HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 273        FILED ON: 1/7/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Hannah Kane and James Arciero

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to protecting municipalities from unfunded mandates.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 273        FILED ON: 1/7/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2073 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to protecting municipalities from unfunded mandates.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 3 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 38B the following section:-

Section 38B½.(a) For the purposes of this section, an unfunded mandate to a city or town is one that imposes a cost on municipal governments as a result of legislation being considered by the General Court, including, but not limited to the cost for the requisite staff necessary to administer or implement the legislation.

(b)  Joint committees of the general court and the committees on ways and means of either branch thereof when referred bills that contain an unfunded mandate to municipalities shall, prior to a favorable report of such bill include a fiscal note or study which clearly explains any cost described in subsection (a). 

(c) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, in the event that there is a cost to any city or town regarding such legislation, the general court shall refrain from enacting the legislation until such time as an appropriation satisfying said cost is provided by the general court.