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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3760 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1534
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to a commission to study access to emotional support animals in residential
housing.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex1/17/2025Paul K. Frost7th Worcester1/31/2025Todd M. Smola1st Hampden3/10/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/30/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3760 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1534
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1534) of
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and others for an investigation by a special commission (including
members of the General Court) relative to access to emotional support animals in residential
housing. Housing.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to a commission to study access to emotional support animals in residential
housing.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. (a) There shall be a special legislative commission established pursuant to
2section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to study and report on the use and training of
3service animals in comparison to emotional support animals and the consequences to tenants and
4owners of the buildings in which they reside within the Commonwealth. The commission shall
5consist of 17 members: 2 of whom shall be the chairs of the joint committee on housing or their
6designees, who shall serve as co-chairs; 2 shall also be the chairs of the joint committee on the
7judiciary or their designees; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of
8representatives; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president; 1 of whom shall be
9appointed by the house minority leader; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority
10leader; 1 of whom shall be the governor or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the attorney
11general or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the director of the Massachusetts office on 2 of 3
12disability or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of the Massachusetts
13commission against discrimination or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the executive director
14of the municipal police training committee established pursuant to section 116 of chapter 6 of the
15General Laws or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the executive director of the mental health
16legal advisors committee established pursuant to section 34E of chapter 221 of the General Laws
17or their designee; 1 of whom shall be the president and chief executive officer of the Greater
18Boston Real Estate Board or their designee; and 1 member who shall be appointed by the
19governor, 1 of whom shall be a professional service dog organization headquartered in the
20commonwealth accredited by Assistance Dogs International, specializing in public advocacy and
21education and the training of service dogs that has been in existence for not less than 46 years
22and has placed not less than 900 service dogs in the commonwealth, 1 of whom shall be from the
23Citizens Housing and Planning Association, 1 of whom shall be a tenant residing in the
24Commonwealth appointed by the Greater Boston Legal Services and 1 of whom shall be a
25person with a disability who resides in the commonwealth who is an employee of a service dog
26training team in which the service dog has received its training from an Assistance Dogs
27International accredited service dog Organization, and one of whom shall be from an
28organization advocating for the training of emotional support animals.
29 (b) The study shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) reviewing current federal, state
30and local laws and procedures governing the use of emotional support animals; (ii) examining
31the use and benefit of emotional support by individuals with disabilities; (iii) investigating the
32presence, prevalence and impact of fraud, misrepresentation and other misuse of emotional
33support animals and any resulting damage or harm they have caused to property or individuals,
34including the prevalence of online, for-profit, verification sources; (iv) researching laws and 3 of 3
35practices in other jurisdictions with the objective to deter the misuse of emotional support
36animals; and (v) identifying training and educational opportunities aimed at increasing
37understanding of laws governing the use of emotional support animals among public officials,
38law enforcement, business owners and members of the public. The commission shall report on:
39(A) recommending changes to laws governing the use of emotional support, if any, including the
40definition of an “emotional support animal” and whether to introduce legislation to change the
41manner and methods by which they are verified, approved and trained; and (B) determining the
42feasibility of certifying, registering or licensing of emotional support animals.
43 (c) The commission shall file its report not later than April 1, 2027, with the clerks of the
44house of representatives and the senate, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways
45and means and the chairs of the joint committee on housing.