H 5493

HOUSE . . . . . . . No. 5493
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  ______________________________________
  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 9, 2026.
    The committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the message
from Her Excellency the Governor recommending legislation relative to
making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing
certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects
(House, No. 5377), reports, in part, recommending that the accompanying
bill ought to pass (House, No. 5493) [Total Appropriation:
$227,272,868.00].
  For the committee,
  AARON MICHLEWITZ.
  FILED ON: 6/9/2026
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5493
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _______________
  In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
  (2025-2026)
  _______________
     An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain
     existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects.
  Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purposes, which are
     to to forthwith make supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and to make certain
     changes in law, each of which is immediately necessary to carry out those appropriations or to
     accomplish other important public purposes, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency
     law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
     of the same, as follows:
1SECTION 1. To provide for supplementing certain items in the general appropriation act
2 and other appropriation acts for fiscal year 2026, the sums set forth in section 2 are hereby
3 appropriated from the General Fund or the Transitional Escrow Fund established in section 16 of
4 chapter 76 of the acts of 2021, as amended by section 4 of chapter 98 of the acts of 2022, unless
5 specifically designated otherwise in this act or in those appropriation acts, for the several
6 purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this act or in those appropriation acts, and
7 subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year ending June 30,
8 2026. These sums shall be in addition to any amounts previously appropriated and made
9 available for the purposes of those items. These sums shall be made available through the fiscal
10 year ending June 30, 2026.
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11 SECTION 2.
12      EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
13Office of the Secretary
14 1595-6153    No Cost Call Trust Fund Transfer…………………………….$22,520,889
15Department of Revenue
16 1233-2401    Chapter 40S Education Payments………………………………$731,409
17EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
18Department of Public Health
19 4512-0200    Bureau of Substance Addiction Services……………………...$14,071,288
20    EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES
21Housing and Livable Communities
22 7004-0100    Operation of Homelessness Programs………………………….$8,181,007
23 7004-9315    Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Fee Retained Revenue……...$2,000,000
24EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY
25Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
26 8000-0105    Office of the Chief Medical Examiner…………………………$1,133,659
27Massachusetts State Police
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288100-0102        Troop F Retained Revenue……………………………………..$3,000,000
298100-1004        State Police Crime Laboratory………………………………….$2,881,350
30Military Division
318700-0001        Military Division………………………………………………..$1,733,000
32Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
338800-0001        Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency………………$9,470,266
34SECTION 2A. To provide for certain unanticipated obligations of the commonwealth, to
35 provide for an alteration of purpose for current appropriations, and to meet certain requirements
36 of law, the sums set forth in this section are hereby appropriated from the General Fund or the
37 Transitional Escrow Fund established in section 16 of chapter 76 of the acts of 2021, as amended
38 by section 4 of chapter 98 of the acts of 2022, unless specifically designated otherwise in this
39 section, for the several purposes and subject to the conditions specified in this section, and
40 subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds for the fiscal year ending June 30,
41 2026. Except as otherwise stated, these sums shall be made available through the fiscal year
42 ending June 30, 2027.
43MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICT ATTORNEYS’ ASSOCIATION
440340-0403        For technology costs related to Massachusetts Criminal Procedure Rule 14
45 implementation and other technology costs; provided, that funds may be transferred to the
46 district attorneys' offices for this purpose…………………………………………….$1,750,000
47TRANSPORTATION
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48Massachusetts Department of Transportation
491596-2527       For the cost of snow and ice removal services incurred by the
50 Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the department of conservation and recreation;
51 provided, that funds in this item may be transferred to the Massachusetts Transportation Trust
52 Fund established under section 4 of chapter 6C of the General Laws; and provided further, that
53 funds in this item may be transferred to the department of conservation and
54 recreation……………………………………………………………………………$159,800,000
55Education and Transportation Fund…100%
56SECTION 3. Chapter 10 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section
57 35 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
58Section 35. (a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a
59 separate fund, to be known as the State Lottery and Gaming Fund. Said fund shall consist of all
60 revenues received from the sale of lottery tickets or shares, and all other monies credited or
61 transferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law.
62(b) In order to provide local property tax relief and continue services at the local level,
63 revenues of the lottery commission from sales pursuant to subsection (a) of section 25 shall be
64 expended only for the following purposes:
65(i) for the payment of prizes to the holders of winning lottery tickets or shares;
66(ii) for the expenses of the commission in administering and operating the lottery, as
67 certified by the secretary of administration and finance; provided, that the state treasurer shall
68 transfer the certified amount to the General Fund for said purposes; and
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69(iii) for budgeted aid to cities and towns as provided in section 18C of chapter 58, subject
70 to appropriation.
