H 1743 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act establishing medical civil rights

This bill requires law enforcement and correctional officers to immediately request emergency medical services when a person in their custody or under their direct observation shows signs of an emergency medical condition or is medically unstable. It defines key terms like "emergency medical condition" (symptoms severe enough to risk serious harm without prompt care) and "medically unstable" (unstable health status likely to become an emergency). Officers must act if the person communicates their condition or if the officer reasonably observes symptoms, with limited exceptions if the person was recently cleared by a medical professional. The law directly affects individuals interacting with police or in correctional facilities and sets clear protocols for officer response to medical crises.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action Mar 26, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to the committee on The Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors