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SD 2132

An Act prohibiting body size discrimination

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Becca Rausch

Prohibits discrimination based on height or weight across key Mass. civil rights and education laws, extending protections to students and workers, with safety-standard carve-outs.

House concurred
0
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Bill Summary · SD 2132

Summary of Bill SD 2132 — An Act prohibiting body size discrimination

Overview

SD 2132, introduced February 27, 2025, seeks to prohibit discrimination on the basis of body size—specifically height and weight—by expanding existing anti-discrimination protections across multiple chapters of the General Laws in Massachusetts. The bill adds “height or weight” as protected characteristics in several nondiscrimination provisions and clarifies that such protections apply in contexts governed by state, federal, or industry safety standards where relevant. The bill is a proposed measure in the 2025-2026 session and, as of the latest status, the House has concurred with the Senate version.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 1 (Chapter 71, General Laws)
    Adds “height or weight” after “identity” in the relevant nondiscrimination language. This expands protections in the context covered by Chapter 71 (education, likely related to public schools).

  • Section 2 (Chapter 76)
    Adds “height or weight” after “identity” in the nondiscrimination context, extending protections within this chapter (education/education-related provisions).

  • Section 3 (Chapter 76, 12B)
    Adds “height or weight” after “identity” in the nondiscrimination language.

  • Section 4 & Section 5 (Chapter 151B)
    Adds “height or weight” after “identity” in multiple locations, with Section 5 including a qualifier: “height or weight, unless for the purposes of compliance with any established state, federal, or industry safety standard.” This creates an explicit safety-standard exception in several subsections.

  • Sections 6 & 7 (Chapter 151C)
    Adds “height or weight” after “race” in both sections, broadening protections within this chapter (often related to employment/hiring and related rights in civil rights protections).

  • Section 8 (Chapter 151E)
    Adds “height or weight” after “sex,” with the same safety-standard caveat: “height or weight, unless for the purposes of compliance with any established state, federal, or industry safety standard.”

  • Sections 9 & 10 (Chapter 272)
    Adds “height or weight” after “identity” in sections dealing with specific legal provisions, with a safety-standard exception in Section 9 and similar language in Section 10.

Who is affected

  • Individuals protected under the cited general laws, including students, employees, job applicants, and others covered by nondiscrimination provisions in education, employment, housing, and related settings, would gain an explicit protection against discrimination based on height or weight.
  • Institutions and employers subject to these statutory nondiscrimination requirements would need to ensure policies and practices do not discriminate on the basis of height or weight, except where safety standards require otherwise.

Exceptions and timelines

  • A notable exception appears in Sections 4 and 5 (Chapter 151B) and Section 8, allowing height or weight discrimination to occur to the extent required for compliance with established safety standards.
  • Legislative actions: Filed January 17, 2025; referred to The Judiciary on February 27, 2025; House concurrence also noted on February 27, 2025. Previous similar matter filed in the 2023-2024 session (S. 1108).

Potential impact

  • The bill would broaden anti-discrimination protections to include height and weight across several civil rights and education-related statutes, promoting broader protections in schools, workplaces, and related settings.
  • The safety-standard carve-outs acknowledge potential legitimate safety considerations in certain contexts.

Note: This is a summary of a proposed bill and reflects its stated text and status as of the provided materials.

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

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