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H 4557

An Act increasing the penalties for unfair and deceptive actions perpetrated against persons with disabilities and senior citizens

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

The bill strengthens penalties for deceptive practices targeting seniors and people with disabilities and creates a fund to educate and prevent abuse.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 4557

Summary: H.4557 – An Act increasing the penalties for unfair and deceptive actions perpetrated against persons with disabilities and senior citizens

Overview

H.4557 is a Massachusetts bill introduced on October 2, 2025, titled “An Act increasing the penalties for unfair and deceptive actions perpetrated against persons with disabilities and senior citizens.” The bill, reported favorably by the Committee on Aging and Independence and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, would strengthen protections for older adults and people with disabilities under consumer protection law and create a dedicated fund to support education and prevention efforts.

Purpose and scope

  • Strengthen penalties for unfair or deceptive actions targeting older adults (65+) and persons with disabilities.
  • Create a dedicated funding stream to educate the public and professionals about consumer protections relevant to older adults and disabled individuals.
  • Align definitions of “older adult” and “persons with disabilities” with targeted protections and enforcement criteria.

Key provisions

1) Creation of the Older Adults and Disabled Persons Abuse Prevention Fund

  • Establishes a separate fund in the General Laws (Chapter 29) named the Older Adults and Disabled Persons Abuse Prevention Fund.
  • Fund source: revenues from Section 4 of Chapter 93A that exceed the amount collected in the prior fiscal year.
  • Eligible uses (subject to appropriation):
    • Develop and distribute educational materials about consumer protection laws and rights for older adults and disabled individuals.
    • Underwrite educational seminars and programs explaining deceptive investment or marketing practices that have historically targeted seniors and people with disabilities.

2) Definitions added to Chapter 93A

  • (e) Older adult: at least 65 years of age.
  • (f) Persons with disabilities: individuals with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more fundamental life activities (examples: orthopedic, visual, speech/hearing impairments, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, intellectual/developmental disabilities, emotional illness). Fundamental life activities include self-care, mobility, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.

3) Enhanced penalties under Chapter 93A

  • Amends Section 4 of Chapter 93A to allow the court to impose an additional civil penalty up to $2,500 per violation if the conduct targets older adults or persons with disabilities.
  • Determination factors for the penalty include:
    • Whether the defendant knew or should have known the conduct targeted older adults or disabled persons.
    • Harms suffered by older adults or disabled persons (e.g., loss of residence, income, assets, government benefits, or essential health/welfare assets).
    • Increased vulnerability of the targeted individuals due to age, health, mobility, or disability, and actual harm experienced.

Affected populations

  • Primary: older adults (65+) and persons with disabilities.
  • Indirectly: consumers and businesses interacting with these groups, consumer protection education audiences.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced and filed in October 2025.
  • Reported favorably by the Committee on Aging and Independence.
  • Referred to the Committee on House Ways and Means for further consideration and funding decisions.

Potential impact

  • Deters deceptive practices aimed at seniors and disabled individuals through higher penalties.
  • Builds capacity to educate and prevent abuse via the new fund.
  • Clarifies and expands definitions to ensure targeted protections are enforceable under existing consumer protection law.

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

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