Massachusetts lawmakers have passed a bill that would remove outdated and offensive disability-related language from the state’s General Laws, sending the measure to Gov. Maura Healey for consideration.
The legislation, known as S.2563, updates 346 sections of Massachusetts law. It replaces terms that lawmakers and disability advocates describe as antiquated or harmful with more modern, person-first language. The bill removes variations of words such as “handicapped,” “disabled,” and the “r-word,” replacing them with phrases such as “person with a disability” or “person with an intellectual or developmental disability.”
Supporters say the measure is a long-overdue effort to make state statutes reflect the dignity of people with disabilities. The bill does not create a new benefits program or change eligibility rules for services. Instead, it updates the language used in existing laws, regulations and legal definitions.
Sen. Pat Jehlen, the primary Senate sponsor, said the change reflects how language evolves when people who were once ignored or demeaned push institutions to recognize their dignity. She said lawmakers kept finding additional examples of outdated terminology, which helped explain why the bill took time to finalize.
TRENDING TODAY
“When people tell us they feel insulted and offended by the use of outdated words, we worked to change the legal language,” Jehlen said in a statement released by the Legislature.
The bill passed with broad support in both chambers. According to the Massachusetts Legislature, it removes “out-of-date and offensive terms related to persons with disabilities” and replaces them with language intended to center respect and inclusion.
Examples include changing “disabled person” to “person with a disability,” replacing “handicapped” with “disability,” and replacing terms referring to intellectual disability with phrases such as “person with an intellectual or developmental disability.” The bill also removes terms such as “crippled” and “deformed” in legal references to people with disabilities.
Other updates include changing “hearing-impaired” to “deaf or hard of hearing” and replacing “chronically ill” with “persons who are chronically ill.” Boston.com reported that the bill was introduced in July 2025 and passed the Legislature on Thursday.
Supporters argue that statutory language matters because it shapes how state agencies, courts and public institutions refer to residents. They say outdated terms can reinforce stigma even when they appear in technical legal contexts.
House Speaker Ronald Mariano said the bill is part of an effort to ensure that Massachusetts laws do not continue using words tied to negative stereotypes or past injustices. Senate President Karen Spilka also praised the measure, saying old language in state law can create the potential for real harm.
The bill follows a 2024 law that renamed the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission as MassAbility. State officials described that earlier change as part of a broader effort to modernize disability services and promote inclusion. Boston.com reported that the new bill continues that shift by updating language in hundreds of legal references.
Disability advocates have long argued that person-first language can help reduce stigma by emphasizing the individual rather than defining someone by a diagnosis or condition. While not every person with a disability uses the same terminology, supporters say the state should avoid words widely viewed as outdated, insulting or dehumanizing.
The bill also shows how state law can lag behind social and cultural change. Terms once commonly used in statutes may become unacceptable over time, especially when communities affected by that language advocate for change.
Not everyone agrees that language updates should be a top legislative priority. Critics sometimes argue that lawmakers should focus more on access, services, housing, transportation and employment for people with disabilities. Supporters of the bill generally respond that language reform and policy reform are not mutually exclusive, and that respectful wording is one part of a broader disability-rights agenda.
The Massachusetts measure now heads to Gov. Healey’s desk. If signed, state law will be updated across hundreds of sections to reflect the new terminology.
The change is largely administrative, but supporters say it carries symbolic importance. For them, removing offensive language from the law is about more than word choice. It is about ensuring that legal documents reflect the respect owed to people with disabilities across the Commonwealth.
Why It Matters
The bill matters because state laws do more than regulate programs — they also set an official tone for how residents are described and recognized. Supporters say outdated disability language can reinforce stigma, even when it appears in technical legal text.
It also matters because Massachusetts is continuing a broader modernization effort after renaming the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission as MassAbility. Lawmakers are signaling that disability rights include both practical services and respectful language.
What Comes Next
The bill now goes to Gov. Maura Healey. If she signs it, hundreds of sections of Massachusetts law will be updated with modern disability-related terminology.
Advocates may continue pushing for broader disability-policy changes, including accessibility, housing, transportation, employment and support services.
