LEGISLATION

This bill exempts any veteran, whose annual income is at or below the federal poverty guideline, from the motor vehicle excise tax on one registered vehicle owned or leased for personal use.

This bill allows municipalities to reserve parking spaces for non-handicapped veterans in off-street parking lots, large retail parking lots, and parking garages. Municipalities shall be permitted to reserve not more than two parking spaces in parking lots with more than one thousand parking spaces. Municipalities shall also be permitted to reserve not more than two additional spaces for every additional five hundred parking spaces in a parking lot.

Senate Sponsor: Sen. Pavel M. Payano

This legislation aims to support military veterans by providing them a one-time opportunity to retroactively purchase and count up to one year of prior military service toward their state retirement benefits—even if they initially missed the usual 180-day deadline. Under the bill, retirement systems must notify eligible members of this option and allow veterans up to one year from the law’s effective date to apply. The goal is to ensure veterans aren't penalized for procedural oversights and are able to fully account for their service when calculating their retirement benefits.

Senate Sponsor: William J. Driscoll, Jr. 

The bill seeks to enhance retirement benefits for eligible military veterans who retire from public service. Specifically, it allows local and state retirement systems to offer veterans an increased annual allowance of $50 for each year of creditable service, up to a maximum of $1,000 per year—replacing the current flat veteran bonus. This benefit would only apply if both the local retirement board and the governing legislative body vote to adopt it. The additional allowance would take effect going forward and would not be applied retroactively. 

Senate Sponsor: John C. Velis 

This bill directs the Department of Higher Education to conduct a review and analysis of practices, trends, outcomes, impacts on students, potential bias, college readiness, etc., related to requiring standardized aptitude tests to gain admittance to a public higher education institution in the state. DHE is required to consult with various interested expert parties, publish the review on their website, and submit a report to the Legislature no later than 1 year after the effective date of the bill.

Senate Sponsor: Sen. Adam Gomez

This bill will require charter schools to host bi-monthly meetings with five-member student advisory committees, as well as allow one student to serve as a non-voting member on the Board of Trustees. To ensure fair and adequate representation, students will elect five peers to the advisory committee. The advisory committee will, by majority vote, select one chairperson to serve as a non-voting member of the Board of Trustees for one year. The Board of Trustees will be permitted to designate a student outreach coordinator to foster the establishment of the advisory committee in their charter school. The student outreach coordinator will work with the selected chairperson of the advisory committee to keep the committee informed on the Board of Trustees' agenda. The student advisory committee will meet with the Board of Trustees every other month the school is in session.

Senate Sponsor: Sen. Paul R. Feeney

This bill allows local communities to have a say on any new charter schools opening in their area, specifically requiring local approval before charter schools have access to public funding. Charter schools have a definitive impact on local school budgets without any form of elected accountability. Therefore, this process would ensure elected representation in discussions on any new charter schools in that community's area. Local approval would be provided by: an elected School Committee for each school district from which the charter school is expected to enroll students; voters at a town meeting of each of the towns from which the charter school is expected to enroll students; or, in the case of a city without an elected school committee, by a vote of the city council and the Mayor.

Senate Sponsor: Sen. Michael O. Moore

This bill substantially invests in vocational education and re-commits the Commonwealth to trades-based, labor-market-focused, education. The bill establishes the office of vocational-technical education in DESE to oversee chapter 74 programs and specifically work to increase program capacity and opportunities across the Commonwealth. The bill also creates a $3 billion infrastructure fund for vocational-technical schools and programs and provides expansion grants to offset costs for voc-techs that experience substantial enrollment increases. The bill further directs fair share amendment funding to the MSBA to increase reimbursement rates for construction costs related to regional vo-techs, agricultural schools, and schools offering 5 or more chapter 74 programs.

Co-filed by: Rep. Frank A. Moran | Senate Sponsor: Sen. Paul R. Feeney

The legislation establishes a special commission tasked with reviewing the commonwealth’s Chapter 71B special education financing system. The commission must assess factors such as adequacy, equity, predictability, and stability of funding—including Circuit Breaker reimbursements—while considering student needs, district wealth, and transportation costs. It is required to hold no fewer than four public hearings, and deliver a formal report with recommendations by June 30, 2027. The bill also proposes specific changes: increasing the Circuit Breaker reimbursement threshold from 75% to 90%, raising transportation reimbursement to 90%, lowering the approved cost threshold from $45,793 to $37,120, and mandating per-pupil funding to collaboratives of at least $4,320, adjusted annually for inflation.

