An Act to modify the rules for taking depositions outside the Commonwealth and to adopt the uniform interstate depositions and discovery act

HD 3344 allows Massachusetts courts to handle subpoenas issued by courts in other states for gathering evidence (depositions, documents, or records) within Massachusetts. It requires parties seeking such evidence to submit the foreign subpoena, along with specific details like attorney contact information and a filing fee, to a Massachusetts clerk of court. The clerk then issues a Massachusetts subpoena that incorporates the foreign subpoena’s terms and includes case details. This streamlines cross-state legal discovery by creating a standardized process under Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure, applying to cases pending as of January 1, 2026. The bill directly affects parties involved in lawsuits filed in other states who need to collect evidence in Massachusetts.