H2077 • 2025

An Act requiring certain employers to establish and maintain a human resources department

Labor

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Tackey Chan (By Request)
Last action: 2026-02-17
Official status: Accompanied a study order, see H5070
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act requiring certain employers to establish and maintain a human resources department

An Act requiring certain employers to establish and maintain a human resources department By Representative Chan of Quincy (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

An Act requiring certain employers to establish and maintain a human resources department By Representative Chan of Quincy (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
2077) of Joanie Lawlor for legislation to require certain employers to establish and maintain a human resources department.
Labor and Workforce Development.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-02-17 House
Accompanied a study order, see H5070
2025-07-10 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 07/22/2025 from 10:00 AM-01:00 PM in B-2
2025-02-27 House
Referred to the committee on Labor and Workforce Development
2025-02-27 Senate
Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act requiring certain employers to establish and maintain a human resources department
By Representative Chan of Quincy (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2077) of Joanie Lawlor for legislation to require certain employers to establish and maintain a human resources department. Labor and Workforce Development.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Bill H.2077

SECTION 1. Chapter 149 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after section 203 the following new section:-

Section 204. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:

“Compliance,” employer’s compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local labor laws, including but not limited to the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act, and the Massachusetts Family and Medical Leave Act.

“Employee relations,” employer’s efforts to maintain employee morale, engagement, and job satisfaction; foster positive workplace culture and productivity; effectively manage conflict and address employee concerns; and ensure fair treatment of employees by maintaining open and clear communication between said employer and their employees.

(b) Any employer operating within the Commonwealth with twenty-five or more employees shall maintain a full-time human resources department; any employer with fewer than twenty-five employees shall maintain a part-time human resources department. A human resources department shall be staffed with at least one individual.

(c) The human resources department’s responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to: employee relations; benefits administration; recruitment and hiring; training and development; compliance; and recordkeeping.

(d) Any employer in violation of this section shall be subject to complaint to and action by the Fair Labor Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.

SECTION 2.

This act shall take effect on January 1, 2026.

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