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Massachusetts Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress
All 48,694 Active 11,420 In committee 4,256 Passed 35,449 Signed 1,793 Failed 19

Bill results

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 4046: An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study alimony

The bill HD 3423, titled "An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study alimony," is currently a draft under review by House Counsel. The bill's purpose is to create a temporary commission tasked with examining current alimony laws and practices. It does not specify concrete policy changes or directly affect individuals, as it is solely focused on initiating a study. The context provided does not include details about the commission's structure, timeline, or proposed recommendations. As a procedural draft, no specific legislative changes or affected parties are defined in the available text.
Adrianne Ramos (D)
passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1955: An Act relative to fentanyl test strips

This bill protects individuals and organizations that provide or use fentanyl test strips in good faith. It adds legal immunity from criminal, civil, or professional penalties for using these strips to test substances for fentanyl or its analogues. The law explicitly states this protection applies unless the user acted with gross negligence, willful misconduct, or wanton misconduct. The bill directly affects harm reduction programs, healthcare providers, and community groups distributing test strips.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDecriminalizing fentanyl test strips reduces criminal penalties for possession, aligns with harm reduction reform, and promotes public health within criminal justice framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDecriminalizing fentanyl test strips increases public health access to harm reduction tools, directly supporting overdose prevention and patient safety within healthcare policy.85% confidence
passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1622: An Act removing barriers to justice in the workplace

This bill amends Section 5 of Chapter 151B by extending the deadline for filing workplace discrimination claims from 300 days to 3 years. It directly affects workers who experience discrimination, giving them more time to take legal action. The key provision changes a specific time limit in the law, making it easier for individuals to seek justice without rushing to file within a shorter window. This is a procedural adjustment to existing law, not a new policy. The change applies to all claims covered under Chapter 151B.
Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes barriers to workplace discrimination complaints, directly advancing workers' rights protections in Labor & Employment.95% confidence
passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1847: An Act preventing false confessions

This bill (HD 3010) prevents false confessions by creating two key protections in criminal investigations. First, it prohibits law enforcement from using deception (like false promises or misleading information) during interrogations of juveniles or adults. Any statement made under such deception is presumed involuntary and inadmissible in court, unless the prosecution proves it was voluntary and reliable beyond a reasonable doubt. Second, it mandates electronic recording of all custodial interrogations in detention facilities; failure to record makes the statement and related evidence inadmissible, with no exception for budget constraints. The law applies to all criminal cases (not just juvenile) starting July 31, 2027, and does not override existing protections for minors.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePreventing false confessions directly protects civil rights and addresses a key criminal justice reform issue by reducing wrongful convictions and enhancing accountability.90% confidence
Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D) · 1 co-sponsor
passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 4045: An Act relative to establishing a special commission to study child support

This bill establishes a special commission to study Massachusetts' child support system and recommend improvements. The commission, composed of legislative leaders, family law experts, and state agency representatives, will examine the economic impact of child support on families, enforcement methods, and how these affect low-income households and parents with incarcerated individuals. It must analyze unpaid support, collection processes, and gather data to inform policy recommendations. The commission is required to submit its final report with findings and proposed changes by December 31, 2026.
Adrianne Ramos (D)
passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1861: An Act providing transparency in third party litigation financing

This bill establishes rules for third-party funding of lawsuits involving individual consumers (like personal injury or wrongful death cases). It requires funding contracts to be written in clear, everyday language, limits interest rates to 36% annually plus a one-time fee, and mandates specific disclosures about costs. The law applies to companies providing these funds and excludes standard attorney fee arrangements, nonprofit legal aid, and business litigation. It aims to prevent deceptive practices by making contract terms transparent and capping excessive fees.
Adrian Madaro (D)
passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1660: An Act relative to juvenile fines, fees, and restitution

This bill eliminates fines, fees, and restitution requirements for juveniles (under the age of criminal majority) and their parents/guardians related to court proceedings. Key provisions include: banning all fines/fees for offenses committed while under criminal majority (Section 5), requiring courts to assess a youth’s ability to pay before ordering restitution (Section 7), prohibiting jail time for nonpayment of juvenile-related fines (Section 9), and removing specific fees like the $45 assessment for minors (Sections 13-16). It directly affects minors and their families in juvenile court cases involving property damage, delinquency, or restitution. The law ensures financial penalties cannot be imposed based on a youth’s inability to pay, with strict limits on restitution amounts and terms.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesThe bill eliminates fines, fees, and restitution for juveniles and their parents, providing financial relief and promoting fiscal responsibility for families. It also requires ability-to-pay assessments for restitution.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeThe bill explicitly eliminates fines, fees, and restitution requirements for juveniles, prohibits jail time for nonpayment, and requires ability-to-pay assessments, all of which align with criminal justice reform and protecting civil rights.95% confidence
Marjorie Decker (D) · 3 co-sponsors
passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1894: An Act promoting equity in traffic stops

