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S 2314

Extends tuition free course benefits to volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance workers

2025 Regular Session Introduced by George Borrello and 4 co-sponsors

In Massachusetts, raises the Section 6B storage-charge cap from 35 to 48, likely increasing fees for owners reclaiming involuntarily towed vehicles.

REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
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Bill Summary · S 2314

Bill Summary — S 2314

Note: The materials supplied contain conflicting metadata (different titles, sponsors, and jurisdictions). The legislative text included in the packet is a short amendment to Massachusetts General Laws (chapter 159B, Section 6B) increasing a numeric cap from “35” to “48.” The summary below focuses on the enacted text and the listed legislative actions; check the official legislative database for the authoritative version and units (dollars or other context).

Title / Metadata (conflicting)

  • Submitted header: S 2314 — “Extends tuition free course benefits to volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance workers.”
  • Alternate titles in the packet: “Supporting the Health of Aquatic systems through Research Knowledge and Enhanced Dialogue Act of 2025 (SHARKED Act of 2025)” and “An Act relative to the maximum storage charges on motor vehicles involuntarily towed.”
  • Filing/introducing information in the bill text identifies Massachusetts Senate Docket No. 1062 and Senator Jacob R. Oliveira as presenter (filed 01/15/2025). Other sponsor lists in the packet appear to be U.S. Senators and are inconsistent with the Massachusetts docket.
  • Because the actual amendment text references Chapter 159B (a Massachusetts statute about towing/storage), the operative measure appears to be a Massachusetts bill changing a numeric cap related to involuntary towing storage charges.

Main purpose / intent

Amend Section 6B of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 159B, by replacing the number “35” with “48.” The apparent intent is to increase the statutory numeric cap in that section — commonly interpreted as raising the maximum storage charge applied to motor vehicles involuntarily towed.

Key provision

  • Single-text amendment: In Section 6B of chapter 159B, strike “35” and insert “48.”
    • The packet does not state the unit (dollars, days, etc.) or the surrounding statutory language; however, Section 6B is commonly cited in the context of maximum storage charges, so the practical effect is to raise the numeric limit specified in that provision.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Owners/drivers of motor vehicles that are involuntarily towed in Massachusetts (who may pay higher storage fees to retrieve vehicles).
  • Secondary: Tow operators, storage lot owners, insurers, and municipalities enforcing towing policies — may see adjustments in revenue, billing, and disputes related to storage fees.

Procedural / timeline notes (from provided actions)

  • Filed / docketed: Senate Docket No. 1062 (filed 01/15/2025).
  • Hearing scheduled: 05/06/2025 (A-2).
  • Referred and considered by multiple committees per packet (Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy; Commerce, Science, and Transportation).
  • Committee action: 07/30/2025 — Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably (per packet).
  • Status lines include “REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION” (duplicated) and other steps that appear inconsistent; consult the official MA legislative site for current status.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Raises the maximum statutory cap (likely a dollar-per-day charge) from 35 to 48 — a roughly 37% increase in the numeric cap if units are dollars. This would increase out-of-pocket costs for vehicle owners reclaiming towed vehicles.
  • Could improve revenue for towing/storage operators and alter towing/storage billing practices.
  • May influence disputes and collections activity; enforcement and consumer-protection oversight may need updating.
  • Fiscal impact to the state government itself is likely minimal unless the state collects fees or fines tied to the cap.

Recommendation / next steps

  • Verify the authoritative bill text and surrounding statutory language in the Massachusetts legislative information system to confirm the unit (dollars vs. other measure), the exact statutory sentence amended, and the effective date.
  • If evaluating policy impact, estimate typical storage durations and compute likely per-incident cost increases; review any related consumer-protection or municipal towing ordinances that reference the statutory cap.

If you want, I can:
- Retrieve and summarize the exact Section 6B statutory paragraph to show the amendment in context (if you provide or allow me to fetch the MA statute), or
- Prepare a brief comparison showing estimated cost impacts for example towing-storage durations under the old and new caps.

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

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