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Obillerate · Watchdog

Massachusetts Bill Book

2026

The Massachusetts bills that matter most, scored 1–10 on who they really help — with the receipts. One bill per page. Free to read, print and share.

35 bills scored · data as of 2026-09-11

How to read this book

The score.Every bill gets a 1–10 on one question: does it help or hurt everyday people? 1 hurts, 10 helps, 5–6 is mixed. The score is our editorial judgement — so every page shows the reasoning behind it, factor by factor. That section is the “receipts”, and it is the part no other bill list gives you.

How bills were chosen. Ranked, not cherry-picked. This edition prints the 10 lowest-scoring and 10 highest-scoring of the 35 bills we have fully analysed for Massachusetts. A bill only qualifies if it passed our verification step, has a recorded official status, and has its reasoning attached. Thin entries are left out rather than padded.

Lowest-scoring is not the same as evil. Only 143 bills in the entire country score 3 or below, so in most states the bottom of the list includes bills that are simply mixed. We label each one for what it is instead of inflating it.

These are proposals, not law — unless the status line says otherwise. Bills move constantly; each page shows the status we recorded on 2026-09-11 and links to the live version.

Bill data from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), Congress.gov and OpenStates. Analysis and scoring are Obillerate's own. Editorial opinion, not legal advice — always read the official text before acting. Spot an error? www.obillerate.com/corrections

10 lowest-scoring

The worst Massachusetts bills

Ranked from the lowest score up. These are the ones most likely to cost you money, rights or recourse.

MA H3052 · Money & Damages

Preferential tax breaks for public benefit corporations proposed in Massachusetts

Relative to public benefit corporations · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

3/10
Hurts you

Bad for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

The bill would give some public benefit corporations lower tax rates, meaning less money for state services and higher costs for taxpayers.

What it means for you

If passed, these companies could pay less taxes while everyday residents may see fewer public resources, so voters should weigh the trade‑off now.

Who it's for

Public benefit corporations

Why it scores 3/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (hurts) Tax breaks may reduce oversight of corporations.. Lower tax rates could lessen financial scrutiny of benefiting firms.
  • Rights & Protections (neutral) No direct impact on personal rights.. The bill does not change individual legal protections.
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) Tax revenue loss shifts cost to taxpayers.. State collects less money, so residents may fund services.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) Early stage, no hidden procedures noted.. Bill is introduced with public hearings scheduled.
  • Funding Tilt (hurts) Preferential rates reduce state revenue.. Tax cuts for selected firms lower overall tax intake.

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

MA H3052 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 1 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h3052-002995

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA S758 · Healthcare & Insurance

Mass bill makes insurers share unpaid patient bill costs

Defining financial responsibility for uncollected co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

5/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

The bill would require health insurers to help pay patients' unpaid co‑pays, co‑insurance and deductibles, easing the burden on doctors and hospitals.

What it means for you

If passed, hospitals may get more money from insurers for unpaid patient bills, which could keep services open, but insurers might raise premiums for everyone.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 5/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) adds insurer responsibility. Insurers would be held accountable for unpaid patient obligations.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) helps patients. Patients gain better protection against unpaid medical bills.
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) cost may shift to consumers. Insurers may pass added costs to premiums, affecting all consumers.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) no new transparency measures. The bill does not change reporting or disclosure rules.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) no funding changes. No new money is allocated or taken away.

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

MA S758 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 2 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-s758-998205

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H2785 · Healthcare & Insurance

State looks at changing health insurance premiums for public workers

Relative to Group Health Insurance Commission · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

5/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

The bill would change how much employees of the Commonwealth pay each month for their group health insurance.

What it means for you

If passed, public employees might pay more or less each month for health coverage, and the state could move part of the cost onto workers or the budget.

Who it's for

Workers

Why it scores 5/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) No clear change to oversight or accountability.. The bill does not add new reporting or oversight requirements.
  • Rights & Protections (neutral) No direct impact on the right to sue or consumer protections.. It only adjusts premium amounts.
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) Potential shift of cost to employees.. If premiums rise, workers may pay more out of pocket.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) Standard legislative process with a scheduled hearing.. No special fast‑track or secrecy.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) No new funding or tax changes identified.. The bill does not create new revenue sources.

