Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts S1544: An Act relative to patient access to certain health care services
Status: Failed, August 20, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:
Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 25J, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:- Section 25J. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: “Non–English speaker”, a person who cannot speak or understand, or has difficulty with speaking or understanding, the English language because the speaker primarily or only uses a spoken language other than English. “Competent interpreter services”, interpreter services performed by a person who is fluent in English and in the language of a non–English speaker, who is trained and proficient in the skill and ethics of interpreting and who is knowledgeable about the specialized terms and concepts that need to be interpreted for purposes of receiving emergency care or treatment. (b) Every health care facility, as defined in section 25B, shall provide competent interpreter services in connection with all services provided to every non–English speaker who is a patient or who seeks appropriate care or treatment. Based on the volume and diversity of the non–English-speaking patients or persons seeking appropriate care or treatment, each such facility shall use reasonable judgment as to whether to employ, or to contract for the on-call use of one or more interpreters for particular languages …
Sponsors
- Cindy Friedman (D) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Accompanied a study order (under JR10), see S3258
- : Reporting date extended to Friday July 31, 2026
- : Hearing rescheduled to 09/29/2025 from 09:00 AM-11:30 AM in A-2 and Virtual<br> <span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Hearing updated to New End Time</span>
- : Hearing rescheduled to 09/29/2025 from 09:00 AM-11:30 PM in A-2 and Virtual<br> <span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Hearing updated to New End Time</span>
- : Hearing scheduled for 09/29/2025 from 09:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-2
- : House concurred
- : Referred to the committee on Public Health
Common questions
- What is S1544?
- S1544 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act relative to patient access to certain health care services.
- What is the status of S1544?
- Failed as of August 20, 2026. Latest action: Accompanied a study order (under JR10), see S3258 (August 20, 2026).
- Who sponsored S1544?
- Cindy Friedman (D).
- Where is the official record for S1544?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1544
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.