HD 3561 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relative to the concealment of the death of children and the penalties for the sale or purchase of minor children

This bill creates criminal penalties for two specific acts: concealing a child's death (to prevent determining if the child was born alive or murdered) and selling, trading, or buying minor children. It imposes prison terms of up to 5 years or local jail terms of up to 2.5 years for violating either provision. The law directly affects individuals who hide child deaths or engage in the commercial exchange of minors for money, property, or other value. It replaces an existing law on child death concealment and adds new language to address child trafficking-like activities. The focus is on establishing clear criminal consequences for these acts under Massachusetts law.
Bill status Introduction 0 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor