This bill (H 1664) modifies Massachusetts court procedures for rent escrow in eviction cases. It requires tenants who withhold rent (e.g., to cover repairs) to deposit the withheld amount into a court-held account instead of paying it directly to landlords. The deposit covers rent due under the lease, calculated from when withholding began, and must be held until the eviction case concludes. If the tenant wins, funds go first toward repairs; if the landlord wins, the tenant must pay the full amount. The bill is currently pending review by the Judiciary Committee and is not yet law.
This bill (HD 1644) updates Massachusetts law to clarify when grandparents or other relatives can seek court-ordered visitation with an unmarried minor child. It establishes specific eligibility criteria (e.g., parents divorced, deceased, living apart, or unwed parents with paternity established) and requires courts to find visitation is in the child's best interest. Key provisions include a presumption of emotional harm if a grandparent was a primary caregiver or had a significant existing relationship, and mandatory mediation before a court hearing (with exceptions for domestic violence cases). The law directly affects families navigating custody disputes by providing clearer standards for relatives seeking visitation rights.
This bill establishes a special commission to review Massachusetts' durable power of attorney (DPOA) system. The commission will examine how DPOAs are legally structured, administered, and used in practice - including risks of financial abuse, current protections for vulnerable individuals, and pathways for victims - to identify needed reforms. It requires the commission to gather input from diverse stakeholders, including advocacy groups and experts, and hold at least five public meetings. The commission must submit a final report with recommendations and draft legislation by March 1, 2027. This affects individuals who use DPOAs for financial decisions and those potentially at risk of financial abuse under such arrangements.
HD 379 modifies Massachusetts court procedures for children and families involved in custody or care cases. It clarifies "custody" to include specific powers (like medical care decisions and visitation control), requires courts to reconsider objections to custody actions de novo, and mandates courts to prioritize sibling contact when ordering placements. The bill also allows courts to appoint neutral investigators whose reports become admissible evidence, replaces certain expert reports with these investigator findings, and creates a 60-day review window for temporary custody orders. These changes directly affect children in court cases, their parents/guardians, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), and foster care providers. The bill focuses on standardizing procedures and strengthening child-centered decision-making within existing legal frameworks.
This bill amends Massachusetts family law to prioritize children's well-being in custody cases. It replaces "visitation" with "parenting time" and establishes that courts must presume shared decision-making responsibility (both parents involved in major decisions like education and health) unless a court orders otherwise. All custody orders now require a detailed "parenting plan" covering decision-making, where the child lives, and a schedule for parenting time. Courts must consider 16 specific factors - including the child's relationship with each parent, their wishes (if age-appropriate), and any history of abuse - when determining the best interests of the child. The law directly affects parents in divorce or custody cases and the courts handling those cases.
This bill changes how alimony (spousal support) amounts are calculated in Massachusetts based on federal tax treatment. For tax-deductible alimony (before 2019), the amount generally cannot exceed 30-35% of the income difference between spouses; for non-tax-deductible alimony (after 2019), it cannot exceed 23-28%. The law applies only to alimony orders issued or modified on or after January 1, 2019, not to pre-2019 agreements. It directly affects divorcing couples and courts setting alimony amounts under Massachusetts law.
HD 3290, "An Act improving medical decision making," updates Massachusetts law to streamline medical decisions for adults who become incapacitated without an advance directive (like a health care proxy or MOLST form). It establishes a clear priority order for surrogate decision-makers (spouse, adult children, then close friends) and requires surrogates to base decisions on the person’s known wishes or, if unknown, their best interests - considering values, beliefs, and treatment burdens/benefits. Health care providers must make a reasonable inquiry (e.g., checking records or contacting family) to identify a surrogate without court involvement, and are protected from liability for such inquiries. The bill does not apply when valid advance directives exist or for decisions involving mental health facility admissions.
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.
This bill (HD 1835) allows adults aged 18+ with sound minds to legally designate who controls their funeral arrangements and final disposition of remains after death. It establishes a clear hierarchy: first the person named in a pre-need contract or sworn affidavit (Section 1), then surviving spouse, children, parents, siblings, or other relatives in order (Section 2). The law also specifies circumstances where rights are forfeited (e.g., murder charges, failure to act within 2 days, or court determination of estrangement) and permits probate courts to resolve disputes if multiple people claim rights (Section 4-5). It directly affects anyone making pre-arrangements or whose family must make decisions after death.
HD 1299 amends Massachusetts guardianship law to strengthen protections for people under guardianship. It requires courts to notify individuals of their right to legal representation and to attend hearings in person (Section 304(e)). The bill also mandates that new guardians must be certified by the Center for Guardianship Commission within six months (Section 305) and holds guardians accountable for expenses charged to the incapacitated person’s estate (Section 309). These changes directly affect individuals deemed incapacitated, their legal representatives, and appointed guardians.
This bill amends Section 34 of Chapter 208 of Massachusetts General Laws to change the timeframe for filing alimony judgments. Specifically, it replaces "at any time" with "within 1 year" in the existing provision. The change directly affects individuals involved in divorce or separation cases where alimony is awarded, requiring them to seek a judgment within one year of the divorce decree. This is a procedural adjustment to the existing law, not a new policy.
This bill (HD 1485) creates a new criminal offense for individuals who knowingly have a relationship of control over someone experiencing suicidal thoughts and then intentionally encourage or assist that person in dying by suicide. It specifically targets two scenarios: (1) using control (e.g., manipulation or undue influence) to coerce a suicidal person, or (2) providing the means or actively aiding in a suicide attempt. The law does not apply to licensed physicians providing medical treatment, and it prevents double punishment if a defendant is also charged with manslaughter. The bill directly affects individuals with close, controlling relationships to someone in crisis, imposing up to 5 years in prison for violations.
