An Act relative to petit treason

This bill (S 1070) proposes removing the phrase "Petit treason shall be prosecuted and punished as murder" from Massachusetts law (Chapter 265, Section 1). It directly affects the legal classification of "petit treason," an outdated term historically referring to specific acts like killing a spouse or employer. The change would no longer equate petit treason with murder under Massachusetts statute. The bill is pending review by the Judiciary Committee.