This bill amends Massachusetts state laws to restrict civil immigration enforcement activities within nonpublic areas of state-owned buildings and facilities, except when required by federal law or specific state programs. It grants the governor the authority to prohibit or limit these enforcement efforts and requires the creation of rules to minimize potential civil rights violations. Additionally, the legislation mandates the publication of multilingual guidelines for state agencies, private organizations, law enforcement officers, and school districts on how to handle interactions related to immigration enforcement, including instructions on verifying officer credentials and documenting such encounters. These guidelines will be made available on the commonwealth's website to inform residents and visitors regardless of their immigration status.
This bill amends Massachusetts law to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and operation of robotic devices equipped with weapons, while allowing exceptions for law enforcement, the military, and specific testing or educational uses. It establishes strict penalties for violating these rules, including mandatory prison sentences without the possibility of probation or parole, and criminalizes using such robots to threaten, harass, or physically restrain individuals. Additionally, the legislation requires law enforcement agencies to obtain a warrant before deploying armed robots on private property or for surveillance, mandates quarterly public reporting on their use, and grants individuals the right to sue for damages if the law is violated.
This bill requires the Hate Crimes Task Force to submit an annual report to the legislature detailing its mission, objectives, recommended actions, and metrics for measuring the impact of its recommendations on hate crimes in 2024. The report must include data on hate crime incidents, the effectiveness of prevention strategies, and the performance of the 24/7 multilingual confidential reporting center that connects callers to resources and case support. By mandating this documentation, the bill aims to increase transparency and accountability for the task force's work in addressing hate crimes across the state. The legislation directly affects the Hate Crimes Task Force and its ability to track and respond to hate crime trends through structured reporting requirements.
Senate, March 23, 2026 -- The committee on The Judiciary to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1064) of Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation to restore enforcement of civil rights, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2991).
By Representative Barber of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1589) of Christine P. Barber and Patrick Joseph Kearney relative to the definition of hate crime. The Judiciary.
This bill would expand hate crime protections by adding "gender" to the list of protected characteristics in Massachusetts law. It directly affects victims targeted due to their gender by ensuring such attacks are classified as hate crimes under existing law. The key mechanism is a simple amendment to Chapter 265, Section 39, inserting "sex" after "national origin" in the legal definition. This change would allow prosecutors to pursue enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by bias against someone's gender.
By Representative Livingstone of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1852) of Jay D. Livingstone and Joanne M. Comerford relative to adults with disabilities in family and juvenile court proceedings. The Judiciary.
H 4633 amends Massachusetts law to strengthen protections for victims of hate crimes by clarifying definitions and increasing penalties. It redefines "harassment" to include repeated acts causing fear based on race, religion, gender identity, or other protected characteristics, and expands the definition of "immediate family" for hate crime protections to include close relatives like spouses and children. The bill also increases penalties for assault or battery motivated by bias, imposing fines up to $5,000 or up to 2.5 years in jail. These changes directly affect individuals targeted by bias-motivated violence and law enforcement handling such cases under Chapter 265, Section 39.
By Representative Gordon of Bedford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1732) of Kenneth I. Gordon and Natalie M. Blais relative to the statute of limitations relating to civil rights actions and criminal prosecutions for the sexual assault and rape of a child. The Judiciary.
By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2617) of Colleen M. Garry for legislation to further define hate crimes. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
