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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3423 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4046
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Adrianne Pusateri Ramos
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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 relative to establishing a special commission to study alimony.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Adrianne Pusateri Ramos14th Essex1/17/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3423 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4046
By Representative Ramos of North Andover, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4046)
of Adrianne Pusateri Ramos for an investigation by a special commission (including members of
the General Court) relative to the alimony system. The Judiciary.
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 relative to establishing a special commission to study alimony.
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
establish a special commission to study the alimony system in the commonwealth, therefore it is
hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
convenience.
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 established, pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws, a
2special commission to study alimony and recommend any improvements to the alimony system
3in the commonwealth.
4 (b) The special commission shall be comprised of the following members: the chairs of
5the joint committee on the judiciary, who shall serve as co-chairs; 1 member appointed by the
6speaker of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house
7of representatives; 1 member appointed by the president of the senate; 1 member appointed by
8the minority leader of the senate; 1 member appointed by the chief justice of the probate and
9family court; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Bar Association, who shall have 2 of 2
10expertise in family law and alimony; and 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Legal
11Assistance Corporation, who shall have expertise in family law and alimony.
12 (c) The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) statewide trends in alimony awards
13over time, including determining what percentage of alimony awards constitutes each time of
14alimony and how often courts grant requests for modifications of alimony; (ii) a review of the
15formula used for determining alimony in the commonwealth, including a tax analysis of the
16current formula; (iii) analysis on the economic implications of alimony on families in the
17commonwealth; (iv) comparison of Massachusetts alimony laws with alimony laws in other
18states, including trends pertaining to alimony; (v) analysis of the interplay between alimony and
19child support; (vi) court enforcement of alimony, particularly with regard to whether and how
20enforcement differs from enforcement of child support; (vii) the uniformity of the application of
21alimony laws among counties in the commonwealth; and (viii) any recommendations on changes
22to the alimony system in the commonwealth.
23 (d) The commission shall prepare a report detailing the results of the study, along with
24any recommendations and any proposed standards and legislation necessary to carry out its
25recommendations. The report shall be submitted to the: (i) joint committee on the judiciary; and
26(ii) clerks of the house of representatives and senate not later than December 31, 2026.