This bill repeals Section 36 of Chapter 272 of the General Laws, which previously criminalized blasphemy. It directly affects individuals who might have been subject to prosecution under the repealed law. The bill makes no new provisions or mechanisms - its sole action is removing this specific legal provision from the statutes. This is a procedural change with no additional policy impact described in the bill text.
HD 1789 allows college athletes in Massachusetts to earn money from their name, image, or likeness (NIL) without risking scholarships or athletic eligibility. It requires colleges to appoint NIL compliance officers, prohibits schools from using NIL deals for recruiting advantages, and mandates that athletes disclose NIL agreements to their school within 72 hours. The bill also regulates NIL agents by requiring registration, capping their fees at 15% of earnings, and banning deceptive practices. All NIL agreements must include clear terms and protect athlete privacy, with schools providing annual financial and legal education. The law takes effect on July 1, 2027.
This bill amends Massachusetts law to increase penalties for certain fire and explosion-related offenses. It adds new criminal penalties for individuals who intentionally manufacture controlled substances and cause fires/explosions resulting in injury or property damage (Section 1), intentionally set fires in schools (Section 2), or recklessly use fire/explosives endangering others (Section 3). For unauthorized fires causing property damage, it increases penalties based on cost: fines up to $1,000 for damage under $5,000, and prison time for damage at or above $5,000 (Section 4). The bill directly affects individuals committing these specific fire-related offenses, particularly those involving controlled substances, schools, or reckless fire use.
This bill establishes Chapter 93M in Massachusetts law to protect minors from online sexual exploitation. It requires operators of pornographic websites to verify users' ages (using commercial databases or other reasonable methods) before allowing access to explicit content and to obtain signed statements confirming all depicted individuals are 18+ and consented to the content. Violations could result in civil liability for damages and legal costs. The law directly affects operators of commercial pornographic websites that host sexually explicit content exceeding one-third of their annual material.
This bill prohibits courts from ordering unsupervised visitation between parents convicted of specific crimes against minors and their children. It directly affects parents convicted of offenses listed in Chapter 265 (e.g., sexual abuse, child endangerment) and Chapter 272 (e.g., child exploitation, trafficking) of the Massachusetts General Laws. The prohibition applies unless the child is of "suitable age" to consent and a court-appointed guardian ad litem determines the visitation is in the child’s best interest. The bill amends Sections 28 of Chapter 208 and Section 37 of Chapter 209 in the General Laws.
This bill allows victims of rape to petition courts to terminate the rapist's parental rights when a child is conceived during the crime. It applies to married women (via Section 1) and any mother (via Section 2) who has a child born from rape. The law presumes termination is in the child's best interest and accepts a guilty plea or conviction for rape (under MA law sections 22/22A) as conclusive proof the child was conceived through criminal conduct. Petitions may be filed at any time without additional evidence. The bill directly affects victims of rape and the children born from such crimes by creating a streamlined legal pathway to end the perpetrator's parental rights.
This bill sets limits on over-the-counter sales of pseudoephedrine (PSE) products, like cold medicines, directly affecting pharmacies and customers purchasing these items. It requires pharmacies to verify customer ID, log purchases, and use a free, real-time electronic tracking system starting January 2026 to prevent sales exceeding daily (3.6g) or monthly (9g) limits. The system must block sales that would violate these limits and include an emergency override for staff fearing immediate harm, which is logged. The law also preempts local regulations and makes violations misdemeanors with fines up to $5,000 for repeat offenses.
This bill establishes a fundamental right to bodily autonomy for individuals and parents regarding health decisions for themselves and minor children. It prohibits requiring any health-related intervention (such as vaccinations, mask mandates, or genetic procedures) unless specifically exempted, including cases involving employment, education, or public services. Individuals harmed by violations can seek court orders, damages, or reinstated employment with back pay. Exceptions include drug/alcohol testing, certain job health requirements (excluding vaccinations), and legally mandated medical tests for driver's licenses.
This bill requires police departments to keep all reports and communications about railroad fatalities confidential, rather than making them public. It allows specific groups to access these reports upon request: the involved railroad company, the employer of any railroad employee mentioned in the report, and individuals authorized by a court order. Police may share related communications with these authorized parties if necessary for their work. Violating this confidentiality rule could result in up to one year in jail or a $10,000 fine.
This bill requires any parent involved in a paternity case in Massachusetts to complete a parent education program approved by the Probate and Family Court. It directly affects parents navigating paternity determinations, mandating they attend this specific court-approved program. The key provision adds a new requirement to the law, making program completion a condition for parents in these cases. The law does not specify the program's content but establishes the court's role in approving it. This is a concrete policy change affecting parental obligations in family court proceedings.
HD 1709 modifies parole violation procedures to increase fairness. It specifies that parole officers can issue temporary custody warrants only for certain serious violations (like tampering with GPS, contacting victims, or violating protection orders), and requires parole board review for other alleged breaches. The bill mandates a preliminary hearing within 15 days of detention to determine if a violation occurred, with a decision issued within 48 hours. Parolees placed in temporary custody are affected, as are parole officers and the parole board, which must now follow these structured steps before revoking parole. The key change is creating clearer, more limited conditions for temporary detention and requiring timely judicial review.
HD 2294, titled "An Act prohibiting child sex dolls," makes it illegal to possess, sell, distribute, or use dolls or robots designed to resemble minors for sexual purposes in Massachusetts. The bill defines a "child sex doll" as an anatomically correct item with features resembling a minor, intended for sexual acts. Violations carry penalties of up to $10,000 in fines or 5 years in prison for a first offense, increasing to 10 years for subsequent offenses. This law directly affects individuals who handle such items within the state, imposing criminal penalties for the specified activities.
