Massachusetts Bills

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1756: An Act reforming juvenile offender law

This bill raises the age limit for certain juvenile court proceedings from 18 to 19 years old. It specifically affects juveniles aged 16-19 convicted of first or second-degree murder under Chapter 265, requiring courts to consider their maturity and rehabilitation for parole eligibility after serving minimum sentences (15 years for second-degree murder). The bill mandates separate housing in youthful offender units for under-18 inmates, prohibits limiting access to rehabilitation programs (like education or vocational training), and establishes new procedures for evaluating a juvenile's legal competence to stand trial. These changes apply to all murder cases involving juveniles under 19.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1991: An Act relative to abortion care for young people

This bill modifies Massachusetts law to streamline abortion access for minors. It requires written informed consent for all abortions (except emergencies) but eliminates any mandatory waiting period between signing the form and the procedure. Crucially, it expands minor consent rights by allowing teens aged 16+ to independently consent to their own abortion care without parental involvement, removing prior restrictions that limited this to "medical or dental care." All consent forms and related records must remain confidential, accessible only to the patient or authorized providers under strict privacy rules. The changes directly affect minors seeking abortion services in Massachusetts and the healthcare providers who perform them.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Dawne Shand (D) · 21 co-sponsors

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1757: An Act restoring the furlough program for incarcerated persons

HD 1686 restores a furlough program for incarcerated individuals in Massachusetts, allowing temporary releases from state correctional facilities for specific, time-limited purposes. The program permits up to 14 days of absence per year (with no more than 7 days at one time) for reasons such as attending a relative's funeral, visiting a critically ill family member, accessing medical care, or preparing for release through housing or job searches. Most incarcerated people are eligible, but those serving life sentences or convicted of certain violent offenses require approval from facility leadership and the commissioner. The correctional facility covers all costs, and the time away counts toward the individual's sentence, maintaining custody during the furlough.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1749: An Act relative to a humane response to a mental health crisis

HD 1550 removes the current Massachusetts law allowing courts to issue emergency 3-day holds for individuals with mental illness who pose a risk of serious harm. This change would eliminate the specific process where a court could order a short-term hospitalization after a hearing, with a physician or psychologist confirming the need for confinement. The bill directly affects people experiencing acute mental health crises who might otherwise be subject to these emergency holds. It modifies the existing legal mechanism for temporary mental health commitments but does not specify the new provisions replacing the removed language. (Note: The bill text provided only shows the amendment removing paragraph (e), not the replacement text.)

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1652: An Act relative to reforming the competency to stand trial process

This bill (HD 2196) changes how courts determine if a defendant in a criminal case is competent to stand trial or criminally responsible due to mental illness. It requires courts to order examinations by qualified doctors or psychologists when competence is in doubt, with exams typically happening at the courthouse or detention facility. The bill sets strict rules: exams must be completed within 20 days (extendable to 40), and sending a defendant to a secure facility like Bridgewater State Hospital requires the court to prove no less restrictive option exists. It also adds procedures for post-conviction evaluations to aid sentencing and potential short-term commitment to mental health facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1812: An Act to promote timely access to parole hearings

This bill (HD 1442) changes how parole hearings are conducted for inmates in Massachusetts. It requires the parole board to hold public hearings for inmates with life sentences 60 days before their minimum term expires, using 5 of 7 designated members. The bill mandates specific professional qualifications for board members: at least 1 forensic psychologist and 2 with social services/reentry experience must serve on life sentence hearing panels, with similar requirements for regular parole hearings. These changes directly affect inmates serving life sentences and those under standard parole terms, aiming to standardize panel composition and ensure timely hearings.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 2054: An Act to end mandatory life without the possibility of parole for the age of 21-25 and 364 days

This bill (HD 1290) changes sentencing for young adults aged 21-25 years and 364 days convicted of first-degree murder. It eliminates mandatory life without parole for this age group, making them eligible for parole review retroactively (affecting current inmates) and prospectively. Instead of life without parole, the bill sets minimum sentences of 20-30 years with parole eligibility for different murder charges. The law requires courts to restructure existing sentences without full resentencing hearings, redirecting incarceration costs toward rehabilitation programs.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1755: An Act for second look

This bill (HD 1682, "An Act for second look") allows incarcerated individuals who were under 25 at the time of their offense to petition for sentence reductions after serving 10 years (15 years if the offense involved loss of life), or those aged 26+ after 12 years (18 years for loss of life). The Department of Corrections must notify eligible individuals at 9 and 14 years of incarceration, and petitions require specific documentation proving eligibility, including medical conditions like dementia or HIV that may expedite hearings. Courts must deny petitions with clear reasoning, restrict re-filing to 2-5 years after denial, and appoint counsel if requested. It directly affects incarcerated people meeting age and time criteria, with no waiver of eligibility allowed.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1698: An Act permitting the adoption of embryos

This bill permits adults to petition family courts to adopt embryos. It directly affects prospective adoptive parents and the donors who created the embryos. The law requires courts to consider such petitions and explicitly states that embryo donors cannot be held financially responsible for child support or medical costs related to the adopted embryo. The provision aims to clarify legal pathways for embryo adoption while removing donor financial liability.

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 4218: An Act to reform the parole board

The bill text for HD 1751 ("An Act to reform the parole board") is incomplete, as it only states "DRAFT BEING WORKED ON BY HOUSE COUNSEL" with no substantive provisions described. Without access to the actual content of the proposed reforms, key details about who would be affected, specific mechanisms, or policy changes cannot be determined. The draft status indicates it is still under development and not yet finalized. Therefore, a factual summary of this bill's provisions cannot be provided at this time.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 2032: An Act related to a universal basic income pilot

By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2032) of Jason M. Lewis for legislation relative to a universal basic income pilot. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 2005: An Act to promote correctional personnel safety

This bill (HD 2295) increases penalties for inmates who assault correctional staff. It targets individuals in custody (in jails, prisons, or detention facilities) who use a dangerous weapon to assault officers, employees, volunteers, or contractors working in those facilities. The law mandates prison sentences of up to 20 years for such assaults, requiring the new sentence to be served after any existing unserved sentences. It defines "dangerous weapon" broadly to include homemade or custom objects designed to cause harm.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results