71(c) In order to expand access to affordable, high-quality childcare, revenues of the lottery
72 commission from sales pursuant to subsection (b) of section 25 shall be expended only for the
73 following purposes:
74(i) for the payment of prizes to the holders of winning lottery tickets or shares;
75(ii) for the expenses of the commission in administering and operating the lottery; and
76(iii) for the Early Education and Care Operational Grant Fund established by section 19
77 of chapter 15D, subject to appropriation.
78(d) For the purposes of accommodating discrepancies between the receipt of revenues
79 and related expenditures, the commission may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify
80 for payment expenses incurred in anticipation of revenues.
81SECTION 4. Subsection (a) of section 78 of said chapter 10, as appearing in the 2024
82 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following 4 paragraphs:-
83As used in this section, the term “Korean Emergency” shall mean the period on or after
84 June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955.
85As used in this section, the term “Persian Gulf War” shall mean the period on or after
86 August 2, 1990 to April 10, 1991.
87As used in this section, the term “Vietnam Conflict” shall mean the period on or after
88 July 1, 1958 to May 17, 1975.
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89As used in this section, the term “World War II” shall mean the period on or after
90 September 16, 1940 to July 25, 1947.
91SECTION 5. Said section 78 of said chapter 10, as so appearing, is hereby further
92 amended by inserting after the word “served”, in line 17, the following words:- , or is currently
93 serving,.
94SECTION 6. Said section 78 of said chapter 10, as so appearing, is hereby further
95 amended by striking out, in lines 22 to 24, inclusive, the words “have been in the commonwealth
96 for a period of not less than 6 months before the time of the person’s entry into the service” and
97 inserting in place thereof the following words:- be in the commonwealth.
98SECTION 7. Said section 78 of said chapter 10, as so appearing, is hereby further
99 amended by inserting after the word “Medal”, in line 49, the following words:- , or equivalent
100 Expeditionary Medal,.
101SECTION 8. Said section 78 of said chapter 10, as so appearing, is hereby further
102 amended by striking out, in lines 55 to 57, inclusive, the words “have been in the commonwealth
103 for a period of not less than 6 months immediately before the time of the person’s entry into
104 service” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- be the commonwealth.
105SECTION 9. Subsection (b) of said section 78 of said chapter 10, as so appearing, is
106 hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-
107(6) Upon application, as provided in this section and as specified in rules and regulations
108 established by the state treasurer, there shall be allowed and paid out of the treasury of the
109 commonwealth, without further appropriation, the sums specified in such rules and regulations to
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110 each person who has served in the armed forces of the United States in active service as part of
111 World War II, the Korean Emergency, the Vietnam Conflict or the Persian Gulf War; provided,
112 however, that the domicile of a person on account of whose service the application is filed shall
113 be the commonwealth.
114SECTION 10. Said section 78 of said chapter 10, as so appearing, is hereby further
115 amended by striking out, in line 68, the words “(i) mother or father” and inserting in place
116 thereof the following words:- (ii) mother or father.
117SECTION 11. The first paragraph of subsection (e) of said section 78 of said chapter 10,
118 as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the fifth and sixth sentences.
119SECTION 12. Said section 78 of said chapter 10, as so appearing, is hereby further
120 amended by striking out, in line 105, the word “section” and inserting in place thereof the
121 following word:- act.
122SECTION 13. Said section 78 of said chapter 10, as so appearing, is hereby further
123 amended by striking out, in lines 111 and 112, the word “designed” and inserting in place thereof
124 the following word:- designated.
125SECTION 14. Said section 78 of said chapter 10, as so appearing, is hereby further
126 amended by inserting after the word “service”, in line 123, the following words:- during the
127 enlistment period.
128SECTION 15. Section 7 of chapter 15D of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
129 amended by striking out, in lines 38 to 41, inclusive, the words “and all supported findings and
130 pending investigations of abuse or neglect available through the department of children and
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131 families consistent with sections 51B, 51E, and 51F of chapter 119” and inserting in place
132 thereof the following words:- all supported findings and pending investigations of abuse or
133 neglect available through the department of children and families, consistent with sections 51B,
134 51E and 51F of chapter 119, and information contained in the disabled persons protection
135 commission registry of abusive care providers, as established in section 15 of chapter 19C.
136SECTION 16. Paragraph (ii) of subsection (a) of said section 7 of said chapter 15D, as so
137 appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- The department shall further
138 obtain all information contained in the disabled persons protection commission registry of
139 abusive care providers consistent with section 15 of chapter 19C.
140SECTION 17. Section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
141 amended by inserting after the word “appeal”, in lines 179 and 180, the following words:- ;
142 provided, however, that assistance shall not be continued during the period of appeal for a
143 termination arising from a: (a) reasonable cause to believe that a member of the household is
144 engaging in or engaged in a criminal or significantly dangerous activity that threatens the health,
145 safety or security of self, other residents, guests or staff; or (b) lack of children or pregnant
146 women remaining in the household.
