WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

H 4487

TM Cook, 95th Birthday

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Annie McDaniel

Modernizes Massachusetts statutes by replacing outdated disability terms with person‑first language, aligning legal text with contemporary disability rights terminology.

Introduced and adopted
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 4487

Summary — H.4487 (House No. 4487)

Overview

H.4487 is titled “An Act relative to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.” The primary purpose is to modernize and standardize disability-related language used across Massachusetts statutes by replacing outdated or stigmatizing terms with contemporary, person‑first terminology (for example, replacing “handicapped” and “mentally retarded” with “persons with disabilities” and “person with an intellectual or developmental disability”). The bill, as reported by the committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, was filed/introduced on September 17, 2025 and reported favorably and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Note: The materials provided also include a separate, unrelated South Carolina House resolution (filed May 6, 2025) congratulating Thelmer “T.M.” Cook on his ninety‑fifth birthday. That resolution is not substantively part of the Massachusetts statutory amendments and appears to be included in the provided text in error or as an appended document.

Key provisions

  • Systematically replace outdated terminology in multiple provisions of the General Laws (chapter 6 and related chapters). Examples include:
    • Section 15F (chapter 6): change “Employ Handicapped Persons Week” → “Persons with Disabilities Employment Week.”
    • Multiple sections (e.g., 172C, 172E, 178C, 178K, 143, 106, 131A/B, 191) update phrases such as “handicapped persons,” “disabled person,” and “mentally retarded person” to person‑first language such as “persons with disabilities,” “person with a disability,” and “person with an intellectual or developmental disability.”
    • Update capitalization/terminology such as changing “Autistic” → “Autism” (section 15LLLL).
    • Amend chapter 6A provisions (e.g., sections 16D, 16R, 18B) to use “persons with disabilities,” “has a disability,” and “disability community.”
    • (Text indicates further similar edits in chapter 6C and elsewhere; many amendments are stylistic/terminology substitutions.)

Who is affected

  • Direct statutory effect: state statutes’ text and any entity that relies on statutory language for forms, guidance, regulations, contracts, policies or program materials (state agencies, courts, service providers, employers administering statutory programs).
  • Practical effect: primarily linguistic — aims to reduce stigma, align statutes with contemporary disability‑rights language, and improve clarity and consistency. It does not, on its face, create new benefits, obligations, or funding.

Legislative status and timeline

  • Filed/Introduced: September 17, 2025 (reported from the committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities the same day).
  • Committee action: Reported favorably and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means (9/17/2025).
  • The provided materials also show an unrelated South Carolina resolution filed and adopted on May 6, 2025.

Potential impact and implementation notes

  • Administrative updates required: state agencies and other offices will likely need to update statutory citations in forms, manuals, websites, and administrative rules to match the revised language and avoid inconsistencies.
  • Legal effect: changes are largely editorial and intended to be non‑substantive (terminology modernization). However, careful drafting is needed to ensure no unintended changes in meaning or cross‑reference errors occur when statutes are amended.
  • Policy significance: supports dignity and consistency in public law by adopting person‑first and medically accurate terminology (e.g., “intellectual or developmental disability”).

Important caveat

The packet appears to conflate two separate items: (1) the Massachusetts bill to modernize disability‑related statutory language (H.4487), and (2) a South Carolina House resolution honoring Thelmer “T.M.” Cook’s 95th birthday. These are distinct documents; the substantive Massachusetts bill is the statutory language modernization described above.

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

Sign in to ask a question.