Massachusetts H4960: An Act relative to ensuring access to neurological disorder screenings for firefighters

What the bill says

From the introduced text, January 28, 2026:

SECTION 1. Chapter 48 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- Section 91. (a)(1) A firefighter employed as a full-time paid employee of a fire department of a city, town, fire or water district or the commonwealth, shall be provided a neurological disorder screening examination conducted by a physician not less than 3 years after the start of their employment as a firefighter and every 3 years thereafter during the course of their employment. (2) This section shall also apply to members of the: (i) Massachusetts military reservation fire department; (ii) 104th fighter wing fire department; and (iii) Devens fire department established pursuant to chapter 498 of the acts of 1993. (3) For the purposes of this section, the following shall be fire districts, the: (i) Massachusetts Port Authority; (ii) Massachusetts Military Reservation; (iii) Barnes Air National Guard Base; and (iv) Devens Regional Enterprise Zone established pursuant to chapter 498 of the acts of 1993. (b) The examination shall include screenings for, at a minimum and when applicable, the following neurological disorders: (i) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis also known as ALS; (ii) Alzheimer’s disease; (iii) brain tumor; (iv) cerebral palsy; (v) dementia; (vi) epilepsy; (vii) Parkinson’s disease; (viii) multiple sclerosis; and (ix) stroke. (c) All costs associated with screenings pursuant to chapters 32A, 175, 176A, 176B, …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Services, Joint Committee on Financial (I) · primary sponsor
• Bruce Ayers (D)

Latest actions

1. July 9, 2026: Reporting date extended to Thursday, December 31, 2026
2. January 28, 2026: Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
3. January 28, 2026: New draft of H4012
4. January 28, 2026: Reported from the committee on Financial Services

Votes

• Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Financial Services (December 16, 2025): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is H4960?

H4960 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act relative to ensuring access to neurological disorder screenings for firefighters.

What is the status of H4960?

In committee as of July 9, 2026. Latest action: Reporting date extended to Thursday, December 31, 2026 (July 9, 2026).

Who sponsored H4960?

Services, Joint Committee on Financial (I), with 1 co-sponsor.

Where is the official record for H4960?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4960