WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HD 2823

An Act supporting caregivers running for public office

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mindy Domb and 3 co-sponsors

Expands campaign expenses to cover adult-care services for a candidate's adult dependents, easing caregiving costs during campaigns and broadening fundable needs.

0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 2823

Summary: HD 2823 — An Act supporting caregivers running for public office

Overview

HD 2823 is a proposed Massachusetts bill in the 2025-2026 General Court called “An Act supporting caregivers running for public office.” The bill aims to recognize and financially support caregiving needs that arise for candidates or their adult dependents during campaign activity. It would amend Chapter 55 of the General Laws (Election Laws) to create a new category of eligible campaign expenses tied to adult-care services and to require regulatory guidance.

  • Status: Proposed bill (2025-2026 session)
  • Filed: January 16, 2025 (House Docket No. 825)
  • Introduced by: Representative Brandy Fluker-Reid (and co-petitioners)

Note: The bill is referenced as HD 2823 in the House docket and is described as a petition accompanied by bill No. 825.

Purpose and intent

  • To provide broader recognition of caregiving costs incurred by candidates and their adult dependents during campaign activities.
  • To ensure that caregiving needs connected to running for office can be funded as part of campaign expenses, thereby reducing barriers for candidates who are caregivers.

Key provisions

1) Definition of adult-care services
- Inserts a new definition of “Adult-care services” after “Candidate’s committee” in Section 1 of Chapter 55.
- Included elements:
- Care services provided to a candidate’s parent or other adult dependent.
- Could be provided by an individual, non-profit, or for-profit organization.
- Covers any other costs directly related to such services that arise due to campaign activities.
- Exclusions:
- Payments to a family member (as defined in Chapter 50, Sec. 1) are not covered unless the family member owns, operates, or is employed by a professional caregiving service, and the cost does not exceed what the family member would ordinarily charge.

2) Expansion of allowable campaign expenses
- Amends Section 6 of Chapter 55 to include:
- Expenses relating to adult-care services that would not exist but for the existence of the campaign.
- This broadens the scope of campaign expense eligibility to cover caregiving needs specifically tied to campaigning.

3) Regulatory framework
- Directs the Director of Campaign and Political Finance to promulgate regulations implementing these provisions within 90 days of enactment.

Who is affected

  • Candidates for public office and their campaign committees.
  • Adult dependents and caregivers (including professional caregiving services).
  • Family members who might previously provide care (subject to the family-member exception limits).
  • Entities providing adult-care services (individual caregivers, non-profits, for-profits) that bill as campaign expenses.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Accessibility: May reduce financial barriers for caregiving responsibilities during campaigns.
  • Compliance: Campaign committees will need to track and report adult-care service costs as campaign-related expenses; new recordkeeping and documentation requirements will apply.
  • Oversight: The 90-day regulatory timeline places emphasis on prompt guidance from the Director of Campaign and Political Finance.
  • Fiscal effects: The bill creates a new eligible expense category, potentially increasing reported campaign expenditures in eligible cases, depending on the prevalence of caregiving needs among candidates.

Timeline and status notes

  • The bill is part of the 2025-2026 session in Massachusetts.
  • Regulatory guidance is to be issued within 90 days after enactment (if enacted).
  • Specific effective dates or implementation milestones are not stated beyond regulatory timing.

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

Sign in to ask a question.