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HD 3328

An Act relative to protecting local retirees

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Day

HD 3328 freezes retirees' health-insurance premium share when their employer raises premiums, shielding local retirees; takes effect Jan 1, 2026 for Chapter 32B participants.

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Bill Summary · HD 3328

Summary: HD 3328 — An Act relative to protecting local retirees

At a glance

  • Bill number: HD 3328 (House Docket No. 3328)
  • Title: An Act relative to protecting local retirees
  • Sponsor: Representative Michael S. Day (31st Middlesex)
  • Status: Proposed bill in the 2025-2026 Massachusetts General Court
  • Introduced: November 29, 2025
  • Effective date (if enacted): January 1, 2026

Purpose and intent

HD 3328 seeks to shield local retirees from increases in the portion of health insurance premiums they must contribute when the governmental unit that employs or covers them increases retirees’ premium-sharing requirements. The bill adds a protective rule to limit how much retirees’ required contribution can rise in response to premium increases.

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 9E of Chapter 32B of the General Laws (as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition) by adding a new sentence at the end of the existing text.

  • New provision: If a governmental unit approves an increase in the percent of the premium to be contributed by its retired employees, the percent currently paid by a retiree will not be increased to the higher rate. In short, retirees’ contribution rate is frozen at its current level when premium increases are approved.

  • Effective date: The act would take effect on January 1, 2026.

Who is affected

  • Retired employees who participate in the Massachusetts public employee health insurance program covered under Chapter 32B.
  • Governmental units (cities, towns, and other governmental entities) that participate in or administer these retiree health premium arrangements.

Potential impact

  • For retirees: Prevents automatic increases to their share of health insurance premiums in the event of premium increases approved by their employing or governing unit.
  • For governmental units: Could shift premium cost dynamics, potentially maintaining higher subsidy levels for retirees or affecting budget allocations tied to health benefits. The measure does not cap total premiums, but it blocks increases to retirees’ share at the moment premium increases are approved.
  • Fiscal considerations: The bill’s effect on long-term costs would depend on the frequency and magnitude of premium increases and how the frozen retiree contributions interact with overall premium growth and employer/subsidy funding.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The bill is a proposed statute in the 2025-2026 session and has not (as of the provided information) been enacted.
  • If enacted, the measure would become law starting January 1, 2026.
  • A related matter with similar focus was filed in a prior session (House No. 2494, 2023-2024), indicating a continued interest in protecting retirees from rising premium contributions.

Summary

HD 3328 offers a targeted safeguard for local retirees by ensuring that their current premium contribution rate cannot be raised when their governmental unit increases the overall premium share for retirees. The reform takes effect at the start of 2026 and would apply to Massachusetts public retirees covered under Chapter 32B, along with the governmental units managing those benefits.

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

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