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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2234 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2385
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Leigh Davis
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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 establishing a special commission on avian influenza (H5N1).
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Leigh Davis3rd Berkshire1/15/2025Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/18/2025Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex3/9/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk3/5/2025Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk3/10/2025Steven Owens29th Middlesex3/10/2025 1 of 4
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2234 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2385
By Representative Davis of Great Barrington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2385)
of Leigh Davis and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of
the General Court) relative to mitigating the risks of avian influenza also known as H5N1.
Public Health.
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 establishing a special commission on avian influenza (H5N1).
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
mitigate the risks of avian influenza also known as H5N1 in the Commonwealth, therefore it is
hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
health.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 (a) There shall be a special commission established to develop strategies, policies and
2recommendations to mitigate the risks of avian influenza also known as H5N1 in the
3commonwealth. The commission shall seek to (i) assess the risks and impacts of avian influenza
4H5N1 in the commonwealth; (ii) develop and recommend policies for prevention, control and
5response to avian influenza H5N1 in the commonwealth; and (iii) coordinating efforts among
6government agencies, agricultural stakeholders and public health entities in the commonwealth
7to avian influenza H5N1.
8 (b) The commission shall consist of 15 members that shall include: (i) the secretary of
9health and human services or the secretary's designee, who shall serve as chair; (ii) the 2 of 4
10commissioner of the department of public health or their designee; (iii) the commissioner of the
11department of agricultural resources or their designee; (iv) the director of the division of fisheries
12and wildlife or their designee; (v) the director of the Massachusetts emergency management
13agency or their designee; (vi) 2 members appointed by the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical
14Association, 1 of whom shall be a veterinarian specializing in avian health appointed and 1 of
15whom shall be a veterinarian specializing in dairy health; (vii) 2 members appointed by the
16commissioner of the department of agricultural resources, 1 of whom shall be a poultry farmer or
17a representative from the Massachusetts poultry industry and 1 of whom shall be a dairy farmer
18or a representative from the Massachusetts dairy industry; (viii) 2 members appointed by the
19governor, 1 one of whom shall be an academic expert in virology and 1 of whom shall be an
20academic expert in zoonotic diseases; (ix) the director of the Massachusetts Bureau of Infectious
21Disease and Laboratory Sciences or the director’s designee; (x) 2 members appointed by the
22Massachusetts Municipal Association, Inc. that shall be local health officials, 1 of whom shall be
23an official working in an urban area and 1 of whom shall be an official working in a rural
24community, defined as municipalities with population densities of less than 500 persons per
25square mile or a population of less than 7,000 persons, in each case as shown in the most recent
26U.S. decennial census; and (xi) 1 member appointed by the secretary of health and human
27services that shall be an advocate for vulnerable populations.
28 (c) The work of the commission shall include, but not be limited to: (i) studying the
29prevalence and risk factors associated with H5N1 in the commonwealth; (ii) developing
30surveillance programs to detect and track outbreaks of H5N1 in wildlife, poultry, dairy cattle and
31humans; (iii) recommending policies for biosecurity measures in agricultural settings; (iv)
32proposing guidelines for wildlife management to prevent disease spread; (v) developing 3 of 4
33emergency response plans for outbreaks, including quarantine measures, vaccination strategies
34and public education campaigns; (vi) raising awareness about the risks of H5N1 and promote
35preventive practices among farmers, wildlife sanctuary managers, health professionals and the
36public; (vii) facilitate communication and collaboration among federal, state and local agencies,
37as well as private stakeholders.
38 (d) The commission shall have the authority to: (i) request data and support from state
39agencies as needed; and (ii) engage external consultants or experts as necessary.
40 (e) The commission shall do research and provide recommendations for the report
41pursuant to subsection (f) on the following subjects: (i) shoring up of stockpiles of the full range
42antiviral drugs capable of targeting H5N1, beyond Tamiflu, to guard against viruses mutating
43around one medication while staying susceptible to another; (ii) building up a more complete
44therapeutic arsenal to serve as a strategic hedge against H5N1’s potentially high-impact threat;
45(iii) preparation to launch statewide clinical trials that swiftly evaluate the effectiveness of novel
46therapeutic approaches, such as anti-inflammatory or immune-system-modulating drugs, for
47patients who might become severely ill or hospitalized; (iv) production of self-administered
48swabs that can quickly detect H5N1 and tests to be distributed to farms where animals are raised
49and allowing workers to more efficiently screen themselves for the virus; and (v) possible
50compensation for ranch owners, farm owners and their workers for any losses stemming from
51employee absences when infections are identified.
52 (f) The commission shall prepare a report on its activities and on any findings and
53recommendations. The report shall be submitted to the: (i) secretary of transportation; (ii) chairs
54of the joint committee on transportation; (iii) commissioner of the department of public health; 4 of 4
55(iv) chairs of the joint committee on public health; (v) chairs of the house and senate committees
56on ways and means; and (vi) offices of the house and senate clerk not later than December 31,
572026.
58 (g) The commission shall be funded subject to: (i) appropriations and other money
59authorized by the general court; and (ii) funds from public and private sources such as gifts,
60grants and donations.
61 (f) The commission’s appointments and first meeting shall take place not later than 60
62days after its effective date.