By Representative Howard of Lowell, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Vanna Howard for legislation to establish a sick leave bank for Adrian Mitchell, an employee of the Department of Correction. Public Service.
Senate, February , 2026 -- The committee on Election Laws to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 515) of Barry R. Finegold for legislation relative to campaign finance reform, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2935).
February, , 2026 -- The committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2114) of Joanne M. Comerford, Rebecca L. Rausch, Michael J. Barrett, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish a jail and prison construction moratorium, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2944).
H 5059, the Massachusetts Judicial Security Act, creates a confidential database to protect the personal information of judges and their immediate family members (spouses, children, or parents living with them). It requires the Office of Court Management to maintain this database and mandates that government agencies, data brokers, and other entities remove judicial officers' home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses from public access within 24-72 hours after receiving notice. The law prohibits selling or sharing this information without consent, with limited exceptions for court orders, law enforcement, or financial institutions. This directly affects all Massachusetts state judges, federal judges in Massachusetts, and court clerks, ensuring their personal details remain private from public disclosure.
This bill (H 5056) creates a new process for Massachusetts courts to handle requests involving depositions or discovery from courts in other states or countries. It requires parties seeking such discovery to submit a foreign subpoena to a Massachusetts court clerk, along with specific details like case information and contact details for all involved parties. The clerk then issues a Massachusetts subpoena incorporating the foreign request, following standard court procedures. This change applies to all pending cases as of January 1, 2027, and aims to streamline cross-jurisdictional legal proceedings.
Senate, February 9, 2026 -- The committee on Election Laws to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 534) of Rebecca L. Rausch and Joanne M. Comerford for legislation to upgrade elections infrastructure, improve voting access, and reduce municipal burden, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2936)
The committee on Health Care Financing to whom was referred the Senate Bill to promote increased access to patient care through equitable reimbursement (Senate, No. 783), - reports, recommending that the same ought to pass with an amendment substituting a new draft with the same title (Senate, No. 2938).
This bill (H 5063) renames the Roxbury Division Courthouse in Boston to the Edward O. Gourdin Courthouse to honor his service to the judiciary and community. It directs the state to install and maintain official markers bearing the new name at the courthouse. The bill has no policy impact beyond this symbolic renaming and affects no specific individuals or groups through legislative action.
Senate, February 9, 2026 -- The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 359) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to promote a healthy culture and climate within schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 368) of Adam Gomez, Michael J. Barrett, Joanne M. Comerford, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the Senate for legislation to reduce exclusionary discipline for grooming and dress code violations; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 376) of Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation to promote the education success of court involved children; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 380) of Patricia D. Jehlen and James B. Eldridge for legislation to establish statewide targets for addressing persistent disparities in achievement and suspension and expulsion in public schools; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 387) of Robyn K. Kennedy for legislation relative to safer schools, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2955).
H 5057 mandates the relocation of the Cambridge District Court (also known as the third district court of eastern Middlesex) from Medford to Cambridge by December 31, 2026. The bill requires the Executive Office of the Trial Court to submit a relocation timeline report to legislative committees within 90 days of the law's effective date. This procedural bill directly affects court operations and administrative planning for the Cambridge District Court.
H 5060 amends Massachusetts General Laws to formally add "district court of Edgartown" and "district court of Nantucket" to the list of existing district courts. The bill directly affects the court operations in Edgartown and Nantucket by establishing them as official district court locations under state law. This is a procedural change that updates the statutory list of courts, with no new staffing requirements or policy changes. The bill's title ("equitable court staffing") does not reflect its actual content, as it only names court locations without altering staffing mechanisms.
H 5058 designates the Charlestown division of Boston Municipal Court as the "George Lewis Ruffin Courthouse" to honor George Lewis Ruffin, the first African American to graduate from Harvard Law School, serve on the Boston City Council, and be appointed as a judge in Massachusetts. The bill directs the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to erect and maintain markers bearing the new name. This is a commemorative measure recognizing Ruffin's historical contributions to Massachusetts law and justice, directly affecting the courthouse's official designation. The bill was favorably reported by the Judiciary committee and referred to House Ways and Means.
