June 2025

Dear Friends, 

We all hope that your summer is off to a good start!

Please see below for some timely guidance from the Office of the Attorney General.

Attorney General Guidance

  • KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: ICE Enforcement

A Guide for Immigrants, Families, and communities 

Please see here for the recent guidance issued by the Attorney General in response to the recent surge in immigration enforcement activity throughout Massachusetts.

  •       Guidance on Employers’ Obligations Under the Wage Transparency Act

Under the Wage Transparency Act, signed into law by Governor Healey, employers with 25+ employees in Massachusetts will be required to: 1.) establish and disclose pay ranges in job postings, and 2.)  disclose pay ranges to employees who request this information.  The law goes into effect on October 29, 2025.

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office recently issued guidance for this new law.  You can find a copy in the “resource” section of our website: AGO Wage Transparency Act Guidance 4_30_2025 (1).pdf as well as a link to the AG’s YouTube webinar: Guidance on Employers’ Obligations and Employees' Rights Under the Wage Transparency Act.  For more information about the Wage Transparency Act you can also go to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ website at  Pay Transparency in Massachusetts | Mass.gov

Upcoming Office Closings

Juneteenth: Thursday, June 19th

Independence Day:  Friday, July 4th

Labor Day: Monday, September 1st

Thank you!

Liz Reinhardt & Team

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Congratulations to Liz Reinhardt!

Liz Reinhardt has been selected as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Top Women of Law for 2024. The 2024Top Women of Law award celebrates the achievements of exceptional women lawyers who are pioneers, educators, trailblazers, and role models. Liz will be honored together with her fellow recipients at an awards event on November 12th! Please join us in congratulating Liz on this much deserved distinction!

MNN Conference 2024!

It’s October and it’s time once again for the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN) Annual Conference. This year’s conference, Building the Future, will celebrate creative ways nonprofits are making a difference. The event will be held on Thursday, October 24th at the DCU Center in Worcester and will feature empowering speakers, thought-provoking workshops, and plenty of opportunities for networking. If you are planning to attend this inspiring event, please stop by our table. We’d love to see you! Click here to become a member.

Remote Member Meetings Are Permanent!

We are happy to announce that Section 6A of Mass. General Laws Chapter 180 has been permanently amended to allow on-line member meetings and voting at any annual, regular or special meeting when authorized by a nonprofit corporation's Board of Directors. This amendment now permits meetings of corporate members in-person, hybrid and in all remote settings assuming certain safeguards to ensure adequate notice and voting security are followed. Our Firm was pleased to have an opportunity to comment on the proposed legislation through the highly dedicated team at the Boston Bar Association who advocated for this legislation over many months before it was approved by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Maura Healey on March 29th as part of the omnibus budget bill. Please contact us if you have any questions about this long-awaited law.

Changes to IRS e-Postcard Filing for Small, Tax-Exempt Organizations

Smaller charities whose annual gross receipts are normally $50,000 or less may choose to file Form 990-N, Electronic Notice for Tax-Exempt Organizations (e-Postcard). The IRS now offers sign-in options with Login.gov and ID.me. Both offer access to IRS online services through a secure account that protects your privacy. Currently, users with an active IRS username have the option to access the Form 990-N submission page using their active IRS credentials, however, this option will eventually be phased out. If you have an existing IRS username, the IRS recommends creating an account with Login.gov or ID.me as soon as possible. Please click here to view a copy of the IRS Form 990-N Electronic Filing System (e-Postcard) User Guide.

Online Filing Now Availalble for MA AGO Registration and Form PC

Approval time for online registration and Form PC filing has been dramatically reduced to about a week vs. two to three months when these filings are submitted in hardcopy. The Massachusetts Office of Attorney General Non-Profit Organizations/ Public Charities Division encourages Initial Charity Registration and Annual Form PC to be filed online. See details here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/online-charity-filing-portal.  Please contact Machiko Sano Hewitt if you have any questions about these new online filing systems.

 

MA AGO Publishes an Updated Guide for Board Members of Charitable Organizations

The MA Office of Attorney General Non-Profit Organizations / Public Charities Division (Division) recently published an updated Guide for Board Members of Charitable Organizations (Guide).  The Guide has been a valuable resource for charities and their boards statewide for many years. The updated Guide demonstrates the Division’s renewed focus on certain aspects of fiduciary oversight and operation of Massachusetts charities. Focus areas include duty of allegiance to mission, conflict of interest policy and procedures that are closely aligned with the IRS requirements and emphasis on diversity and term limits as key to keeping vital.  We strongly recommend you share this Guide with your board and management Please contact us with any questions or concerns arising from this revised Guide. 

Office Closed for Vacation August 8 -19

Our office will be closed for vacation AUGUST 8 – 19.  If you need immediate legal assistance, please leave a message via phone or email and one of our attorneys will respond.

Contact Information During Office Vacation Weeks :                             

Phone:  978-464-9003                                   Email:  admin@lizreinhardtlaw.com

 

We look forward to hearing from you!