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Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts House Bill 49 Requires Public Pension Funds to Divest from Firearms and Ammunition Companies
Last action · March 9, 2026: Accompanied a study order, see H5193
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What This Bill Would Do
Massachusetts requires the Pension Reserves Investment Management Board to identify and fully divest public pension funds from firearm, ammunition, and firearm accessory manufacturing or retailing companies within 12 months. The public fund must submit identification lists within 30 days of enactment and is barred from making future investments in these companies. Public officials and investment managers are against liability resulting from these divestment actions.
The measure forces the divestment of publicly traded securities in companies deriving more than 15 per cent of their revenue from non-military or non-law enforcement firearms and ammunition, while indemnifying state employees and board members from resulting financial or legal liabilities.
- The Pension Reserves Investment Management Board manages the investment funds for state and local retirement systems in Massachusetts. context
- House Bill 49 originated from recommendations made by the Department of the State Treasurer. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Pension Reserves Investment Management Board
The board must identify, divest, report on, and change investment policies regarding firearm and ammunition company holdings.
State employees' and teachers' retirement systems
Their pooled assets, managed by the Pension Reserves Investment Trust, are subject to mandatory divestment and portfolio restructuring.
Ammunition, firearm, or firearm accessory manufacturing or retailing companies
They are subject to public pension fund divestment and the prohibition of future public investments if they derive more than 15 per cent of revenue from non-military or non-law enforcement sales.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What companies are subject to divestment under this bill?
How long does the public fund have to complete the divestment?
What happens if divestment causes the pension fund's asset value to drop significantly?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- Mar 9, 2026HouseAccompanied a study order, see H5193
- Apr 9, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 04/14/2025 from 01:00 PM-04:00 PM in A-1
- Feb 27, 2025SenateSenate concurred
- Feb 27, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the committee on Public Service
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Mandatory Pension Divestment Policy
The bill shifts state pension fund investment policy from standard fiduciary return models to mandatory exclusion based on corporate product lines.
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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