147SECTION 18. Subparagraph (1) of paragraph (G) of said section 30 of said chapter 23B,
148 as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Non-state-funded
149 overflow emergency shelter site” the following definition:-
150“Rapid track site”, a shelter site for unhoused families in the commonwealth that is
151 eligible to receive funding as a temporary respite site under item 1599-2625 of section 2A of
152 chapter 1 of the acts of 2025.
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153SECTION 19. Subparagraph (3) of said paragraph (G) of said section 30 of said chapter
154 23B, as appearing in section 4 of chapter 1 of the acts of 2025, is hereby further amended by
155 striking out the figure “6” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 9.
156SECTION 20. Said paragraph (G) of said section 30 of said chapter 23B, as amended by
157 said section 4 of said chapter 1, is hereby further amended by striking out subparagraph (8) and
158 inserting in place thereof the following subparagraph:-
159(8) The executive office shall maintain rapid track sites that shall be available to eligible
160 families, as determined by an assessment of family risk pursuant to guidance issued by the
161 executive office, and shall be subject to appropriation, rules, regulations and availability, for a
162 period of not more than 30 days, subject to any extensions upon written certification by the
163 secretary of housing and livable communities; provided, that rapid track sites shall only be
164 available to families who provide information sufficient to comply with paragraph (C½);
165 provided further, that the length of stay at a rapid track site shall constitute a benefit received
166 under the emergency housing assistance program for the purpose of calculating the length of stay
167 limit pursuant to subparagraph (3); and provided further, that placement in a rapid track site shall
168 not make a family ineligible for the bridge shelter track after proving eligibility pursuant to
169 section 7 of chapter 1 of the acts of 2025. This paragraph shall apply during any period in which
170 the secretary of housing and livable communities has determined that the shelter system is no
171 longer able to meet all current and projected demand for shelter from eligible families
172 considering the facts and circumstances then existing in the commonwealth.
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173SECTION 21. Section 5 of chapter 23J of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024
174 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 10, 11 and 22, the words “August
175 15”, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- January 30.
176SECTION 22. Section 9A of said chapter 23J, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
177 striking out, in lines 113 and 114, the words “or offshore wind organization” and inserting in
178 place thereof the following words:- , offshore wind organization or an entity engaged in port
179 infrastructure development or operation in support of the offshore wind industry.
180SECTION 23. Section 59 of chapter 23K of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
181 amended by striking out, in lines 29 and 30, the words “clause (c) of the second paragraph” and
182 inserting in place thereof the following words:- clause (iii) of subsection (b).
183SECTION 24. Section 63 of said chapter 23K, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
184 striking out, in lines 10 and 11, the words “clause (c) of the second paragraph” and inserting in
185 place thereof the following words:- clause (iii) of subsection (b).
186SECTION 25. Chapter 26 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
187 following section:-
188Section 13. (a) For the purposes of this section, “pharmacy benefit manager” shall have
189 the same meaning as defined in section 1 of chapter 176Y.
190(b) The commissioner of insurance may make and collect an assessment against
191 pharmacy benefit managers licensed by the division of insurance pursuant to section 2 of chapter
192 176Y to pay for the expenses related to the regulation and oversight of pharmacy benefit
193 managers, including, but not limited to: (i) defraying the cost of salaries of any financial analysts,
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194 licensing staff, market conduct specialists, attorneys, special investigators, staff with expertise in
195 pharmacy and pharmaceutical processes, senior health researchers, administrative staff or any
196 other staff as may be necessary, as determined by the commissioner; and (ii) compensating
197 consultants, as necessary, retained by the commissioner. Said assessment shall be made at a rate
198 sufficient to produce not less than $1,000,000 annually. The assessment amounts shall be
199 credited to the General Fund. The amount collected under this section shall be credited to the
200 funds to which the appropriations for the division of insurance are charged.
201(c) The assessment shall be allocated on a fair and reasonable basis among all pharmacy
202 benefit managers licensed by the commissioner. The funds produced by said assessments shall be
203 expended by the division, in addition to any other funds which may be appropriated, to assist in
204 defraying the general operating expenses related to the regulation and oversight of pharmacy
205 benefit managers and may be used to compensate consultants retained by the commissioner. A
206 pharmacy benefit manager licensed by the commissioner shall pay the amount so assessed
207 against it within 30 days after the date of the notice of assessment from the commissioner.
208SECTION 26. Section 39R of chapter 30 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024
209 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 5 and 6, 12 and 13 and 60 and 61,
210 the words “thirty-eight A½ to thirty-eight O, inclusive, of chapter seven”, each time it appears,
211 and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- 44 to 57, inclusive, of
212 chapter 7C.
