HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5567        FILED ON: 1/20/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5188

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Hadley Luddy and Joshua Tarsky

_________________

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 establishing a special commission to study access to unemployment insurance in the Commonwealth.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Hadley Luddy

4th Barnstable

1/20/2026

Lisa Field

3rd Bristol

4/15/2026


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5567        FILED ON: 1/20/2026

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5188

By Representatives Luddy of Orleans and Tarsky of Needham, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Hadley Luddy for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) to study access to unemployment insurance.  Labor and Workforce Development.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act establishing a special commission to study access to unemployment insurance in the Commonwealth.

 

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

 SECTION 1. (a) There shall be a special commission to study access to unemployment insurance in the commonwealth. The commission shall study and make recommendations for remedying timeliness and equity issues in the processing of claims for unemployment insurance. The commission shall evaluate the structure and operations of the department of unemployment assistance, including the current number of employees and the departmental budget, and make recommendations to improve the department’s effectiveness in fulfilling its legislative mandate.

 (b) The commission shall consist of 9 members: the secretary of labor and workforce development, or a designee; the director of the department of unemployment assistance, or a designee; the chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development, or designees; and 5 members to be appointed by the governor, 3 of whom shall have expertise in the administration of unemployment insurance or other social services and 2 of whom shall have experience in pursuing a claim for unemployment insurance in the commonwealth.

 SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2026, the commission shall file a report of its findings, including any legislative, regulatory or budgetary recommendations, with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on labor and workforce development.