This bill, "Stavri’s Law," requires courts to keep mental health examination and commitment records private, except for specific disclosures. It mandates that courts share limited information with licensing authorities (for firearm background checks), the FBI (for national background checks), and law enforcement (about suicide risk in custody), but only when required by law for those purposes. Crucially, it prohibits sharing records solely because someone sought voluntary treatment or was hospitalized for evaluation. The law affects courts, individuals in mental health proceedings, and law enforcement agencies receiving targeted risk information. It changes how courts handle privacy and data sharing for mental health cases in court custody.
HD 4169 requires courts to order a psychiatric evaluation within 10 days for individuals subject to an extreme risk protection order (ERPO), which is issued when someone is deemed a danger to themselves or others. The evaluation, conducted by a licensed mental health professional approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, must assess the person's mental health, history of violence or self-harm, and ability to safely handle weapons. Courts must review these results alongside other evidence before deciding whether to continue, modify, or end the ERPO. This bill directly affects ERPO respondents and streamlines the court process for evaluating safety risks. It also directs the Department of Public Health and Trial Court to create implementing regulations.
This bill requires the state crime lab to audit the DNA database to identify offenders who should have provided DNA samples under existing law (Chapter 22E) but did not. It mandates a preliminary report within 90 days of enactment (or by Dec. 15, 2025) and a detailed final report by Dec. 15, 2025, including types of offenses and where collections failed. The audit must cover all relevant offenders, including those retroactively covered by the law, and annual audits will continue thereafter to ensure compliance.
This bill transfers operation of Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Corrections to the Department of Mental Health. It directly affects patients at the hospital, who will now receive care under the Mental Health Department's oversight instead of Corrections. Key provisions include removing all references to the hospital's "medical director" from existing laws, creating a new forensic mental health division within Mental Health, and updating procedures for patient commitments and transfers. The transfer must be completed by December 31, 2026.
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.
This bill creates a new legal framework to address abusive lawsuits between family or household members where one party has been found to have committed abuse. It defines "controlling and abusive litigation" as legal actions primarily intended to harass, intimidate, or maintain contact with a victim, often involving repetitive claims or lacking legal merit. Victims can request court orders restricting such litigation, which would require courts to verify abuse history and litigation patterns before imposing penalties. If found abusive, the case is dismissed with prejudice, and the perpetrator must pay all costs, attorney fees, and faces a 48-72 month ban on filing new lawsuits.
This bill (SD 50) amends Massachusetts law to treat certain drug distribution causing death as second-degree murder. It directly affects individuals who knowingly or intentionally traffic or unlawfully distribute controlled substances (like drugs) when their actions result in death. The key provision elevates the criminal charge from drug trafficking to second-degree murder under Chapter 265, Section 1. It also explicitly states that ignorance of a user's pre-existing health condition cannot be used as a defense.
This bill amends name change procedures in court to prioritize safety for vulnerable individuals. It requires courts to obtain a probation report before approving name changes and verify birth records (with limited exceptions). Crucially, courts must keep name change records private if a safety risk exists - such as gender non-conformity, being transgender, or being a domestic violence survivor - without requiring proof of prior threats. This protects petitioners' privacy by segregating their records and creating a separate court index for such cases.
HD 4077 requires the Department of Utilities to set and publish maximum fees for towing and storage services provided by companies contracted with police departments. It caps fees based on vehicle size, storage time, and additional services like winching, and mandates the department update these fees every two years. Towing companies must follow these approved fees, with penalties for violations, and the Department can investigate complaints or suspend contracts for repeated non-compliance. This bill directly affects vehicle owners who have their vehicles towed by police-contracted services and aims to prevent excessive charges.
HD 75 requires basic American Sign Language (ASL) training for public safety personnel. It mandates that fire service, police, and ambulance service training programs include ASL courses to enable basic communication with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. The bill also establishes that approved ASL courses can count toward required continuing education credits for these professionals. This legislation directly affects firefighters, police officers, and ambulance service staff by integrating ASL proficiency into their standard training and certification requirements.
