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Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts Bill Expands Cardiac Disability Protections to University and State Police Officers
Last action · October 30, 2025: Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and MeansSponsors: Bruce Tarr and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
Massachusetts bill S.1909 expands the state's presumption law for cardiac-related line-of-duty disabilities to include police officers of the University of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Port Authority, state universities and community colleges, and the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs.
Qualifies additional state law enforcement groups for line-of-duty cardiac disability benefits that were previously restricted to specific municipal, state, and MBTA officers.
- Section 94 of Chapter 32 of the Massachusetts General Laws is commonly known as the heart bill or cardiac presumption law, establishing that heart ailments suffered by certain law enforcement officers are presumed to have been suffered in the line of duty. context
- Bruce E. Tarr serves as a member of the Massachusetts Senate representing the First Essex and Middlesex district. 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.
University of Massachusetts police officers
Eligible for cardiac disease presumption under the state's retirement and disability laws.
Massachusetts Port Authority police officers
Eligible for cardiac disease presumption under the state's retirement and disability laws.
State universities and community colleges police forces
Eligible for cardiac disease presumption under the state's retirement and disability laws.
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs police officers
Eligible for cardiac disease presumption under the state's retirement and disability laws.
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
Which police officers are newly added to the cardiac disease presumption law under this bill?
What statute does this bill amend?
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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- Oct 30, 2025SenateCommitteeBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
- May 22, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 05/28/2025 from 01:00 PM-04:00 PM in A-2
- Feb 27, 2025HouseHouse concurred
- Feb 27, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred 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.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance55How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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