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

MA H2785 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 3 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h2785-003030

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H3029 · Housing & Property

New bill aims to change rental property tax credits

Relative to rental credits · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

5/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would change how rental property tax credits work, which could affect renters and landlords.

What it means for you

People should pay attention to this bill because it could change rental costs or benefits for both renters and landlords.

Who it's for

Why it scores 5/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) No clear accountability measures mentioned.. Unknown
  • Rights & Protections (neutral) No direct impact on rights or protections.. Unknown
  • Who Bears the Cost (neutral) Unclear who will bear the costs.. Unknown
  • Process Transparency (neutral) Process is ongoing with scheduled hearings.. Hearing scheduled
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) No funding changes mentioned.. Unknown

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

MA H3029 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 4 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h3029-002555

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA S1618 · Healthcare & Insurance

State looks to boost vaccination rates for public health

Promoting community immunity · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

5/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

The bill would let the state create programs to increase vaccination and protect the community from disease.

What it means for you

If passed, families could see more vaccine clinics and outreach, helping keep kids safe but the plan may cost taxpayers and could raise privacy concerns about health data.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 5/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) No clear mechanisms for oversight are described.. The text does not specify reporting or enforcement.
  • Rights & Protections (neutral) No explicit changes to individual rights are mentioned.. The bill focuses on public health programs.
  • Who Bears the Cost (neutral) Funding sources are not identified.. It is unclear whether taxpayers or other groups will pay.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) Only a hearing date is listed; details are missing.. The bill’s specifics have not been disclosed.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) No funding provisions are outlined.. The bill does not mention new money or reallocations.

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

MA S1618 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 5 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-s1618-998820

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA S3070 · Healthcare & Insurance

New bill aims to boost community immunity efforts

Promoting community immunity · Introduced as of 2026-05-18

5/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would promote community immunity to help protect everyone from diseases.

What it means for you

People should pay attention to this bill because it could help keep communities healthier. If passed, it might cost a lot of money, so we need to know how it affects us.

Who it's for

Why it scores 5/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) Cost unclear. The cost is unknown but estimated to be high.
  • Rights & Protections (neutral) No clear rights impact. The bill does not clarify how it will impact individual rights.
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) Potential cost shift. The bill's high estimated cost could shift expenses to taxpayers.

Who's behind it

Sponsorship unclear

Read it yourself

MA S3070 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 6 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-s3070-150517

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H4333 · Healthcare & Insurance

Massachusetts looks at rules for consumer insurance deductibles

Relative to consumer deductibles · Introduced as of 2025-07-31

5/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This proposed bill would change the rules for consumer deductibles, but the exact details are not yet clear.

What it means for you

Right now, this bill is just a title moving slowly through the Massachusetts legislature. It deals with consumer deductibles, which usually means how much you pay out of pocket before your health insurance kicks in. Because the actual text is missing, we do not know if it will lower your costs or raise them. We will keep an eye on it as lawmakers fill in the blanks.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 5/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) Neutral. There are no details available on how this bill affects accountability.
  • Rights & Protections (neutral) Neutral. The text does not specify if consumer protections are being added or removed.
  • Who Bears the Cost (neutral) Neutral. It deals with deductibles, which directly affect out-of-pocket costs, but the direction of the change is unknown.

Who's behind it

Sponsorship unclear

Read it yourself

MA H4333 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 7 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h4333-041087

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H1156 · Healthcare & Insurance

Insurers might help pay your unpaid medical bills

Relative to uncollected co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

6/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would make health insurance companies help doctors and hospitals get paid when people cannot pay their part of a medical bill, which could make it easier for providers.

What it means for you

This bill would change who pays when a patient cannot cover their part of a medical bill, like a co-pay. Right now, doctors and hospitals often lose that money or try hard to collect it from patients. This bill would make insurance companies share that cost with the doctors and hospitals. This could help healthcare providers stay open and keep offering services. However, if insurance companies have to pay more, they might raise the prices of health insurance for everyone later on. It is important to watch this bill because it changes who is responsible for some medical costs.

