H 4645 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relative to assault and battery upon a transit worker

This bill (H 4645, now Chapter 79 of the Acts of 2025) increases penalties for assaulting public transit workers while they are on duty. It makes it a crime to commit assault and battery - including using bodily substances like blood or saliva - against a transit worker performing their job, punishable by 90 days to 2.5 years in jail or fines of $500 to $5,000. The law specifically defines "bodily substance" to include human secretions such as saliva, urine, or feces. It directly affects transit workers by strengthening legal protections during their work. The bill was enacted in late 2025 after passing both legislative chambers and receiving the Governor’s signature.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Nov 2025
House Passage
Nov 2025
Senate Passage
Nov 2025
Signed into Law
Dec 2025
Introduced Oct 22, 2025 Signed Dec 12, 2025
Floor votes · House Oct 22, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
10
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Dec 12, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor, Chapter 79 of the Acts of 2025
executive
Nov 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Enacted and laid before the Governor
upper
Nov 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Enacted
lower
Nov 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in the House further amendment
upper
Nov 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
House concurred in the Senate amendment with a further amendment
lower
Nov 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to the committee on Bills in the Third Reading
lower
Nov 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to be engrossed -see Roll Call #98 (Yeas 38 to Nays 0)
upper
Nov 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of S2697
upper
Nov 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Order relative to subject matter adopted
upper
Nov 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee recommended ought to pass with an amendment striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of S2697
upper
Oct 23, 2025
Committee
Read; and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
upper
Oct 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to be engrossed - 160 YEAS to 0 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 93 )
lower
0 primary · 24 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.