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H1717 • 2025

An Act relative to the theft of bulk merchandise containers

An Act relative to the theft of bulk merchandise containers

Active

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

Sponsor
Colleen M. Garry
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
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 the theft of bulk merchandise containers

An Act relative to the theft of bulk merchandise containers By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to the theft of bulk merchandise containers By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 1717) of Colleen M.
  • Garry for legislation to establish penalties for the theft of bulk merchandise containers.
  • 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. 2026-03-26 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-09-16 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 09/23/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

  5. House

    Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to the theft of bulk merchandise containers
By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1717) of Colleen M. Garry for legislation to establish penalties for the theft of bulk merchandise containers. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.1717

Chapter 266 of the General Laws, as appearing, is hereby amended in section 128, by adding at the end of the first paragraph the following new paragraph:-

“Any person who intentionally removes a bulk merchandise container that is used by a product producer, distributor or retailer or agent thereof which is used as a means for the bulk transportation, storage or carrying of retail products such as milk, eggs, bottled beverage products, bakery products from the premises of a store or other retail mercantile establishment, without the consent of the merchant given at the time of such removal, with the intention of permanently depriving the merchant of the possession, use or benefit of such container; shall be punished for a first offense by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars, for a second offense by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than two hundred fifty dollars and for a third or subsequent offense by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or imprisonment in a jail for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Where the retail value of the containers obtained equals or exceeds one hundred dollars, any violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.”

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