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S 1922

Relates to adding veterans to protected classes for unlawful housing discrimination

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Ashby and 8 co-sponsors

Massachusetts creates the MFVC to collect voluntary tax-return contributions from taxpayers and transfer funds to the UN LDCF or qualified 501(c)(3) groups.

REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
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Bill Summary · S 1922

Bill Summary — S.1922 (2025) — “Massachusetts Fund for Vulnerable Countries Most Affected by Climate Change”

Note on source discrepancies
- The bill text filed in the Massachusetts Senate (Docket No. 1459 / Senate No. 1922) establishes a state tax-return contribution fund to support the UN Least Developed Countries Fund (UN LDCF). The bill header also contains an unrelated short title (“Fighting Irrational Regulatory Enforcement to Avert Retailers’ Misfortune Act” / “FIREARM Act”), and the metadata you provided includes conflicting subject lines and sponsors. This summary is based on the bill text (Massachusetts bill introduced by Sen. Michael J. Barrett and James B. Eldridge).

Purpose
- Create a state-managed, tax-return-enabled contribution mechanism — the Massachusetts Fund for Vulnerable Countries Most Affected by Climate Change (MFVC) — to collect voluntary contributions from Massachusetts personal income taxpayers and to transfer those funds to the United Nations Least Developed Countries Fund (UN LDCF) or to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations that support the UN LDCF’s mission.

Key provisions
- Establishment (Chapter 10, new Section 35MMM):
- Creates the MFVC as a separate fund on the Commonwealth’s books.
- Authorizes the fund to receive (a) amounts designated via a tax-return contribution option (per Chapter 62) and (b) gifts, grants, and donations from public/private sources.
- Directs the State Treasurer to invest deposits consistent with fund safety and to make funds available for transfer to the UN LDCF upon request by a UN LDCF trustee or to a qualifying 501(c)(3) that furthers the UN LDCF.

  • Tax-return contribution option defined (Chapter 62, new subsection):

    • Defines “tax return-enabled contribution option” as any fund/account appearing on the state personal income tax return to which filers may voluntarily direct part/all of a refund or an additional payment.

  • Voluntary contribution procedure (Chapter 62, new Section 6O):

    • Allows individual or joint filers to contribute all/part of a refund or additional funds to the MFVC when filing for a tax year.
    • Requires that all personal income tax forms include a clear, convenient MFVC contribution option and that the DOR report contributions annually to the State Treasurer.

  • Controls on which options appear on tax forms (Chapter 62, new Section 6P):

    • No tax-return-enabled option may appear without explicit legislative authorization.
    • Contribution options that underperform relative to other options are to be removed from the tax form for a minimum of five years based on a specific 80% threshold rule (details provided in bill).
    • Limits the number of tax-return-enabled options appearing on the form each year to a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 9.
    • Requires that the text printed for each option identify the principal entity/entities authorized to receive or spend the monies.
    • Requires annual expenditure/disbursement reports from entities that receive and disburse funds (report language is partially truncated in the provided text).

Who is affected
- Massachusetts personal income taxpayers: may voluntarily contribute part/all of a refund or make an additional payment to MFVC.
- Department of Revenue (DOR): must include the MFVC option on personal income tax forms and report contributions annually.
- State Treasurer: must accept deposits, invest funds prudently, and transfer funds to UN LDCF trustees or qualifying 501(c)(3)s.
- UN Least Developed Countries Fund and qualifying nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3)): potential recipients of transfers supporting climate adaptation efforts in vulnerable countries.
- Administrators/faithful stewards of the fund and recipients: subject to annual reporting requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects
- Contributions are made with tax filings for the applicable tax year.
- The DOR and State Treasurer must provide annual reporting on contributions and deposits.
- Authorized appearance of the MFVC on tax forms depends on legislative authorization and compliance with the appearance/retention rules in Section 6P.

Potential impact and considerations
- Generates a voluntary, potentially modest stream of private-public support for climate adaptation in the world’s least developed countries.
- Administrative workload for DOR and Treasurer to add and manage an additional tax-return contribution option, track receipts, and implement reporting rules.
- Transparency and accountability provisions (annual reports, named recipients) are intended to inform taxpayers and legislators, though full reporting language was truncated in the provided text.
- Fiscal impact to the Commonwealth’s budget is likely limited and dependent on voluntary contributions; investments are to be managed for safety and interest, but monies are designated for transfer.

Other notes
- The bill inserts new statutory sections into Massachusetts General Laws: Chapter 10 §35MMM and Chapter 62 §§6O and 6P (and a new tax-definition subsection).
- The version provided truncates the annual reporting language for fund administrators; the full bill text should be reviewed for complete reporting and privacy provisions.
- Current status (per supplied legislative actions): introduced and referred to committee; readers should consult the official Massachusetts Legislature site for the latest status and any amendments.

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

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