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H4046 • 2025

An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study alimony

An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study alimony

Active

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

Sponsor
Adrianne Pusateri Ramos
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
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 establishing a special commission to study alimony

An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study alimony By Representative Ramos of North Andover, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study alimony By Representative Ramos of North Andover, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 4046) of Adrianne Pusateri Ramos for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the alimony system.
  • The Judiciary.

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. 2026-03-26 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-10-20 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:10 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-07-29 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-06:00 PM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  4. 2025-07-29 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:10 PM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  5. 2025-07-16 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  6. 2025-04-24 Senate

    Senate concurred

  7. 2025-04-22 House

    Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

  8. House

    Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study alimony
By Representative Ramos of North Andover, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4046) of Adrianne Pusateri Ramos for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the alimony system. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

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Bill H.4046

(a) There shall be established, pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws, a special commission to study alimony and recommend any improvements to the alimony system in the commonwealth.

(b) The special commission shall be comprised of the following members: the chairs of the joint committee on the judiciary, who shall serve as co-chairs; 1 member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the president of the senate; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member appointed by the chief justice of the probate and family court; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Bar Association, who shall have expertise in family law and alimony; and 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, who shall have expertise in family law and alimony.

(c) The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) statewide trends in alimony awards over time, including determining what percentage of alimony awards constitutes each time of alimony and how often courts grant requests for modifications of alimony; (ii) a review of the formula used for determining alimony in the commonwealth, including a tax analysis of the current formula; (iii) analysis on the economic implications of alimony on families in the commonwealth; (iv) comparison of Massachusetts alimony laws with alimony laws in other states, including trends pertaining to alimony; (v) analysis of the interplay between alimony and child support; (vi) court enforcement of alimony, particularly with regard to whether and how enforcement differs from enforcement of child support; (vii) the uniformity of the application of alimony laws among counties in the commonwealth; and (viii) any recommendations on changes to the alimony system in the commonwealth.

(d) The commission shall prepare a report detailing the results of the study, along with any recommendations and any proposed standards and legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations. The report shall be submitted to the: (i) joint committee on the judiciary; and (ii) clerks of the house of representatives and senate not later than December 31, 2026.

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