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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2296 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2006
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida
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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 strengthening sexual harassment and discrimination policies in the Commonwealth.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida7th Plymouth1/16/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2296 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2006
By Representative Sullivan-Almeida of Abington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
2006) of Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida relative to sexual harassment and discrimination policies
in the Commonwealth. The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1775 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act strengthening sexual harassment and discrimination policies in the Commonwealth.
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 4 of chapter 151B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by striking out subsection 16A and inserting in place thereof the following:-
3
4 16A. For an employer, personally or through its agents, to sexually harass any employee;
5or to retaliate, personally or through its agents, against any employee for filing a complaint of
6sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation or for
7cooperating in an investigation of a complaint of sexual harassment or discrimination based on
8sex, gender identity or sexual orientation, including, but not limited to, by termination,
9suspension, demotion or reduction in the compensation or benefits of the employee; or to require, 2 of 2
10as a condition of employment, continuing employment, promotion, compensation or the receipt
11of benefits, entering into an agreement that contains a nondisclosure or confidentiality provision
12(except as may be necessary to protect business intellectual property and trade secrets), a non-
13disparagement provision, a restriction on reporting sexual harassment or discrimination based on
14sex, gender identity or sexual orientation or participating in the investigation of a report of sexual
15harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation, or a waiver of
16any rights or remedies available under law with respect to claims filed or that may be filed in a
17civil action or complaints filed or that may be filed in an administrative action for sexual
18harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.