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H 4578

An Act authorizing Bridgewater town charter amendment for gender neutral language

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Dennis Gallagher

Authorizes Bridgewater, MA to replace gendered language in its town charter with gender-neutral terms to modernize municipal governance documentation.

Accompanied a new draft, see H4781
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Bill Summary · H 4578

Legislative bill overview

H 4578 authorizes the town of Bridgewater, Massachusetts to amend its municipal charter to replace gendered language (such as "he," "his," "man," "selectman") with gender-neutral terminology (such as "they," "their," "person," "selectperson"). This is a local charter modernization measure specific to one municipality.

Why is this important

Municipal charters are foundational governing documents that guide how towns operate, including the structure of offices and responsibilities. Updating archaic gendered language makes charters more inclusive and reflective of contemporary administrative practices, while also ensuring clarity that positions and responsibilities apply equally regardless of the officeholder's gender.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and precedent: Some may view this as a narrowly tailored local matter requiring state legislative approval, while others question why state approval is needed for basic charter updates
  • Language standardization: Questions about consistency—whether similar updates should be mandatory across all Massachusetts municipalities or left to individual town discretion
  • Fiscal or operational impact: Minimal practical concerns, though opponents might argue legislative time could be better spent on substantive governance issues rather than terminology updates

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

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