213SECTION 27. The first paragraph of subdivision (4) of section 16 of chapter 32 of the
214 General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following 6 sentences:- If the
215 chair of the board determines that the volume of appeals has resulted in a backlog, the chair may,
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216 in writing, inform the attorney general, the public employee retirement administration
217 commission and the governor of the backlog and the need for additional board members to
218 address the backlog. If the backlog involves matters related to disability retirement or interim
219 benefits, the chair may also, in writing, inform the secretary of health and human services. Upon
220 notification by the chair of a backlog of appeals to the board, the attorney general, the public
221 employee retirement administration commission, the governor and, if such backlog involves
222 matters related to disability retirement or interim benefits, the secretary of health and human
223 services, each shall, subject to availability of staffing, designate or appoint such number of
224 additional members as determined by the chair, but not more than 4 additional members each;
225 provided, however, that the public employee retirement administration commission shall
226 designate or appoint additional members only to the extent necessary to address a backlog of
227 cases that do not pertain to disability retirement or interim benefits. The secretary of health and
228 human services may designate qualified staff from agencies within the executive office. The
229 additional members shall be designated or appointed in the manner and ratio of the board itself to
230 serve on the contributory retirement appeal board for not more than 3 years. The chair of the
231 board shall organize such additional members into panels assigned to each matter pending before
232 the contributory retirement appeal board, and a panel so organized shall be empowered to decide
233 and resolve the appeal; provided, that each panel so organized shall consist of 3 members
234 reflecting the membership of the board with a chair of the panel as determined by the chair of the
235 board.
236SECTION 28. Section 33 of chapter 36 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
237 amended by striking out the third paragraph, in lines 7 and 8, and inserting in place thereof the
238 following paragraph:-
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239Register: A sum equivalent to the salary of the clerk of the superior court department for
240 criminal business in the county of Suffolk.
241SECTION 29. Section 7 of chapter 70B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
242 amended by striking out, in line 3, the figure “$1,200,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the
243 following figure:- $1,300,000,000.
244SECTION 30. Said section 7 of said chapter 70B, as so appearing, is hereby further
245 amended by adding the following paragraph:-
246Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, for each fiscal year starting in fiscal year 2027,
247 following the authority’s review of its financial health and audited financial statements, the
248 authority may vote to award additional grants up to 10 per cent over the limit set forth in this
249 section. The amount of any such additional grants shall be calculated separately and shall not
250 impact the calculation of the annual limit in subsequent fiscal years. The authority may
251 periodically adopt guidelines and policies related to the administration of the annual limit and
252 additional grants.
253SECTION 31. Section 10 of said chapter 70B, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
254 striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following 2 sentences:- The grant
255 percentage for approved school projects shall be applied to eligible costs, as determined by the
256 authority in accordance with this chapter and any applicable regulations, policies or procedures
257 set forth by the authority to implement this chapter. Such grant percentage shall be calculated
258 based on the following formula; provided, however, that no grant percentage shall be greater
259 than 80 per cent, unless any such percentage reimbursement points in excess of 80 per cent are
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260 earned by an eligible applicant for achieving the standards necessary to be awarded incentive
261 percentage points by the authority in accordance with paragraph (C) of subsection (a).
262SECTION 32. Section 17 of said chapter 70B, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
263 striking out subsections (a) and (b) and inserting in place thereof the following 2 subsections:-
264(a) The authority shall submit an annual report to the governor, the house and senate
265 committees on ways and means and the joint committee on education.
266(b) The authority shall also conduct a periodic survey of the cities, towns and regional
267 school districts to determine the need for new school facility construction to meet demand. Such
268 periodic surveys shall include a listing of each school building within the commonwealth,
269 together with a description of its size, capacity, age and state of maintenance and whether such
270 school is likely to require construction, enlargement, reconstruction, rehabilitation or
271 improvement due to such factors, including, but not limited to, deterioration, anticipated
272 increases in school-age population or lack of adequate facilities to meet educational standards.
273 Upon completion, the authority shall make such periodic surveys publicly available and shall
274 submit such periodic surveys to the governor, the house and senate committees on ways and
275 means and the joint committee on education.
276SECTION 33. Section 72W of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is
277 hereby amended by inserting after the fifth paragraph the following paragraph:-
278The department may, without a prior hearing, suspend or refuse to renew the certification
279 of a nurses’ aide who poses an immediate and serious threat to the public health, safety or
280 welfare; provided, that a hearing shall be afforded to the nurses’ aide, pursuant to chapter 30A,
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281 not later than 7 days after the department’s action to determine whether such summary action
282 was warranted.
