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Bill

HD 441

An Act relative to making the charter of the city of Chicopee gender neutral

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Shirley Arriaga and 1 co-sponsor

Chicopee, MA updates its city charter to replace gender-specific language with gender-neutral terminology throughout municipal governance documents.

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Bill Summary · HD 441

Legislative bill overview

HD 441 amends the city charter of Chicopee, Massachusetts to remove gender-specific language and replace it with gender-neutral terminology throughout the document. This modernizes official municipal language to reflect contemporary standards and ensure inclusive governance.

Why is this important

Charter language establishes the legal framework for how a city operates, including roles, responsibilities, and procedures. Gender-neutral language ensures that all residents and officials are equally represented in governance documents and removes outdated assumptions about who can hold positions or participate in city processes.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation scope: Determining which terms require revision and ensuring consistency across all charter sections could create drafting challenges
  • Interpretation concerns: Some may worry that changing established language could create legal ambiguity in existing provisions, though charter amendments typically clarify intent
  • Prioritization questions: Critics might argue resources should focus on substantive governance issues rather than language updates, while supporters view inclusive language as foundational to equitable governance

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

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