Criminal Justice (Firearms)

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate Jul 30, 2026

SD 4078: Violence Prevention Services Funding Structure Commission Final Report

Report of the Special Commission on Violence Prevention Services Funding (pursuant to Section 149 of Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024) submitting its recommendations to the General Court on the commonwealth’s funding structure for gun violence prevention services funding

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds gun violence prevention services, directly addressing crime reduction and public safety within the criminal justice framework.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jan 27, 2026

H 4858: An Act to update expungement

This bill (H 4858) updates Massachusetts expungement law by restricting access to sealed or expunged criminal records. It prohibits anyone from making these records available for inspection, including by employers or background check services, unless the information is used solely for statistical or research purposes without identifying individuals. The bill directly affects people whose records have been sealed under sections 100A, 100B, or 100C, or expunged under sections 100F, 100G, 100H, or 100K. Key changes include broadening restrictions to cover all expungement categories and clarifying that research data must not reveal personal identities. The bill is currently pending in the House committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts access to sealed records, reducing employment barriers for individuals with expunged convictions - a key criminal justice reform measure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 4, 2025

S 1653: An Act relative to firearm industry accountability and gun violence victims’ access to justice

By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1653) of Cynthia Stone Creem, Jason M. Lewis, David Paul Linsky, Christopher Richard Flanagan and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to firearm industry accountability and gun violence victims’ access to justice. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances victims' access to justice in gun violence cases, aligning with criminal justice reform by promoting accountability and victim rights within the system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 23, 2026

H 2592: An Act authorizing the voluntary disavowal of eligibility to purchase a firearm

By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2592) of Marjorie C. Decker that the commissioner of Criminal Justice Services be authorized to establish a list of persons who disavow eligibility to purchase firearms. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill authorizes voluntary firearm disavowal under Criminal Justice Services to enhance public safety, aligning with reform-focused prevention measures in criminal justice policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1023: An Act relative to firearm industry accountability and gun violence victims’ access to justice

By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1653) of Cynthia Stone Creem, Jason M. Lewis, David Paul Linsky, Christopher Richard Flanagan and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to firearm industry accountability and gun violence victims’ access to justice. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances gun violence victims' access to justice and holds firearm industry accountable, supporting criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 948: An Act relative to firearm industry accountability and gun violence victims’ access to justice

This bill creates new legal standards requiring firearm industry members (manufacturers, distributors, and sellers) to implement "reasonable controls" to prevent sales to prohibited individuals or traffickers, and to avoid promoting illegal conversions or sales to minors. It directly affects these industry members by imposing new duties and provides gun violence victims harmed by industry violations a new civil legal pathway to seek compensation in court. Key provisions mandate companies to prevent sales to straw purchasers, prohibited persons, or those at high risk of harm, and to comply with existing consumer protection and safety laws. The law does not override federal restrictions but ensures victims and the Attorney General can pursue civil actions for industry misconduct under Massachusetts law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates firearm industry accountability to prevent gun violence and creates civil remedies for victims, aligning with criminal justice reform by enhancing victim access to justice and industry oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3999: An Act to assist the investigation of serious crimes

HD 3999 amends Massachusetts law to clarify definitions used in criminal investigations. It redefines "transmitted communication" to explicitly include modern digital communications (like smartphone texts, data, and images) while excluding tone-only pagers and financial transaction data. The bill also expands the list of "designated offenses" to include homicide, violent crimes, drug violations, firearm crimes, and human trafficking, along with accessories and conspirators. These changes directly affect law enforcement agencies investigating these specific serious crimes under the updated legal framework.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies digital communication definitions and expands designated offenses for serious crimes, enhancing law enforcement investigative capabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Human Trafficking Violent Crime

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4026: An Act relating to threats of suicide while in court custody (Stavri’s Law)

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects defendants' mental health privacy in court custody, preventing unnecessary disclosure that could harm legal proceedings. Aligns with civil rights protections in criminal justice.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects mental health patient privacy by restricting unnecessary record disclosures, supporting confidentiality in healthcare services per bill's privacy safeguards for voluntary treatment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Mental Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3228: An Act to stop mass shootings

HD 3228 bans the manufacturing of assault weapons and large capacity feeding devices within Massachusetts. It directly affects manufacturers operating in the state, with exceptions for licensed producers making these items solely for law enforcement, military, or approved foreign government use. The bill prohibits such manufacturing under Chapter 269 of the General Laws, imposing fines of $1,000-$1,000,000 or 1-10 years in prison for violations. This is a substantive policy change targeting firearm production, not a procedural measure.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans assault weapons manufacturing to prevent mass shootings, aligning with criminal justice goals of reducing violent crime and enhancing public safety.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Violent Crime

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3243: An Act authorizing the voluntary disavowal of eligibility to purchase a firearm

This bill allows individuals with diagnosed depression who feel suicidal to voluntarily give up their right to purchase firearms. People can submit a form at hospitals or emergency facilities (after being assessed by a clinician) to be added to a confidential list, preventing firearm sellers from selling to them. The list is kept private (not public record) and shared only with licensed firearm sellers, who face penalties for violating the restriction. Individuals can also petition a court to have their name removed from the list later. It directly affects people with mental health concerns who choose this option and firearm sellers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces gun violence risk by enabling temporary firearm access restrictions for individuals with depression during suicidal crises, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of harm prevention.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables mental health assessments to restrict firearm access for at-risk individuals, directly supporting mental health safety protocols and patient protection within healthcare context.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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