283SECTION 34. Section 72W½ of said chapter 111, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
284 striking out subsection (g) and inserting in place thereof the following 2 subsections:-
285(g) The department may, without a prior hearing, suspend or refuse to renew the
286 certification of a certified medication aide who poses an immediate and serious threat to the
287 public health, safety or welfare; provided, that a hearing shall be afforded to the certified
288 medication aide, pursuant to chapter 30A, not later than 7 days after the department’s action to
289 determine whether such summary action was warranted.
290(h) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out this section.
291SECTION 35. Chapter 112 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
292 section 61A the following section:-
293Section 61B. A board of registration under the supervision of the department of public
294 health may, without a prior hearing, suspend or refuse to renew the license of a licensee who
295 poses an immediate and serious threat to the public health, safety or welfare; provided, that a
296 hearing shall be afforded to the licensee, pursuant to chapter 30A, not later than 7 days after the
297 board’s action to determine whether such summary action was warranted.
298SECTION 36. Chapter 152 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out
299 section 25A, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the
300 following section:-
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301Section 25A. In order to promote the health, safety and welfare of employees, every
302 employer shall provide for the payment to their employees of the compensation provided for by
303 this chapter in the following manner:
304(1) By insurance with an insurer or by membership in a workers’ compensation self-
305 insurance group, established pursuant to the provisions of sections 25E to 25U, inclusive; or
306(2) Subject to the rules of the department, by obtaining from the department annually a
307 license as a self-insurer by conforming to either subparagraph (a) or (b) and to subparagraph (c)
308 if required. Every employer desiring to be licensed as a self-insurer shall make application for
309 such license on a form provided by the department. The application shall contain: (1) a sworn
310 itemized statement of the assets and liabilities of the applicant; (2) a payroll report for the
311 preceding fiscal year of the applicant; and (3) a detailed description of the nature and kind of
312 business carried on.
313(a) By keeping on deposit with the state treasurer in trust for the benefit and security of
314 employees such amount of securities, not less in market value than $100,000, as may be required
315 by the department, said securities to be in the form of cash, bonds, stocks or other evidences of
316 indebtedness as the department may require, and to be used, liquidated and disbursed only upon
317 order of the department for the purposes of paying the benefits provided for by this chapter. The
318 department shall, at least annually, and at its discretion more frequently, determine the liabilities
319 of a self-insurer both incurred or to be incurred because of personal injuries to employees under
320 this chapter. The department shall require an additional deposit or further security when the sum
321 of the self-insurer’s liability both incurred or to be incurred exceeds the deposit or any required
322 reinsurance, or permit a decrease of said deposit provided the value of said deposit in no case
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323 shall be less than $100,000. The department may permit a substitution of securities in place of
324 those deposited. Interest, dividends and other income from said deposit or deposits shall be
325 payable to the employer that deposited them, unless the department directs otherwise. The
326 deposit or deposits may be returned to the employer if the employer shall: (i) insure with an
327 insurer under paragraph (1); (ii) qualify as a self-insurer under subparagraph (b); or (iii) cease to
328 transact business in the commonwealth; provided, that the employer shall demonstrate, to the
329 satisfaction of the department that they are not under any obligation to pay compensation under
330 this chapter, or, if the department so requires, they furnish the department with a single premium
331 non-cancellable policy, insuring the employer against any liability that may have arisen under
332 this chapter, or with a bond executed as surety by some company with a rating of “A” or higher
333 authorized to transact the business of workers’ compensation insurance in this commonwealth, in
334 an amount and form approved by the department, guaranteeing the payment of any liability on
335 the employer’s part that may have arisen under this chapter. No deposit so deposited shall be
336 assignable or subject to attachment or be liable in any way for the debt of the self-insurer. If an
337 employer engaged in interstate or foreign commerce certifies that the laws of the United States
338 provide for liability for injury to or death of its employees, the deposit shall be returned to the
339 employer less such amount as determined by the department as necessary to satisfy against
340 liability that may already have arisen under this chapter; provided, that such determination by the
341 department shall be reviewable by the superior court for the county in which the employer
342 resides, or, in the case of a corporation, where said corporation has a principal place of business.
343 Any bond issued pursuant to this subparagraph shall remain in full force and effect until a new
344 bond is issued on the same conditions as a bond issued under subparagraph (b) and with an
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345 effective date approved by the department, and shall be subject to all provisions of this chapter
346 and 452 C.M.R. 5.00.
