H2297 • 2025

An Act relative to protecting municipalities from unfunded mandates

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

Sponsor: Kane, Hannah
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 relative to protecting municipalities from unfunded mandates

An Act relative to protecting municipalities from unfunded mandates By Representatives Kane of Shrewsbury and Arciero of Westford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

An Act relative to protecting municipalities from unfunded mandates By Representatives Kane of Shrewsbury and Arciero of Westford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
2297) of Hannah Kane, James Arciero and others for legislation to require that fiscal notes be attached to legislation providing unfunded mandates on municipal governments.
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

2026-02-12 House
Accompanied a study order, see H5065
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
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
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
2025-07-17 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium
2025-02-27 House
Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
2025-02-27 Senate
Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to protecting municipalities from unfunded mandates
By Representatives Kane of Shrewsbury and Arciero of Westford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2297) of Hannah Kane, James Arciero and others for legislation to require that fiscal notes be attached to legislation providing unfunded mandates on municipal governments. Municipalities and Regional Government.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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Bill H.2297

Chapter 3 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 38B the following section:-

Section 38B½.(a) For the purposes of this section, an unfunded mandate to a city or town is one that imposes a cost on municipal governments as a result of legislation being considered by the General Court, including, but not limited to the cost for the requisite staff necessary to administer or implement the legislation.

(b)

Joint committees of the general court and the committees on ways and means of either branch thereof when referred bills that contain an unfunded mandate to municipalities shall, prior to a favorable report of such bill include a fiscal note or study which clearly explains any cost described in subsection (a).

(c) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, in the event that there is a cost to any city or town regarding such legislation, the general court shall refrain from enacting the legislation until such time as an appropriation satisfying said cost is provided by the general court.

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