H 1616 Massachusetts House · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act enhancing justice for families harmed by lead

This bill amends Massachusetts law to make it easier for families harmed by lead exposure to recover damages from manufacturers and sellers. It allows individuals to sue without needing to identify the specific company that placed the lead product into commerce, as long as they can prove they were exposed to lead in their blood or bones. The law establishes that a plaintiff can win a case by showing the defendant sold lead products knowing harm was likely and failed to prevent it, while also providing specific defenses for companies that took reasonable steps to ensure safety. Additionally, the bill permits courts to split financial responsibility among multiple companies based on their market share if several parties contributed to the harm.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2023
Senate Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action Jun 5, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 16, 2023
Senate · Passed
Senate concurred
Feb 16, 2023
House · Referred to committee
Referred to the committee on The Judiciary
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors