H 5444 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relative to civil rights and technology

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.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced May 20, 2026 Last action May 21, 2026
Floor votes · House May 20, 2026

How they voted

1511
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 154
May 20, 2026
D Democratic128
126 Yea 2
98% Yea
I Independent1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican25
24 Yea 1 Nay
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
2
Committee
2
May 21, 2026
Committee
Read; and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
upper
May 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed to be engrossed - 155 YEAS to 1 NAYS (See YEA and NAY No. 195 )
lower
May 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from the committee on House Ways and Means
lower
0 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.