Co-filed by: Rep. Michael P. Kushmerek | Senate Sponsor: Sen. Jacob R. Oliveira

This bill expands the program and encourages more vocational training by broadening the course eligibility requirements for grant recipients, permitting the program to include and consider for-credit technical vocational instruction as an eligible metric for receiving a grant.

Senate Sponsor: Sen. John C. Velis

It empowers local school districts and vocational technical schools to maintain autonomy over their admissions processes under Chapter 74, ensuring communities and districts retain decision-making authority rather than having admissions standardized at the state level.

The bill would limit or standardize the fees schools can impose on groups like clubs, class councils, or extracurricular programs, with the goal of ensuring that participation remains accessible and affordable for students from all income levels. Specifically, it is designed to prevent inconsistent, excessive, or undisclosed charges that could create barriers to involvement. 

The bill proposes the creation of a special commission, including members of the General Court, to study the impact of students’ mobile phones on educational outcomes and mental health. The commission would be tasked with reviewing current school policies, gathering evidence, and making recommendations on how districts should manage phone use in classrooms.

The bill proposes the creation of a special bipartisan commission to study and evaluate K–12 school discipline, anti-bullying protocols, and overall student behavior policies. The bill would also codify into law that all middle school students shall receive a recess period. 

The legislation aims to enhance the state’s community college system by aligning it more closely with workforce needs—specifically through the career technical initiative, which supports technical training and career-ready education programs.

The bill aims to protect students' rights to free expression in public schools by explicitly prohibiting the removal of educational materials based solely on their content, origin, or the personal, political, or doctrinal views of their creators. It also seeks to safeguard librarians from personal attacks and threats related to their professional duties. The legislation underscores that limiting access to books and library content undermines academic growth and the public good. 

Co-Filed by: John Francis Moran | Senate Sponsor: Julian Cyr 

The legislation directs the creation of a task force charged with evaluating and making recommendations on the MassMakers Portal—a digital platform intended to streamline business interactions with state government. The assessment must examine aspects such as online business services, compliance tools, payment processing, and technical assistance. It also includes estimating the full cost to design, implement, and operate the portal, and recommending a timeline to phase in capabilities—such as online business registration and tax payment integration. 

The bill allows public school teachers and their employers to use voluntary arbitration to resolve contract disputes when collective bargaining reaches an impasse. The bill introduces a structured arbitration process overseen by the state’s dispute resolution office, including the option for “best offer arbitration,” where the arbitrator must choose one party’s final proposal in full. Once arbitration is initiated, hearings must occur within 20 days, and decisions are binding and must be issued within 30 days. The legislation also prohibits school employers from unilaterally changing contract terms while bargaining or arbitration is ongoing. This bill aims to provide a faster, fairer method for resolving labor disputes and preventing drawn-out contract conflicts in public education.

Ensures that all municipal workers are also paid minimum wage. Municipalities are currently exempt from having to pay municipal workers minimum wage. 

This bill enables spouses to serve as caregivers for all MassHealth programs that permit family members to be paid to provide care.

Senate Sponsor: Sen. Bruce E. Tarr 

The legislation aims to expand insurance coverage for comprehensive clinical and extended support services, ensuring that individuals have access to a broader range of necessary health services. By addressing gaps in existing insurance policies, the bill seeks to improve the accessibility and affordability of essential health services for residents across Massachusetts

Co-filed by: Rep. Kate Donaghue | Senate Sponsor: Sen. John F. Keenan

The bill proposes creating five regional pilot programs to explore non-emergency medical transport options for individuals needing behavioral health care. Instead of relying solely on traditional ambulance services, which can be costly and stigmatizing, these pilots aim to provide more appropriate and compassionate transport methods. The bill requires the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to design the programs in consultation with existing providers, and mandates reimbursement for these services through MassHealth and contracted insurers. The Health Policy Commission will study the effectiveness, cost, and patient experience of the pilots to inform future policy decisions on behavioral health transport in Massachusetts.

Senate Sponsor: Paul R. Feeney

The legislation aims to address disparities in access to behavioral health services for individuals enrolled in the MassHealth program, Massachusetts' Medicaid program. By focusing on equitable access, the bill seeks to ensure that all MassHealth consumers receive appropriate and timely behavioral health care, regardless of their background or circumstances. This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to improve the accessibility and quality of behavioral health services within the Commonwealth.

