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S 2211

Establishes an essential workers' bill of rights

2025 Regular Session Introduced by John Liu

The bill bars anyone convicted of certain political-corruption felonies from acting or registering as lobbyists for 10 years in Massachusetts.

REFERRED TO LABOR
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Bill Summary · S 2211

Summary — S.2211 (An Act closing a loophole in lobbying law)

Status: Referred to Labor (introduced 01/17/2025; multiple committee referrals and hearings scheduled)
Primary sponsor / filer: Senator Rebecca L. Rausch

Purpose / Intent

The bill amends Massachusetts law to close a gap in the rules governing who may register and act as executive or legislative agents (lobbyists). Its intent is to bar people convicted of specified state or federal political-corruption felonies from serving or registering as lobbyists for a fixed period, strengthening integrity and public trust in the legislative and executive advocacy process.

Key provision (what the bill would change)

  • Amends paragraph (m) of Section 45 of Chapter 3 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
  • Requires the Secretary of the Commonwealth to automatically disqualify any person convicted of:
    • A felony under Chapter 3, Chapter 55, or Chapter 268A of the Massachusetts General Laws; or
    • Any other state or federal felony crime of political corruption, explicitly including (but not limited to) violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 (mail fraud), 1343 (wire fraud), 1346 (honest services fraud), and 1951 (interference with commerce — Hobbs Act).
  • Disqualification duration: 10 years from the date of conviction.
  • Effect: Barred individuals may not act or register as executive or legislative agents (i.e., lobbyists) during the 10-year period.

Who would be affected

  • Individuals convicted of the specified state or federal political-corruption felonies would be prevented from registering or acting as lobbyists in Massachusetts for 10 years after conviction.
  • The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s registration and enforcement processes would be directly responsible for implementing the automatic disqualification.
  • Organizations that employ former convicts as lobbyists would be restricted from having those individuals act in a registered lobbying capacity during the disqualification period.

Procedural status & timeline highlights

  • Filed in the Senate on 01/17/2025 (Senate Docket No. 2335; bill No. 2211).
  • Read twice and referred to committee (multiple entries list referrals to Labor and to State Administration and Regulatory Oversight).
  • Hearings scheduled / rescheduled (e.g., hearings listed for November 5, 2025).
  • Additional sponsors and related bills are listed in the file (see Related Bills: SD 2335, S 8308, S 640, S 913; companion A 1267).

Potential impact and considerations

  • Strengthens restrictions on who may lobby state government, aiming to reduce influence by individuals previously convicted of corruption-related felonies.
  • Creates a clear 10-year statutory bar tied to conviction date; practical implementation will require the Secretary’s systems for registration checks and recordkeeping.
  • May raise questions about scope (what qualifies as a “crime of political corruption”), treatment of appeals/overturned convictions, pardons, and how federal convictions are verified for state registration purposes.
  • If enacted, the change would be limited in time (10-year disqualification) rather than permanent.

For more detail, review the bill text amending G.L. c.3, §45(m) and monitor committee hearings for stakeholder testimony and any subsequent amendments.

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

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