SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2126        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Rebecca L. Rausch

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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 codifying organizational standing to protect and promote civil rights.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2126        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

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 codifying organizational standing to protect and promote civil rights.

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 1 of chapter 151B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 3, after the word “corporations”, the following words:- , public interest organizations.

SECTION 2. Said section 1 of said chapter 151B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after paragraph 23 the following paragraph:- 

24. The term “public interest organization” shall mean any non-profit organization which is organized or operating in whole or in part for the purpose of combating discrimination or bias, of safeguarding civil rights or of promoting interests or rights under this chapter.

SECTION 3. Section 5 of said chapter 151B, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, after the first sentence, the following sentence:- Without limiting or excluding any other basis for a complaint, a public interest organization may be aggrieved if a purpose or activities to achieve that purpose were perceptively impaired by an alleged unlawful practice or violation; or if an alleged unlawful practice or violation was directed at the public interest organization or its agents or employees; or where the public interest organization has a sufficient nexus to the interests of the person or persons whose interests are harmed by an alleged unlawful practice or violation.

SECTION 4. Section 9 of chapter 151B, as so appearing, is hereby amended in the second paragraph by inserting, after the first sentence, the following sentence:- Without limiting or excluding any other basis for a civil action, a public interest organization may be aggrieved if a purpose or activities to achieve that purpose were perceptively impaired by an alleged unlawful practice; or if an alleged unlawful practice was directed at the public interest organization or its agents or employees; or where the public interest organization has a sufficient nexus to the interests of the person or persons whose interests are harmed by an alleged unlawful practice.