Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts H3527: An Act preserving broadband service for low-income consumers
Status: Failed, April 6, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:
SECTION 1. Chapter 25C of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after Section 9 the following section:- Section 10. Broadband internet access service for low-income consumers. a) For the purposes of this section, the term "broadband internet access service" shall mean a mass-market retail service that provides the capability to transmit data to and receive data from all or substantially all internet endpoints, including any capabilities that are incidental to and enable the operation of the communications service provided by a wireline, fixed wireless or satellite service provider, but shall not include dial-up service. b) Every person, business, corporation, or their agents providing or seeking to provide wireline, fixed wireless or satellite broadband service in the commonwealth shall, no later than sixty days after the effective date of this section, offer high speed broadband service to low-income consumers whose household: (i) has a member that participates in one of these assistance programs: 1. SNAP 2. Medicaid 3. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 4. Federal or State Housing Assistance 5. WIC 6. Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits 7. Lifeline 8. Qualifying Tribal land assistance programs 9. Free or reduced-priced lunch through the National School Lunch Program; or (ii) whose annual gross household income is not in excess of two hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines as updated periodically in …
Sponsors
- Rita Mendes (D) · primary sponsor
- Erika Uyterhoeven (D, 27th Middlesex)
- Brian Murray (D, 10th Worcester)
- Steven Owens (D, 29th Middlesex)
- Adrian Madaro (D)
- Vanna Howard (D, 17th Middlesex)
- Natalie Higgins (D, 4th Worcester)
- Patricia Duffy (D, 5th Hampden)
- Shirley Arriaga (D)
- John Barrett (D)
- Mindy Domb (D, 3rd Hampshire)
- Carlos González (D, 10th Hampden)
Latest actions
- : Accompanied a study order, see H5323
- : Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- : Reporting date extended to Wednesday, December 3, 2025
- : Hearing scheduled for 05/06/2025 from 11:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-2
- : Senate concurred
- : Referred to the committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
Common questions
- What is H3527?
- H3527 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act preserving broadband service for low-income consumers.
- What is the status of H3527?
- Failed as of April 6, 2026. Latest action: Accompanied a study order, see H5323 (April 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored H3527?
- Rita Mendes (D), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H3527?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3527
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.