An Act to enhance the availability of immunity to witnesses in the courts of the Commonwealth
HD 1717 updates Massachusetts law to clarify and expand witness immunity protections. It modifies statutes to explicitly include District Courts and Juvenile Courts alongside Superior Courts as venues where witnesses can seek immunity for testifying in criminal proceedings or grand jury investigations. The bill removes outdated references to "Superior Court" in specific sections and ensures the immunity process applies uniformly across these court types. This directly affects witnesses required to testify in criminal cases within these courts by streamlining access to immunity.
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 · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about H 1853
Scope: MA
Hi! I can help you understand H 1853. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline