[Massachusetts-NFB] FW: H.2600 Bill Hearing Next Thursday! Register by Tomorrow!

[sharawinton at gmail.com]

Hello NFB Family and Friends,

On Thursday November 20There is  an Important hearing scheduled. Please,
particularly if you are a  guide dog user   do what you can to be there or
submit a written testimony. I do believe that in-person testimonies, seem to
be more impactful.  

We really  need your experiences to be heard, most especially  if you are
someone who has experienced Uber and Lyft refusals. Please   testify at the
upcoming public hearing for bill H.2066,
<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2066/BillHistory>  "An Act to impose
fines on transportation network drivers who discriminate against riders with
disabilities who use service animals." Please share this within your
networks!

 

Date & Time:

Thursday, November 20

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

If you need any assistance with any aspect of  being able to register,
attend or submit testimony, please reach out to me. 

Below is more information.

 

 

Shara Winton

President, National federation of the Blind of Massachusetts

 <http://www.nfbma.org/> www.nfbma.org

 <mailto:sharawinton at gmail.com> sharawinton at gmail.com

617-304-0347

 

From: Katarina Torres Radisic <ktorresradisic at bostoncil.org> 
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2025 10:32 AM
To: Katarina Torres Radisic <ktorresradisic at bostoncil.org>
Subject: H.2600 Bill Hearing Next Thursday! Register by Tomorrow!
Importance: High

 

Hi everyone!

 

Calling on service animal users who have experienced Uber and Lyft refusals
to testify at the upcoming public hearing for bill H.2066,
<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2066/BillHistory>  "An Act to impose
fines on transportation network drivers who discriminate against riders with
disabilities who use service animals." Please share this within your
networks!

 

Date & Time:

Thursday, November 20

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

 

Hearing Details: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5470

 

What is the Problem?

Service animal users face denial of service by Lyft and Uber drivers,
including incidents involving RIDE Flex, which highlights ongoing refusals
of service to individuals accompanied by service dogs.

 

What Does this Bill do?

This bill (H.2403/S.1560) would change statute language to allow penalizing
transportation network drivers who discriminate against passengers with
disabilities using service animals. This legislation would amend state law
to impose fines of up to $500 for a first offense, $750 for a second
offense, and $1,000 for a third offense. This law aims to decrease the
number of ongoing refusals of service to individuals accompanied by service
dogs. 

 

How to Attend & Testify?

The hearing is hybrid - you can attend either:

*	In person: State House, Hearing Room B-1
*	Virtually: Via Microsoft Teams

 

Registration: 

To register to testify in person or virtually, fill out this form: Joint
Committee on Labor and Workforce Development November 20th Hearing
<https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=a36UCyb_E0uuHFc8Z1DIiAK
qn8DEYFxJoe9Ad0JlIbdUMDhFOUNINFVSM0ZQWTMwVlREN0k5OVJWVi4u&route=shorturl> .
The deadline is tomorrow, Friday, November 14, at 3:00 p.m.

 

Written Testimony: 

Written or pre-recorded testimony may be submitted until Friday, November
21, at 5:00 p.m. via email to labor.workforce.development at gmail.com.
<mailto:labor.workforce.development at gmail.com>   

 

Need Help?

If you have any questions or you'd like assistance with:

*	Registering to testify (virtually or in person)
*	Submitting oral or written testimony
*	Navigating time conflicts or other accommodations

 

Please reach out to me directly at ktorresradisic at bostoncil.org
<mailto:ktorresradisic at bostoncil.org>  or 978-893-8100. I have attached a
testimony guide to this email with more information and testimony templates.


 

With care,

Kat

 

Katarina (Kat) Torres Radisic (they/them) 

RTAG Facilitator/Community Organizer 

Boston Center for Independent Living 

60 Temple Pl, 5th Floor 

Boston, MA 02111 

978-893-8100 (Voice) 

 <mailto:ktorresradisic at bostoncil.org> ktorresradisic at bostoncil.org 

www.bostoncil.org 

  

  

 

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