Who it's for

Healthcare Providers

Why it scores 6/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) Shifts financial accountability for uncollected patient debt.. The bill shifts some financial accountability for uncollectible patient obligations from healthcare providers to health insurance carriers.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Could indirectly protect patients from aggressive collections.. By ensuring providers are paid, it could reduce the need for aggressive collection practices against patients who cannot pay their share, indirectly protecting them.
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) Shifts costs to insurers, potentially impacting premiums.. The bill would shift a portion of uncollected patient debt from healthcare providers to health insurance carriers, which could eventually lead to higher premiums for consumers.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) No direct impact on transparency.. The bill does not directly affect the transparency of legislative or regulatory processes.
  • Funding Tilt (helps) Provides financial support to healthcare providers.. The bill would provide financial support to healthcare providers by ensuring they receive payment for services even when patients cannot cover their out-of-pocket costs.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Healthcare Providers
Bearing the cost: Health Insurance Carriers

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

MA H1156 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 8 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h1156-003655

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H5181 · Work & Wages

Study order for better work conditions and benefits

Study Order · Introduced as of 2026-03-05

6/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would study ways to improve work conditions like parental leave and a shorter work week.

What it means for you

If this bill moves forward, it could lead to better work-life balance for many people. Now is the time to support it.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 6/10 — the receipts

  • Rights & Protections (neutral) Potential for improved work conditions. The bill aims to improve parental leave and work hours.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) Study order suggests openness. The bill will study various work improvements.

Who's behind it

Sponsorship unclear

Read it yourself

MA H5181 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 9 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h5181-129838

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H3178 · Money & Damages

Electric farm equipment tax credit proposed in Massachusetts

Establishing an electric agricultural and landscape equipment tax credit · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

6/10
Mixed

Mixed: some good, some bad — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

Farmers who buy electric tractors or mowers could subtract a set amount from their state taxes, lowering their costs.

What it means for you

The credit could help farmers switch to cleaner machines and save money, but it also means the state collects less tax, so all taxpayers may pay more later.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 6/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) no change to who can be sued. Bill does not affect legal accountability
  • Rights & Protections (neutral) no rights removed. Does not limit any existing rights
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) tax credit reduces revenue. State loses tax revenue, taxpayers bear cost
  • Process Transparency (neutral) standard legislative process. Bill is introduced, no special transparency measures
  • Funding Tilt (hurts) benefits equipment buyers and manufacturers. Shifts money from state to equipment sector

Follow the money

Pushing for it: farmers
Bearing the cost: state

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

MA H3178 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 10 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h3178-002941

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

10 highest-scoring

The best Massachusetts bills

The other half of the record: bills that would actually help everyday people.

MA H1510 · Housing & Property

Tenants could own their government-assisted homes

Relative to provide tenant ownership in government assisted housing · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would help people living in government-assisted housing buy their homes, giving them more control over where they live.

What it means for you

This bill would let people who live in government-assisted housing buy their homes. This could give them a chance to build wealth and have more say in their living situation. It also wants to make sure that housing programs are fair for everyone by setting diversity goals. People should pay attention because this bill could change how many people get to own a home instead of just renting.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) Empowers tenants with ownership, increasing their stake and control.. The bill would provide tenant ownership in government-assisted housing.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Grants tenants the right to own their homes, a major protection.. Legislation to provide tenant ownership in government-assisted housing.
  • Who Bears the Cost (neutral) The bill does not specify a negative cost shift onto ordinary people.. The bill's summary mentions tax credits for diversity goals, but not direct costs for tenant ownership.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) Follows standard legislative process.. Referred to the Joint Committee on Housing; Hearing scheduled.
  • Funding Tilt (helps) Tax credits tied to diversity goals support public interest.. Establish diversity goals and plans prior to receiving certain tax credits.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Tenants in government-assisted housing
Bearing the cost: Public funds (via tax credits for diversity goals)

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

MA H1510 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 11 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h1510-001280

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H2176 · Work & Wages

Massachusetts bill stops bosses from hiding wage theft

Prohibiting employers from attempting to conceal violations of state wage, benefit, or tax laws · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would stop bosses from using a worker's immigration status to hide breaking rules about pay, benefits, or taxes, so workers can get what they are owed.

