H 1816 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relative to health care proxy storage and activation

This bill (HD 1930) changes how health care proxies - documents naming someone to make medical decisions - are handled in Massachusetts. It requires hospitals and clinics to store these proxies electronically in secure digital formats (replacing physical copies) and to integrate them into a patient's electronic medical record, similar to "do not resuscitate" orders. The bill also mandates that facilities notify the designated health care agent (via phone/email) when their authority begins and ensure the agent can participate in medical discussions. It directly affects patients who have appointed a health care agent, hospitals, clinics, and attending physicians.
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 · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Sally Kerans
Sally Kerans
DDemocratic
MA
13th Essex