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April 16, 2026 Clouds | 70°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bill S.1703 194th (Current)

An Act enhancing child passenger safety

By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1703) of Barry R. Finegold for legislation to enhance child passenger safety. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Bill Information

Presenter:
Barry R. Finegold
Status:
Referred to Senate Committee on Ways and Means

Rear-Facing Car Seats

 

Harmonizing with research-backed safety standards, this bill updates MA’s requirements around use of child car seats to specify that a child under the age of 2 or under 30 pounds is required to be restrained in a rear-facing car seat. The bill further establishes as a matter of public policy that all other children who have not exceeded the maximum height and weight allowable by the manufacturer of their car seat should be restrained in a forward-facing car seat. Current MGL, last updated in 2008, requires that children under 8 years old or under 57 inches tall utilize a car seat, but it does not reflect current research into needed additional protections for smaller children.

* The bill summary was created by the Primary Sponsor of the bill; no committee of the General Court certifies the accuracy of its contents.

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