Massachusetts H5631: An Act mandating access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plans or programs provided by the public employer

What the bill says

An Act mandating access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plans or programs provided by the public employer. of the same, as follows.

From the introduced text, July 31, 2026:

An Act mandating access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plans or programs provided by the public employer. of the same, as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- Section 35. The commission shall provide cancer screening pursuant to section 91 of chapter 48 for eligible enrollees. Coverage provided pursuant to this section shall not be subject to co-payment, deductible, coinsurance or any out-of-pocket expense; provided, however, that cost sharing shall be required if the applicable plan is governed by the federal Internal Revenue Code and would lose its tax-exempt status as a result of the prohibition on cost sharing for these services. SECTION 2. Chapter 48 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- Section 91. (a) For the purposes of this section, the Massachusetts Port Authority, the Massachusetts Military Reservation, the Barnes Air National Guard Base and the Devens of Regional Enterprise Zone established pursuant to chapter 498 of the acts of 1993 shall be fire districts. (b) A cancer screening examination conducted by a physician shall be provided to: (i) a firefighter employed as a full-time paid employee of a fire department of the commonwealth or a city, town, fire or water district; (ii) members of the Massachusetts military reservation …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Means, House Committee on Ways and (I) · primary sponsor
• Amy Sangiolo (D)
• Kathleen LaNatra (D, 12th Plymouth)
• Tackey Chan (D, 2nd Norfolk)
• Sean Garballey (D, 23rd Middlesex)
• Thomas Moakley (D)
• John Gaskey (R)
• David LeBoeuf (D)
• Colleen Garry (D)
• Donald Wong (R, 9th Essex)
• Vanna Howard (D, 17th Middlesex)
• Tara Hong (D)

Latest actions

1. October 19, 2026: Referred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading
2. October 15, 2026: Read third and passed to be engrossed
3. October 15, 2026: Ordered to a third reading
4. October 15, 2026: Amended by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of S3284
5. October 15, 2026: Read second
6. October 15, 2026: Rules suspended
7. October 15, 2026: Committee recommended ought to pass with an amendment striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of S3284
8. August 4, 2026: Read; and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
9. July 31, 2026: Passed to be engrossed - 157 YEAS to 0 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 256)
10. July 31, 2026: Read third

Votes

• Committee Vote - Senate Committee on Ways and Means (October 15, 2026): 17 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Passed to be engrossed (July 31, 2026): 157 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is H5631?

H5631 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act mandating access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plans or programs provided by the public employer.

What does H5631 do?

In its own words: An Act mandating access to cancer screenings for firefighters through health care benefits plans or programs provided by the public employer. of the same, as follows.

What is the status of H5631?

In committee as of October 19, 2026. Latest action: Referred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading (October 19, 2026).

Who sponsored H5631?

Means, House Committee on Ways and (I), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for H5631?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5631