WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HD 2188

An Act allowing cities and towns the authority to issue temporary parking identification placards to the temporarily disabled

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Bruce Ayers

Allows MA towns to issue temporary parking placards for short-term disabilities; 90-day validity, renewals with medical proof; issued by local police, RMV-approved design.

0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 2188

Bill Summary: HD 2188 — An Act allowing cities and towns the authority to issue temporary parking identification placards to the temporarily disabled

Overview

HD 2188 seeks to empower municipalities in Massachusetts to issue temporary parking identification placards to individuals who have a temporary disability that impairs their ability to walk long distances. The bill would add a new, local-issuance pathway for temporary placards alongside the existing permanent placard framework, with specific rules for eligibility, duration, and administration.

Key Provisions

  • Amendment to Chapter 90, Section 2: Creates authority for a city or town to furnish a special temporary parking identification placard to a person who has temporarily lost use of a limb, is post-surgery debilitated, or has other conditions that make walking distances beyond a standard handicapped space difficult.
  • Issuance and approving authority: The temporary placard would be issued by the local police department where the recipient resides. The local police chief would typically oversee the rules, directions, and oversight related to issuance.
  • Validity and renewal: The placard would be valid for up to 90 days and could be renewed for an additional 90 days upon receiving proper medical documentation and approval from the issuing department.
  • Design and production: The placard must be of uniform size and design as determined by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV). It can be produced locally, and Municipal authorities must verify eligibility in a manner approved by the RMV.
  • Display requirements: When used, the placard must be displayed in accordance with the existing requirements for special parking identification placards.
  • Amendment to Chapter 40, Section 22A: Adds a cross-reference to include the temporary municipal placard within the scope of “special parking identification placards,” ensuring alignment with the state’s broader parking-placard framework.

Who is Affected

  • Temporary-disabled individuals residing in Massachusetts who require short-term accessibility accommodations.
  • Municipalities and local law enforcement (notably police departments) responsible for administering, issuing, and regulating the temporary placards.
  • Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV) and state regulations, which would set design standards and oversee conformity.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced date: November 29, 2025 (HD 2188).
  • House filing: House No. 3616, filed January 15, 2025, by Rep. Bruce J. Ayers.
  • Status: The provided material does not include a current status or enacted date; historical note mentions a similar matter previously filed (2023-24, H. 3259).

Impact and Considerations

  • Expands access to temporary disability accommodations at the local level, potentially reducing travel barriers for short-term mobility challenges.
  • Establishes a defined maximum initial period (90 days) with a 90-day renewal, contingent on medical documentation.
  • Enhances consistency by requiring uniform placard design per RMV standards and local production.
  • Poses considerations for oversight, verification of eligibility, and preventing misuse, with authority centralized in local police leadership.

This summary captures the bill’s substantive changes and practical implications for temporary disability parking accessibility in Massachusetts.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.