What it means for you

This bill is important because it would help make sure all workers are treated fairly. If bosses cannot use a worker's immigration status against them, workers will feel safer speaking up when they are not paid correctly or do not get their benefits. This means bosses would have to follow the rules for everyone, which helps protect all workers and makes the workplace more honest. People should pay attention now while lawmakers are still deciding on this bill.

Who it's for

Workers

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) Increases employer accountability. Employers would be held more accountable for following wage, benefit, and tax laws, as they could not use immigration status to conceal violations.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Protects worker rights. Workers' rights to fair pay and benefits would be better protected, as they would not face threats related to immigration status when reporting violations.
  • Who Bears the Cost (neutral) Neutral, ensures costs are borne by violators. Employers who violate laws would bear the cost of their actions, rather than shifting the burden of lost wages or benefits onto workers.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) No direct impact on transparency. The bill does not directly address legislative process transparency, but it promotes transparency in employer practices.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) No funding mentioned. The bill does not include any specific funding provisions or appropriations.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Workers owed wages, benefits, or taxes
Bearing the cost: Employers who violate wage, benefit, or tax laws

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 2D)

Read it yourself

MA H2176 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 12 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h2176-004181

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H3103 · Housing & Property

More money for landlords to fix lead paint in homes

To further lead remediation in rental housing by increasing the deleading credit · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would give landlords more tax money to remove lead paint, making rental homes safer for families and kids.

What it means for you

This bill wants to help landlords pay for removing dangerous lead paint from rental homes. Lead paint can make kids very sick, so making homes safer is important. If this bill passes, landlords might be more likely to fix up old homes, which would be good for families looking for safe places to live. But it also means the state would collect less tax money. Now is the time to tell lawmakers if you think this is a good way to make homes safer.

Who it's for

Landlords

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) Neutral. The bill focuses on incentives, not direct accountability changes.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Helps protect health. By encouraging lead remediation, it would make rental housing safer for tenants, especially children, protecting their health.
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) State tax revenue loss. The state would lose tax revenue due to the increased credit, while landlords would gain financial help for repairs.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) Normal process. The bill is moving through the regular legislative process with scheduled hearings and extensions.
  • Funding Tilt (helps) Incentivizes safety. The tax credit would help landlords pay for lead removal, tilting funding towards making rental properties safer.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Landlords and renters
Bearing the cost: The state's tax revenue

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

MA H3103 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 13 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h3103-002395

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA S1970 · Housing & Property

Massachusetts proposes bigger renter tax credit for relief

Providing renter relief tax credit · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

The bill would raise the renter relief tax credit, giving renters more money back on their state taxes.

What it means for you

Renters could see a bigger tax break, easing housing costs, while the state would need to find money, possibly raising other taxes or cutting services.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) No change to oversight mechanisms. The bill does not alter how the credit is administered or monitored.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Expands renter benefit. Increasing the credit gives renters more financial relief.
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) Cost shifts to taxpayers. State revenue must cover the larger credit, potentially affecting other budgets.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) Standard legislative process. The bill follows normal procedures with hearings and committee reports.
  • Funding Tilt (helps) Funds directed to renters. The credit directs state money to renters rather than other uses.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Renters
Bearing the cost: State taxpayers

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

MA S1970 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 14 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-s1970-999227

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H1990 · Criminal Justice

New rules would show how police take people's money

Relative to civil asset forfeiture transparency and data reporting · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would make police share more facts about when they take people's money or property, so we can all see if it is fair.