The legislation aims to ensure that network hospitals are fairly compensated for providing behavioral health services to certain MassHealth patients. By mandating equitable reimbursement, the bill seeks to address disparities in funding and support the sustainability of behavioral health services within the Commonwealth. This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to improve the accessibility and quality of behavioral health care for MassHealth recipient. 

This legislation would protect our employer-sponsored health insurance system in the event of federal changes.  It would reinstitute previous state law regarding employer-sponsored health insurance that was repealed after the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) at the federal level.  Under this bill, if certain provisions of the ACA are eliminated, then state provisions accomplishing the same purpose would go into effect to protect workers' employer-sponsored health coverage.  

The legislation aims to address disparities in reimbursement rates for behavioral health inpatient services under the MassHealth program, Massachusetts' Medicaid program. By ensuring rate parity, the bill seeks to promote equitable access to behavioral health care services for all MassHealth recipients, regardless of the type of facility providing the care.This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to improve the accessibility and quality of behavioral health services within the Commonwealth.

The legislation aims to address the long-term health impacts of COVID-19 on public safety employees, such as police officers and firefighters. Specifically, it seeks to provide workers' compensation benefits to these employees who develop complications related to COVID-19. This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to support public safety personnel who may face health challenges due to their exposure to the virus during the course of their duties.

The legislation proposes the creation of a special commission tasked with investigating and making recommendations on how to better protect sensitive personal information contained in legal documents. The commission would examine existing privacy laws and practices, identify potential risks of unauthorized disclosure, and suggest measures to enhance the confidentiality and security of such information. The goal is to ensure that individuals' private data is adequately safeguarded within the legal system.

The bill proposes changes to the statute of limitations for sexual assault cases involving DNA evidence. The bill aims to create a legal exception that would allow rape victims to pursue criminal charges beyond the current statute of limitations if qualified DNA evidence is discovered—effectively enabling late-filed prosecutions where DNA proves the crime occurred. 

Co-Filed by: Rep. Hannah Kane

The bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Transportation—working with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security—to design and implement a statewide program aimed at preventing and mitigating wrong‑way driving incidents on limited‑access highways. The legislation authorizes the use of new safety technologies, infrastructure improvements, and revised roadway design or traffic control standards. It also requires a capital plan, implementation timeline, and budget to be submitted to legislative committees and made publicly available. 

Co-Filed by: Rep. Mark D. Sylvia

The bill seeks to add clear exclusions—meaning certain animals such as dogs and cats (and possibly other pets)would be explicitly excluded from that definition under the law. This change would help prevent cases where kennels or pet breeders are inadvertently categorized—and regulated—as agricultural operations that engage in raising livestock. 

The bill seeks to regulate rodeo events in the state by requiring them to follow the official rules and standards set by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). This bill was introduced in response to safety and animal welfare concerns, particularly after an incident in 2024 where several bulls escaped from a rodeo in North Attleborough and entered a residential area. By mandating PRCA compliance, the legislation aims to ensure that rodeos operate with proper safety measures, trained personnel, and humane treatment of animals. 

This legislation would prohibit pet shops in Massachusetts from selling dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs, effectively banning those animals from retail sale in storefront pet shops. The intent is typically to discourage support for commercial breeding operations—often referred to as “puppy mills” or similar setups—and to shift adoption toward animal shelters or rescue organizations. The measure is part of broader efforts to promote animal welfare and reduce demand for retail-bred companion animals.

This legislation seeks to expand the state’s anti-discrimination protections by explicitly including prospective homebuyers. The bill amends Chapter 151B of the General Laws to make it unlawful to discriminate against individuals in the sale of residential property based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, gender, or familial status. It also extends these protections to individuals participating in down payment assistance programs.

The bill seeks to modernize and streamline property tax administration by allowing municipalities to form regional boards of assessors. These regional boards would assume the powers and responsibilities of local boards of assessors, enabling cities and towns to consolidate assessment functions across multiple municipalities. The bill outlines the framework for such agreements, including provisions for financing, staffing, and governance of the regional boards. Additionally, the bill proposes adjustments to certain property tax exemptions, such as increasing the exemption for surviving minor children of police officers or firefighters killed in the line of duty, and introducing a cost-of-living adjustment for certain property tax abatements.

The bill extends the tenure period from 6 years to 10 years that military state officers can serve before needing reappointment or replacement. This was a request from the Massachusetts National Guard. 

The bill aims to address and simplify aspects of motor vehicle transfer and registration laws in the state.