Bill removes out-of-date and offensive terms related to persons with disabilities
(BOSTON—6/4/2026) The Massachusetts Legislature today passed a bill that removes outdated and offensive language in the General Laws to describe persons with disabilities.
The bill, S.2563, removes all variations of outdated terms such as “handicapped,” “disabled,” and the “r-word.”
The bill replaces these terms with current terminology such as “person with a disability.”
“There is no place for harmful or discriminatory language in the Massachusetts General Laws,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington). “Sending this bill to the Governor today, we affirm that as our society evolves, we make sure our laws reflect the values and makeup of modern-day Massachusetts. I am so grateful for my colleagues and the stakeholders who painstakingly combed through the General Laws to develop this bill and passionately advocated for its passage, and I hope to see this signed into law soon.”
Last year, the Massachusetts Legislature renamed the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) as MassAbility, a change that defines the agency’s role in supporting residents with disabilities to live independently.
The name change reflects the intention to empower individuals living with disabilities and move away from outdated terminology as the office undergoes broad changes towards a more expansive model for disability employment services and independent living.
The Massachusetts Legislature approved the bill today and sent to the Governor for her signature.
###