increasing fines for using a hand-held mobile electronic device while driving a motor vehicle.
SB 649 increases fines for drivers using handheld mobile phones while operating a vehicle. It raises penalties for first offenses from $100 to $250 (or $500 if contributing to a crash), second offenses from $250 to $500 (or $750 with a crash), and third+ offenses to $750 with up to 30 days of license suspension (or $1,000 and 60 days if a crash occurs). The bill applies directly to drivers convicted of this violation, with enhanced penalties when the distraction causes a collision. It takes effect January 1, 2027.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Jan 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Nov 25, 2025
Signed May 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Version adopted by both bodies
→
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION
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3 edits
MINOR
No substantive policy changes occurred between the version adopted by both bodies and the chaptered final version. The differences are purely technical: the bill was assigned Chapter 114, section numbers were updated to reflect the chapter (e.g., '1' became '114:1'), the fiscal note was removed (as is standard for enacted law), and an approval date of May 28, 2026 was added. The actual penalties, fines, and license suspension provisions remain identical.
TECHNICAL
Section numbers were renumbered to include the chapter number: section 1 became 114:1 and section 2 became 114:2, reflecting the bill's assignment as Chapter 114 of the 2026 session laws.
The fiscal note (which estimated state and local government financial impacts) was removed from the final version, as is standard practice when a bill transitions from legislative draft to enacted law.
TIMELINE
An approval date of May 28, 2026 was added, along with a restatement of the effective date (January 1, 2027), which is standard for chaptered final versions.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
14
Key actions
5
Committee
4
May 29, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 05/28/2026; Chapter 114; Effective 01/01/2027
upper
Apr 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass: MA DV 232-123 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 21
lower
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/20/2026 (Vote 11-1; CC)
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 5 P. 127
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
upper
Jan 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 01/29/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 3
upper
Nov 25, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 1
upper
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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