H 4637 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relative to civil rights and technology

This bill prohibits the manufacture, sale, or operation of robotic devices (like drones) equipped with weapons (e.g., guns, lasers, explosives), with penalties including mandatory minimum prison sentences. It also bans using robots to threaten, harass, or physically restrain people. Key exemptions include military/defense uses (Department of Defense, National Guard, defense contractors under specific waivers) and law enforcement actions for bomb disposal, property destruction in emergencies, or training. The bill requires law enforcement to obtain warrants for robot deployments on private property or for surveillance, document all uses quarterly, and report publicly. It also allows civil lawsuits for violations and mandates public reporting of law enforcement robot usage.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Oct 23, 2025 Last action May 20, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Amendments
1
May 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read second, amended (as recommended by the committee on House Ways and Means)
lower
May 20, 2026
Committee
Referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling with the amendment pending
lower
May 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee recommended ought to pass with an amendment, substituting therefor a bill with the same title, see H5444
lower
Oct 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
lower
Oct 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported from the committee on The Judiciary
lower
0 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.