Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-767

OTH 767

Just Cause

Messrs. Collins, Mark, Lewis, Keenan, Brady, Driscoll, Eldridge, Gomez, Moore and Oliveira and Ms. Edwards moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section X the following section:-

"SECTION X. Section 7 (c) (ii) of chapter 372 of the Acts of 1984 of the General Laws shall be amended by striking out the words "provided that any collective bargaining agreement may protect employees against such actions on arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable grounds," and inserting in their place the words, "for just cause."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-767-R1

Redraft OTH 767

Just Cause

Messrs. Collins, Mark, Lewis, Keenan, Brady, Driscoll, Eldridge, Gomez, Moore and Oliveira, Ms. Edwards and Ms. Howard moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 36 the following section:-

“SECTION 36A. Subsection (c) of section 7 of chapter 372 of the Acts of 1984 is hereby amended by striking out the words “provided that any collective bargaining agreement may protect employees against such actions on arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable grounds,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “for just cause.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-771

OTH 771

Teacher Tax Deduction

Messrs. Tarr, O'Connor, Fattman and Montigny moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following section:-

"SECTION __. For purposes of this section, the following shall be defined as

'Eligible Educator' -Kindergarten through grade 12 teacher, instructor, counselor, or aide who worked in a school for at least 900 hours during a school year.

'Qualified Expenses' -Necessary expenses paid for books, supplies, equipment (including but not limited to computer and related equipment, software, services, and online educational resources).

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, an eligible educator licensed and working in the commonwealth in an elementary or secondary school shall be allowed to deduct up to $500 of qualified expenses if filing individually or $1,000 if filing jointly with a spouse who is an eligible educator, provided that neither eligible educator can deduct more than $500 of their qualified expenses.

SECTION ___. SECTION ___ shall expire on January 1, 2030."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-772

OTH 772

Taxation of Rolling Stock

Messrs. Tarr and Fattman moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following sections:-

"SECTION_. Section 1 of Chapter 64H of the general laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after the definition of 'Retail establishment', the following new definition:-

'Rolling stock', trucks, tractors, and trailers, used by common carriers to transport goods in interstate commerce.

SECTION _. Section 6 of Chapter 64H of the general laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, after subsection (xx), the following new subsection:

(yy) sales of rolling stock

SECTION _. Section 1 of Chapter 64I of the general laws, as so appearing, is amended by inserting in line 6, after the words 'retail sale', the following new words:- 'rolling stock', .

SECTION _. Section 7 of chapter 64I of the general laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, after subsection (e), the following new subsection:-

(f) storage, use or other consumption of rolling stock."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-773

OTH 773

Snow Removal Service Liability Limitation

Messrs. Tarr, Finegold, Fattman and Moore moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section_ the following section:-

"SECTION_. Chapter 149 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 29C, the following new section:-

Section 29C1/2. (a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:-

'Service provider', a person providing services under a snow removal and ice control services contract.

'Service receiver', a person receiving services under a snow removal and ice control services contract.

'Snow removal and ice control services contract', a contract or agreement for the performance of any of the following: (1) plowing, shoveling, or other removal of snow or other mixed precipitation from a surface; (2) de-icing services; or (3) a service incidental to an activity described in item (1) or (2), including operating or otherwise moving snow removal or de-icing equipment or materials.

(b) A provision, clause, covenant, or agreement that is part of or in connection with a snow removal and ice control services contract is against public policy and void if it does any of the following: (1) requires, or has the effect of requiring, a service provider to indemnify a service receiver for damages resulting from the acts or omissions of the service receiver or the service receiver's agents or employees; (2) requires, or has the effect of requiring, a service receiver to indemnify a service provider for damages resulting from the acts or omissions of the service provider or the service provider's agents or employees; (3) requires, or has the effect of requiring, a service provider to hold a service receiver harmless from any tort liability for damages resulting from the acts or omissions of the service receiver or the service receiver's agents or employees; (4) Requires, or has the effect of requiring, a service receiver to hold a service provider harmless from any tort liability for damages resulting from the acts or omissions of the service provider or the service provider's agents or employees."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-774

OTH 774

Short-Term Capital Gains Taxation Rate

Messrs. Tarr and O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following:-

"SECTION_. Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section 4 of said chapter 62, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 5, after the word 'cent' the following words:- 'provided, however, that any gain from the sale or exchange of capital assets held for 1 year or less shall be taxed at the rate of 5 per cent'."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-775

OTH 775

Removing the Marriage Penalty for Millionaire's Tax

Messrs. Tarr, O'Connor and Fattman moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section:-

“SECTION ___A. Section 4(d) of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in section 28 of chapter 50 of the Acts of 2023, is hereby amended by striking out the third and fourth sentences and inserting in place thereof the following:

For purposes of determining the applicability of the additional 4 per cent tax under this subsection, a married couple may elect to file jointly or separately on their Massachusetts return, regardless of their federal filing status. The $1,000,000 threshold shall apply to each individual filing a separate return.

SECTION ____B. Section ____A shall take effect for taxable years beginning on January 1, 2026.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-776

OTH 776

Credit Card Taxes

Messrs. Tarr and O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section:- “SECTION ___. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Department of Revenue shall decrease the percent that a payment processor may charge taxpayers using a credit card to pay their taxes from 2.35% to 1.5%.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-777

OTH 777

Cyber Procurements

Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section:- “SECTION ___. Chapter 30B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 23 the following new section:- Section 24. Any state agency procuring information technology goods or services shall give preference to vendors that carry cybersecurity insurance. This section shall not be construed to preclude vendors without cybersecurity insurance from submitting solicitations to the state or being awarded bids by the state for information technology goods or services.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-780

OTH 780

Conservation Land Tax Credit

Messrs. Tarr, Collins, Keenan and Eldridge and Ms. Howard moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following sections:-

"SECTION 1. Section 6 of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “amended”, in line 769, the following words:- , or a private nonprofit trust established pursuant to chapter 203 organized for the purposes of land conservation, which is authorized to do business in the commonwealth, and which has tax-exempt status as a nonprofit charitable organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

SECTION 2. Said section 6 of said chapter 62, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 835, the figure “$2,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $3,000,000.

SECTION 3. Said section 6 of said chapter 62 is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$3,000,000”, inserted by section 2, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $4,000,000.

SECTION 4. Said section 6 of said chapter 62 is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 835, the figure “$4,000,000”, inserted by section 3, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $5,000,000.

SECTION 5. Said section 6 of said chapter 62 is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$5,000,000”, inserted by section 4, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $2,000,000.

SECTION 6. Section 38AA of chapter 63, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “amended”, in line 29, the following words:- , or a private nonprofit trust established pursuant to chapter 203 organized for the purposes of land conservation, which is authorized to do business in the commonwealth, and which has tax-exempt status as a nonprofit charitable organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

SECTION 7. Said section 38AA of said chapter 63, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 88, the figure “$2,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $3,000,000.

SECTION 8. Said section 38AA of said chapter 63 is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$3,000,000”, inserted by section 7, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $4,000,000.

SECTION 9. Said section 38AA of said chapter 63 is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$4,000,000”, inserted by section 8, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $5,000,000.

SECTION 10. Said section 38AA of said chapter 63 is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$5,000,000”, inserted by section 9, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $2,000,000.

SECTION 11. Sections 1, 2, 6 and 7 shall take effect on January 1, 2027.

SECTION 12. Sections 3 and 8 shall take effect on January 1, 2028.

SECTION 13. Sections 4 and 9 shall take effect on January 1, 2029.

SECTION 14. Sections 5 and 10 shall take effect on December 31, 2035."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-781

OTH 781

Income Tax Reduction from 5 percent to 4.5 percent

Messrs. Tarr and Fattman moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section_ the following section:-

"SECTION_. Section 4 of chapter 62 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition is hereby amended by striking out  subparagraph (b) and inserting in place thereof the following subparagraph —

(b) Part B taxable income shall be taxed at the rate of 4.75 per cent for the tax year beginning on January 1, 2027, 4.5 per cent for the tax year beginning on January 1, 2028."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-783

OTH 783

Municipal Tax Amnesty

Messrs. Tarr and Durant moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section:- “SECTION ___. (a) The terms used in this section shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

“Amnesty period”, a period of time commencing for 2 consecutive months and not earlier than the date a local legislative body establishes a municipal tax amnesty program according to this act and expiring not later than June 30, 2028, as the local legislative body might determine, during which the municipal tax amnesty program established by the local legislative body shall be in effect in that city or town.

“Collector”, a person receiving a tax list and a warrant to collect the same.

“Covered amount”, the aggregate of all penalties, fees, charges and accrued interest assessed by the collector or treasurer for the failure of a certain taxpayer to timely pay a subject liability; provided, however, that the covered amount shall not include the subject liability itself or any fees and charges authorized or incurred for the collection of a past due subject liability for which notice has been issued; and provided further, that nothing in this section shall authorize the waiver of penalties, fees, charges and accrued interest resulting from the violation of any law, municipal by-law or ordinance.

“Municipal tax amnesty program”, a temporary policy by a city or town to forever waive its right to collect all or any uniform proportion of the covered amount, as determined by the local legislative body, then due from any person who, prior to the expiration of the amnesty period, voluntarily pays the collector or treasurer the full amount of the subject liability that serves as the basis for the covered amount; provided, however, that a municipal tax amnesty program shall not include a policy that enables or requires a city or town to waive its right to collect the covered amount from a person who, at the time of commencement of the amnesty period is or was the subject of a criminal investigation or prosecution for failure to pay the city or town any subject liability or covered amount.

“Subject liability”, the principal amount of a particular tax or excise liability payable by a taxpayer under chapter 59, 60, 60A or 60B of the General Laws, as determined by the local legislative body.

“Treasurer”, as described in chapter 41 of the General Laws.

(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the local legislative body in any city or town may vote to establish a municipal tax amnesty program according to the provisions of this section and shall, at the same time as such vote, determine the amnesty period. Tax amnesty periods shall not extend beyond June 30, 2028. The commissioner of revenue may issue such guidelines as he deems appropriate to carry out this section.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-784

OTH 784

Requiring an Audit to Review Utilization of Welfare Benefits Out-of-State

Messrs. Tarr and O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:- “SECTION __. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the office of the state auditor shall conduct an annual audit of the department of transitional assistance. The scope of the audit shall include a review of the following information from the previous fiscal year: the processes and internal controls that the department uses to verify and issue benefits to eligible recipients; how many individuals currently hold EBT cards; how many of those with cards are actively receiving benefits; the total amount of benefits that have been utilized out-of-state; how frequently benefits are used out-of-state; a list of locations where benefits are being spent out of state; and a breakdown of the demographic information of those receiving benefits.

The office of the state auditor shall submit an annual report with its findings no later than January 1st each year, including any recommendations for how the department of transitional assistance can improve its processes to help detect and reduce potential recipient and retailer fraud, waste, or abuse, including improper use of benefits out-of-state. Additionally, the report shall examine factors that may be driving increased enrollment for benefits, and what projected fiscal and operational challenges the department of transitional assistance may face as a result.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-785

OTH 785

Estate Tax

Messrs. Tarr and O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section_ the following section:-

SECTION_A. Section 37 of the chapter 50 of the acts of 2023 is hereby amended by being struck in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:-"Said section 2A of said chapter 65C, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following 2 subsections: (f) For the estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 2023, a credit shall be allowed against the tax imposed by subsections (a) and (b) equal to the amount of such tax; provided, however, that the credit shall not exceed $182,000. (g) The estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 2023, shall not be required to pay any tax under subsections (a) and (b) if the value of the federal taxable estate is not more than $3,000,000, provided said taxable estate amount shall be adjusted annually to reflect any increases in the cost of living by the same method used for federal income tax brackets.

"SECTION_B. Section 37 of the chapter 50 of the acts of 2023 is hereby amended by being struck in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:-"Said section 2A of said chapter 65C, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following 2 subsections: (f) For the estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 2023, a credit shall be allowed against the tax imposed by subsections (a) and (b) equal to the amount of such tax; provided, however, that the credit shall not exceed $182,000. (g) The estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 2023, shall not be required to pay any tax under subsections (a) and (b) if the value of the federal taxable estate is not more than $4,000,000, provided said taxable estate amount shall be adjusted annually to reflect any increases in the cost of living by the same method used for federal income tax brackets."

"SECTION_C. Section 37 of the chapter 50 of the acts of 2023 is hereby amended by being struck in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:-"Said section 2A of said chapter 65C, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following 2 subsections: (f) For the estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 2023, a credit shall be allowed against the tax imposed by subsections (a) and (b) equal to the amount of such tax; provided, however, that the credit shall not exceed $182,000. (g) The estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 2023, shall not be required to pay any tax under subsections (a) and (b) if the value of the federal taxable estate is not more than $5,000,000, provided said taxable estate amount shall be adjusted annually to reflect any increases in the cost of living by the same method used for federal income tax brackets."

SECTION_ “SECTION _A shall take effect 1 year after the passage of this act.”

SECTION _ “SECTION_B shall take effect 2 years after the passage of this act.”

SECTION _ “SECTION_C shall take effect 3 years after the passage of this act.”

SECTION_ “SECTION_A shall expire upon the implementation of SECTION_B”

SECTION_ “SECTION_B shall expire upon the implementation of SECTION_C”.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-786

OTH 786

Special Commission on Local and Regional Public Health

Mr. Cyr moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section:- 

"SECTION X. Section 308 of Chapter 238 of the Acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking the word '2025' and inserting in place thereof the following word:- '2027'."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-786-R1

Redraft OTH 786

Special Commission on Local and Regional Public Health

Mr. Cyr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 36 the following section:- 

"SECTION 36A. Section 308 of chapter 238 of the acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2025” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2027."

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3103

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

_______________

 by adding the following section:-

 "SECTION XX.

 SUBSECTION 1. Health policy commission review and determination of unreasonable or excessive nonprofit hospital drug chargemaster pricing.

 Chapter 6D of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8A the following new section:-

 Section 8B. Review of nonprofit hospital drug chargemaster pricing.

 (a) Upon receipt of a referral from the center for health information and analysis pursuant to section 10B of chapter 12C, the commission may require the nonprofit hospital, within a reasonable time, to disclose to the commission information relating to the hospital's chargemaster pricing of any drug identified in the referral, on a standard reporting form developed by the commission, including but not limited to:

 (i) the hospital's chargemaster pricing methodology and any schedule of increases for the drug during the previous 5 calendar years;

 (ii) the hospital's written narrative description, suitable for public release, of the factors that contributed to the pricing of the drug;

 (iii) the hospital's acquisition benchmark, reimbursement benchmark and any internal target margin or pricing rationale used in connection with the drug;

 (iv) whether the drug was acquired, dispensed, replenished or accounted for as a 340B-acquired drug;

 (v) whether the hospital used a different chargemaster price, markup formula, markup multiple, markup range or other pricing methodology for a 340B-acquired drug than for the same drug, a therapeutically comparable drug or a non-340B drug billed in the same setting; and

 (vi) any other information the commission deems necessary to assess whether the hospital's chargemaster pricing is unreasonable or excessive.

 (b) Records disclosed by a nonprofit hospital under this section shall: (i) be accompanied by an attestation that all information provided is true and correct; (ii) not be public records under clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter 4 or chapter 66 to the extent they contain trade secrets, competitively sensitive information or proprietary cost information; and (iii) remain confidential; provided, however, that the commission may produce a public report summarizing its findings in a manner that does not disclose exact supplier acquisition prices or other protected proprietary information.

 (c) If, after review of records furnished under subsection (a), the commission determines that a nonprofit hospital's chargemaster pricing of a drug may be unreasonable or excessive, including without limitation because the chargemaster amount exceeds 120 per cent of ASP or is materially higher than the chargemaster amounts imposed by other similarly situated nonprofit hospitals for the same or a comparable drug, the commission shall, with not less than 30 days' advance notice to the nonprofit hospital, request that the nonprofit hospital provide further information related to the pricing of the drug and the hospital's justification for that pricing.

 (d) Nothing in this section shall require a nonprofit hospital to disclose numerical acquisition cost, internal transfer price, rebate amount, 340B ceiling price, exact markup multiple, exact markup range, exact additive component, or other trade secret, competitively sensitive information, or proprietary cost information, or any information that would reveal or permit ready derivation of such information; provided, however, that, to the extent permitted by law, the commission may require a nonprofit hospital to submit such information on a confidential basis to the extent necessary to implement this section.

 (e) In addition to the nonprofit hospital, the commission may identify other relevant parties, including but not limited to patients, providers, provider organizations, employers, carriers and public and private payers, who may provide information to the commission on a voluntary basis.

 (f) In determining whether a nonprofit hospital's chargemaster pricing of a drug is unreasonable or excessive, the commission shall consider all relevant factors, including but not limited to:

 (i) the relationship of the chargemaster amount to ASP;

 (ii) the relationship of the chargemaster amount to acquisition cost, to the extent ascertainable;

 (iii) the hospital's stated pricing methodology and whether the chargemaster amount is consistent with that methodology;

 (iv) the hospital's reimbursement for the drug, stated separately for commercial insurance, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care organizations, and any other payer category the commission deems relevant;

 (v) patient cost-sharing exposure associated with the chargemaster amount;

 (vi) whether the hospital applies materially different chargemaster prices, markup formulas, markup multiples or markup ranges to 340B-acquired drugs as compared to non-340B drugs;

 (vii) whether any differential treatment of 340B-acquired drugs is justified by legitimate operational, accounting, compliance or patient-care considerations;

 (viii) whether the hospital's pricing practices are consistent with its charitable mission, community benefit obligations and public representations concerning affordability and access;

 (ix) whether similarly situated hospitals impose materially lower chargemaster amounts for the same or comparable drugs; and

 (x) any other factor the commission deems relevant to determining whether the chargemaster pricing is unreasonable or excessive.

 (g) Not later than 180 days after receipt of the information requested under subsection (a) or subsection (c), the commission shall issue a written report determining whether the nonprofit hospital’s chargemaster pricing of 1 or more reviewed drugs is unreasonable or excessive.

 (h) A report issued under subsection (g) shall be published on the commission’s website and shall describe the drugs or categories of drugs reviewed in a manner sufficient to explain the commission’s findings and recommendations; provided, however, that the report shall not disclose exact supplier acquisition prices, exact 340B ceiling prices, rebate amounts, or other information the disclosure of which would reveal or permit ready derivation of confidential or proprietary acquisition-cost information, supplier contract terms, rebate amounts, 340B ceiling prices, or other protected proprietary information. The report shall set forth the commission’s findings, the basis for those findings, whether the commission found differential pricing treatment of 340B-acquired drugs as compared to non-340B drugs, and any corrective action recommended by the commission.

 (i) Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the commission under any other law.

 SUBSECTION 2. Attorney general review, investigation, consideration of patient benefit, and enforcement.

 Chapter 6D is hereby further amended by inserting the following new section:-

 Section 8C: Attorney general review, investigation, consideration of patient benefit, and enforcement.

  (a) Upon publication by the commission of a report under section 8B concluding that a nonprofit hospital’s chargemaster pricing of a drug is unreasonable or excessive, the attorney general may review the report, any supporting materials submitted to or prepared by the commission under section 8B or the center for health information and analysis under section 10B of chapter 12C, and any other materials lawfully available to the attorney general, and may determine whether to open an investigation.

  (b) If, after such review, the attorney general determines that further inquiry is warranted, the attorney general may initiate an investigation into whether the nonprofit hospital continues to charge a chargemaster amount for the drug that is the same as or materially similar to the pricing found by the commission to be unreasonable or excessive.

 (c) After initiating an investigation under subsection (b), the attorney general shall permit the nonprofit hospital an opportunity to submit a certification, in such form and with such supporting documentation as the attorney general may require, stating whether a majority of the revenue or margin attributable to the markup identified in the commission’s report is utilized for the benefit of patients through lower out-of-pocket costs, including reduced cost sharing, reduced charges, copayment assistance, coinsurance assistance, free care, discounted care, or other comparable patient affordability measures.

 (d) If the nonprofit hospital submits a certification under subsection (c), the attorney general may consider, without limitation:

 (i) whether a majority of the markup is in fact used to reduce patient out-of-pocket costs or otherwise directly benefit patients;

 (ii) whether such patient benefit is provided automatically or only upon application;

 (iii) whether such patient benefit is substantial, documented, and reasonably connected to the drug pricing at issue; and

 (iv) any other factor the attorney general deems relevant to whether and to what extent enforcement is warranted.

 (e) If, after investigation, the attorney general determines that the nonprofit hospital continues to charge a chargemaster amount for the drug that is the same as or materially similar to the pricing found by the commission to be unreasonable or excessive, such conduct shall constitute an unfair or deceptive act or practice under chapter 93A, and the attorney general may bring an action under chapter 93A or any other applicable law for injunctive relief, restoration of money, civil penalties, costs, attorneys’ fees, and such other relief as may be authorized by law; provided, however, that the attorney general shall take any certification and supporting documentation submitted under subsection (c), together with any other relevant facts and circumstances, into account in determining whether and to what extent enforcement is warranted.

 (f) A certification submitted under subsection (c) shall not preclude the attorney general from:

 (i) requiring additional information or documentation;

 (ii) determining that the asserted patient benefit is inadequate, not sufficiently documented, or not reasonably related to the markup at issue;

 (iii) bringing an action for false, misleading, or incomplete certification; or

 (iv) pursuing enforcement under chapter 93A or any other applicable law if otherwise warranted.

 (g) In any such action, the commission’s report may be offered in evidence for relevant factual purposes, including notice to the hospital, but shall not be conclusive on any question of law.

 (h) Nothing in this act shall limit the authority of the attorney general under any other general or special law.

 SUBSECTION 3. Center for health information and analysis nonptofit hospital drug chargemaster reporting and referral.

 Chapter 12C of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 10A the following new section:-

 Section 10B. Nonprofit hospital drug chargemaster reporting; referral of excessive pricing to the health policy commission.

  (a) For purposes of this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-

 "Average sales price" or "ASP", the average sales price determined and published by the centers for medicare and medicaid services for the applicable billing unit of a drug, biological product or other separately payable physician-administered drug.

 "Chargemaster", the schedule, list, database, file or other repository maintained by a nonprofit hospital that contains the gross charges or standard charges assigned by the hospital to items and services, including drugs.

 “Drug”, a prescription drug, biological product or other pharmaceutical item billed or potentially billable by a nonprofit hospital.

 "Drug pricing category", a category or tier used by a nonprofit hospital to group 1 or more drugs for purposes of applying a common chargemaster pricing methodology.

 "Markup formula", a hospital chargemaster pricing formula or other pricing methodology used to establish a drug’s chargemaster amount from 1 or more pricing inputs, including acquisition cost, average wholesale price, wholesale acquisition cost, average sales price, drug category, route of administration, preparation time or overhead-related inputs ; provided, however, that the term shall not include pricing for an outpatient prescription drug dispensed by a nonprofit hospital pharmacy and reimbursed solely under a pharmacy benefit, unless the charge for the drug is billed or potentially billable by the hospital as a hospital item or service.

 "Markup multiple", the numerical factor or standard mark-up applied to a pricing input in order to establish a drug's chargemaster amount.

 "Markup range", the tier, bounded range or other defined variation within a chargemaster pricing methodology under which different markup factors, ratios or standard mark-ups may apply to a drug category or pricing input.

 “Nonprofit hospital”, an acute hospital, as defined in section 1 of chapter 6D, operating in the commonwealth that is exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and licensed or otherwise authorized to operate in the commonwealth, including any hospital-licensed outpatient department and any affiliate, parent or subsidiary to the extent it establishes, maintains, recommends or applies chargemaster pricing for drugs billed by such hospital; provided, however, that the term shall not include a comprehensive cancer center, specialty hospital, pediatric hospital or non-acute hospital.

