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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1280 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2098
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Tricia Farley-Bouvier
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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 codifying organizational standing.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Tricia Farley-Bouvier2nd Berkshire1/14/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1280 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2098
By Representative Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
2098) of Tricia Farley-Bouvier relative to public interest organizations under employment
discrimination laws. Labor and Workforce Development.
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 codifying organizational standing.
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. Section 1 of chapter 151B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
2amended by inserting after the word “corporations”, the following:- , “public interest
3organizations” and by inserting after Section 1 the following subsection:- “1A. The term “public
4interest organization” includes any non-profit organization which is organized or operating in
5whole or in part for the purpose of combating discrimination or bias, of safeguarding civil rights
6or of promoting interests or rights under this Chapter.”
7 SECTION 2. Section 5 of chapter 151B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
8amended by inserting after the words “required by the commission” the following sentence:-
9“Without limiting or excluding any other basis for a complaint, a public interest organization
10may be aggrieved if a purpose or activities to achieve that purpose were perceptively impaired by
11an alleged unlawful practice or violation; or if an alleged unlawful practice or violation was
12directed at the public interest organization or its agents or employees; or where the public 2 of 2
13interest organization has a sufficient nexus to the interests of the person or persons whose
14interests are harmed by an alleged unlawful practice or violation.”
15 SECTION 3. Section 9 of chapter 151B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
16amended by inserting after the words “residential housing” the following sentence:- “Without
17limiting or excluding any other basis for a civil action, a public interest organization may be
18aggrieved if a purpose or activities to achieve that purpose were perceptively impaired by an
19alleged unlawful practice; or if an alleged unlawful practice was directed at the public interest
20organization or its agents or employees; or where the public interest organization has a sufficient
21nexus to the interests of the person or persons whose interests are harmed by an alleged unlawful
22practice.”