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.
Senate, March 12, 2026 -- The committee on Housing, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 994) of Cindy F. Friedman and Julian Cyr for legislation to prohibit algorithmic rent setting; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1016) of Michael O. Moore, Patricia D. Jehlen and James B. Eldridge for legislation to establish the Preventing Algorithmic Rent Fixing in the Rental Housing Market Act., report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2983).
By Representative Kushmerek of Fitchburg, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Michael P. Kushmerek for legislation to further regulate social media accounts for persons under 16 years of age. Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity.
By Representative Kushmerek of Fitchburg, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Michael P. Kushmerek for legislation to further regulate social media accounts for persons under 16 years of age. Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity.
HD 1281 modifies Massachusetts law governing law enforcement access to prescription monitoring data. It removes the requirement for law enforcement to obtain a probable cause warrant (under Chapter 276) when seeking this data. The bill instead specifies that access is permitted for: U.S. attorneys/federal agencies (if compliant with federal law), the Attorney General's office (for specific drug investigations), or district attorneys' offices (for specific drug investigations). This change directly affects law enforcement agencies and the state's prescription drug monitoring program by altering the legal basis for accessing sensitive patient prescription records.
By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 461) of John C. Velis, Carmine Lawrence Gentile, James C. Arena-DeRosa, Paul R. Feeney and other members of the General Court for legislation to prohibit access to personal electronic devices and social media in public schools. Education.
HD 2261 requires the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to share license holder information with city or town clerks when verifying voter identity and eligibility, and with state law enforcement agencies during investigations. The bill amends existing law to mandate that the attorney general's regulations must include this specific requirement for data sharing. This change directly affects the RMV's procedures, making it necessary to provide license details upon request for these two purposes. The policy does not alter driver's license issuance but specifies when the RMV must share existing license data with election officials and law enforcement.
HD 2226 prohibits real estate landlords and their agents from using third-party services that algorithmically set rents or coordinate rent increases among landlords. It bans service providers from collecting rental data, analyzing it with algorithms, or recommending pricing terms to landlords, and prevents them from facilitating non-competition agreements between landlords. Violations are treated as unfair competition under existing antitrust laws, allowing tenants to pursue class-action lawsuits in court instead of being forced into arbitration. Successful plaintiffs can recover damages, interest, and legal costs, with the law explicitly invalidating pre-dispute arbitration agreements for these cases.
HD 2853 bans all online sales of tobacco products, requiring purchases to occur only in person at a physical retail location. Sellers must verify the buyer’s age using a government-issued photo ID during the transaction. The law applies to retailers, manufacturers, and third-party sellers, prohibiting delivery or remote transactions. It takes effect on January 1, 2027.
This bill amends Massachusetts law to regulate private detectives and investigators licensed under Chapter 147. It prohibits licensed professionals from using motor vehicle data (accessed via the registrar's system) for purposes inconsistent with Chapter 147 rules or accessing the registry's facial recognition system. Violating these restrictions would result in automatic license revocation. The law directly affects licensed private detectives and investigators operating in Massachusetts.