 "340B-acquired drug", a drug purchased or replenished through the 340B drug pricing program.

 "340B drug pricing program", the federal drug pricing program described in 42 U.S.C. 256b.

 (b) Subject to regulations promulgated by the center, each nonprofit hospital shall annually prepare and submit to the center a Drug Chargemaster Pricing Methodology Report. The report shall describe, in plain language and in sufficient technical detail to permit independent evaluation, the hospital's methodology for setting chargemaster prices for drugs. The report shall include, at a minimum:

 (i) a description of each drug pricing category used by the hospital;

 (ii) for each such category, the base input or inputs used to establish the chargemaster charge, including whether the hospital uses acquisition cost, average wholesale price, wholesale acquisition cost, average sales price, or another input;

 (iii) for each such category, the markup formula or methodology used, if any, including any markup multiple or standard markup, any markup range, tier, floor or cap, any additive charge component, any rounding convention, and any other material rule, adjustment or factor used to establish the chargemaster price;

 (iv) for each drug pricing category, the actual markup multiple then in effect or, if the hospital permits variation within the category, the actual markup range then authorized and used;

 (v) a description of how the hospital distinguishes, for purposes of setting chargemaster prices, if at all, among high-cost drugs, low-cost drugs, specialty drugs, physician-administered drugs, outpatient infusion drugs, 340B-acquired drugs and drugs dispensed or administered in provider-based departments, clinics or hospital outpatient departments;

 (vi) a statement of whether the hospital uses different formulas, multiples, ranges or pricing methodologies depending on site of service, department, service line, or payer category, including commercial insurance, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid managed care organizations, expected contract terms, charge-based reimbursement, case-rate reimbursement, percentage-of-charge reimbursement or other reimbursement variables;

 (vii) a description of the frequency with which the hospital updates acquisition-cost inputs, markup formulas, markup multiples, markup ranges, pricing categories and chargemaster prices for drugs;

 (viii) identification of the officer, committee, department or vendor responsible for recommending, reviewing, approving, implementing or auditing drug chargemaster formulas, markup multiples and markup ranges;

 (ix) a description of all material changes made during the preceding calendar year to a drug pricing category, markup formula, markup multiple, markup range, pricing input, rounding convention or any other methodological component used to establish drug chargemaster prices;

 (x) a numerical illustration using hypothetical acquisition costs sufficient to show how the disclosed formula, markup multiple or markup range produces a chargemaster amount;

 (xi) the hospital's policy, if any, regarding whether drugs acquired at discounted prices, including 340B-acquired drugs, are assigned a different markup formula, markup multiple, markup range or other chargemaster methodology than non-discounted drugs;

 (xii) an express statement, for each hospital using the 340B drug pricing program, whether the hospital uses the same markup formula, markup multiple and markup range for 340B-acquired drugs and non-340B drugs or a different markup formula, markup multiple, markup range or other pricing methodology for 340B-acquired drugs and non-340B drugs; and

 (xiii) a certification, signed under the pains and penalties of perjury by the chief financial officer or equivalent officer, that the report fairly and accurately describes the methodology in effect for the applicable reporting period.

 (c) In addition to the information required by subsection (b), each nonprofit hospital shall annually submit to the center a Drug Pricing Supplemental Schedule for the 100 drugs, or such greater number as the center may require by regulation, generating the highest aggregate reimbursement received by the nonprofit hospital during the prior calendar year from commercial insurance, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid managed care organizations. For each listed drug, the schedule shall include:

 (i) the drug name and such identifier as the center may require for accurate drug-level review and comparison, which may include HCPCS code, NDC, internal charge code or successor identifier;

 (ii) the hospital’s chargemaster amount for the reporting year, stated in the billing unit or other standardized unit prescribed by the center;

 (iii) the drug pricing category to which the drug was assigned;

 (iv) whether the drug’s chargemaster amount was determined under a markup multiple methodology, markup range methodology, additive methodology, hybrid methodology or other methodology specified by the center;

 (v) whether the drug was treated as a 340B-acquired drug or as 340B-eligible for acquisition-cost purposes in the hospital’s pricing system during the reporting period;

 (vi) the effective date of the most recent chargemaster price change for that drug;

 (vii) the applicable average sales price for the drug during the reporting year, stated by billing unit or other standardized unit prescribed by the center;

 (viii) the ratio of the hospital’s chargemaster amount to average sales price for the drug during the reporting year; and

 (ix) whether the hospital’s chargemaster amount for the drug exceeded 120 per cent of average sales price during the reporting year.

 (d) Nothing in this section shall require a nonprofit hospital to disclose numerical acquisition cost, internal transfer price, rebate amount, 340B ceiling price, exact markup multiple, exact markup range, exact additive component, or other trade secret, competitively sensitive information, or proprietary cost information, or any information that would reveal or permit ready derivation of such information; provided, however, to the extent permitted by law, that the center may require a nonprofit hospital to submit such information on a confidential basis to the extent necessary to implement this section.

 (e) Not later than 90 days after receipt of a methodology report and supplemental schedule under this section, the center shall review the submission and shall refer to the health policy commission for review under section 8B of chapter 6D any nonprofit hospital for which the center identifies 1 or more drugs on the supplemental schedule with a chargemaster amount exceeding 120 per cent of ASP.

 (f) A referral under subsection (e) shall include the nonprofit hospital's report submitted under subsection (b) and supplemental schedule submitted under subsection (c), the center's analysis of the hospital's disclosed chargemaster methodology, the ASP comparison data and any additional information the center deems relevant to the commission's review, and any other information or data deemed necessary by the center.

 (g) The center may also refer to the commission for review under Section 8B of chapter 6D any nonprofit hospital whose reported methodology, price ratios or changes in drug chargemaster pricing patterns otherwise suggest that hospital drug pricing warrants review in the interest of affordability, consumer protection or market oversight.

 (h) Records disclosed by a nonprofit hospital under this section shall: (i) be accompanied by an attestation that all information provided is true and correct; (ii) not be public records under clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter 4 or chapter 66 to the extent they contain trade secrets, competitively sensitive information or proprietary cost information; and (iii) remain confidential; provided, however, that the center shall annually produce a public report summarizing each nonprofit hospital’s reports in a manner that does not disclose exact supplier acquisition prices, including exact 340B ceiling prices, rebate amounts or other information the disclosure of which would be likely to compromise the financial, competitive or proprietary nature of protected information.

 (i) The center shall promulgate regulations necessary to implement this section, including regulations: (i) defining material change; (ii) specifying the required machine-readable format; (iii) establishing the number of drugs to be included in the supplemental schedule; (iv) setting standards for limited redaction of exact supplier acquisition prices while preserving meaningful public disclosure of pricing methodology and markup information; (v) specifying the methodology for calculating and reporting ASP comparisons; (vi) harmonizing disclosures under this section with other state and federal hospital price-transparency requirements; and (vii) establishing procedures for audits, corrections, amended filings and referrals to the health policy commission.

 (j) The methodology report and supplemental schedule required by this section shall be filed not later than March 31 of each year, covering the preceding calendar year.

 (k) A nonprofit hospital shall update its filing not later than 30 days after any material change to a drug chargemaster pricing methodology or other reportable information required by this section.

 (l) A nonprofit hospital that fails to file, materially misstates, omits required information from, or fails timely to update a report or schedule required by this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than: (i) $10,000 for an initial violation; (ii) $25,000 for a second violation within 3 years; and (iii) $50,000 for each subsequent violation within 3 years.

 (m) Each day after notice of noncompliance and expiration of a cure period established by regulation may constitute a separate violation."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-788

OTH 788

Mulvey Square

Mr. Rush moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section:-

"SECTION XX. The intersection of Centre Street and Westchester Road in the City of Boston shall be designated as "Mulvey Square."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-789

OTH 789

Abolishing the Sting Tax

Mr. Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ____ the following section:-  "SECTION____. Section 32D of Chapter 63 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition is hereby amended by striking lines 12 through 26 in their entirety."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-790

OTH 790

Senior Property Tax Credits

Messrs. Tarr and O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ____ the following sections:-"SECTION ___. Paragraph (1) of subsection (k) of section 6 of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “paid”, in line 392, the following words:- or deferred.

SECTION __. Said subsection (k) of said section 6 of said chapter 62, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following 4 paragraphs:-

(10) No credit shall be provided by this subsection for a property tax deferral unless there is a tax deferral and recovery agreement entered into between the owner or owners of the real property and the board of assessors of the city or town where the property is located pursuant to clause Forty-first A of section 5 of chapter 59.

(11) In the event of default or nonpayment of taxes deferred pursuant to clause Forty-first A of section 5 of chapter 59 upon such time as the deferred taxes become due for repayment, the Department of Revenue may claw back or collect the amount credited pursuant to this subsection.

(12) Property tax deferral repayments collected by the board of assessors of the city or town where the property is located pursuant to clause Forty-first A of section 5 of chapter 59 shall not be included in the calculation of the owner or owners of the real property credit pursuant to this subsection.

(13) Cities and towns shall annually report the following information to the Department of Revenue:

(i) the name of the owner or owners of the real property participating in the tax deferral and recovery agreements entered into with the city or town pursuant to clause Forty-first A of section 5 of chapter 59;

(ii) the annual amount of taxes deferred by the owner or owners of the real property participating in the tax deferral and recovery agreements; and

(iii) total amount of taxes deferred over the lifetime of the owner or owners of the real property who participated in the tax deferral and recovery agreement."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-791

OTH 791

Supporting Retirement Income Security for Seniors

Messrs. Durant, O'Connor and Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section:-

"SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, for taxable years beginning on January 1, 2027, any income received by a taxpayer who has attained the age of 69 and one-half years during the taxable year, derived from distributions from a qualified retirement plan pursuant to section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, shall be excluded from Massachusetts gross income, as defined in chapter 62 of the General Laws.

For purposes of this section, “qualified retirement plan” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Internal Revenue Code, as amended and in effect for the applicable taxable year.

The commissioner of revenue shall promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement this section.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-792

OTH 792

Supporting Overtime Workers through Income Tax Relief

Messrs. Durant, O'Connor and Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section:-

"SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, for taxable years beginning on January 1, 2027, an amount not to exceed $12,500 of income received by a taxpayer during the taxable year as compensation for overtime work shall be excluded from Massachusetts gross income, as defined in chapter 62 of the General Laws.

For purposes of this section, “overtime work” shall mean hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek, or such other threshold as may be established under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the Fair Labor Standards Act, or other federal or state law, for which compensation is paid at a rate greater than the employee’s regular rate of pay.

In the case of a married couple filing a joint return, each spouse shall be entitled to a separate exclusion under this section, provided that each spouse has qualifying overtime income.

The commissioner of revenue shall promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement this section, including provisions to ensure proper reporting and to prevent abuse or mischaracterization of income as overtime compensation."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-793

OTH 793

Supporting Service Industry Workers Through Tip Income Tax Relief

Messrs. Durant and O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section:-

"SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, for taxable years beginning on January 1, 2027, an amount not to exceed $25,000 of income received by a taxpayer during the taxable year in the form of tips or gratuities shall be excluded from Massachusetts gross income, as defined in chapter 62 of the General Laws.

For purposes of this section, “tips” or “gratuities” shall mean voluntary cash or non-cash amounts received by an employee from a customer or patron, whether received directly or distributed through an employer, consistent with the definition of tips under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and federal regulations.

In the case of a married couple filing a joint return, each spouse shall be entitled to a separate exclusion under this section, provided that each spouse has qualifying tip income.

