Employment & Worker Protection · Massachusetts
Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act
SB 2965 - enacted in Massachusetts.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2024
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 48/100
- Massachusetts strictness
The bottom line
Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act is an enacted law in Massachusetts, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2025-10-29
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 48/100
- Massachusetts strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Massachusetts legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act
Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act (SB 2965) is an enacted law in Massachusetts under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2024-07-31 and becomes effective on 2025-10-29. Massachusetts currently reports 6 tracked regulations with 6 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 48/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Massachusetts within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in SB 2965 itself.
Applicability under Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act: 25+ employees. Penalty exposure is documented as: Warning first. $500-$25,000 subsequent. Notable exemptions: Under 25 employees..
Summary
Pay ranges for 25+ employees. Pay data reports for 100+.
Key Requirements
Pay range in postings. Range on promotion/transfer. 100+ must file data reports.
Penalties
Warning first. $500-$25,000 subsequent.
Applicability
25+ employees.
Exemptions
Under 25 employees.
Official Source
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S2965How Massachusetts compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Massachusetts ranks #15 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Massachusetts is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act enacted?
Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act was enacted on 2024-07-31 and became effective on 2025-10-29. It was introduced as SB 2965.
What are the penalties for violating Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act?
Warning first. $500-$25,000 subsequent. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act apply to small businesses?
25+ employees. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Massachusetts compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Massachusetts has a regulatory strictness score of 48/100, based on 6 enacted regulations out of 6 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act?
The official text of Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act (SB 2965) is available from the Massachusetts legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Massachusetts Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Massachusetts Pay Transparency Act is enacted in Massachusetts, effective 2025-10-29. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Massachusetts ranks #15 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Massachusetts tracks across all five policy areas. Massachusetts profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Massachusetts source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.