347(b) By furnishing annually a bond running to the commonwealth, with a surety company
348 with a rating of “A” or higher authorized to transact business in the commonwealth as surety, in
349 such form as may be approved by the department and in such amount not less than $100,000 as
350 may be required by the department. The bond shall be upon the condition that if the license of
351 the principal shall be revoked, or if the principal shall cease to transact business in the
352 commonwealth, or if the department shall refuse to renew the license, or if the principal shall
353 insure with an insurer, then the department may, in its discretion, demand, and the principal then
354 shall, deposit with the state treasurer 1 of the following: (i) an amount of securities equal to the
355 penal sum of the bond; (ii) a single premium non-cancellable policy issued by some insurance
356 company authorized to transact the business of workers’ compensation insurance in the
357 commonwealth, insuring the principal against any liability that may have arisen under this
358 chapter; or (iii) a bond executed as surety by some company with an “A” rating or above
359 authorized to transact the business aforesaid in the commonwealth, in an amount and form
360 approved by the department, guaranteeing the payment of any liability on the principal’s part that
361 may have arisen under this chapter. Unless the department has made such demand and the
362 principal has made such deposit with the treasurer, such bond shall remain in full force and effect
363 for any and all liabilities of the self-insurer under this chapter. No deposit with the state treasurer
364 under this section shall be assignable or subject to attachment or be liable in any way for the debt
365 of the self-insurer.
366The department shall, at least annually, determine the liabilities of a self-insurer both
367 incurred or to be incurred because of personal injuries to employees under this chapter. The
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368 department may at any time require an additional bond, similarly conditioned, or further security
369 or permit a decrease in the amount of said bond; provided, that the amount of the bond or the
370 bonds in no case shall be less than $100,000. The liability of the surety shall not exceed in the
371 aggregate the penal sum or sums stated in any such annual bond or bonds or in any endorsements
372 giving effect to any such increase or reduction. The department may permit a substitution of a
373 new bond or bonds for the bond or bonds that have been furnished and shall return the old bond
374 or bonds to the self-insurer as soon as a new annual bond has been obtained. Any bond for which
375 the department permits or requires substitution shall remain in full force and effect until a new
376 bond is obtained with an effective date approved by the department. When a surety bond is
377 activated under this chapter, the surety bond company shall, within 10 days of the activation,
378 commence payment of any liabilities that may arise or have arisen under this chapter on behalf of
379 the principal.
380(c) As a further guarantee of a self-insurer’s ability to pay the benefits provided for by
381 this chapter to injured employees, every self-insurer shall make arrangements satisfactory to the
382 department, by reinsurance, to protect it from extraordinary losses or losses caused by 1 disaster.
383Such reinsurance shall be: (i) in such amounts and form as the department may approve;
384 and (ii) effected with a company as provided in section 20 of chapter 175; provided, that the
385 minimum amount shall be not less than $500,000. Such reinsurance shall provide that the use or
386 disposition of any money received by a self-insurer or former self-insurer under any such
387 reinsurance shall be subject to the approval of the department, and no such money shall be
388 assignable or subject to attachment or be liable in any way for the debt of the self-insurer unless
389 incurred under this chapter. In the event that a surety bond is activated under this section, such
390 reinsurance shall continue and such reinsurer shall continue to make payments on claims for
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391 which payments have already commenced, commence payment on claims that reach the
392 retention level set in the applicable reinsurance policy and, upon exhaustion of the surety bond or
393 development of any deficiency in the bond, commence or continue payments for any liabilities
394 that may arise or have arisen under this chapter.
395The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to common carriers by railroad that are
396 subject to the provisions of the federal Employers Liability Act.
397(3) The department may: (i) make rules governing self-insurers; and (ii) revoke or refuse
398 to renew the license of a self-insurer because of the failure of such self-insurer promptly to make
399 payments of compensation provided for by this chapter, or for any other reasonable cause. Any
400 person aggrieved by the action of the department in refusing to grant a license or in revoking, or
401 refusing to renew, a license of a self-insurer under this section or by the action of the department
402 in requiring an additional deposit or further security under paragraph (a) of this section, or in
403 requiring a further bond or security for an additional sum under paragraph (b) of this section may
404 demand a hearing before the department, and if, after said hearing, the department denies their
405 petition, the person may within 10 days after receipt of a notice stating reasons for such denial,
406 file a petition in the superior court for Suffolk county for a review thereof; but the filing of such
407 a petition shall not suspend the action of the department unless a stay thereof shall be allowed by
408 the justice pending a final determination by the court. The court shall summarily hear the petition
409 and may make any appropriate order or decree.
410(4)(a) The commissioner of insurance shall require each insurer issuing a policy under
411 this chapter to offer, as a part of the policy or as an optional endorsement to the policy,
412 deductibles, including reasonable small deductibles optional to the policyholder for benefits
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413 payable under this chapter. Deductible amounts offered shall be fully disclosed to the prospective
414 policyholders in writing in amounts determined by the commissioner. The policyholder
415 exercising the deductible option shall choose only 1 deductible amount.