The commissioner of revenue shall promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement this section, including provisions to prevent abuse or improper characterization of income as tips."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-794

OTH 794

Excess Revenue to Local Aid

Messrs. Durant, Montigny, O'Connor and Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section:- 

"SECTION X. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller shall, during fiscal year 2027 but prior to the calculation of the fiscal year 2027 consolidated net surplus in accordance with Section 5C of Chapter 29 of the Massachusetts General Laws, transfer not less than twenty-five per cent of funds received in excess of the consensus revenue estimate, pursuant to Section 5B of said Chapter 29, to item 1233-2350 of section 2, not to exceed $25,000,000 .”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-795

OTH 795

Directing Reversions to UGGA

Messrs. Durant, Montigny, O'Connor and Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section:- 

"SECTION X. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller shall, during fiscal year 2027, but prior to the calculation of the fiscal year 2027 consolidated net surplus in accordance with Section 5C of Chapter 29 of the Massachusetts General Laws, transfer up to $25,000,000 of appropriations which would otherwise revert to the General Fund on June 30, 2027, to item 1233-2350 of section 2.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-796

OTH 796

Suspension of the Gas Tax

Mr. Durant and Mrs. Dooner moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section:-

"SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, the excise imposed upon the sale of gasoline under chapter 64A of the General Laws shall be suspended beginning upon passage of this bill and shall remain suspended until such time as the average retail price per gallon of regular gasoline in the commonwealth falls below $2.50.

For purposes of this section, the “average retail price per gallon of regular gasoline” shall be determined on a weekly basis by the commissioner of energy resources, or such other state agency as the secretary of energy and environmental affairs may designate, using widely recognized and publicly available data sources.

Upon a determination that the average retail price per gallon of regular gasoline has fallen below $2.50, the commissioner of revenue shall certify the same and the excise imposed under said chapter 64A shall be reinstated on the first day of the first calendar month following such certification.

The commissioner of revenue and the commissioner of energy resources shall promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement this section."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-797

OTH 797

Providing killed in the line duty benefits to Joanne Songy, surviving spouse of Detective John D. Songy, a police officer of the town of Rutland

Messrs. Durant, O'Connor and Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following sections:-

"SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Worcester regional retirement board shall pay to Joanne Songy, surviving spouse of detective John D. Songy, a police officer in the town of Rutland who died from complications related to COVID-19, benefits pursuant to section 9 of chapter 32 of the General Laws; provided, however, that all amounts paid hereunder shall be non-taxable to the extent allowable under state law.  

SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the state board of retirement shall pay to Joanne Songy, surviving spouse of detective John D. Songy, a police officer in the town of Rutland who died from complications related to COVID-19, benefits pursuant to section 100A of chapter 32 of the General Laws; provided, however, that all amounts paid hereunder shall be non-taxable to the extent allowable under state law.  

SECTION XX.  This act shall take effect as of May 29, 2020."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-798

OTH 798

Support to Local Municipalities Through the Rainy Day Fund

Messrs. Durant, O'Connor and Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following section:-

"SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for the period beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2031, a portion of the interest earned on amounts held in the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund, as established by section 2H of chapter 29 of the General Laws, shall be transferred annually to support unrestricted general government aid to municipalities.

For each fiscal year during the five year period, the comptroller shall calculate the total interest earnings attributable to the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund for the preceding fiscal year. Of that amount, 25 per cent shall be transferred, not later than September 1, to the General Fund and shall be expended for the purposes of unrestricted general government aid paid directly to municipalities.

The remaining balance of interest earnings not subject to transfer shall be retained in the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund.

The provisions of this act shall expire on June 30, 2031, and shall not apply to interest earnings in any fiscal year thereafter."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-799

OTH 799

Massachusetts Digital Settlement Sandbox Program

Mr. Durant moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following section:-

"SECTION XX. Chapter 167B, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following new section:-

Section 25:

(a) Definitions

As used in this act, the following words have the following meanings:

“Division”, the Massachusetts division of banks.

“GENIUS-compliant stablecoin”, a payment stablecoin issued by a permitted payment stablecoin issuer as defined under the GENIUS Act and subject to federal supervision under that act.

“Sandbox participant”, a firm, financial institution, governmental entity, or nonprofit organization admitted into the Massachusetts digital settlement sandbox under this act.

“Settlement application” includes, but is not limited to: (1) same-day closing of municipal notes and bonds; (2) payroll or contractor disbursements; (3) government refunds or rebates; and (4) cross-border remittances associated with public universities or health systems.

(b) Establishment of Sandbox

The division shall establish a Massachusetts digital settlement sandbox program, consistent with chapter 167B and chapter 169 of the General Laws. The division, in consultation with the office of the state treasurer, the secretary of administration and finance, and the Massachusetts technology collaborative, shall promulgate regulations for the application, admission, and oversight of sandbox participants. Sandbox participation shall be limited to 24 months, with a possible one-time 12-month extension upon a showing of good cause.

(c) Regulatory Coordination

The division shall coordinate with federal banking regulators and the United States Department of the Treasury to ensure compliance with the GENIUS Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, anti-money laundering obligations, sanctions requirements, and cybersecurity and operational risk management standards. The division shall establish information-sharing agreements with the office of the comptroller of the currency, the federal reserve, and other relevant agencies for sandbox participants operating in the commonwealth. Nothing in this act shall be construed to conflict with federal law or regulations.

(d) Consumer Protection and Transparency

Sandbox participants shall provide clear disclosures to consumers and counterparties, including: (1) the GENIUS-compliant status of the stablecoin used; (2) the 1:1 reserve requirements and backing assets; and (3) any transaction or conversion fees. The division may suspend or revoke sandbox participation for failure to comply with disclosure, prudential, or anti-fraud requirements.

(e) Sandbox Incentive Fund

A sandbox incentive fund is established within the executive office of economic development. The fund shall support sandbox participants through refundable tax credits for qualifying payroll and research expenditures in the commonwealth or competitive grants for pilot projects involving settlement applications. The aggregate annual amount of credits and grants shall not exceed $15,000,000. The fund shall be financed through:

(1) A one-time seed allocation of $3,000,000, reallocated from existing appropriations to the economic development incentive program under section 3A of chapter 23A of the General Laws or the Massachusetts technology collaborative under section 2 of chapter 40J of the General Laws, as determined by the secretary of economic development;

(2) Application and participation fees for sandbox participants, not to exceed $50,000 per participant, as established by regulations promulgated by the division;

(3) A transaction fee of 0.2 per cent on the value of stablecoin transactions processed within the sandbox, collected by participants and remitted to the fund quarterly, subject to regulations ensuring compliance with chapter 167B and chapter 169 of the General Laws and federal law, and avoiding duplicative assessments;

(4) Federal grants obtained through matching programs, including those administered by the United States Economic Development Administration or United States Department of the Treasury, with the division authorized to apply for and accept such funds;

(5) Contributions from public-private partnerships, philanthropic organizations, or venture capital entities, solicited and accepted by the division in consultation with the executive office of economic development, provided that such contributions align with the purposes of this act and do not create conflicts of interest. Contributions shall be disclosed publicly in the annual report, including source, amount, and any conditions.

The division shall promulgate regulations for the administration of the fund, including fee structures, disbursement criteria, and reporting on fund sources and uses to ensure transparency and fiscal responsibility.

(f) Reporting

The division shall submit an annual report to the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the joint committee on financial services, and the house and senate committees on ways and means. The report shall detail: (1) the number and nature of sandbox participants; (2) pilot use cases tested; (3) economic and fiscal impacts on the commonwealth; (4) contributions received under section 6, subsection (e); and (5) recommendations for permanent statutory or regulatory changes.

(g) Sunset

This act shall expire 5 years after its effective date unless reauthorized by the general court; provided, however, that sandbox participants admitted before the expiration date may complete their pilot periods. The division shall ensure an orderly wind-down of sandbox activities to protect consumers and counterparties.

(h) Severability

If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.

(i) Effective Date

This act shall take effect 90 days after its passage."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-802

OTH 802

Commission on the Status of Transgender People

Ms. Jehlen and Messrs. Cyr and Eldridge moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following section:-

SECTION XX. Chapter 3 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 75 the following new section:-

Section 76

(1) There is established a permanent commission on the status of transgender people consisting of 21 persons as follows: 6 persons appointed by transgender-led organizations or groups that directly serve, support, or advocate for transgender people in Massachusetts; 2 persons appointed by transgender-focused health programs at Massachusetts-based healthcare centers and/or hospitals; 2 persons appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ elders; 2 persons appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ students; 2 person appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ individuals with homelessness or unstable housing; 1 person appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ people with domestic and/or intimate partner violence; 1 person appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people; 1 person appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ sex workers; 1 person appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ people with disabilities; 1 person appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ individuals with immigration, seeking asylum/refugee status, or other non-citizen statuses; 1 person appointed by an antipoverty organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ individuals; and 1 person appointed by an organization or group that supports LGBTQ+ veterans. The membership of the commission shall include at least: 11 transgender persons, total; 2 transgender persons between the ages of 18-24; 2 transgender persons aged 60 or older; and 2 representatives of the mental health professions.

(2) Members of the commission shall be drawn from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, age, gender, sexual orientation and socio-economic backgrounds and shall have had experience working toward the improvement of the status of transgender people in society. Members shall also be drawn from throughout the commonwealth to ensure broad representation. Members shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 268A as they apply to special state employees. The commission shall be an independent agency of the government of the commonwealth and shall not be subject to the control of any other department or agency.

(3) (a) Members shall serve terms of three years and until their successors are appointed.

(b) Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the original appointing authority for the balance of the unexpired term.

(c) appointments shall be made in consultation with transgender rights organizations. Nominations shall be solicited between August 1 and September 16 of each year through an open application process using a uniform application that is widely distributed throughout the state.

(d) The commission shall elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair, a treasurer and any other officers it deems necessary.

(e) The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for any usual and customary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(4) The commission shall conduct an ongoing study of all matters concerning transgender people. In furtherance of that responsibility, the commission shall: (a) study, review and report on the status of transgender people in the commonwealth;

(b) inform leaders of business, education, health care, state and local governments and the communications media of issues pertaining to transgender people;

(c) serve as a liaison between government and private interest groups concerned with issues affecting transgender people;

(d) serve as a clearinghouse for information on issues pertaining to transgender people;

(e) identify and recommend qualified transgender people for appointive positions at all levels of government, including boards and commissions, as the commission deems necessary and appropriate;

(f) assess programs and practices in all state agencies as they affect transgender people, as the commission deems necessary and appropriate;

(g) advise executive and legislative bodies on the effect on transgender people of proposed legislation, as the commission deems necessary and appropriate; and

(h) promote and facilitate collaboration among local transgender commissions and among transgender organizations in the state, as the commission deems necessary and appropriate.

The commission shall annually, on or before June 2, report the results of its findings and activities of the preceding year and its recommendations to the governor and to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives.

(5) The powers of the commission shall include but not be limited to the following:

(a) to use such voluntary and uncompensated services of private individuals, agencies and organizations as may from time to time be offered and needed;

(b) to recommend policies and make recommendations to agencies and officers of the state and local subdivisions of government to effectuate the purposes of subsection (3);

(c) to select an executive director and to acquire adequate staff to perform its duties, subject to appropriation;

(d) to establish and maintain such offices as it may deem necessary, subject to appropriation;

(e) to enact bylaws for its own governance;

(f) to appoint members to regional chapters of the commission; and

(g) to hold regular, public meetings and to hold fact-finding hearings and other public forums as it may deem necessary.

(6) The commission shall meet once every month. The (i) governor, (ii) speaker of the house of representatives, (iii) president of the senate and (iv) designated members of the LGBTQ+ caucus of legislators shall be invited to attend the monthly meetings on a rotating basis.

(7) (a) The commission may request from all state agencies such information and assistance as the commission may require.

(b) The commission may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants or bequests or any federal funds, for any of the purposes of this section. Such funds shall be deposited in a separate account with the state treasurer, be received by said treasurer on behalf of the commonwealth, and be expended by the commission in accordance with law.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-806

OTH 806

Parentage Technical

Mr. Cyr moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section:-

SECTION XX. Section 25 of chapter 209C of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out subsection (d) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(d) Proceedings commenced under this section in the probate and family court and the juvenile court shall be governed by the Massachusetts Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure and the Massachusetts Juvenile Court Rules for the Care and Protection of Children, respectively.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-807

OTH 807

Bosnian Genocide Remembrance Day

Messrs. Mark, Payano and O'Connor and Ms. Howard moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding at the end thereof the following section:-

"SECTION XX.  Chapter 6 of the General Laws is amended by inserting the following new section-

15AAAAAAA Bosnian Genocide Remembrance Day

The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting apart July 11 as Bosnian Genocide Remembrance Day in recognition of the killing of more than eight thousand Bosniak civilians in Srebrenica during the Bosnian War and recommending that the day be observed in an appropriate manner by the people."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-810-R1

Redraft OTH 810

FRESH Grants

Messrs. Lewis, Mark, Gomez, Collins and Brady, Ms. Rausch, Messrs. Keenan, Driscoll and Eldridge, Ms. Howard and Ms. Lovely moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 7010-1192, by adding the following words:- "; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended for programs and resources to support farm to school and food system literacy programming in public elementary and secondary schools and early education programs; provided further, that not less than $750,000 of such funds shall be used to offer grants through the current operating farm to school FRESH Grant program; provided further, that $150,000 of such funds shall be used to expand the Massachusetts school wellness coaching program; provided further, that not less than $100,000 of such finds shall be used to develop food literacy curricula, tools and resources for use by schools in the commonwealth”; and by striking out the figure “$100,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$1,100,000”.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-810

OTH 810

FRESH Grants

Messrs. Lewis, Mark, Gómez, Collins and Brady, Ms. Rausch, Messrs. Keenan, Driscoll and Eldridge, Ms. Howard and Mr. O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 7010-1192, by adding the following words:- "; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended for programs and resources to support farm to school & food system literacy programming in the department of elementary and secondary schools and early education's office of food and nutrition programs to; (i) offer grants through the current operating farm to school FRESH Grant program in the amount of not less than $750,000; and (ii) expand the school wellness coaching program in the amount of $150,000; and (iii) develop food literacy curricula, tools and resources in the amount of $100,000”; and by striking out the figure “$10,870,309” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “11,870,309.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-815

OTH 815

Learnfare

Messrs. Lewis and Payano, Ms. Kennedy, Ms. Howard, Mr. Brady, Ms. Miranda, Mr. Eldridge, Ms. Jehlen, Messrs. Moore, Gomez, Driscoll, Cyr and Montigny, Ms. Lovely and Ms. Creem moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:-

“SECTION XX. Section 110 of chapter 5 of the acts of 1995 is hereby amended by striking out section 121, as amended by sections 30 and 31 of chapter 158 of the acts of 2014.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-817

OTH 817

Bringing Child Support Home

Ms. Creem, Mr. Lewis, Ms. Rausch, Messrs. Moore, Brady and Eldridge, Ms. Miranda, Ms. Kennedy, Mr. O'Connor and Ms. Howard moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following section:–

"SECTION X. Section 2 of chapter 118 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end of the first paragraph the following:-

Beginning on October 1, 2026, not less than the first $100 of child support collected during a month for one child in a family who is a recipient of benefits under this chapter and not less than the first $200 of child support collected during a month for two or more children in a family who are recipients of benefits under this chapter shall be paid to the family and disregarded in determining the family’s countable income."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-819

OTH 819

Addressing Discriminatory Territorial Rating in Automobile Insurance

Ms. Miranda moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section:-

“SECTION ___. (a) There shall be established a special legislative commission pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to conduct a comprehensive study and provide recommendations to the legislature relative to the use of territorial rating factors in the calculation of automobile insurance premiums. The special legislative commission shall be authorized to expend any funds appropriated to said special legislative commission.

(b) The special legislative commission shall be comprised of: the chairs of the joint committee on financial services, who shall co-chair the commission; 1 member appointed by the president of the senate, who shall also be a member of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus; 1 member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall also be a member of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus; the attorney general, or a designee; the commissioner of insurance, or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Insurance Federation, or a designee; the executive director of the National Consumer Law Center, or a designee; and the research and advocacy associate of the Consumer Federation of America, or a designee.

(c) The special legislative commission shall investigate and study: (i) the use of zip code, garaging location and geographical area in setting automobile insurance rates or coverage decisions in the commonwealth; (ii) other factors that may be used in rating that are potentially discriminatory in nature; (iii) the impact on automobile insurance premiums from restricting the use of zip code, garaging location and geographical area in automobile insurance rates; (iv) how automobile insurance rates are calculated; and (v) any other matters the commission deems relevant to providing recommendations to the legislature.

(d) The special legislative commission shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including recommendations for legislation, if any, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives not later than July 1, 2027.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-826

OTH 826

Housing Amendments

Ms. Edwards, Messrs. Cyr, Lewis, Gómez and Payano and Ms. Kennedy moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 41A sub-section 17(a) of the Federal Employee and Servicemember Civil Relief Act, by striking the definition of “Federal government shutdown” which currently reads “ "Federal government shutdown", any period in which all non-essential federal government functions cease as a result of a failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution.” and inserting the following words: "Federal government shutdown", any period in which any non-essential federal government functions cease as a result of a failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution.

Be amended in Chapter 239 section 16 of the General Laws, strike section 16(e ½) and insert:

“A person having a court record of an eviction action that resulted in a dismissal or final judgment in favor of the defendant shall have such records automatically sealed by the court upon dismissal of the action or entry of judgment in favor of the defendant, including exhaustion of all rights of appeal of the judgment or dismissal. If the action was active in more than 1 court during its pendency, the district or municipal court shall automatically seal such records upon the housing court’s entry of any order dismissing the action or an entry of judgment in favor of the defendant, including exhaustion of all rights of appeal of the judgment or dismissal. Notice to parties of the original action shall not be required.”

Be amended in Chapter 239 section 16 of the General Laws, following Chapter 239 Section 16(k) “without a hearing.” insert the following:-

“(l) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the court may waive any requirement for sealing of eviction records upon a determination that it serves the interest of justice and public safety or upon agreement of the parties.

(m) Section e1/2 shall take effect 150 days after the effective date of this act.”

Be amended in Chapter 150, strike section 129(b) and insert the following:-

“(b) There shall be, subject to appropriation, a foreclosure mediation pilot program administered by the Attorney General to be offered to borrowers and creditors, by agreement, in not more than 5 communities disproportionately impacted by high rates of foreclosure. The Attorney General shall develop and accept applications from interested communities and shall select communities most negatively impacted by high rates of foreclosure.”

Be amended in Chapter 527 of the Acts of 1983 Section 2, strike the following:-

“i)  housing accommodations constructed or converted from a non-housing to a housing use after the effective date of this act;” and

Be amended in Chapter 527 of the Acts of 1983 Section 2, insert “and rental housing stock” following the first mention of the word “tenants”.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-826-R1

Redraft OTH 826

Housing Amendments

Ms. Edwards, Messrs. Cyr, Lewis, Gómez and Payano, Ms. Kennedy, Messrs. Barrett and Eldridge and Ms. Miranda moved that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following sections:-

SECTION XX. Section 41A sub-section 17(a) of the Federal Employee and Servicemember Civil Relief Act, is hereby amended by striking the definition of “Federal government shutdown” which currently reads “Federal government shutdown", any period in which all non-essential federal government functions cease as a result of a failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution.” and inserting the following words: "Federal government shutdown", any period in which any non-essential federal government functions cease as a result of a failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution.

SECTION XX. Chapter 239 section 16 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking section 16(e ½) and inserting in place thereof:-

“A person having a court record of an eviction action that resulted in a dismissal or final judgment in favor of the defendant shall have such records automatically sealed by the court upon dismissal of the action or entry of judgment in favor of the defendant, including exhaustion of all rights of appeal of the judgment or dismissal. If the action was active in more than 1 court during its pendency, the district or municipal court shall automatically seal such records upon the housing court’s entry of any order dismissing the action or an entry of judgment in favor of the defendant, including exhaustion of all rights of appeal of the judgment or dismissal. Notice to parties of the original action shall not be required.”

SECTION XX. Chapter 239 section 16 of the General Laws, following Chapter 239 Section 16(k) “without a hearing.” is hereby amended by inserting the following:-

“(l) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the court may waive any requirement for sealing of eviction records upon a determination that it serves the interest of justice and public safety or upon agreement of the parties.

(m) Section e1/2 shall take effect 150 days after the effective date of this act.”

SECTION XX. Chapter 150 is hereby amended by striking section 129(b) and inserting in place thereof the following:-

“(b) There shall be, subject to appropriation, a foreclosure mediation pilot program administered by the Attorney General to be offered to borrowers and creditors, by agreement, in not more than 5 communities disproportionately impacted by high rates of foreclosure. The Attorney General shall develop and accept applications from interested communities and shall select communities most negatively impacted by high rates of foreclosure.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-826-R2

2nd Redraft OTH 826

Housing Amendments

Ms. Edwards, Messrs. Cyr, Lewis, Gomez and Payano, Ms. Kennedy, Messrs. Barrett and Eldridge, Ms. Miranda, Ms. Howard and Ms. Jehlen moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0336-0002, by adding the following words:- 

“The trial court shall conduct a study on eviction sealings which shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of eviction cases dismissed and the number of petitions for sealing filed in those cases on or after January 1, 2025; (ii) the number of eviction cases decided in favor of the defendant and the number of petitions for sealing filed in those cases on or after January 1, 2025; and (iii) any logistical, technological and financial resources necessary to automatically seal cases, both prospectively and retroactively since January 1, 2020, that have been dismissed or decided in favor of the defendant and to implement any recommended technological improvements to the eviction record sealing process. Not later than December 31, 2026, the trial court shall submit a report to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on housing, the joint committee on the judiciary and the senate and house committees on ways and means detailing the results of the study.”; and

by inserting, after section 23, the following two sections:-

SECTION 23A. The definition of “federal government shutdown” in section 17 of chapter 221 of the General Laws, as appearing in section 55 of chapter 73 of the acts of 2025, is hereby amended by striking out the word “all” and inserting in place thereof the word “any”; and

SECTION 23B. The definition of “federal government shutdown” in section 42 of chapter 244 of the General Laws, as appearing in section 55 of chapter 73 of the acts of 2025, is hereby amended by striking out the word “all” and inserting in place thereof the word “any”.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-826-R3

3rd Redraft OTH 826

Housing Amendments

Ms. Edwards, Messrs. Cyr, Lewis, Gomez and Payano, Ms. Kennedy, Messrs. Barrett and Eldridge, Ms. Miranda and Ms. Howard moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0336-0002, by adding the following words:- 

“The trial court shall conduct a study on eviction sealings which shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of eviction cases dismissed, the number of petitions for sealing filed in those cases on or after January 1, 2025, and the length of time for such petitions to be resolved; (ii) the number of eviction cases decided in favor of the defendant, the number of petitions for sealing filed in those cases on or after January 1, 2025, and the length of time for such petitions to be resolved; and (iii) any logistical, technological and financial resources necessary to automatically seal cases, both prospectively and retroactively since January 1, 2020, that have been dismissed or decided in favor of the defendant, including the implementation of standardized sealing deadlines for all sealing applications, and to implement any recommended technological improvements to the eviction record sealing process. Not later than December 31, 2026, the trial court shall submit a report to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on housing, the joint committee on the judiciary and the senate and house committees on ways and means detailing the results of the study.”; and

by inserting, after section 23, the following two sections:-

SECTION 23A. The definition of “federal government shutdown” in section 17 of chapter 221 of the General Laws, as appearing in section 55 of chapter 73 of the acts of 2025, is hereby amended by striking out the word “all” and inserting in place thereof the word “any”; and

SECTION 23B. The definition of “federal government shutdown” in section 42 of chapter 244 of the General Laws, as appearing in section 55 of chapter 73 of the acts of 2025, is hereby amended by striking out the word “all” and inserting in place thereof the word “any”.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-831

OTH 831

Exempting Software as a Service (SaaS) Products From Sales Taxes

Messrs. Fattman and Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section X the following section:-

“SECTION X. Section 1 of chapter 64H of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the following in lines 331 through 336:-

'A transfer of standardized computer software, including but not limited to electronic, telephonic or similar transfer, shall also be considered a transfer of tangible personal property. The commissioner may, by regulation, provide rules for apportioning tax in those instances in which software is transferred for use in more than one state.'

SECTION X. Section 6 of chapter 64H of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting the following new subsection:-

'(yy) Sales of a transfer of standardized computer software, including but not limited to electronic, telephonic or similar transfer that is downloaded, installed, or accessed online.'

SECTION X. This act shall apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-832

OTH 832

Amending Advance Sales Tax Payment Penalties

Messrs. Fattman and Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section X the following section:-

“SECTION X. Section 16B of chapter 62C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 32 after the words 'total tax collected during the filing period', the following:- 'or if an entity has engaged in willful ignorance of the implementation of this section and other guidance issued by the department of revenue, or if fines and penalties have caused hardship.'."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-833

OTH 833

Eliminating the 5% Tax on Raffle Proceeds

Messrs. Fattman and O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section X the following section:-

"SECTION X. Section 7A of chapter 271 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the following:-

'Any organization conducting or operating a raffle or bazaar under this section shall file a return with the state lottery commission, on a form prepared by it, within ten days after the raffle or bazaar is held and shall pay therewith a tax of five per cent of the gross proceeds derived from such raffle or bazaar.

All sums received by said commission from the tax imposed by this section as taxes, interest thereon, fees, penalties, forfeitures, costs of suits or fines, less all amounts refunded thereon, together with any interest or costs paid on account of such refunds, shall be paid into the treasury of the commonwealth.'."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-834

OTH 834

No Income Tax on Overtime Pay

Mr. Fattman, Mrs. Dooner and Messrs. O'Connor and Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section X the following section:-

"SECTION X. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, for taxable years beginning on January 1, 2027, an amount not to exceed $12,500 of income received by a taxpayer during the taxable year as compensation for overtime work shall be excluded from Massachusetts gross income, as defined in chapter 62 of the General Laws.

For purposes of this section, 'overtime work' shall mean hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek, or such other threshold as may be established under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, the Fair Labor Standards Act, or other federal or state law, for which compensation is paid at a rate greater than the employee’s regular rate of pay.

In the case of a married couple filing a joint return, each spouse shall be entitled to a separate exclusion under this section, provided that each spouse has qualifying overtime income.

The commissioner of revenue shall promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement this section, including provisions to ensure proper reporting and to prevent abuse or mischaracterization of income as overtime compensation."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-836

OTH 836

Newborn Screening for Congenital Cytomegalovirus

Ms. Lovely, Messrs. Keenan, Fattman, Gomez, Mark and Collins, Ms. Kennedy, Messrs. Brady, Driscoll, Eldridge, Barrett and Moore, Ms. Edwards and Messrs. Payano, O'Connor and Montigny moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___ the following section: -

“SECTION XXXX. SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by inserting after Section 70H the following section:-

Section 70I: Congenital cytomegalovirus; public information program; annual report

(a) The commissioner of the department shall establish, promote, and maintain a public information program regarding congenital cytomegalovirus, hereinafter referred to as cCMV. Such program shall be conducted throughout the commonwealth, and under said program, a hospital or birthing facility as defined in section 70E or any healthcare provider, physician assistant, nurse or midwife who renders prenatal or postnatal care shall give expectant or new parents or guardians information provided by the department under subsection (b). Such information shall be made available at the first prenatal appointment or at a preconception visit if applicable, whichever is earliest.

(b) The department shall make available to any healthcare provider, physician assistant, nurse or midwife who renders prenatal or postnatal care or offers fertility counseling or care to a parent or guardian the following: (i) up-to-date evidence-based, written information about cCMV and universal cCMV screening that has been vetted by an appropriate group of medical experts as determined by the department in conjunction with the advisory committee as established in section 110J of said Chapter 111; provided, however, that the written information provided shall include preventative measures that can be taken throughout pregnancy, and (ii) contact or other referral information for additional educational and support resources. The department may also make such information available to any other person who seeks information about cCMV infections.

SECTION 2. Said chapter 111 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 110C the following sections:-

Section 110D: Required Newborn Screening for Congenital Cytomegalovirus

For the purposes of this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-

“Birthing facility”, an inpatient or ambulatory health care facility licensed by the department of public health that provides birthing and newborn care services.

“Congenital Cytomegalovirus (hereinafter referred to as cCMV) screening”, the identification of a newborn who may have congenital CMV infection or has cCMV confirmed through the use of a saliva or urine test.

“Department”, the department of public health.

“Newborn,” any liveborn infant who has not yet attained the age of 21 days from a birth occurring in the commonwealth or from a birth prior to transfer to a hospital in the commonwealth.

The department, in consultation with the perinatal advisory committee, shall develop regulations for all hospitals and birthing facilities requiring cCMV screening. These regulations shall consider evidence-based guidance. During the first year after the passage of this legislation, the department shall undertake a pilot program for universal cCMV screening to optimize processes for testing, reporting, and medical care. At the discretion of the department, planning shall include other stakeholders in universal cCMV screening, such as parents, healthcare providers, New England Newborn Screening Program, or birth centers. Universal cCMV screening will start during the second year after the passage of this legislation.

The cCMV screening shall be performed using a saliva PCR test unless one is unavailable in which case a urine PCR test may be used. If positive, a saliva PCR test would require a confirmatory urine PCR test. The department may approve another test to conduct cCMV screening; provided, however, that the test shall be, at the discretion of the department, at least as accurate, widely available and cost-effective as a saliva or urine PCR test. A screening shall be performed within 21 days from the date of birth and before the newborn infant is discharged from the birthing facility to the care of the parent or guardian; provided, however, that the screening shall not be performed if the parent or guardian of the newborn infant objects to the screening based upon a sincerely held religious belief of the parent or guardian. The cCMV educational materials outlined in section 70I(b) shall be provided to the parent or guardian of the infant at the time of cCMV screening.

A hospital that provides birthing and newborn services or a birthing facility shall adopt protocols for cCMV screening using a saliva or urine PCR test or another test approved by the department under this section for all newborns prior to discharge, and not to exceed 21 days from the date of birth, based on the department’s regulations, on or before January 1, 2028.

The cost of providing the newborn cCMV screening shall be a covered benefit reimbursable by all health insurers, except for supplemental policies that only provide coverage for specific diseases, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement or other supplemental policies. In the absence of a third-party payer, the charges for the newborn cCMV screening shall be paid by the Commonwealth.

A hospital or birthing facility shall report annually to the department data including, but not limited to, the number of cCMV tests administered and the outcomes of said tests. The hospital or birthing facility shall inform, orally and in writing, a parent or guardian of the newborn infant the result of the cCMV screening test regardless of its outcome. This information shall also be provided in writing to the newborn infant's primary care physician and to the department through its electronic birth certificate system or such mechanism as specified by the department.

The department shall review the protocols required under this section and the implementation of these protocols as part of its birthing facility licensure review processes.

The department shall promulgate regulations to implement the cCMV screening program.

Nothing in this statute shall preclude newborns born at home from obtaining said cCMV screening.

Section 110E: Advisory Committee for CMV Screening Program

There is hereby established an advisory committee for the purpose of implementing the provisions of Section 110I. The advisory committee shall consist of the following members to be appointed by the commissioner of the department: a representative of the hospital industry; a primary care pediatrician or family practitioner; an otolaryngologist; a neonatologist; an infectious disease specialist; a clinician representing newborn nurseries; an audiologist; an ophthalmologist; an obstetrician-gynecologist; a representative of the commonwealth's early intervention program; 2 parents and/or guardians of a child impacted by cCMV; 2 medical professionals; a developer of preventative and/or therapeutic interventions for cCMV; a teacher of the deaf; and a representative of the department.

The advisory committee shall advise the department regarding the validity and cost of proposed cCMV regulations and/or cCMV screening, and shall recommend standards for performing and interpreting screening tests based on the most current technological methods, for documenting test results and follow-up, and for facilitating interaction between professionals and agencies that participate in follow-up care. Members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation. The advisory committee shall be provided support services by the department.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-840

OTH 840

Massachusetts National Guard Museum Birthplace

Ms. Lovely moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting after section ___ the following section: -

SECTION 1. Chapter 2 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 65. The Massachusetts National Guard museum in the city of Salem shall be the official military museum of the commonwealth.

SECTION 2. Chapter 33 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 140. There shall be a Massachusetts National Guard museum in the city of Salem, the birthplace of the national guard under section 60 of chapter 2.

SECTION 3. Chapter 156 of the acts of 2018 is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 3. Notwithstanding sections 33 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, following the conveyance authorized under section 2, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance may, in consultation with the adjutant general, acquire a lease on behalf of the military division of the former Essex county superior courthouse and Essex county commissioners building, or portions thereof, for the purpose of maintaining the Massachusetts National Guard museum, including, but not limited to, office and records storage. Such lease shall be for a term of not more than 40 years, including all renewals and extensions, and on such terms and conditions as the commissioner deems appropriate.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-840-R1

Redraft OTH 840

Massachusetts National Guard Museum Birthplace

Ms. Lovely and Mr. O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting before section 4 the following section:-

“SECTION A4. Chapter 2 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

The Massachusetts National Guard museum in the city of Salem, established pursuant to section 140 of chapter 33 shall be the official military museum of the commonwealth.

by inserting after section 16 the following section:-

“SECTION 16A. Chapter 33 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 140. There shall be a Massachusetts National Guard museum in the city of Salem, the birthplace of the national guard pursuant to section 60 of chapter 2.”; and

by inserting after section 36 the following section:-

“SECTION 36A. Chapter 156 of the acts of 2018 is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 3. Notwithstanding sections 33 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, following the conveyance authorized under section 2, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance may, in consultation with the adjutant general, enter into a lease, on behalf of the military division, for the former Essex county superior courthouse and Essex county commissioners building, or portions thereof, for the purpose of maintaining the Massachusetts National Guard museum, including, but not limited to, office and records storage. Such lease shall be for a term of not more than 40 years, including all renewals and extensions, and on such terms and conditions as the commissioner deems appropriate.”.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-841-R1

Redraft OTH 841

Sexual Assaults by Adults in Positions of Authority or Trust

Ms. Lovely, Messrs. Montigny, O'Connor, Tarr, Collins and Gomez, Ms. Howard and Ms. Edwards moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting after section 3 the following section:

“SECTION 3A. Section 178C of chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the figure “265” in line 73, the following words:- rape of a child who has attained the age of 16 but is under the age of 18 or indecent assault and battery on a child who has attained the age of 14 but is under the age of 18 by a mandated reporter under section 23A1/2 of said chapter 265.”; and

by inserting after section 35 the following section:-

“SECTION 35A. Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 23A the following section:-

Section 23A1/2. (a) Whoever has sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse with a child who has attained the age of 16 but is under the age of 18, and who exercises or has at any time exercised custodial or supervisory authority over such child as a mandated reporter as defined in said section 21 of said chapter 119, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 20 years; provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply if the defendant was not more than 4 years older than the child at the time of the alleged offense. A prosecution commenced under this subsection shall not be continued without a finding or placed on file.

(b) Whoever commits an indecent assault and battery on a child who has attained the age of 14 but is under the age of 18, and who exercises or has at any time exercised custodial or supervisory authority over such child as a mandated reporter as defined in section 21 of chapter 119, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years, or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 ½ years; provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply if the defendant was not more than 4 years older than the child at the time of the alleged offense.

(c) In a prosecution under this section, a child under the age of 18 shall be deemed incapable of consenting to any conduct of the defendant for which such defendant is being prosecuted.

