Watch for Some New MA Laws Kicking in for 2025

According to reporting by our PATCH colleagues, Massachusetts residents should be aware of some new laws becoming effective with the new year.

With the dawn of 2025 comes new laws in effect
across the state that may have a considerable effect on businesses,
residents, and municipalities across Massachusetts.

While voters turned down ballot initiatives — such as the way
tipped workers are paid — during this past election cycle, there
are some new laws that may have flown under the radar but were passed
on Beacon Hill in 2024.

The biggest law that has been on the books for years could start to
bring some repercussions for non-compliant communities that are no
longer eligible for many state grants under the MBTA Communities Act.
The law — signed into effect under former Gov. Charlie Baker — is
designed to increase housing production by making communities served
by the MBTA and Commuter Rail — either directly or regionally —
create multi-family zoning by right in a portion of the city or town
or become ineligible for the funding.

While the majority of cities and towns adopted the guidelines, there is a growing backlash with Milton currently in litigation with the state
over the mandate. Other cities and towns that provisionally were approved
for grants under the requirement that they become eligible by the
Dec. 31, 2024 deadline could lose out on that funding entirely in
2025.

One other new law is the "Act Relatively To Salary Range
Transparency" that Gov. Maura Healey signed last year. Starting
on Feb. 1, 2025, employers with at least 25 employees will have to
submit data on pay and demographics to the state. Starting in
October, covered employers looking to hire in Massachusetts will be
required to disclose salary ranges in job postings or in the case of
a promotion or transfer of a current employee.

The law prohibits an employer from terminating or retaliating against
any employee or applicant for asking for salary ranges when applying
for a job or promotion or otherwise enforcing their rights under the
new law.

Again, according to PATCH, Massachusetts is the third state to expand its approach to promoting
pay equity by collecting data about pay and demographics from
employers. Penalties begin with a warning for a first offense and
increase to up to a $25,000 fine for each violation for a fourth or
subsequent offense.

The Massachusetts Parentage Act will also go into effect on Jan. 1 —
using updated language to replace traditional terms like mother and father designed ensure parental rights for LGBTQ+ couples.

The law also recognizes and protects parents using surrogacy,
in-vitro fertilization and other methods of assisted reproduction, according to PATCH.