HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3081 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2261
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Carol A. Doherty
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act ending the criminalization of homelessness.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Carol A. Doherty | 3rd Bristol | 1/16/2025 |
James K. Hawkins | 2nd Bristol | 2/11/2025 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3081 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2261
By Representative Doherty of Taunton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2261) of Carol A. Doherty and James K. Hawkins relative to the criminalization of homelessness. Municipalities and Regional Government. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act ending the criminalization of homelessness.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 21D of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph at the end thereof:
No city or town shall adopt or enforce any ordinance, by-law, rule, or regulation under this section that imposes a monetary penalty or other sanction on homeless individuals solely for the act of trespassing, sleeping, or camping on public property. For the purposes of this section, 'homeless individual' shall mean a person lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Camping shall mean to sleep in a tent, under a tarp or canopy, in a motor vehicle, or in any other temporary outdoor shelter.