Labor & Employment (Employment Discrimination)

in committee · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 5209: employee protections and other related matters

This bill directs the Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development committee to investigate three related petitions concerning employee rights and employer practices. The committee must study issues including non-disclosure agreements in discrimination claims, employer disclosure of immigration status to hide wage violations, and damages for wage act violations. The bill requires the committee to submit its findings and any proposed legislation by December 31, 2026. This is a procedural measure that authorizes an official study rather than enacting new laws directly.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill directs investigation into employee protections including NDA restrictions in discrimination claims, immigration status disclosure for wage violations, and wage act damages, indicating intent to strengthen worker rights.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Labor Standards Workforce Development

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Feb 5, 2026

H 5023: An Act relative to sexual harassment workplace training

This bill requires most Massachusetts employers (those with more than 25 employees) to adopt written anti-harassment policies by January 1, 2027, and provide annual interactive training to all employees focused on preventing sexual harassment and unlawful retaliation. The training must cover specific examples, bystander intervention, internal/external remedies, and supervisory responsibilities, with online sessions requiring anonymous Q&A and participation tracking. Employers must maintain records of training completion for five years and provide written policy copies to all employees at hire or role change. Smaller employers (25 or fewer employees) are exempt from these requirements.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates anti-harassment policies and training to prevent sexual harassment and retaliation, directly strengthening worker protections and workplace safety under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1820: An Act providing increased protections from harassment and discrimination on the basis of height

This bill would expand anti-discrimination protections to specifically prohibit harassment and discrimination based on height in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It directly affects individuals who face treatment due to their height, including those who are shorter or taller than average. The bill is currently under review by the Judiciary Committee and aims to add height as a protected characteristic under existing state anti-discrimination laws.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill prohibits height-based discrimination in housing, directly protecting tenants from housing discrimination under anti-discrimination law.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds height as protected characteristic in employment anti-discrimination laws, directly strengthening worker protections against harassment and discrimination in the workplace.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 2007: An Act concerning nondisclosure agreements relative to sexual harassment and discrimination

By Representative Sullivan-Almeida of Abington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2007) of Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida relative to nondisclosure agreements relative to sexual harassment and discrimination. The Judiciary.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits NDAs in sexual harassment/discrimination cases, protecting workers' rights to report without fear of silencing or retaliation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 5, 2026

H 2190: An Act relative to sexual harassment workplace training

By Representative Worrell of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2190) of Christopher J. Worrell and others relative to employer policies and training to prevent unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires employer training to prevent sexual harassment, strengthening workplace safety and worker protections under Labor & Workforce Development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Workforce Development

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Sep 25, 2025

H 4537: An Act relative to sexual harassment

H 4537, titled "An Act relative to sexual harassment," prohibits professional investors (such as banks, venture capital firms, and financial institutions) from engaging in sexual harassment during business investment transactions in Massachusetts. The law bans making sexual advances or requests for sexual favors as a condition for business deals or creating hostile work environments that interfere with employment. Individuals harmed by such conduct, or businesses that employed them as agents during the incident, may sue for damages including punitive awards, and the Attorney General can enforce the law. Claims must be filed within three years of the last incident. The bill specifically targets harassment tied to investment decisions, not general workplace harassment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits sexual harassment in business transactions, protecting workers' rights and workplace safety under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 2006: An Act strengthening sexual harassment and discrimination policies in the Commonwealth

By Representative Sullivan-Almeida of Abington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2006) of Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida relative to sexual harassment and discrimination policies in the Commonwealth. The Judiciary.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly strengthens sexual harassment/discrimination policies in workplaces, directly advancing workers' rights and employment standards per topic definition.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Oct 2, 2025

S 1316: An Act creating an employer’s duty of care to safeguard its employees from workplace bullying

By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1316) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to address workplace bullying, mobbing, and harassment, without regard to protected class status while promoting healthy workplaces. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates employer duty to prevent workplace bullying, directly protecting workers' rights and improving workplace safety under Labor & Workforce Development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Workforce Development

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 18, 2025

S 1172: An Act to protect unpaid interns, volunteers, and independent contractors from sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination

By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1172) of Joan B. Lovely for legislation to protect unpaid interns, volunteers, and independent contractors from sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination. The Judiciary.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects unpaid interns, volunteers, and contractors from harassment/discrimination, directly advancing workers' rights protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3203: An Act relative to sexual harassment

This bill prohibits sexual harassment by "professional investors" (such as banks, venture capital firms, or financial institutions) in business transactions within Massachusetts. It makes it unlawful to make sexual advances or requests for sexual favors as a condition for investment deals, or when such conduct creates a hostile work environment affecting business relationships. Individuals or businesses harmed by these violations can sue for damages, including attorney fees, and the Attorney General can also enforce the law. The bill specifically targets harassment in financial transactions, not general workplace harassment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits sexual harassment by professional investors creating hostile work environments, enabling lawsuits for damages - directly protects workers' rights and workplace safety under employment standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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