An Act to enhance courthouse security

This bill strengthens security at Massachusetts courthouses by clarifying and expanding the legal penalties for unauthorized individuals carrying firearms inside these buildings. It directly affects licensed gun owners and anyone entering a courthouse, prohibiting them from carrying a loaded or unloaded firearm without written permission from the trial court administrator and chief justice. Under the new rules, a violation results in fines up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail, while carrying a weapon with the intent to use it during a crime carries heavier penalties of up to five years in state prison. Additionally, the bill formally authorizes court officers to exercise police powers within courthouses and on adjacent grounds, including parking lots, to maintain order. Finally, the legislation requires that notices about these security provisions be posted at every public entrance to each courthouse.