(d) It shall not be a defense to a prosecution under this section that the defendant’s custodial or supervisory authority over the child has ended, if the child is under the age of 18 at the time of the offense.”.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-841

OTH 841

Sexual Assaults by Adults in Positions of Authority or Trust

Ms. Lovely and Messrs. Montigny, O'Connor and Tarr moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting after section ___ the following section: -

SECTION 1. Chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 13B the following section:-

Section 13B1/4. (a) As used in this section, “position of trust, authority or supervision over a child” shall include a teacher, substitute teacher, coach, tutor, special educator, paraprofessional, mentor or other person providing instruction or educational services to a child or children, whether such person is compensated, acting as a volunteer, or employed or contracted in any capacity in private or public schools; or a person who is an instructor, tutor or coach of any athletic, artistic, or academic club, team, institution or organization, or an individual tutor or coach; or a parent, stepparent, adoptive parent, legal guardian, foster parent, or any person with custodial authority or supervision of a child or children; or a babysitter, child care provider, or child care aide, whether such person is compensated or acting as a volunteer; or any other person who because of that person’s familial relationship, profession, employment, vocation, avocation or volunteer service has regular direct contact with a child or children.

(b) Whoever commits an indecent assault and battery on a child who has attained the age of 14 and is under the age of 18, and who is a mandated reporter as defined in section 21 of chapter 119, or who is in a position of trust, authority or supervision over a child as defined in this section and who commits the indecent assault and battery in the course of acting in that position or at any time thereafter, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years, or by imprisonment in the house of corrections for not more than 2 ½ years. Prosecutions commenced under this section shall neither be continued without a finding nor placed on file.

(c) Whoever commits an indecent assault and battery on a child who is under the age of 14, and who is a mandated reporter as defined in section 21 of chapter 119, or who is in a position of trust, authority or supervision over a child as defined in this section, and who commits the indecent assault and battery in the course of acting in that position or at any time thereafter, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years, but not less than 10 years. The sentence imposed on such person shall not be reduced to less than 10 years, or suspended, nor shall any person convicted under this section be eligible for probation, parole, work release, or furlough or receive any deduction from his or her sentence for good conduct until he or she shall have served 10 years of such sentence. Prosecutions commenced under this section shall neither be continued without a finding nor placed on file.

In a prosecution under this section, a child under the age of 18 shall be deemed incapable of consenting to any conduct of the defendant for which such defendant is being prosecuted.

It shall not be a defense to a prosecution under this section that the position of trust, authority or supervision over a child has ended, if the child is under the age of 18 at the time of the offense.

SECTION 2. Section 13B1/2 of said chapter 265 is hereby amended by striking out subsection (b).

SECTION 3. Section 23A of said chapter 265 is hereby amended by striking out subsection (c).

SECTION 4. Said chapter 265 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 23A the following section:-

Section 23A1/2. (a) Whoever unlawfully has sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse with and abuses a child who has attained the age of 16 and is under the age of 18, and who is a mandated reporter as defined in section 21 of chapter 119, or who is in a position of trust, authority or supervision over a child as defined in section 13B1/4 of chapter 265, and who commits such conduct in the course of acting in that position or at any time thereafter, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any terms of years or, except as otherwise provided, for any term in a jail or house of correction. A prosecution commenced under this section shall neither be continued without a finding nor placed on file.

(b) Whoever unlawfully has sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse with and abuses a child who is under the age of 16, and who is a mandated reported as defined in section 21 of chapter 119, or who is in a position of trust, authority or supervision over a child as defined in section 13B1/4 of chapter 265, and who commits such conduct in the course of acting in that position or at any time thereafter, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any terms of years, but not less than 10 years. The sentence imposed on such person shall not be reduced to less than 10 years, or suspended, nor shall any person convicted under this section be eligible for probation, parole, work release, or furlough or receive any deduction from his or her sentence for good conduct until he or she shall have served 10 years of such sentence.  Prosecutions commenced under this section shall neither be continued without a finding nor placed on file.

In a prosecution under this section, a child under the age of 18 shall be deemed incapable of consenting to any conduct of the defendant for which such defendant is being prosecuted.

It shall not be a defense to a prosecution under this section that the position of trust, authority or supervision over a child has ended, if the child is under the age of 18 at the time of the offense.

SECTION 5. Section 63 of chapter 277 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after “13B,”, in line 2, the following:- “13B1/4,”.

SECTION 6. Said section 63 of chapter 277 is hereby further amended by inserting after “23A,”, in line 3, the following:- “23A1/2,”.

SECTION 7. Said section 63 of chapter 277 is hereby further amended by inserting after “13B,”, in line 16, the following:- “13B1/4,”.

SECTION 8. Said section 63 of chapter 277 is hereby further amended by inserting after “23A,”, in line 16, the following:- “23A1/2,”.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-842

OTH 842

EA Shelter Access

Ms. Kennedy, Messrs. Gomez, Collins, Brady, Moore and Eldridge, Ms. Miranda and Messrs. Payano and Keenan moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 7004-0101, by striking out the following: “provided further, that the executive office may require identity and custody verifications needed to ensure the safety of children prior to placement into shelter; provided further, that the executive office shall verify, through third-party verification or otherwise, prior to placement in an emergency shelter, for each emergency housing assistance applicant, their: (A) identity; (B) Massachusetts residency; (C) relationship status; (D) pregnancy status; and (E) other eligibility requirements in this item and pursuant to 760 CMR 67.00 or any successor regulations; provided further, that the executive office shall not be required to provide shelter to families who are unable to provide required verifications pursuant to the previous proviso prior to placement” and inserting in place thereof the following: “provided further, that the executive office shall provide shelter on the same business day to any family who requests emergency housing assistance and has no immediate feasible housing alternative if the family has made a self-declaration of immediate need, unless the executive office possesses specific information confirming that the family is not eligible for emergency housing assistance; provided further, that if the executive office possesses such information that a family is ineligible for shelter, the executive office shall on that same day generate a written notice of denial including the reasons for the denial, the specific regulations supporting the denial, and an explanation of the right to appeal”;

and further moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

“SECTION XX. Subparagraph (3) of paragraph (G) of section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws, as amended by section 4 of chapter 1 of the acts of 2025, is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “6” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 9.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-843

OTH 843

Score4More PAC

Ms. Miranda moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, " by inserting after section ___ the following section:-

“SECTION ___. Item 8000-0313 of section 2 of chapter 9 of the acts of 2025 is hereby amended by striking out the following words:- ‘provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to Compete with Purpose, Inc. for Score4More, Inc.’s annual Save R Streets event, a 2-day basketball tournament and peace weekend aimed at reducing violence in the city of Boston;’ and inserting in place thereof the following words:- ‘provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to Bike Life New England Foundation Inc. for Score4More, Inc.’s annual Save R Streets event, a 2-day basketball tournament and peace weekend aimed at reducing violence in the city of Boston; and such funds shall be made available until December 30, 2026."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-844

OTH 844

Special commission to study options to provide meaningful and sustainable tax relief to taxpayers in the commonwealth

Messrs. Tarr and O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section _ the following new section:-

"SECTION _.  (a) There shall be a special commission to study options to provide meaningful and sustainable tax relief to taxpayers in the commonwealth. The commission shall examine the structure, equity and economic impact of the commonwealth’s tax system and shall make recommendations to reduce the tax burden on residents while maintaining fiscal stability and competitiveness.

(b) The commission shall consist of: the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on revenue, who shall serve as co-chairs; the ranking minority members of the joint committee on revenue; 1 representative of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation; 1 representative of a statewide business organization appointed by the governor; 1 representative of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center; 1 representative of a statewide labor organization appointed by the governor; and 1 economist from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Donahue Institute appointed by the governor.

(c) The commission shall examine the following areas, including but not limited to:

(i) options for providing income tax relief, including adjustments to rates, brackets, credits and deductions;

(ii) options for providing property tax relief, including circuit breakers, exemptions, abatements and reforms to local tax structures;

(iii) the impact of tax policy on affordability for low- and middle-income households;

(iv) the competitiveness of the commonwealth’s tax structure relative to other states;

(v) the fiscal impact of potential tax-relief measures on state and municipal revenues;

(vi) opportunities to simplify the tax code to reduce administrative burdens on taxpayers and businesses;

(vii) the interaction between state tax policy and federal tax law;

(viii) any other tax-relief strategies the commission deems appropriate to improve affordability, economic mobility and long-term fiscal health; and

(ix) a comparison of the commonwealth’s tax structure, tax-relief programs and overall tax burden with those of peer states, including but not limited to states with similar economic profiles, cost-of-living levels and revenue structures.

(d) The commission shall hold at least 3 public hearings in geographically diverse locations, may consult with taxpayers, municipal officials, economists, business leaders, labor organizations and community groups, and shall use existing data collections to the maximum extent practicable.

(e) Not later than March 1, 2027, the commission shall file a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on revenue and the house and senate committees on ways and means. The report shall be made publicly available on the department of revenue’s website."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-845

OTH 845

Income Tax Credit for Property Tax Payments

Messrs. Tarr and O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after Section ___ the following new section:-- "SECTION_____. Section 6 of Chapter 62 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding at the end the following new subsection--: " (jj) a credit shall be allowed for 5 percent of, or not more than $300, for property tax payments made by an individual filer for residential property taxes paid to a municipality of the commonwealth pursuant to chapter 59 of the general laws.""

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-847

OTH 847

No Tax on Tips

Mr. Fattman, Mrs. Dooner and Mr. O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section X the following section:-

"SECTION X. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, for taxable years beginning on January 1, 2027, an amount not to exceed $25,000 of income received by a taxpayer during the taxable year in the form of tips or gratuities shall be excluded from Massachusetts gross income, as defined in chapter 62 of the General Laws.

For purposes of this section, “tips” or “gratuities” shall mean voluntary cash or non-cash amounts received by an employee from a customer or patron, whether received directly or distributed through an employer, consistent with the definition of tips under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and federal regulations.

In the case of a married couple filing a joint return, each spouse shall be entitled to a separate exclusion under this section, provided that each spouse has qualifying tip income.

The commissioner of revenue shall promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement this section, including provisions to prevent abuse or improper characterization of income as tips."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-848

OTH 848

Temporary Gas Tax Suspension

Mr. Fattman, Mrs. Dooner and Mr. O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section X the following section:-

"SECTION X. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner of the department of revenue shall forgo collection of the tax per gallon as defined by section 1 of chapter 64A of the General Laws of motor vehicle fuel excise."

"SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary not more than 30 days following the resumption of the collection of the tax per gallon on motor vehicle fuel excise, the commissioner of the department of revenue shall certify to the comptroller of the commonwealth the amount of tax per gallon not collected and the comptroller shall transfer the certified amount from the general fund to the state transportation fund."

"SECTION XXX. SECTION X is repealed."

"SECTION XXXX. SECTION XXX shall go into effect on December 31, 2026."

"SECTION XXXXX. This act shall go into effect upon passage."

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-849

OTH 849

SWM Amendment

Mr. Rodrigues moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2B in item 1000-0008 by striking out the words “state management accounting and reporting system accounting” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- statewide enterprise accounting and financial reporting; and

by inserting after section 21 the following section:-

SECTION 21A. Said section 6 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, in line 21, after the word “use” the following words:- “or structure”; and

by inserting after section 22 the following 2 sections:-

SECTION 22A. Said section 6 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 51 and 52, the words “single and two-family residential use”.