What it means for you

This bill would make police share more facts about when they take people's money or property without charging them with a crime. Right now, it can be hard to know how often this happens or why. This bill would shine a light on these actions, helping people understand if the process is fair. Some might say it creates extra work for police, but supporters believe it helps keep everyone honest and protects people's stuff. It is important to pay attention to this bill now, while it is still being discussed, to make sure people's rights are protected.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) Increases police accountability.. It would require police to report data on civil asset forfeiture, making their actions more visible.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Helps protect people's property rights.. By increasing transparency, people would have more information to challenge unfair property seizures.
  • Who Bears the Cost (neutral) Potential administrative costs for police.. Police departments might have new administrative costs for data collection and reporting.
  • Process Transparency (helps) Directly improves transparency.. The bill's main goal is to increase transparency and data reporting for civil asset forfeiture.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) No funding changes mentioned.. The bill does not mention specific funding changes or allocations.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Citizens who have property taken
Bearing the cost: Police departments (due to reporting burden)

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 2D)

Read it yourself

MA H1990 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 15 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h1990-003898

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H3297 · Criminal Justice

Police must report what property they take from people

Relative to civil asset forfeiture data reporting · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would make police tell everyone how much property they take from people, helping us see if it's fair.

What it means for you

This bill is about making sure police openly share details about property they take from people, even if those people are not found guilty of a crime. Right now, it can be hard to know how often this happens or why. If this bill passes, we would get clear reports on what property is taken, its value, and why. This helps regular people and lawmakers understand if the rules for taking property are fair and if changes are needed. Some might say collecting this data is extra work for police, but others believe it's important for trust and making sure police are accountable.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) improves oversight. Requires police to report data on civil asset forfeiture, increasing transparency about property seizures.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) helps future protections. By making data public, it could help identify practices that erode people's property rights, leading to future reforms.
  • Who Bears the Cost (neutral) administrative burden. Law enforcement agencies would bear the administrative cost of collecting and reporting the required data.
  • Process Transparency (helps) high transparency gain. The core purpose of the bill is to make civil asset forfeiture practices more transparent to the public and lawmakers.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) no funding changes. The bill does not involve specific funding allocations or shifts.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: The public, people whose property is taken
Bearing the cost: Law enforcement agencies

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (1R / 0D)

Read it yourself

MA H3297 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 16 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h3297-003424

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H335 · Housing & Property

Massachusetts bill would make landlords pay broker fees

To promote equity among lessors · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

9/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would make landlords pay real estate broker fees instead of renters, which could save renters money when they move into a new home.

What it means for you

This bill would change who pays the fee when you use a real estate agent to find a place to live. Right now, renters often pay this fee, which can be a lot of money when you are also trying to pay a security deposit and first month's rent. This bill would make landlords pay that fee instead. Supporters say this would help renters save money and make it fairer, since landlords are the ones who own the property and benefit from renting it out. Some landlords might say this would add to their costs, which could lead to higher rents overall. This bill is still new, but a meeting is coming up, so people who rent or own property in Massachusetts might want to pay attention.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 9/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (helps) Landlords would be responsible for a cost related to their property.. The bill would require lessors (landlords) to pay real estate broker fees, making them directly accountable for this cost.
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Protects renters from an upfront cost.. Renters would be protected from having to pay a significant upfront broker fee when securing housing.
  • Who Bears the Cost (helps) Shifts cost from renters to landlords.. The cost of real estate broker fees would shift from being paid by renters to being paid by landlords.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) No specific info on transparency.. The bill's text does not contain provisions directly related to legislative or governmental process transparency.
  • Funding Tilt (helps) Favors renters.. The bill aims to benefit renters by removing a financial burden from them.

Follow the money

Pushing for it: Renters
Bearing the cost: Landlords

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 2D)

Read it yourself

MA H335 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 17 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h335-001095

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H1204 · Healthcare & Insurance

Pregnancy could qualify for special health insurance enrollment

Establishing pregnancy as a qualifying event · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

8/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would let pregnant people sign up for health insurance anytime, helping them get care when they need it.

What it means for you

This is a good chance for pregnant people to get health coverage when they need it most. It's important to support this bill so everyone can get the care they deserve.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 8/10 — the receipts

  • Rights & Protections (helps) Improves access to health care. Allows pregnant individuals to enroll outside of regular enrollment periods.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) Standard legislative process. The bill is moving through the normal legislative steps.

