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H1608 • 2025

An Act relative to restraining orders as they pertain to hate crimes

An Act relative to restraining orders as they pertain to hate crimes

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Tackey Chan
Last action
2025-10-23
Official status
Accompanied a new draft, see H4633
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to restraining orders as they pertain to hate crimes

An Act relative to restraining orders as they pertain to hate crimes By Representative Chan of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to restraining orders as they pertain to hate crimes By Representative Chan of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 1608) of Tackey Chan relative to restraining orders as they pertain to hate crimes.
  • The Judiciary.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-23 House

    Accompanied a new draft, see H4633

  2. 2025-10-20 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 07/15/2025 from 01:00 PM-08:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-07-15 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 07/15/2025 from 01:00 PM-06:00 PM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  4. 2025-07-15 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 07/15/2025 from 01:00 PM-08:00 PM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  5. 2025-07-07 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 07/15/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  6. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

  7. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to restraining orders as they pertain to hate crimes
By Representative Chan of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1608) of Tackey Chan relative to restraining orders as they pertain to hate crimes. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.1608

SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 258E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the definition of “Harassment” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:-

“Harassment”, (i) 3 or more acts of willful and malicious conduct aimed at a specific person committed with the intent to caucus fear, intimidation, abuse or damage to property and that does in face cause fear, intimidation, abuse or damage to property; or (ii) an act that: (A) by force, threat or duress causes another to involuntarily engage in sexual relations; or (B) constitutes a violation of section 13B, 13F, 13H, 22, 22A, 23, 24, 24B, 26C, 37, 39, 43 or 43A of chapter 265 or section 3 of chapter 272.

SECTION 2. Section 39 of chapter 265 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the first sentence and replacing it thereof with the following sentence:- (a) Whoever commits an assault or a battery upon a person or the relative thereof or damages the real or personal property of a person with the intent to intimidate such person because of such person's race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than two and one-half years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

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