416(b) If the policyholder exercises the option and chooses a deductible, the insured
417 employer shall be liable for the amount of the deductible for benefits paid for each compensable
418 claim of work injury suffered by an employee or, at the option of the policyholder, an aggregate
419 deductible as determined by the commissioner. The insurer shall pay all or part of the deductible
420 amount, whichever is applicable, to a compensable claim, to the person or medical provider
421 entitled to the benefits conferred by this chapter and then seek reimbursement from the insured
422 employer for the applicable deductible amount. The payment or nonpayment of deductible
423 amounts by the insured employer to the insurer shall be treated under the policy insuring the
424 liability for workers’ compensation in the same manner as payment or nonpayment of premiums.
425(c) Optional deductibles shall be offered in each policy insuring liability for workers’
426 compensation that is issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed under this chapter on or
427 after a date to be determined by the commissioner, unless an insured employer and insurer agree
428 to renegotiate a workers’ compensation policy in effect, so as to include a provision allowing for
429 a deductible.
430(d) Premium reductions for deductibles shall be determined by the commissioner of
431 insurance. The commissioner of insurance may adopt rules or promulgate regulations to enforce
432 this section relative to workers’ compensation insurance deductibles.
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433(e) This subsection shall not apply to employers who are approved to self-insure against
434 liability for workers’ compensation or group self-insurance funds for workers’ compensation
435 established pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
436(f) The commissioner of insurance may promulgate regulations to enforce the provisions
437 of this section.
438SECTION 37. Section 7 of chapter 175M of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
439 amended by striking out, in lines 26, 68, 72 and 77, the figure “140”, each time it appears, and
440 inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- 120.
441SECTION 38. Chapter 731 of the acts of 1945 is hereby repealed.
442SECTION 39. Chapter 210 of the acts of 1946 is hereby repealed.
443SECTION 40. Chapter 581 of the acts of 1946 is hereby repealed.
444SECTION 41. Chapter 440 of the acts of 1953 is hereby repealed.
445SECTION 42. Chapter 646 of the acts of 1968 is hereby repealed.
446SECTION 43. Chapter 325 of the acts of 1969 is hereby repealed.
447SECTION 44. Subsection (e) of section 9 of chapter 152 of the acts of 1997 is hereby
448 amended by inserting after the word “Fund” the following words:- ; and provided further, that
449 the surcharge shall not apply to vehicular rental transaction contracts entered into with a car-
450 sharing organization, as defined in section 32J of chapter 90 of the General Laws.
451SECTION 45. Section 16 of chapter 130 of the acts of 2005 is hereby repealed.
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452SECTION 46. Section 71 of chapter 10 of the acts of 2015, as amended by chapter 146 of
453 the acts of 2020, is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “2026” and inserting in
454 place thereof the following figure:- 2032.
455SECTION 47. Chapter 183 of the acts of 2022 is hereby amended by striking out section
456 4 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
457Section 4. The parcels of land that may be transferred to the department of agricultural
458 resources pursuant to section 3 contain approximately 175 acres, and are shown as the
459 agricultural fields numbered 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14A, 14C, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 22 on the
460 plan entitled “Plan of Land in Templeton, MA” prepared by Northeast Survey Consultants and
461 dated July 27, 2017 on file with the division of capital asset management and maintenance,
462 subject to modifications pursuant to section 3 and the parcel shown as AF13 and the western
463 portion of AF1, both of which are owned by the commonwealth and currently used as
464 agricultural fields, containing approximately 54 acres on the plan entitled “Plan of Land in
465 Templeton, MA & Phillipston, MA” prepared by Northeast Survey Consultants and dated March
466 18, 2025 and recorded in Worcester county registry of deeds book 983, page 11.
467SECTION 48. Said chapter 183 is hereby further amended by striking out section 6 and
468 inserting in place thereof the following section:-
469Section 6. The agricultural fields and parcels that may be conveyed pursuant to section 5
470 are the agricultural fields numbered 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 14B and the parcels labeled LA 2, LA 3
471 and LA 4 on the plan entitled “Plan of Land in Templeton, MA” prepared by Northeast Survey
472 Consultants and dated July 27, 2017 on file with the division of capital asset management and
473 maintenance, subject to modifications pursuant to section 5, and the parcels shown as SP2, SP6
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474 and the eastern portion of AF1 containing approximately 10 acres on the plan entitled “Plan of
475 Land in Templeton, MA & Phillipston MA” prepared by Northeast Survey Consultants and dated
476 March 18, 2025 and recorded in Worcester county registry of deeds book 983, page 11.
477SECTION 49. Item 1596-2511 of section 2A of chapter 7 of the acts of 2025 is hereby
478 amended by adding the following words:- ; provided further, that the commissioner of early
479 education and care may transfer funds from this item to items 3000-3060 and 3000-4060.
480SECTION 50. Item 7004-9315 of section 2 of chapter 9 of the acts of 2025 is hereby
481 amended by striking out the figure “$3,571,512”, each time it appears, and inserting in place
482 thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $5,571,512.
