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H 4504

May as ALS Awareness Month

2025-2026 Regular Session

Nantucket county charter updates gender-neutral terms for the select board, preserving its powers and authority.

Introduced and adopted
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 4504

Summary — H 4504

Note on document contents
- The legislative file labeled H 4504 contains two distinct items: (A) a Massachusetts local act that would amend the county charter for Nantucket to use gender‑neutral terminology for its governing board; and (B) a separate ceremonial House resolution from South Carolina recognizing May 2025 as “ALS Awareness Month.” These are unrelated measures that appear together in the provided text/docket.

A. Nantucket charter — “make the charter of the county on Nantucket gender neutral”

Purpose and intent
- Update the Nantucket county charter to replace gendered references to the Board of Selectmen with gender‑neutral terminology (select board/select board members) and to confirm that the new wording preserves the board’s existing powers and roles.

Key provisions (specific edits)
- Section 1: Amends first sentence of section 2.2 (Article II) — strikes the word “Selectmen” and inserts “select board members” wherever it appears.
- Section 2: Adds a clause to section 2.2 stating: “The select board shall have the full role of and all of the powers and authority of a board of selectmen under any general or special law and its members and officers shall have the full role of and all of the powers and authority of the members and officers of a board of selectmen under any general or special law.” (This affirms continuity of authority.)
- Section 3: Amends first paragraph of section 2.3 — replaces “Board of Selectmen” with “select board.”
- Section 4: Amends subsection (d) of section 2.8 — replaces “Board of Selectmen” with “select board.”
- Section 5: States the act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected
- Nantucket county government (select board members and officers), town/county administrative documents, and any references in local practice or local law that use the term “Selectmen.” The changes are principally stylistic/terminological and intended to modernize language and ensure gender neutrality while preserving existing powers.

Procedural/other notes
- Petitioned by Representative Thomas W. Moakley (Barnstable, Dukes & Nantucket) with Senator Julian Cyr; local approval was received. The bill is filed as a local act (Municipalities and Regional Government committee referral). The change is effective upon enactment.

B. South Carolina House resolution — “Recognize May 2025 as ALS Awareness Month”

Purpose and intent
- A non‑binding, ceremonial resolution recognizing May 2025 as ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Awareness Month in South Carolina and encouraging awareness of the disease, support for research, and recognition of affected individuals and families.

Key content highlights
- Describes ALS (progressive neurodegenerative disease, typical prognosis 2–5 years), notes incidence claims used in the resolution (e.g., “every ninety minutes someone is diagnosed and someone passes away”), highlights disproportionate impact on military veterans, and stresses the importance of access to therapies, equipment, and clinical trials.
- Notes the ALS Association’s philanthropic funding (cited as more than $154 million supporting over 550 projects across the U.S. and internationally).
- Concludes with the House recognizing May 2025 as ALS Awareness Month.

Who is affected
- The resolution is symbolic and aimed at public awareness; it does not create legal or budgetary obligations.

Procedural status (as provided)
- The ALS resolution is listed as “Introduced and adopted” with date 05/06/2025 (South Carolina House). For the Nantucket charter amendments, the docket shows: referred 9/11/2025 to Municipalities & Regional Government; hearing scheduled 9/23/2025 (written testimony); committee reported favorably 10/14/2025 and referred to House Steering; on 11/10/2025 the matter was placed on Orders of the Day, rules were suspended, and it was read a second time and ordered to a third reading. Senate concurrence is recorded 9/15/2025.

Related bill
- HD 5110 is noted as replaced by this filing.

Impact summary
- Nantucket charter edits are technical/terminological updates to make local government language gender neutral while explicitly preserving existing legal powers and authority of the governing board. The ALS resolution is a ceremonial recognition intended to raise awareness but carries no regulatory or fiscal effect.

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

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