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S 2405

Requires persistently dangerous schools to file an incident reduction plan detailing the steps the school will take to reduce incidents of violence and disruption

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Luis Sepúlveda

Establishes a monthly payment plan for toll debt (min $25/month for balances $250+), halting new fines after payments begin and protecting license/registration renewals for complia

REFERRED TO EDUCATION
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Bill Summary · S 2405

Summary — S.2405 (2025): Monthly payment plan and protections for E‑ZPass/Pay‑By‑Plate motorists

Note: The bill text provided concerns toll-payment procedures for the Massachusetts E‑ZPass MA and Pay‑By‑Plate systems. (The "persistently dangerous schools" title in the metadata appears unrelated to the text and is likely a clerical error.)

Main purpose

Establish a consumer-friendly monthly payment plan and related protections for motorists who owe tolls, fines, fees, or other debts under Massachusetts’ Pay‑By‑Plate and E‑ZPass MA systems. The bill also limits certain administrative consequences (e.g., license/registration renewals) for motorists who enter and comply with the payment plan.

Key provisions

  • Regular review and account outreach (Chapter 6C, §13)

    • The Department (MassDOT or designated department) must review fees/fines assessed under Pay‑By‑Plate and E‑ZPass MA at least monthly.
    • For accounts owing more than $100, the department must attempt contact using all available means (compare to national change-of-address registry, email, cell/home phone calls) to notify account holders of status and remediation options.

  • Monthly payment plan (Chapter 6C, §13(e))

    • Eligibility: persons owing $250 or more under Pay‑By‑Plate or E‑ZPass MA.
    • Minimum monthly payment: $25.
    • Upon receipt of the first monthly payment, the department must not charge additional fines or fees on existing debts for late payment or failure to pay.
    • Accepted payment methods include automatic monthly credit/debit card charges, check, or money order (mail or in-person).

  • Protection for license/registration renewals (Chapter 6C, §13(e)(2) and Chapter 90, §20G(b))

    • If a person is participating in the monthly payment plan and is complying with its terms and relevant regulations, the department shall not instruct the RMV (registrar) to refuse renewal of a driver’s license or vehicle registration because of the outstanding toll-related debt. The department may still notify the RMV for recordkeeping.
    • The registrar may issue a conditional reinstatement of a license/registration for a person who: (i) owes toll-related debts; (ii) has entered the monthly payment plan and made at least one payment; (iii) is in compliance; and (iv) is otherwise qualified.

  • Termination and completion

    • The registrar shall revoke a conditionally reinstated license/registration if the person becomes more than 30 days delinquent on a required payment under the plan, or for other legal/regulatory violations.
    • On successful completion of the monthly payment plan, the registrar shall fully renew the license/registration (assuming the person otherwise qualifies).

  • Implementation timeline

    • MassDOT and the registrar must promulgate or amend any necessary regulations to implement the act within 5 years of its passage.
    • The act takes effect 120 days after passage.

Who is affected

  • Motorists using Massachusetts E‑ZPass MA or Pay‑By‑Plate tolling who owe $100+ (for outreach) and $250+ (eligibility for payment plan).
  • MassDOT, the Turnpike Authority/tolling authorities, and the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).
  • Potentially lessors of motor vehicles (references retain consistency with section 20E) and collections/administrative systems used by tolling authorities.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Consumer relief: provides an affordable monthly payment option (minimum $25/month) and halts additional fines/fees on existing debt once payments begin, reducing the immediate financial barrier to reinstatement and license renewal.
  • Administrative burden: requires monthly account reviews and multiple outreach attempts; agencies will need systems to track plan participation, payments, and RMV conditional reinstatements.
  • Fiscal implications: may delay lump-sum collections of toll revenue but could increase recovery rates by enabling payment plans; precise fiscal impact would depend on uptake and administrative costs.
  • Implementation window: regulators have up to 5 years to promulgate implementing regulations (a relatively long period), and the law would otherwise take effect 120 days after enactment.

Procedural status and timeline (as provided)

  • Filed/Senate docket: Filed 1/15/2025 (Senate Docket No. 1211; bill text dated Jan 2025).
  • Legislative actions (selected; records include some conflicting entries):
    • Introduced in Senate: 7/23/2025; read twice and referred to Committee on Finance (7/23/2025).
    • Referred to the Committee on Transportation (2/27/2025).
    • Hearings scheduled for 10/14/2025 (locations listed, with a virtual hearing modification).
    • Other entries show referrals to Education and House concurrence on 2/27/2025 — these appear inconsistent with the main docket and should be verified with the official legislative record.

Related/companion measures

  • HR 4634 (companion)
  • A3458 (companion)
  • Prior-session or related S bills: S 7024, S 4864, S 5346, S 2196, S 745
  • Replaces SD 1211 per metadata

If you’d like, I can:
- Produce a plain‑language one‑page handout for motorists explaining eligibility and steps to enroll; or
- Draft a short checklist for MassDOT/RMV staff for implementing the outreach and plan functions.

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

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