Report of the Special Commission on Violence Prevention Services Funding (pursuant to Section 149 of Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024) submitting its recommendations to the General Court on the commonwealth’s funding structure for gun violence prevention services funding
This bill (H 4858) updates Massachusetts expungement law by restricting access to sealed or expunged criminal records. It prohibits anyone from making these records available for inspection, including by employers or background check services, unless the information is used solely for statistical or research purposes without identifying individuals. The bill directly affects people whose records have been sealed under sections 100A, 100B, or 100C, or expunged under sections 100F, 100G, 100H, or 100K. Key changes include broadening restrictions to cover all expungement categories and clarifying that research data must not reveal personal identities. The bill is currently pending in the House committee.
By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1653) of Cynthia Stone Creem, Jason M. Lewis, David Paul Linsky, Christopher Richard Flanagan and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to firearm industry accountability and gun violence victims’ access to justice. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1773) of Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to create the ability of police officers to demand FID, LTC or proof of exempt status. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2592) of Marjorie C. Decker that the commissioner of Criminal Justice Services be authorized to establish a list of persons who disavow eligibility to purchase firearms. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
This bill repeals Massachusetts' red flag law framework by removing key provisions from state law. It eliminates sections of Chapter 135 (2024 Acts) related to firearm restrictions, including sections 76-85, and deletes corresponding sections (131R, 131S-Y) in Chapter 140 of the Massachusetts General Laws. The bill specifically removes definitions for "Petition," "Petitioner," and "Respondent" that governed the red flag process. This directly affects individuals who could have been subject to temporary firearm removal orders under the repealed law, as well as law enforcement handling such cases. The bill effectually ends the legal mechanism for emergency firearm removals in Massachusetts.
By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1653) of Cynthia Stone Creem, Jason M. Lewis, David Paul Linsky, Christopher Richard Flanagan and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to firearm industry accountability and gun violence victims’ access to justice. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
This bill creates new legal standards requiring firearm industry members (manufacturers, distributors, and sellers) to implement "reasonable controls" to prevent sales to prohibited individuals or traffickers, and to avoid promoting illegal conversions or sales to minors. It directly affects these industry members by imposing new duties and provides gun violence victims harmed by industry violations a new civil legal pathway to seek compensation in court. Key provisions mandate companies to prevent sales to straw purchasers, prohibited persons, or those at high risk of harm, and to comply with existing consumer protection and safety laws. The law does not override federal restrictions but ensures victims and the Attorney General can pursue civil actions for industry misconduct under Massachusetts law.
This Massachusetts bill (HD 1610) amends state law to increase penalties for possessing firearm suppressors (devices that muffle gun noise) under specific circumstances. It targets individuals who are prohibited from owning firearms, committing violent crimes/felons, or engaging in crimes of violence against family members while possessing suppressors, or selling controlled substances. The law defines "firearm suppressor" to align with federal law (18 USC 921(24)) and sets punishments of up to 10 years in state prison or 2.5 years in jail for violations. It directly affects gun owners or individuals with criminal records who possess these devices while violating other laws. The bill does not create new restrictions but modifies existing penalties for specific prohibited uses.
HD 3999 amends Massachusetts law to clarify definitions used in criminal investigations. It redefines "transmitted communication" to explicitly include modern digital communications (like smartphone texts, data, and images) while excluding tone-only pagers and financial transaction data. The bill also expands the list of "designated offenses" to include homicide, violent crimes, drug violations, firearm crimes, and human trafficking, along with accessories and conspirators. These changes directly affect law enforcement agencies investigating these specific serious crimes under the updated legal framework.
