Massachusetts Bills

Report of the Norfolk District Attorney's Office (pursuant to Section 99R of Chapter 272 of the General Laws) submitting its annual report of wiretap interceptions for the calendar year 2025

Order relative to authorizing the committee on Public Service to make an investigation and study of a certain House document relative to Stoneham police maximum age requirement

This bill (HD 5504) is a procedural communication requiring the Department of Public Health to submit a report on the status of Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. It does not create new laws or affect any specific group; it simply mandates the submission of an existing report (referenced as item 4590-0915). The bill was placed on file on January 12, 2026, indicating it has been formally recorded but involves no legislative action or policy change.

HD 5506 requires the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to submit an annual report detailing findings and recommendations from its fiscal year 2025 research agenda, as mandated under Sections 71 of Chapter 23K and 23 of Chapter 23N of the General Laws. The report will cover studies on topics like the social and economic impacts of sports betting, problem gambling rates, youth health surveys, and public safety effects related to gambling. This procedural bill does not create new policy but mandates the Commission to compile and submit these research summaries to the legislature. It directly affects the Commission’s reporting obligations, not the public or businesses. The bill was placed on file in January 2026 and has no substantive policy changes.

Report Executive Office of Health and Human Services (pursuant to Section 32 of Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024, as amended by Section 70 of Chapter 14 of the Acts of 2025) submitting its Massachusetts Assisted Living Residence (ALR) Commission Report

Senate, November 24, 2025 -- The committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2155) of Patricia D. Jehlen, Lindsay N. Sabadosa, James B. Eldridge and Joanne M. Comerford for legislation to establish a permanent commission on the status of transgender people to conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning transgender people, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2725).

Report of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (see Section 9 of Chapter 149 of the Acts of 2014) submitting Department of Public Utilities Gas Leaks 2025 report

This is a procedural bill submitting a required report on emergency housing assistance. It directs the Executive Offices for Administration and Finance and Housing and Livable Communities to file the December 11, 2025 biweekly report detailing shelter application processing times (63, 46, and 42 days), as mandated by prior laws (Sections 10 of Chapter 1, Acts of 2025, and Section 19 of Chapter 88, Acts of 2024). The bill itself does not create new policy but ensures compliance with existing reporting requirements. It was placed on file on January 8, 2026, completing its procedural step.

This bill allows public employees who took unpaid parental leave (for birth or adoption) exceeding one month to count that time toward their retirement benefits by making payments. Employees can pay the retirement system the equivalent of what they would have contributed during the leave period, plus interest, either as a lump sum or in installments. The buyback is limited to a maximum of two years of unpaid leave and applies only to leave taken for childbirth or adoption. This directly affects public sector workers on extended parental leave who wish to maintain full retirement credit for that time.

HD 5491 is a procedural submission from Massachusetts' Capital Debt Affordability Committee, not a new law. The committee recommends allowing up to $3.3372 billion in new general obligation debt (the "bond cap") for the state's fiscal year 2027 capital spending. This represents a $110 million increase (3.41%) over the 2026 amount, based on their analysis of debt affordability using 30-year modeling focused on conservative revenue growth (4.6% annual rate) and interest rate assumptions (starting at 5%). The recommendation ensures annual debt payments stay below 7% of projected budget revenue over the next decade, while respecting the state's $35.487 billion direct debt limit for FY2027. This submission is required annually under Section 60B(f) of Chapter 29 of Massachusetts General Laws.

HD 5492 is a procedural bill requiring the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations to submit the Division of Standards' 2024 annual report to the legislature. The report details the division's activities, including nearly 28,000 pricing inspections conducted across Massachusetts in 2024. This bill does not create new laws but ensures routine submission of the required annual report as mandated by Section 57 of Chapter 98.

Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (pursuant to Section 21(3)(f) of Chapter 32 of the General Laws) submitting its PERAC - annual COLA report