H 1749 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relative to a humane response to a mental health crisis

HD 1550 removes the current Massachusetts law allowing courts to issue emergency 3-day holds for individuals with mental illness who pose a risk of serious harm. This change would eliminate the specific process where a court could order a short-term hospitalization after a hearing, with a physician or psychologist confirming the need for confinement. The bill directly affects people experiencing acute mental health crises who might otherwise be subject to these emergency holds. It modifies the existing legal mechanism for temporary mental health commitments but does not specify the new provisions replacing the removed language. (Note: The bill text provided only shows the amendment removing paragraph (e), not the replacement text.)
Sub-Topics: Mental Health
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
5
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 · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors