H257 • 2025

An Act relative to public accommodations for individuals with verbal communication impairments

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Sponsor: David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf
Last action: 2025-12-31
Official status: Accompanied a study order, see H4883
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 public accommodations for individuals with verbal communication impairments

An Act relative to public accommodations for individuals with verbal communication impairments By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

An Act relative to public accommodations for individuals with verbal communication impairments By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
257) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf relative to public accommodations for individuals with verbal communication impairments.
Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

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

2025-12-31 House
Accompanied a study order, see H4883
2025-08-27 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 09/09/2025 from 1:00 PM-5:00 PM in B-2
2025-02-27 House
Referred to the committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
2025-02-27 Senate
Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to public accommodations for individuals with verbal communication impairments
By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 257) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf relative to public accommodations for individuals with verbal communication impairments. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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Bill H.257

Chapter 140 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 6B the following section:-

Section 6C. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Department”, the department of public health.

“Photographic or visual menu”, a menu that contains a written description accompanied by a photograph each food and drink item to assist individuals with communication impairments with ordering food and drink.

(b) A person licensed as an innholder or common victualler, when serving food, shall: (i) maintain on the premises for availability upon customer request a set of photographic or visual menus and (ii) include on all menus a notice to customers informing them of the availability of a photographic or visual menu for customers with communication impairments, the language of the notice shall be developed by the department in consultation with the department of developmental services, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and Arc Massachusetts, Inc..

(c) The department shall develop a program for restaurants to be designated as “Communication Impairment Friendly” and shall maintain a listing of restaurants receiving that designation on its website. Participation in the program shall be voluntary and the department, in consultation with the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, shall issue guidelines and requirements for restaurants to receive the designation; provided that the requirements shall include, but not be limited to, maintaining on the premises and making available to the public, a set of photographic or visual menus.

(d) The department may adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section.

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