Massachusetts2025Active
H10
An Act relative to nondisclosure agreements
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 4:52 AM
In one sentence
This bill prohibits settlement clauses that hide facts about workplace harassment, discrimination, sex offenses, and retaliation, while allowing victims to keep their identity private if they request it.
What it does
- Prohibits settlement agreements from hiding factual information about unlawful acts in the workplace, such as harassment or discrimination.
- Bans clauses that hide facts about sex offenses occurring between employers and employees or among employees at work-related events.
- Prevents nondisclosure of retaliation against people who report these incidents or help investigate them.
- Allows a settlement to include provisions shielding the victim's identity if they make a written, informed request for it.
- Declares any clause that hides factual information about these claims void and unenforceable under state law.
- Requires public agencies to post related settlement agreements on CTHRU, the Commonwealth’s Financial Records Transparency Platform.
- Bans government entities from using nondisclosure or non-disparagement clauses in employment contracts with staff or students.
Who it affects
- Employers and employees involved in workplace disputes over harassment, discrimination, sex offenses, or retaliation.
- Government agencies, departments, boards, commissions, and other entities within the Commonwealth.
- Students employed by governmental entities.
- Attorneys who draft settlement agreements for these types of cases.
Limits and unknowns
- This law only applies to agreements signed on or after the date it becomes effective.
- People who break old nondisclosure rules cannot be forced to return money they already received under those deals.
- The bill is currently active and awaiting a hearing, so its final text could change before becoming law.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Nondisclosure agreement
- A contract that stops people from sharing specific information or facts about a case.
- Settlement agreement
- A deal where parties agree to resolve a legal dispute without going to trial, often involving payment.
- CTHRU
- The Commonwealth's Financial Records Transparency Platform used to publish public records online.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
An Act relative to nondisclosure agreements SECTION 1. Chapter 151B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 10 the following new sections:- Section 11 ... (a) Notwithstanding any general or special ...