Labor & Employment

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 2273: An Act relative to meeting human service demand by modernizing incentives for the direct care workforce

SD 2273 sets new wage standards for direct care workers in Massachusetts human services programs. It requires that direct care staff salaries meet or exceed the 75th percentile of similar jobs in the state (per Bureau of Labor Statistics), with proportional increases for front-line staff like case managers and supervisors. The bill also changes how fringe benefits and payroll costs are calculated, benchmarking them to health/education sector costs instead of the Consumer Price Index. It applies to human services providers and state agencies contracting for these services, with a planning process beginning July 1, 2025. The law ensures these wage adjustments won’t reduce funding for existing social service programs.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentSets wage standards meeting 75th percentile for direct care workers, mandates proportional increases for front-line staff, and benchmarks benefits to health/education sectors.95% confidence

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 150: An Act providing opportunities for apprentices to complete their training and ensuring for a skilled workforce in the commonwealth of Massachusetts

This bill requires contractors working on Massachusetts construction projects exceeding $1 million to gradually increase the proportion of work performed by apprentices in approved training programs. Starting six months after the bill's passage, 5% of the total hourly work must be done by apprentices, rising to 10% after one year and 15% after two years. It applies to all employees directly on-site who receive hourly wages and are subject to prevailing wage laws. The requirement covers projects where contractors or subcontractors are directly employing workers, aiming to expand apprenticeship opportunities within the construction industry.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates increasing apprentice hours on construction projects, advancing workforce development and worker skill-building per bill's requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2024: An Act to prohibit mandatory overtime

This bill prohibits mandatory overtime for healthcare workers in specific Massachusetts facilities, including hospitals and certain correctional facilities (excluding long-term care and most correctional settings). It allows overtime only during true emergencies with no reasonable alternatives, requires facilities to seek voluntary coverage first, and limits consecutive work to 16 hours with 8 hours off afterward. Facilities must report all mandatory overtime use to health authorities, and workers cannot face retaliation for refusing overtime beyond these limits. The law directly affects nurses, support staff, and other healthcare personnel in covered facilities, aiming to protect patient safety and staff well-being.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits mandatory overtime for healthcare workers in hospitals, improving working conditions and patient safety, directly advancing healthcare service quality and worker protections.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits mandatory overtime, requires voluntary coverage, limits consecutive hours. Protects healthcare workers' rights and safety, advancing labor standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Labor Standards

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 553: An Act relative to municipal light plants

HD 553 allows municipal light boards (local utility boards) to provide infrastructure services like pole installation and equipment maintenance to other public utilities - including state, tribal, or municipal utilities - both inside and outside Massachusetts. It permits these boards to sell, rent, or lease related equipment and ensures employees working on such projects have the same labor rights as if performing duties within their home municipality. The bill modifies existing laws to explicitly include tribal utilities (as defined under federal regulations) and expands the scope of services municipal light plants can offer beyond their own service areas. This directly affects municipal light boards, tribal utilities, and other public utility entities seeking infrastructure partnerships.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExplicitly ensures employees on cross-municipal projects retain full labor rights equivalent to home municipality protections, advancing worker rights.95% confidence

Tags Local Government

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2470: An Act to provide paid family and medical leave to all educators

HD 2470 requires Massachusetts school districts and education collaboratives to provide paid family and medical leave to all their educators. The bill expands eligibility under the state's family and medical leave program to include educators as "covered individuals" and designates school districts as "covered employers" for this purpose. Crucially, it mandates that school districts fund their required employer contributions using existing income surtax revenue, rather than employee payroll deductions. This ensures educators can access paid leave without additional costs to the school districts, while preserving their benefits like health insurance and seniority during leave.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUses existing income surtax revenue to fund educator leave, directing current tax revenue toward essential program without new taxes or cuts.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides paid family and medical leave to educators, directly supporting teacher benefits and retention within K-12 education policy.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid family/medical leave for educators, expanding worker benefits under employment standards without employee cost.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track

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

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1975: An Act establishing paid prenatal leave

By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1361) of Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation to establish paid prenatal leave program that would require employers to give employees twenty-four hours of paid prenatal leave during a fifty-two-week calendar. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes paid prenatal leave, directly expanding worker benefits and protecting prenatal care access under Labor and Workforce Development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Workforce Development

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1835: An Act to establish a blue economy workforce pipeline

By Mr. Fernandes, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 603) of Dylan A. Fernandes for legislation to establish a blue economy workforce pipeline. Environment and Natural Resources.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes workforce pipeline for blue economy jobs, advancing employment standards through job training and sector-specific workforce development.85% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SD 1201: An Act relative to a livable wage for human services workers

By Ms. Friedman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 130) of Cindy F. Friedman, Kathleen R. LaNatra, Joanne M. Comerford, Michael O. Moore and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to a livable wage for human services workers. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates livable wage for human services workers, directly advancing wage standards and worker compensation within Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2408: An Act relative to a prevailing wage for trash and recycling collectors, moving contractors, and motor bus pupil transporters

By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1363) of Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation relative to a prevailing wage for trash and recycling collectors, moving contractors, and motor bus pupil transporters. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires prevailing wage for specific labor categories, directly advancing fair compensation standards for workers in waste, moving, and transport sectors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

Track