483SECTION 51. Item 8100-0102 of said section 2 of said chapter 9 is hereby amended by
484 striking out the figure “$52,000,000”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each
485 instance, the following figure:- $55,000,000.
486SECTION 52. Item 1599-1778 of section 2 of chapter 14 of the acts of 2025 is hereby
487 amended by inserting after the word “community”, the second time it appears, the following
488 words:- and such funds shall be made available until December 31, 2026.
489SECTION 53. Notwithstanding section 23 of chapter 59 of the General Laws, section 31
490 of chapter 44 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, with the
491 approval of the director of accounts, a city or town may amortize over the subsequent 3 fiscal
492 years, in equal installments or more rapidly, the amount of its deficit related to the outbreak of
493 the 2019 novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, and subsequent variants. The
494 commissioner of revenue shall issue guidelines or instructions for reporting the amortization of
495 deficits authorized by this section. The local appropriating authority, as defined in section 21C of
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496 said chapter 59, shall adopt a deficit amortization schedule in accordance with the department of
497 revenue’s guidelines or instructions under this section before setting the municipality’s next
498 fiscal year tax rate.
499SECTION 54. There shall be a special commission to study the functions of the various
500 registries of deeds and examine opportunities for consolidation.
501The commission shall evaluate and report on the organizational structure of all registries
502 of deeds and make recommendations on if registries not covered under chapter 48 of the acts of
503 1997 for abolished counties should be subject to section 10 of chapter 34B of the General Laws
504 or if the supervision of all registries of deeds should be altered. In developing a list of
505 suggestions, the commission shall consider: (i) the volume of transactions for each office; (ii) the
506 potential to consolidate multiple county offices; (iii) the standardizing of operational procedures;
507 and (iv) the pay structure for elected registrars based on the size and transaction volume for each
508 office and other appointed staff not covered by any collective bargaining agreements.
509The commission shall consist of 7 members: 2 members appointed by the governor, 1 of
510 whom shall serve as chair; 2 members appointed by the secretary of the commonwealth, 1 of
511 whom shall serve as vice-chair; 1 member appointed by the senate president; 1 member
512 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and 1 member of the Massachusetts
513 registers of deeds association.
514The first meeting of the commission shall be convened not more than 30 days after
515 members have been appointed.
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516The commission shall submit a written report of its findings with the clerks of the senate
517 and house of representatives, the senate president and the speaker of the house of representatives
518 not later than December 31, 2026.
519SECTION 55. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, in each of
520 fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the comptroller, at the direction of the secretary of administration
521 and finance, shall transfer from the General Fund to the Massachusetts Offshore Wind Industry
522 Investment Trust Fund established in section 9A of chapter 23J of the General Laws an amount
523 not to exceed $35,000,000; provided, that not less than 15 days in advance of the transfer, the
524 secretary shall certify the amount to be transferred, to the chairs of the house and senate
525 committees on ways and means.
526SECTION 56. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for fiscal year
527 2026, the secretary of administration and finance shall transfer funds from the Communications
528 Access Trust Fund established pursuant to section 2XXXXX of chapter 29 of the General Laws
529 for the purpose of making payments to the department of correction and the sheriffs for
530 providing voice communication services, in the following manner: $10,000,000 to the
531 department of correction; $1,653,987 to the Bristol sheriff’s office; $108,712 to the Hampshire
532 sheriff’s office; $429,193 to the Berkshire sheriff’s office; $567,296 to the Barnstable sheriff’s
533 office; $15,152 to the Dukes County sheriff’s office; $1,552,291 to the Essex sheriff’s office;
534 $392,076 to the Franklin sheriff’s office; $538,188 to the Hampden sheriff’s office; $1,525,788
535 to the Middlesex sheriff’s office; $784,043 to the Norfolk sheriff’s office; $1,199,999 to the
536 Plymouth sheriff’s office; $2,191,927 to the Suffolk sheriff’s office; and $1,562,237 to the
537 Worcester sheriff’s office; provided, however, that the secretary may amend transfer amounts
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538 based on actual costs incurred and shall certify final transfer amounts to the house and senate
539 committee on ways and means no fewer than 15 days before making any such transfers.
540SECTION 57. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, to account for
541 any timing discrepancy presented by the initial application of clause (i) of subsection (b) of
542 section 2EEEEEE of chapter 29 of the General Laws relating to the Commonwealth Federal
543 Matching and Debt Reduction Fund, said section 2EEEEEE of said chapter 29 shall not apply to
544 the determination of the applicability of fiscal year 2026 interest transfers.
545SECTION 58. Sections 5, 15 and 16 shall take effect July 1, 2027.
546SECTION 59. Section 31 shall take effect for any school project approved by the
547 Massachusetts school building authority on or after July 1, 2026.
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