SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3312        FILED ON: 10/21/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2714

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Joan B. Lovely

_________________

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 studying discrimination in public accommodation for individuals with service animals.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3312        FILED ON: 10/21/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2714

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

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An Act studying discrimination in public accommodation for individuals with service animals.

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. There shall be a special legislative commission established pursuant to Section _ of chapter _ of the General Laws to study cases of denial of rights and services of disabled persons with disabilities as well as cases that have resolved.

SECTION 2. (a) The commission shall consist of: The chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, who shall serve as co-chairs; the executive director of the Massachusetts Office on Disability, the attorney general or a designee; three persons to be appointed by the governor, a representative of the Disability Law Center, a representative of the Disability Policy Consortium, a representative of the Massachusetts Statewide Independent Living Council, a representative of the Massachusetts Coalition of Families and Advocates, a representative from the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, two advocates who are disabled with a service animal, and a representative of the Arc of Massachusetts. The commission shall meet not less than 6 times and shall hold not less than 2 public hearings.

(b) The commission shall study and report on: (i) The volume of disability rights denial cases submitted to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, (ii) the volume of disability rights denial cases submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice and their impacts on the disability community, (iii) the effectiveness of the enforcement of disability rights in the Commonwealth within the last five years, and (iv) education of disability rights awareness.

(c) The commission shall submit a report with recommendations, including legislation or regulations necessary to carry out such recommendations, to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the joint committee on children, families, and persons with disabilities, and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than August 1, 2027.