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S 2478

Establishes a clean and resilient energy program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Parker

Extends eligibility: county/city/town employees who are armed forces members receive the benefits and protections of G.L. c.33, §59 (or earlier law).

REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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Bill Summary · S 2478

Summary — S 2478 (Senate Bill)

Note on inconsistency in source materials
- The metadata initially lists the bill title as “Establishes a clean and resilient energy program,” but the provided bill text and docket describe an entirely different measure titled “An Act relative to reimbursement to armed service members.” This summary is based on the actual bill text supplied (amendment to Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 33, section 59) and the accompanying legislative actions. Verify the official legislative website for the definitive title and full text.

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to amend Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 33, section 59 — a statute that governs certain benefits and protections for members of the armed forces — by replacing subsection (e). The intent appears to be to clarify or expand the status of municipal employees (county, city, or town employees) with respect to the benefits and protections in section 59 or an earlier accepted law.

Key provision (textual change)

  • Amends chapter 33, section 59 (as in the 2022 Official Edition) by striking out subsection (e) and inserting a new subsection (e) that reads:
    • “(e) An employee of a county, city or town which shall be entitled to the benefits and protections of this section or the benefits of the accepted earlier law.”

Note: The inserted language as provided is brief and grammatically incomplete in isolation; it appears intended to specify that employees of counties, cities or towns are covered by this section or prior accepted law. The full context or any additional clarifying clauses are not present in the excerpt provided.

Who would be affected

  • Employees of Massachusetts counties, cities, and towns who are members of the armed forces and are (or seek to be) entitled to the benefits and protections of G.L. c.33, §59, or to benefits under an earlier accepted law.
  • Municipal employers and local government human-resources/payroll offices would be affected administratively if the change alters entitlement or reimbursement obligations.

Potential impact

  • If the intent is to explicitly extend or clarify coverage, municipal service members may receive clearer access to statutory benefits/reimbursements under section 59.
  • Administrative changes at the municipal level could be required to implement or document eligibility and reimbursement.
  • The short excerpt lacks monetary, enforcement, or procedural details; fiscal impacts are not specified.

Procedural status and timeline (as provided)

  • Filed: January 17, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 2192)
  • Introduced in Senate: July 28, 2025
  • Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: July 28, 2025
  • Other committee referrals (dates in record): Referred to Veterans and Federal Affairs (2/27/2025); Referred to Energy and Telecommunications (1/21/2025) — records show multiple referrals, suggesting procedural movement or clerical entries.
  • Hearing scheduling note in record: hearing scheduled 07/22/2025 (01:00 PM–05:00 PM) in A-2.
  • Action history contains inconsistencies (dates and committee referrals); consult official legislative tracking for current status.

Sponsors and related measures

  • Sponsors listed: Elizabeth A. Warren (cosponsor); Edward J. Markey (primary); Kevin S. Parker (primary)
  • Related/companion bills listed: HR 4719, A 7806 (companion), SD 2192 (replaces), and several prior-session bills (S 6587, S 3333, S 4946, A 8240, S 3333).
  • Because sponsor names and some procedural details appear to mix federal and state elements, confirm jurisdictional alignment (Massachusetts General Court vs. U.S. Senate) using the official legislative site.

Notes and recommended next steps

  • The provided subsection insertion is short and may be incomplete; obtain the full enrolled or printed bill text to confirm precise language and any related amendments.
  • Check the official Massachusetts legislature docket or bill page for the current status, committee reports, fiscal notes, and complete legislative history before drawing conclusions about legal effect or implementation.

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

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