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SD 3285

An Act to promote emergency contract accountability and integrity

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Kelly Dooner and 8 co-sponsors

Requires time-limited, transparent emergency contracts under Chapter 30B; expands reporting and oversight; applies 30B rules and ethics to nonprofits funded by the state.

Referred to the committee on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently
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Bill Summary · SD 3285

Summary: SD 3285 – An Act to promote emergency contract accountability and integrity

Overview

SD 3285, introduced October 16, 2025, and referred to the Rules committee (acting concurrently by both branches), seeks to increase transparency and oversight of emergency procurements under Massachusetts procurement law (Chapter 30B). The bill imposes time limits on emergency contracts, expands reporting and publishing requirements, and extends certain procurement and ethics rules to nonprofit entities receiving state funding.

Main purpose and intent

  • Ensure emergency contracts are time-bound, properly justified, and transparent.
  • Strengthen visibility into emergency procurement decisions for the governor, state officials, and oversight bodies.
  • Extend procurement accountability and ethics requirements to nonprofit organizations that are funded by the Commonwealth through Chapter 180 arrangements.

Key provisions

Section 1 – Emergency procurements under Chapter 30B (amendment to Section 8)

  • Time limits on emergency contracts:
    • For emergency procurement contracts where the Commonwealth is a party and the total value exceeds $100,000, the contract may not last more than 90 days.
    • Extensions beyond 90 days are allowed only in 90-day increments, with written findings of necessity, recorded on the procurement record, and approved in writing by the Governor.
  • Recordkeeping and transparency:
    • The procurement officer must record details of each emergency contract as soon as practicable, including:
    • Contractor name, contract amount, contract type, services or supplies provided, and the basis for the emergency.
    • Written findings describing the cause and circumstances of the emergency, why it was not reasonably foreseeable, and any identified risks from not using an emergency contract.
    • The procurement officer must, as soon as possible, provide:
    • A copy of the record to the State Secretary for publication/public postings of procurements.
    • A copy to the Secretary of State for posting in the exclusive procurement area of the website.
    • A copy to the Inspector General (IG) for review.
    • The IG must file a timely report with the clerks of the House and Senate detailing the review results.

Section 2 – Application to nonprofit entities (new Section 1 1/2 to Chapter 30B)

  • The Chapter 30B framework applies to every contract conducted by a nonprofit entity established under Chapter 180 that receives a contract or funding from the Commonwealth.

Section 3 – Expanded ethics coverage for nonprofit contract recipients (amendment to Chapter 268A)

  • Provisions of Chapter 268A (ethics law) apply to any board member, officer, director, or employee of a Chapter 180 nonprofit entity seeking or receiving a state-funded contract.

Affected parties

  • State agencies and procurement officers managing emergency procurements under Chapter 30B.
  • Nonprofit entities established under Chapter 180 that receive Commonwealth funding.
  • Board members, officers, directors, and employees of such nonprofit entities (ethics coverage).
  • Inspector General, State Secretary, and Secretary of the Commonwealth for oversight and publication.
  • Contractors and service providers entering emergency contracts above $100,000.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Status: Referred to the Rules committee of the two branches, acting concurrently.
  • Docket/intro: Senate Docket No. 3285; filed 10/14/2025; introduced by Senator Bruce E. Tarr; petitioners listed include Tarr and several colleagues.
  • Effective date: Not specified in the text; typically subject to passage and signing into law with prospective application.

Potential impact

  • Increased transparency and accountability for emergency procurement decisions, including public-facing records and IG review.
  • Potentially shorter or more tightly constrained emergency contracts, due to new time limits and governor’s written approval requirement for extensions.
  • Greater oversight of nonprofit entities receiving state funding, aligning their contracting with Chapter 30B and ethics requirements.

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

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