H500 • 2025

An Act relative to corporate disclosure when dealing with cities and towns

Active

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

Sponsor: Justin Thurber
Last action: 2026-03-05
Official status: Accompanied a study order, see H5178
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 corporate disclosure when dealing with cities and towns

An Act relative to corporate disclosure when dealing with cities and towns By Representative Thurber of Somerset, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

An Act relative to corporate disclosure when dealing with cities and towns By Representative Thurber of Somerset, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
500) of Justin Thurber and John R.
Gaskey that certain corporations be required to issue disclaimers stating that they are a non-governmental organizations.
Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.

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

2026-03-05 House
Accompanied a study order, see H5178
2025-09-25 Joint
Hearing rescheduled to 09/25/2025 from 11:00 AM-11:30 AM in A-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
2025-09-16 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 09/25/2025 from 11:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-1
2025-02-27 House
Referred to the committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies
2025-02-27 Senate
Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to corporate disclosure when dealing with cities and towns
By Representative Thurber of Somerset, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 500) of Justin Thurber and John R. Gaskey that certain corporations be required to issue disclaimers stating that they are a non-governmental organizations. Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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Bill H.500

SECTION 1. Chapter 180 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following section:-

Section 30.

(a) Any corporation, which does not possess legal or appointed governmental power at the municipal or state level, shall be required to issue a disclaimer stating that they are a non-governmental organization, and that any written or digital information they have made accessible to the public has been developed by their organization. Such a disclaimer shall be posted in a conspicuous and easily accessible place, including, but not limited to, the corporation’s website.

Any corporation that is or plans to participate in lobbying for legislative proposals shall post said disclaimer on the corporation’s:

(i)

e-mail;

(ii)

website;

(iii)

social media platforms;

(iv)

and any other form of digital content accessible to the public.

(b) For the purpose of this section, the term, “Public record”, shall mean, any written statement, audio or video recording of a public proceeding, including, but not limited to a public hearing.

(c) Any corporation and their representatives speaking on behalf of their proposals in a public forum, including, but not limited to, town meetings and public hearings at the state and local levels, shall submit a disclaimer to be included on public record stating their status as a non-governmental organization. Such a disclaimer shall be made readily accessible to the public when requested through a public records request.

(d) All corporations shall include a statement on their website, and any of their written or digital content that is accessible to the public, which includes information clearly stating the sources of their funding, including, but not limited to any individuals, groups of people, or committees providing financial support to the corporation. Such a statement shall be posted in a conspicuous and easily accessible format for the public.

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