An Act relative to drug driving
HD 881 amends Massachusetts law to address drug-impaired driving by updating the "implied consent" rule for chemical testing. It deems drivers arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs to have consented to breath, blood, or Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) tests, with blood tests requiring medical facility access and exceptions for conditions like hemophilia. Refusing a test triggers license suspensions: 180 days for first refusal, 3 years for those under 21 or with prior drug/alcohol convictions, 5 years for two prior offenses, and lifetime suspension for three or more offenses. The bill also defines "Drug Recognition Expert" in Chapter 90C, specifying certified officers who can administer these tests. This directly affects drivers arrested for drug-impaired driving in Massachusetts.
Bill status
passed
3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2025
Last action Mar 26, 2026
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 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to the committee on The Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Tackey Chan
DDemocratic
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