Press Room

An Act relative to archaic laws seeks to bring Massachusetts law into the 21st century by repealing outdated criminal offenses that are at odds with constitutionally protected freedoms and liberties. The legislation also removes outdated terms from other criminal statutes to focus on their underlying intent of protecting public safety.

The Massachusetts Senate today passed two separate bills to bring Massachusetts laws into the 21st century by removing offensive language from state statute and repealing outdated, unconstitutional laws that hamper civil rights.

Today, the Massachusetts Senate passed An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder, which would make permanent the ‘blue envelope’ program first advanced by the Senate early last year.

An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder seeks to prevent miscommunication and promote better understanding during traffic stops that involve a person with autism spectrum disorder.

An Act dignifying individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities removes offensive terminology from state law and modernizes how the Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) refer to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

The legislation, S.2537, would strengthen consumer protections to ensure that individuals can retain some financial security when they are sued for debts that are frequently old and potentially bought by debt collection companies for pennies on the dollar.

The legislation would ensure Massachusetts courts follow the same procedures as the other 49 states in the country, bring laws up to date with international best practices, and simplify the process for families going through multi-state custody cases.

An Act relative to the uniform child custody jurisdiction and enforcement act would update Massachusetts laws related to child custody jurisdiction to be in line with those used in every other state. It helps families by making it easier to handle child custody issues when parents live in different states. It also protects everyone involved by making the rules fair and consistent. This legislation is based on a national set of guidelines that all other states already follow. These guidelines were created to reduce confusion and prevent legal battles over which state has the right to decide a custody case.