SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2316        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 protecting against discrimination in lobbying.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2316        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 protecting against discrimination in lobbying.

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

Section 45 of chapter 3 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following new subsection:-

(n) The state secretary shall automatically disqualify any person, organization or other entity adjudicated to have engaged in an unlawful practice under section 4 of chapter 151B from acting or registering as an executive or legislative agent for a period of 4 years from the date of final determination. 

An organization or other entity that discriminates against its members on the basis of a protected class set forth in said chapter 151B, notwithstanding the absence of an employment relationship, shall be similarly disqualified from acting or registering as an executive or legislative agent for a period of 4 years from the date of final determination. The secretary shall establish an adjudicatory process to receive and review complaints of such discrimination.