An Act strengthening nondiscrimination policies
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 12/18/2025 | Senate | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means |
| 10/8/2025 | Joint | Hearing rescheduled to 10/08/2025 from 10:00 AM-12:15 PM in B-1 and Virtual — Hearing updated to New End Time |
| 9/25/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 10/08/2025 from 10:00 AM-5:00 PM in B-1 |
| 2/27/2025 | House | House concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Referred to the committee on Labor and Workforce Development |
No additional cosponsors.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J43 | Favorable | 1 entries |
Chapter 151B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:- "Section 11: Each executive department and agency shall develop, adhere to and update a plan to address the nondiscrimination provisions as set forth in this chapter. The plan shall apply to all personnel, including, but not limited to, volunteers and interns, agency line staff, managers, administrators, executives, contracted vendors and program staff (hereinafter “personnel”). Each plan shall include, but not be limited to: descriptions of and statements prohibiting discrimination as outlined in this chapter; procedures for collecting and maintaining demographic data; procedures for all personnel and others to report discrimination or retaliation; a provision that reports of discrimination or retaliation may be made anonymously; procedures for promptly responding to and investigating reports of discrimination or retaliation; the range of disciplinary actions that may be taken against a perpetrator for discrimination or retaliation; provided, however, that the disciplinary actions shall include strategies for protecting a person who reports discrimination from retaliation and provides information during an investigation of discrimination. The nondiscrimination plan may detail a plan and timeline for personnel training on nondiscrimination and equal access under chapter 151B of the general laws. The plan shall be updated at least biennially.
Each executive department and agency shall submit nondiscrimination plans, as outlined in section 1, to the Clerks of the House and Senate, the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity no later than January 1, 2027.
SECTION 1. Chapter 151B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:- "Section 11: Each executive department and agency shall develop, adhere to and update a plan to address the nondiscrimination provisions as set forth in this chapter. The plan shall apply to all personnel, including, but not limited to, volunteers and interns, agency line staff, managers, administrators, executives, contracted vendors and program staff (hereinafter “personnel”). Each plan shall include, but not be limited to: descriptions of and statements prohibiting discrimination as outlined in this chapter; procedures for collecting and maintaining demographic data; procedures for all personnel and others to report discrimination or retaliation; a provision that reports of discrimination or retaliation may be made anonymously; procedures for promptly responding to and investigating reports of discrimination or retaliation; the range of disciplinary actions that may be taken against a perpetrator for discrimination or retaliation; provided, however, that the disciplinary actions shall include strategies for protecting a person who reports discrimination from retaliation and provides information during an investigation of discrimination. The nondiscrimination plan may detail a plan and timeline for personnel training on nondiscrimination and equal access under chapter 151B of the general laws. The plan shall be updated at least biennially. SECTION 2. Each executive department and agency shall submit nondiscrimination plans, as outlined in section 1, to the Clerks of the House and Senate, the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity no later than January 1, 2027.