SECTION 22B. Said section 6 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 60 and 61, the words “single and two-family residential use”.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-849-R1

Redraft OTH 849

SWM Amendment

Mr. Rodrigues moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 0640-0300, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended to Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center, Inc. in the town of Foxborough for facility upgrades and programming”; and

in said section 2, in said item 0640-0300, by striking out the figure “$27,448,072” and inserting in place thereof the following figure “$27,736,072”; and

in said section 2, in item 1410-0012, by striking out the figure “$9,482,339” and inserting in place thereof the following figure “$10,302,339”; and

in said section 2, in item 1410-1616, by striking out the figure “$250,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure “$325,000”; and

in said section 2, in item 1599-0026, by striking out the figure “$10,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$11,307,000”; and

in said section 2, in item 2000-0100, by striking out the figure “$19,749,035” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$19,929,035”; and

in said section 2, in item 2200-0100, by striking out the figure “$50,371,172” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$51,701,172”; and

in said section 2, in item 2200-0107, by striking out the figure “$488,747” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$1,138,747”; and

in said section 2, in item 2330-0100, by striking out the figure “$9,514,242” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$10,034,242”; and

in said section 2, in item 2511-0107, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended for Stone Soup Cafe in the city of Greenfield to support its community programming; provided further, that not less than $70,000 shall be expended to Franklin County Community Meals Program, Inc. for its programming and meal services”; and

in said section 2, in said item 2511-0107, by striking out the figure “$100,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$1,596,500”; and

in said section 2, in item 2810-0122, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $390,000 shall be expended to the department of conservation and recreation for improvements to Charlesgate park in the city of Boston”; and

in said section 2, in said item 2810-0122, by striking out the figure “$100,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure “$3,518,500”; and

in said section 2, in item 3000-2050, by striking out the words “; provided further, that not less than $500,000 shall be expended for a Stop Abuse For Every (SAFE) Child community pilot program to provide, coordinate and expand core services for families; provided further, that core services shall include, but not be limited to, home visiting, social and behavioral health services, substance use treatment and parental resiliency programs; provided further, that the pilot program shall support the coordination of services and referrals using existing resources; and provided further, that not later than December 16, 2026, the Children’s Trust Fund shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities on the progress of the pilot program and the mobilization of services at the family centers”; and

in said section 2, in item 4000-0005, by striking out the figure “$12,474,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$13,024,000”; and

in said section 2, in item 4000-0300, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended for Community Servings, Inc. to support the creation of a fully synchronized statewide logistics hub with precise route optimization to further  the efficient and equitable distribution of meals across the commonwealth; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for Sturdy Health Inc. in the city of Attleboro to provide additional staff for major and regional events in the surrounding area”; and

in said section 2, in said item 4000-0300, by striking out the figure “$155,439,918” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$156,156,918”; and

in said section 2, in item 4003-0122, by striking out the figure “$1,311,246” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$1,816,246”; and

in said section 2, in item 4510-0110, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for Manet Community Health Center Incorporated for the nurse care management program”; and

in said section 2, in said item 4510-0110, by striking out the figure “$6,218,222” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$6,618,222”; and

in said section 2, in item 4512-0205, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $45,000 shall be expended in equal amounts to the following substance abuse coalitions and community partnerships: (i) Canton Alliance Against Substance Abuse; (ii) Sharon Substance Prevention and Resource Coalition; and (iii) Norton Opioid Prevention and Education Collaborative N.O.P.E.”; and

in said section 2, in item 4512-0205, by striking out the figure “$100,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$970,000”; and

in said section 2, in item 4513-1005, by striking out the figure “$25,036,673” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$25,436,673”; and

in said section 2, in item 4513-1112, by adding the following words;- “; provided further, that not less than $20,000 shall be expended for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation Inc. in the city known as the town of North Attleborough to provide assistance to patients and their families experiencing emotional and financial hardships due to cancer diagnosis”; and

in said section 2, in said item 4513-1112, by striking out the figure “$12,295,532” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$13,277,134”; and

in said section 2, in item 4590-1503, by striking out the figure “$18,968,353” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $19,193,353”; and

in said section 2, in item 4590-1507, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the Hockomock Area YMCA for their Integration Initiative to provide unique, innovative and impactful opportunities for children, teens and young adults with special needs and their families; and

in said section 2, in said item 4590-1507, by striking out the figure “$7,200,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$9,745,000”; and

in said section 2, in item 5042-5000, by striking out the figure “$136,668,638” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$137,968,638”; and

in said section 2, in item 5046-0000, by striking out the figure “$694,776,424” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$695,126,424”; and

in said section 2, in item 5911-1003, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for Attleboro Enterprises Incorporated for the creation of a program center to support adults with a broad range of neurodiverse and intellectual and developmental disabilities in the town of Plainville and for the creation of a wheelchair garden in the city known as the town of North Attleborough; and

in said section 2, in said item 5911-1003, by striking out the figure “$107,462,218” and inserting in place thereof the following figure “$107,612,218”; and

in said section 2, in item 7004-0099, by striking out the figure “$21,785,301” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$22,160,301”; and

in said section 2, in item 7004-0107, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended for Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, Inc.   to develop a collaborative partnership for implementing innovative housing solutions, including education related to and the development of accessory dwelling units; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to Manna Kitchen, Inc. for its work to support unhoused and housing insecure individuals at St. John's Episcopal Church in the city of Northampton; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the Center for Human Development, Incorporated for a grant to the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness to support housing stability and homelessness prevention programs”; and

in said section 2, in said item 7004-0107, by striking out the figure “$100,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure “$2,670,000”; and

in said section 2, in item 7007-0952, by striking out the figure “$4,700,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure “$5,075,000”; and

in said section 2, in item 7008-1116, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended the town of Ashland for the renovation and improvement of the Ashland community center; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the town of Holliston for municipal employee mental health support; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to the town of Medway for ADA improvements to recreational facilities; provided further, that not less than $105,000 shall be expended to Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, Inc. to support efforts to address the primary care crisis; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Friends of the Wendell Meetinghouse, Inc. for accessibility improvements, repairs and modifications;  provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the town of Royalston for design, engineering, repairs and improvements to the King street bridge; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to the Swansea redevelopment authority to create an urban renewal plan along the Rt. 6 corridor in the town of Swansea; provided further, that not less than $15,000 shall be expended to Keep Massachusetts Beautiful Inc. for expanded programming, marketing and supplies; provided further, that not less than $40,000 shall be expended to the BoydenlLibrary in the town of Foxborough for the purchase of new furniture, equipment for maker space, children's room and facilities and information technology upgrades; provided further, that not less than $40,000 shall be expended to the city of Attleboro for the renovation of the educational amphitheater at the Capron Park zoo”; and

in said section 2, in said item 7008-1116, by striking out the figure “$100,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$11,730,434”; and

in said section 2, in said item 7010-0005, by striking out the figure “$13,664,723” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$16,039,723”; and

in said section 2, in item 7010-1192, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to Framingham public schools for the purchase of a wheelchair-accessible van; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to Westport public schools to conduct a traffic study; provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended to Confikids Inc. to provide children with access to recreational sports, arts and activities; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to Mansfield public schools for expenses related to the creation of a multimedia lab space in Mansfield high school to offer production courses for students”; and

in said section 2, in said item 7010-1192, by striking out the figure “$100,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$5,276,566”; and

in said section 2, in item 8000-0313, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to the Natick police and fire departments    for the purchase of health and safety training and equipment; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to the Franklin Regional Council of Governments for efforts to improve the delivery of emergency medical services in Franklin county; provided further, that not less than $140,000 shall be expended for the town of Lakeville to support modernizing and transferring public safety communication equipment; provided further, that not less than $110,000 shall be expended for the town of Rochester to support public safety including, but not limited to, the purchase of body-worn cameras for the police department and a new truck for the fire department; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to the Swansea police department for de-escalation training; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended to the Westport police department  for de-escalation training; provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul District Council of Attleboro for the Attleboro Cincentian immersion reentry project that serves incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals throughout Bristol county; provided further, that not less than $15,000 shall be expended to the city of Attleboro for the purchase of active shooter protective gear and response equipment”; and

in said section 2, in said item 8000-0313, by striking out the figure “$100,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$3,272,000”; and

in said section 2, in item 8324-0050, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to the Framingham fire department to support senior home safety assessments; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the Somerset fire department to purchase self-contained breathing apparatuses; provided further, that not less than $20,000 shall be expended to the city known as the town of North Attleborough for the purchase of new turnout gear for firefighters”; and

in said section 2, in said item 8324-0050, by striking out the figure “$100,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$1,837,000”; and

in said section 2, in item 8910-0202, by striking out the figure “$8,548” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$786,480”; and

in said section 2, in item 8910-1030, by striking out the figure “8910-1030” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “8910-1031”; and

in said section 2, in item 9110-9002, by adding the following words:- “; provided further, that not less than $48,000 shall be expended to the Holliston council on aging for ADA accessibility upgrades; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to the Holliston council on aging to support counseling costs; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the Hopkinton senior center for the replacement of kitchen appliances; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the Hopkinton senior center for the installation of an exterior door in the dining room”; and

in said section 2, in said item 9110-9002, by striking out the figure “$29,224,266” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “$29,976,266”; and

in section 2B in item 1000-0008 by striking out the words “state management accounting and reporting system accounting” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- statewide enterprise accounting and financial reporting; and

in section 4, by striking out, in lines 9 through 11, inclusive, the words “, not later than 45 days after filing, a majority of the members of either branch on the committee do not disapprove of the regulations” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- a majority of the members of either branch on the committee do not disapprove of the regulations within 45 days after the filing; and

by inserting after section 21 the following section:-

“SECTION 21A. Said section 6 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “use”, in line 21, the following words:- “or structure”; and

by inserting after section 22 the following section:-

“SECTION 22A. Said section 6 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 51 and 52, and in lines 60 and 61, the words “ for single and two-family residential use”, each time they appear.”; and

in section 33, by inserting after the word “labor”, in lines 493 and 497, each time it appears, the following word:- “reimbursement”.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-868-R3

3rd Redraft OTH 868

Insurance Guidance

Mr. Rush moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 28, in proposed section 116, by inserting after the word “feature”, in line 305, the following words:- “; provided, however, that sellers of products insuring property or liability may comply with this paragraph by sending written notice in combination with a policy renewal proposal not more than 50 and not less than 5 calendar days prior to the policy renewal effective date.”; and

in said section 28, in subsection (b) of said proposed section 116, by adding the following paragraph:

“(3) Where a product with a negative option feature is marketed or sold in conjunction with another party’s product, the party responsible for billing the consumer for the product with a negative option feature shall provide the notice required under this subsection; provided, however, that the payment of insurance premiums through a mortgage escrow account shall not transfer the notice obligation to the mortgage lender or servicer.”; and

in said section 28, in subsection (d) of said proposed section 116, by striking out the second sentence.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-868

OTH 868

Insurance Guidance

Mr. Rush moved that the proposed new text be amended Section 28 by adding after the word feature in line 305 the following language; “Products insuring property or liability may comply with this section by notice sent in combination with a policy renewal proposal, no more than fifty (50) and no fewer than five (5) calendar days prior to the policy renewal effective date.”

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-868-R1

Redraft OTH 868

Insurance Guidance

Mr. Rush moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 28, in proposed section 116, in subsection (b), by adding the following paragraph:- 

“The party responsible for billing the consumer for the product with a negative option feature shall provide the notice; provided, however, that the payment of insurance premiums through a mortgage escrow account shall not transfer the notice obligation to the mortgage lender or servicer. Sellers of products insuring property or liability may comply with this paragraph by sending written notice in combination with a policy renewal proposal; provided, however, that such notice shall be sent not more than 50 and not fewer than 5 calendar days prior to the policy renewal effective date.”; and in said section 28, in proposed subsection (d) of section 116, by striking out the second sentence.

Budget Amendment ID: FY2027-S4-868-R2

2nd Redraft OTH 868

Insurance Guidance

Mr. Rush moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 28, in proposed section 116, in subsection (b), by adding the following paragraph:- 

“The party responsible for billing the consumer for the product with a negative option feature shall provide the notice; provided, however, that the payment of insurance premiums through a mortgage escrow account shall not transfer the notice obligation to the mortgage lender or servicer. Sellers of products insuring property or liability may comply with this paragraph by sending written notice in combination with a policy renewal proposal; provided, however, that such notice shall be sent not more than 50 and not fewer than 5 calendar days prior to the policy renewal effective date.”; and

in said section 28, in proposed subsection (d) of section 116, by striking out the second sentence.