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H2285 • 2025

An Act creating a commission to study the effects of unfunded mandates on municipalities

An Act creating a commission to study the effects of unfunded mandates on municipalities

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

Sponsor
Steven S. Howitt
Last action
2026-02-12
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5065
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 creating a commission to study the effects of unfunded mandates on municipalities

An Act creating a commission to study the effects of unfunded mandates on municipalities By Representative Howitt of Seekonk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act creating a commission to study the effects of unfunded mandates on municipalities By Representative Howitt of Seekonk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 2285) of Steven S.
  • Howitt relative to establishing a special commission to study the effects of unfunded mandates on municipalities.
  • Municipalities and Regional Government.

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

  1. 2026-02-12 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5065

  2. 2025-07-29 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-06:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  3. 2025-07-29 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-06:15 PM in Gardner Auditorium and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  4. 2025-07-29 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-06:05 PM in Gardner Auditorium and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  5. 2025-07-17 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium

  6. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

  7. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act creating a commission to study the effects of unfunded mandates on municipalities
By Representative Howitt of Seekonk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2285) of Steven S. Howitt relative to establishing a special commission to study the effects of unfunded mandates on municipalities. Municipalities and Regional Government.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.2285

Chapter 39 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 24 the following new section: -

Section 25. There shall be a commission on unfunded mandates on municipalities, hereinafter referred to as the commission. The commission shall consist of 7 members: three of whom shall be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be a municipal official, who shall serve as co-chair; the director of the division of local mandates, hereinafter referred to as director, who shall also serve as co-chair; one member nominated by the Massachusetts Municipal Association; one member nominated by the Massachusetts Treasurer’s and Collector’s Association; and one member nominated by the Massachusetts Town Clerk’s Association.

Said members shall serve a term of two year from the date of appointment, unless sooner removed by the governor upon the recommendation of the nominating organization after consultation with said director. When a vacancy occurs, a new member representing the same office shall be appointed to fill the remainder of the unexpired term.

Members of the commission shall serve without compensation. The commission shall compile a list of unfunded mandates and their costs to municipal government, and shall file this list with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives together with proposals, if any, to mitigate the effects of such mandates.

The commission shall have the following responsibilities:

1. to review and analyze all unfunded local mandates from state and federal authorities, and to deliver an economic impact report of such effects on municipalities to the governor, and to the minority and majority leadership of the House and Senate;

2. to act as an independent advocate for the interests of local governments in their relations with state and federal governments;

3. to promulgate rules and regulations governing its procedures and those of the executive committee; and

4. to perform such other like services as the commission shall decide upon.

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