cleared to return to work but refuse to do so. The key provision states that if a registered physician determines an employee is fit to return to work and the employee refuses, their right to compensation is suspended, and any compensation during that suspension period may be forfeited. The change creates a specific mechanism for withholding benefits when an employee declines a work opportunity deemed safe by a medical professional. This policy adjustment aims to align benefit eligibility with medical clearance and return-to-work obligations.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts workers' compensation benefits (insurance coverage) by suspending payments when injured workers refuse to return to work after medical clearance.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill suspends workers' compensation benefits if medically cleared employees refuse to return to work, restricting access to benefits and weakening protections for injured workers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 220: An Act relative to workers' compensation disfigurement benefits concerning scarring

HD 220 amends Massachusetts workers' compensation law to adjust which body areas qualify for disfigurement benefits. It removes "or hands" from the coverage criteria and adds "distally to the elbows, or distally to the knees" to specify that scarring on limbs beyond the elbows or knees now qualifies. This change directly affects workers who suffer workplace injuries resulting in visible scarring on these specific limb areas. The bill modifies the existing benefit eligibility without creating new financial obligations or altering other compensation aspects. The amendment focuses solely on refining the scope of covered disfigurement injuries under current law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds distal limb areas (beyond elbows/knees) to disfigurement benefits, expanding coverage for workplace scarring injuries without removing other protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2822: An Act providing benefits for permanent functional loss and disfigurement under the Worker's Compensation Act

This bill updates Massachusetts' workers' compensation benefits for permanent disfigurement and functional loss. It replaces a fixed $15,000 cap with a benefit amount equal to 30 times the current average weekly wage in the state, which adjusts annually. It also removes the previous restriction that scar-based disfigurement only qualified for benefits if on the face, neck, or hands. These changes directly affect workers who suffer qualifying permanent injuries covered under the state's workers' compensation system.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentReplaces fixed $15k cap with 30x avg weekly wage benefit and removes disfigurement coverage restrictions, strengthening worker compensation protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3186: An Act relative to injured correctional officers

This bill (HD 3186) provides additional pay for correctional officers in county jails or houses of correction who are injured on duty by prisoners or patients. It requires that injured officers receive the difference between their workers' compensation benefits (under Chapter 152) and their full regular salary, in addition to standard benefits. The bill ensures this extra pay applies even for short absences (less than 8 days) and does not count against their available sick leave. It directly affects county correctional officers injured during work by inmates or patients.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides additional pay for injured correctional officers, strengthening workforce support within corrections system95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnsures injured correctional officers receive full salary minus workers' comp, expanding worker benefits and protecting income during injury per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3724: An Act creating fairness in workers' compensation disfigurement benefits

This bill (HD 3724) updates Massachusetts workers' compensation benefits for disfigurement injuries. It replaces a fixed $15,000 cap with a new formula: the maximum benefit equals 30 times the state's average wage on the injury date. It also removes the previous rule that excluded scar-based disfigurement unless it affected the face, neck, or hands. These changes directly affect workers in Massachusetts who suffer disfigurement from work-related injuries, expanding eligibility and adjusting benefit amounts based on current wage data.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands disfigurement benefit eligibility and replaces fixed $15k cap with wage-based formula, increasing compensation for injured workers under Massachusetts workers' comp.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3745: An Act relative to injured correctional officers

HD 3745 ensures that county correctional officers injured on duty (due to prisoner/patient actions) receive additional pay beyond standard workers' compensation. Specifically, they get the difference between their regular weekly salary and the workers' compensation benefits they qualify for. This extra payment applies even for injuries requiring less than eight days off, and the absence doesn't count against their available sick leave. The bill directly affects correctional officers in county jails or houses of correction who sustain work-related injuries.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands worker benefits by guaranteeing injured correctional officers receive additional pay beyond standard workers' comp, protecting income during injury recovery.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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