FILED ON: 6/23/2026

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3142

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 removing the term hearing impaired from the General Laws.

 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. Section 196 of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 17, the words “hearing–impaired individual” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- person who is deaf or hard of hearing.

 SECTION 2. Section 23 of chapter 32A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 17, the words “hearing impaired ear” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- ear that is deaf or hard of hearing.

 SECTION 3. Section 1 of chapter 129 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 20, the words “hearing impaired” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- hard of hearing

 SECTION 4.  Section 4 of chapter 151B of the General laws, as most recently amended by section 276 of chapter 102 of the acts of 2026, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 296, 302 and 314, the words “hearing impaired” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- deaf or hard of hearing or has any other disability.

 SECTION 5.  Said section 4 of said chapter 151B, as so amended, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 306 and 307, 362 and 363 and 370, the words “hearing impairment” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- because such person is deaf or hard of hearing.

 SECTION 6. Said section 4 of said chapter 151B, as so amended, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 364, 372 and 382 and 383, the words “blindness or hearing impairment” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- such person being blind or deaf or hard of hearing.

 SECTION 7. Said section 4 of said chapter 151B, as so amended, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 380 and 381, the words “, hearing impairment”.

 SECTION 8. Said section 4 of said chapter 151B, as so amended, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “because”, in line 381, the words:- such person is deaf or hard of heard or because.

 SECTION 9. Section 47X of chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 34, the words “hearing impaired ear” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- ear that is deaf or hard of hearing.

 SECTION 10. Section 8Y of chapter 176A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 28, the words “hearing impaired ear” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- ear that is deaf or hard of hearing .

 SECTION 11. Section 4EE of chapter 176B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 10, the words “hearing impaired ear” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- ear that is deaf or hard of hearing.

 SECTION 12. Section 4N of chapter 176G of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 23 and 24, the words “hearing impaired ear” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- ear that is deaf or hard of hearing.

 SECTION 13. Section 92A of chapter 221 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 1 and 2, 8, 11, 13, 15, 23 and 24, 27 and 28, 41 and 42, 45 and 60, the words “deaf or hearing-impaired person” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- person who is deaf or hard of hearing.

 SECTION 14. Said section 92A of said chapter 221, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in 54, the words “deaf or hearing-impaired persons” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.