This bill amends existing state funding provisions to create a "Fiscal Resilience" category for the Commonwealth Federal Matching and Debt Reduction Fund, allowing the state to protect against federal funding cuts that could harm public health, safety, or economic stability. It directs up to $200 million in flexible funding to public universities to support research projects, retain research staff, and maintain scientific discovery even if federal research funding decreases. The legislation also expands eligibility for fund recipients to include tax-exempt charitable organizations affected by federal funding disruptions and extends the fund's expiration date from 2026 to 2029. These changes aim to provide financial buffers for hospitals, community health centers, and research institutions while maintaining oversight through quarterly reporting requirements to state legislative committees.
This bill strengthens problem gambling protections in Massachusetts by requiring fantasy sports operators to maintain a list of self-excluded individuals and prohibiting them from marketing to or serving these excluded persons. It mandates that fantasy contest platforms use digital tools like cookies and IP addresses to prevent ads from reaching excluded individuals and requires them to deny access to benefits like check cashing and club programs for those on the exclusion list. The legislation also establishes a standardized disclaimer for all gambling advertisements that includes warning information and contact details for the state gambling helpline, while allowing gaming establishments to let patrons set betting and loss limits on their cashless wagering systems. Additionally, the bill requires gaming establishments to provide monthly statements showing patrons' total bets, wins, and losses, with options to opt out of receiving these statements.
Senate, March 12, 2026 -- The committee on Housing, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 994) of Cindy F. Friedman and Julian Cyr for legislation to prohibit algorithmic rent setting; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1016) of Michael O. Moore, Patricia D. Jehlen and James B. Eldridge for legislation to establish the Preventing Algorithmic Rent Fixing in the Rental Housing Market Act., report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2983).
By Representative Kushmerek of Fitchburg, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Michael P. Kushmerek for legislation to further regulate social media accounts for persons under 16 years of age. Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity.
This bill amends state law to speed up the permitting process for broadband internet infrastructure and promote open access networks where multiple providers can share physical facilities. It requires state and local governments to approve permit applications within 45 days and mandates that infrastructure owners grant timely, cost-based access to broadband providers. The legislation also establishes rules for "dig once" policies to include conduits during excavations, creates a registry for qualified contractors, and sets up enforcement mechanisms with potential fines for non-compliance.
By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Ryan C. Fattman for legislation relative to youth social media safety. The Judiciary.
This bill creates a new chapter in Massachusetts law to prevent companies from using software to coordinate rental prices among landlords. It defines "service providers" as any entity that collects rental data and recommends prices to landlords, and prohibits landlords from paying these services to set or influence rent amounts. The law also bans agreements among landlords not to compete with each other on pricing and makes it easier for tenants to sue for violations by removing barriers like arbitration clauses and class-action waivers. Landlords who violate the rules could face legal penalties, and successful plaintiffs would be entitled to recover their legal costs and attorney fees.
This bill allows the town of Uxbridge and its public schools to publish required legal notices on a town website instead of only in print newspapers. It permits notices to also appear on local newspaper websites, news sites meeting specific digital publication standards, or a statewide repository. The law does not change when these notices must be published, only where they can be posted.
This bill would allow Massachusetts state officials to invest public funds in Bitcoin and other stable digital financial assets as a strategy to protect against inflation and enhance financial resilience. The legislation permits the state treasurer to allocate up to 10 percent of specific state funds, including the General Fund and pension trust funds, into these digital assets. It establishes strict security requirements for custody, mandating that private keys be controlled exclusively by government entities and stored in encrypted, geographically diversified data centers. The bill also defines key terms like "digital financial asset" and "qualified custodian" to ensure clarity about what assets can be held and by whom.
This bill updates advertising rules for justices of the peace in Massachusetts. It modernizes the language by replacing "his" with "their" for gender neutrality, adding "email address" to required contact details, and expanding permitted advertising channels to include digital platforms like social media, websites, and email. The changes directly affect justices of the peace who advertise their services, ensuring their public notices meet current communication standards. The bill makes no new policy requirements but aligns existing rules with contemporary media practices.