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (1R / 0D)

Read it yourself

MA H1204 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 18 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h1204-000730

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H3017 · Healthcare & Insurance

Self-employed can deduct health insurance from gross income

Relative to the deduction of health insurance payments from gross income for self employed individuals · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

8/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

Self‑employed people could subtract what they pay for health insurance from their taxable earnings, lowering their tax bill.

What it means for you

The bill would give freelancers and small business owners a tax break, helping them keep more of what they earn, while the state collects less revenue.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 8/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) No change to who can be sued or held responsible. The bill only changes tax calculation, not accountability rules
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Expands tax benefit for self‑employed. Provides a new deduction that lowers tax burden
  • Who Bears the Cost (hurts) Reduces state revenue. Tax deduction means less money collected from all taxpayers
  • Process Transparency (neutral) No new reporting or oversight required. Bill does not add new procedural steps
  • Funding Tilt (hurts) Cuts revenue without offsetting funding. Deduction reduces tax intake without new funding source

Follow the money

Pushing for it: self-employed individuals
Bearing the cost: state revenue

Who's behind it

Democrat-sponsored (0R / 1D)

Read it yourself

MA H3017 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 19 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h3017-003767

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

MA H3184 · Consumer Protection

New tax credit for home water filtration systems proposed

Implementing a home water filtration tax credit · Introduced as of 2025-02-27

8/10
Helps you

Good for everyday people — on our 1–10 scale, 1 hurts and 10 helps.

What it does

This bill would help homeowners pay for water filters to keep their water clean.

What it means for you

If this bill passes, more people could afford safe drinking water at home. Now is the time to support it.

Who it's for

Everyday People

Why it scores 8/10 — the receipts

  • Accountability (neutral) No direct accountability measures included.. Unknown
  • Rights & Protections (helps) Supports homeowners' rights to clean water.. Tax credits promote access to clean water.
  • Who Bears the Cost (helps) Homeowners benefit from reduced costs.. Tax credits lower the financial burden.
  • Process Transparency (neutral) The process is public and discussed.. Hearings are scheduled for public input.
  • Funding Tilt (neutral) Funding details are unclear.. Unknown

Follow the money

Pushing for it: homeowners
Bearing the cost: Unknown

Who's behind it

Republican-sponsored (1R / 0D)

Read it yourself

MA H3184 · Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · page 20 of 20www.obillerate.com/bill/ma-h3184-003159

Bills move. This page shows the status recorded on 2026-09-11 — check the link above for the live status. Scores are editorial opinion, not legal advice. Wrong? www.obillerate.com/corrections

Index by bill number

  • H1156 6/10 · Insurers might help pay your unpaid medical bills
  • H1204 8/10 · Pregnancy could qualify for special health insurance enrollment
  • H1510 9/10 · Tenants could own their government-assisted homes
  • H1990 9/10 · New rules would show how police take people's money
  • H2176 9/10 · Massachusetts bill stops bosses from hiding wage theft
  • H2785 5/10 · State looks at changing health insurance premiums for public workers
  • H3017 8/10 · Self-employed can deduct health insurance from gross income
  • H3029 5/10 · New bill aims to change rental property tax credits
  • H3052 3/10 · Preferential tax breaks for public benefit corporations proposed in Massachusetts
  • H3103 9/10 · More money for landlords to fix lead paint in homes
  • H3178 6/10 · Electric farm equipment tax credit proposed in Massachusetts
  • H3184 8/10 · New tax credit for home water filtration systems proposed
  • H3297 9/10 · Police must report what property they take from people
  • H335 9/10 · Massachusetts bill would make landlords pay broker fees
  • H4333 5/10 · Massachusetts looks at rules for consumer insurance deductibles
  • H5181 6/10 · Study order for better work conditions and benefits
  • S1618 5/10 · State looks to boost vaccination rates for public health
  • S1970 9/10 · Massachusetts proposes bigger renter tax credit for relief
  • S3070 5/10 · New bill aims to boost community immunity efforts
  • S758 5/10 · Mass bill makes insurers share unpaid patient bill costs

Massachusetts Bill Book 2026 · data as of 2026-09-11 · www.obillerate.com/library/2026/ma