This bill (HD 3766) sets new rules for evidence collected during traffic stops. It states that evidence unrelated to the traffic violation itself cannot be used in criminal court unless officers had reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe the person was already committing a felony or misdemeanor before the stop began. The state must prove this prior suspicion existed by a preponderance of evidence if challenged. Individuals stopped in violation of this law can seek civil remedies, including monetary damages, while officers may still enforce traffic laws but cannot use stops as a pretext to investigate unrelated crimes.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly promotes equity in traffic stops, addressing police accountability and reducing potential bias in law enforcement practices, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence
Sam Montaño (D) · 2 co-sponsors
passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1689: An Act clarifying the child advocate’s authority to access juvenile records

HD 3376 clarifies the Massachusetts Child Advocate's authority to access juvenile and adult criminal records, court proceedings, and electronic systems to fulfill oversight duties. The bill directly affects the Child Advocate's office, enabling them to obtain arrest data, court records (including juvenile court), and personally identifiable information without cost for investigations. Key provisions require state agencies to provide unrestricted access to facilities, records, and staff, and mandate the Child Advocate to examine systemwide child services, including racial disparities and juvenile justice interactions. This expands existing access rights under Chapter 18C to ensure the Child Advocate can effectively monitor child welfare and service delivery. The bill does not create new services but clarifies mechanisms for oversight.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeThe bill enhances oversight of systems interacting with children, including the juvenile justice system, by granting the Child Advocate access to juvenile and adult criminal records for investigations. This promotes accountability and reform withi...75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyThe bill grants the Child Advocate's office unrestricted access to electronic systems and personally identifiable information for oversight, which enhances data access and implicitly supports the use of technology for official duties.75% confidence
Mike Finn (D)
passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1960: An Act establishing presumptive parole

This bill establishes a presumption of parole for eligible prisoners, requiring parole boards to grant parole at first eligibility unless they provide clear evidence the individual would reoffend. Parole boards must use structured risk assessments considering participation in rehabilitation programs, good behavior, and community reintegration plans. It mandates special consideration for disabled prisoners, including medical evaluations and reasonable accommodations to support successful parole. Additionally, the bill requires health departments to secure appropriate placements within 60 days for parolees needing specialized care, preventing incarceration due to housing issues.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes presumptive parole using structured, actuarially-based guidelines, promoting evidence-based release to reduce incarceration and support rehabilitation, a core criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareThe bill mandates special consideration for disabled prisoners, including medical evaluations and reasonable accommodations to support successful parole, which touches on healthcare access for a specific population.55% confidence
Dave Rogers (D) · 1 co-sponsor
passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1848: An Act relative to judicial discretion for probation

HD 3412 requires judges to consider specific factors when deciding whether to place a defendant on probation. The bill mandates that judges evaluate items such as a defendant's age, military service history, education, medical conditions, family support systems, employment status, and details about the current crime (including victim injuries if violent). It directly affects judges making probation decisions and the defendants facing those decisions. The key provision expands the factors judges must weigh beyond typical considerations, ensuring a more comprehensive review of individual circumstances before granting probation. This change aims to create a more individualized approach to probation eligibility.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill grants judges discretion in probation, aligning with criminal justice reform by allowing individualized sentencing to reduce recidivism and promote rehabilitation.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransThe bill mandates judges to consider a defendant's military service history during probation decisions, which could lead to more tailored and potentially lenient outcomes for veterans.75% confidence
Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D)
passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1657: An Act relative to expungement of juvenile and young adult records

This bill (HD 3238) simplifies the process for young people to have certain juvenile or criminal records permanently erased ("expunged"). It expands eligibility by removing the previous limit of "2 records" and sets clearer timeframes: 7 years for felony records (unless tried in juvenile court) and 3 years for misdemeanor records. The bill also adds specific offenses that cannot be expunged (like murder, certain sex crimes, and some restraining order violations) and requires law enforcement to stop sending juvenile arrest records to federal databases. Finally, it mandates annual public reports tracking expungement petition outcomes to ensure transparency.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeThe bill simplifies expungement for juvenile and young adult records, expanding eligibility and setting clearer timeframes. This promotes criminal justice reform and rehabilitation by removing barriers for young people.95% confidence
Marjorie Decker (D) · 6 co-sponsors
Showing 2,077 to 2,088 of 35,449 bills
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