By Representatives Nguyen of Andover and Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1913) of Tram T. Nguyen, Marjorie C. Decker and others relative to court considerations of persons having alcohol or substance use disorders and needing treatment. The Judiciary.
This bill automatically expunges court records for certain past marijuana convictions in Massachusetts. It directly affects individuals convicted of possessing or cultivating small amounts of marijuana that were decriminalized under laws passed in 2008, 2016, or 2017, including related charges like intent to distribute based on those decriminalized amounts. Courts must proactively expunge these records, and individuals can petition for expungement if a court fails to do so within 30 days, with courts required to explain denials. The bill mandates that all eligible expungements be completed within 180 days of the law's effective date.
HD 1588 amends Massachusetts forfeiture laws to clarify and limit when property can be seized after a criminal conviction. It exempts homesteads, vehicles under $10,000, and U.S. currency totaling $200 or less from forfeiture. The bill defines key terms like "contraband" (excluding legally grown marijuana) and requires the state to prove forfeiture with "clear and convincing evidence," not just a criminal conviction. It also specifies that property used in crimes (like a car or tools) may be forfeited only if directly linked to the offense.
This bill requires all public school districts, charter schools, and approved private schools to integrate opioid use disorder education into existing health curricula. It mandates teaching specific topics, including opioid types, overdose identification, naloxone use and access, reducing stigma around naloxone, and medical amnesty protections for laypeople who assist during overdoses. The education standards must be incorporated into current health classes without creating new standalone courses. The bill does not impose new funding requirements but allows the department to seek external funding for implementation.
By Representative Tyler of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 182) of Chynah Tyler that the Cannabis Control Commission conduct a study on programs and partnerships to encourage the employment of formerly incarcerated individuals in the cannabis industry. Cannabis Policy.
By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 87) of Liz Miranda for legislation to increase the share of cannabis revenue to communities harmed by the war on drugs. Cannabis Policy.
By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1161) of Jason M. Lewis for legislation relative to the expungement of convictions for marijuana possession. The Judiciary.
By Representative DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2597) of David F. DeCoste and Mackenzie Slocumb for legislation to further regulate the possession of firearms by law enforcement officers. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
This bill (HD 294) imposes stricter penalties for individuals convicted of both opioid/heroin trafficking and firearm trafficking. It mandates a potential life sentence in state prison plus a $500,000 fine for those found guilty of both offenses under specified sections of Massachusetts law. The bill also prohibits prosecutors from dismissing or delaying such cases and bars convicted individuals from early release options like furlough or sentence reductions for good behavior. This directly affects people convicted of combined drug and firearm trafficking, creating a mandatory maximum penalty with no leniency for good conduct.
This bill (HD 3020) changes Massachusetts drug laws to reduce criminal penalties for simple possession. It replaces citations for possession with written resource referrals and prohibits using drug possession alone to establish reasonable cause for a crime. It also automatically expunges past convictions under Chapter 94C, Section 32 (for simple possession) if the conduct would no longer be illegal after the bill's effective date, and requires courts to notify agencies to seal related records. This directly affects people convicted of simple drug possession before the bill's effective date. The law does not change penalties for drug-impaired driving (M.G.L. c. 90 § 24.171).
