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HD 2827

An Act relative to meeting human service demand by modernizing incentives for the direct care workforce

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jim Arciero and 25 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill modernizes direct care worker pay and incentives to address human services labor shortages and improve workforce retention and recruitment.

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Bill Summary · HD 2827

Legislative bill overview

HD 2827 aims to address labor shortages in Massachusetts's human services sector by modernizing compensation and incentive structures for direct care workers—positions like home health aides, personal care attendants, and residential support staff. The bill seeks to make these essential but historically low-wage positions more competitive and appealing through revised pay scales, benefits, or other workforce development incentives.

Why is this important

Direct care workers provide critical support to elderly, disabled, and vulnerable populations, yet face high turnover rates due to low wages and poor working conditions, creating service gaps and quality-of-care concerns. With an aging population and increased demand for home and community-based services, attracting and retaining qualified workers is essential for maintaining the state's human services infrastructure and ensuring care quality.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact: Significantly increased labor costs may require substantial new state funding, tax adjustments, or reallocation from other programs
  • Implementation scope: Disagreement over which worker categories qualify, wage levels, and whether incentives apply to public, private, or all providers
  • Sustainability: Questions about whether market-rate adjustments will be permanent, how costs scale with inflation, and whether incentives address root causes like benefits and working conditions

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

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