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Bill

H 4291

Memorializing the President and Congress to restore humanitarian aid to Sudan

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chandra Dillard and 3 co-sponsors

Exempts the Town of Chatham from state prevailing-wage rules for municipal projects $50,000 or less, lowering costs but potentially reducing workers' pay/benefits on small jobs.

Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions
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Bill Summary · H 4291

Summary — H 4291

Note up front: the submitted text for H 4291 appears to contain two different measures merged into one document. One is a local Massachusetts bill that would exempt the Town of Chatham from the State’s prevailing wage law for small projects. The other is a memorial/resolution asking the U.S. President and Congress to restore humanitarian aid to Sudan (Operation Breadbasket). Both are summarized below, with procedural notes and a recommendation to clarify which measure H 4291 is intended to be.

A. Local Act: “An Act relative to the prevailing wage in the town of Chatham”

Purpose / Intent

To authorize a local exemption allowing the Town of Chatham not to comply with the state prevailing wage law for small municipal construction or public works projects, with the intent of lowering local project costs and simplifying procurement for small jobs.

Key provisions

  • Exempts the Town of Chatham from complying with sections 26 through 27G of Chapter 149 of the Massachusetts General Laws (the state prevailing wage provisions) for projects estimated to cost $50,000 or less.
  • Effective date: the act takes effect upon passage.
  • The filing notes “Local Approval Received,” indicating the town approved pursuing the exemption.

Who is affected

  • Town of Chatham (municipal officials, procurement processes).
  • Contractors and subcontractors bidding on Chatham projects under $50,000 (they would not be required to pay prevailing wages set under Chapter 149 for those projects).
  • Construction workers on those small projects (potential impact on wages and benefits compared to prevailing wage levels).

Potential impact

  • Short-term municipal cost savings on small projects and simplified contracting.
  • Potential reduction in pay/benefits for workers on exempted projects compared with prevailing wage requirements.
  • Administrative change limited to Chatham and to projects ≤ $50,000.

B. Memorial Resolution: “Memorialize the President and Congress to restore humanitarian aid to Sudan (Operation Breadbasket)”

Purpose / Intent

To request that the President and U.S. Congress fully restore U.S. financial/humanitarian assistance to Sudan, specifically through USAID support of “Operation Breadbasket,” in response to a reported cessation of assistance that has reduced emergency food services.

Key points cited in the text

  • Claims that freezing U.S. humanitarian assistance via Operation Breadbasket forced closure of almost 80% of emergency food kitchens in Sudan.
  • References a UN figure that USAID contributed 44% of a $1.8 billion humanitarian response previously.
  • States that more than 1,100 communal kitchens were closed and nearly two million people affected.
  • The resolution asks federal leaders to fully restore U.S. financial and humanitarian support and directs that copies of the resolution be sent to the U.S. President and the state’s congressional delegation.

Who is affected

  • Intended beneficiary: civilians in Sudan dependent on humanitarian food assistance.
  • Addressees: U.S. President and U.S. Congress (policy/appropriations decision-makers).
  • Effect on state or federal law: none; this is a non-binding memorial expressing the legislature’s position.

Practical effect

  • Symbolic pressure and public record urging federal action; does not compel federal funding or change federal policy by itself.

Procedural status and timeline (as provided; items appear mixed)

  • Introduced: 04/03/2025 (one entry) and 07/16/2025 (another entry).
  • Referred to: Committee on Labor and Workforce Development (consistent with the Chatham prevailing wage local act) and to Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions (consistent with the memorial resolution).
  • Senate concurred: listed 07/21/2025 (unclear which measure this references).
  • Hearing(s) scheduled/rescheduled for 11/17/2025 (multiple listings; likely committee hearing(s)).

Notes, discrepancies, and recommendation

  • The document conflates two distinct legislative forms: a local special-act style bill (Chatham prevailing wage exemption) and a memorial/resolution about Sudan (which appears to mirror text from another state’s memorial). They have different subjects, committees, and legal effects.
  • Clarification is needed from the bill sponsor/clerks: which text is the official H 4291 filing for this chamber/session? Confirm the correct bill title, subject, committee referral, and official bill text before further analysis or citation.
  • Fiscal and policy impacts differ greatly: the Chatham measure has binding local legal effect; the Sudan memorial is non-binding and purely a statement of legislative position.

If you want, I can draft a short briefing focused only on the Chatham prevailing wage exemption (legal implications, likely fiscal effects, precedents) or only on the memorial (context on Operation Breadbasket, federal aid mechanisms, and likely outcomes of such memorials).

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

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