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H1773 • 2025

An Act prohibiting motor vehicle tracking devices without consent

An Act prohibiting motor vehicle tracking devices without consent

Active

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

Sponsor
Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
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 prohibiting motor vehicle tracking devices without consent

An Act prohibiting motor vehicle tracking devices without consent By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act prohibiting motor vehicle tracking devices without consent By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 1773) of Bradley H.
  • Jones, Jr., and others relative to prohibiting motor vehicle tracking devices without consent.
  • 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. 2025-10-20 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

  8. House

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

Official Summary Text

An Act prohibiting motor vehicle tracking devices without consent
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1773) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to prohibiting motor vehicle tracking devices without consent. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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Bill H.1773

Chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 43A the following new section:-

Section 43B. (a) (1) For the purposes of this section, the term “electronic mobile tracking device” shall mean any device that tracks and reveals the location of the device and transmits the location to a mobile phone or computer.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, whoever willfully and knowingly installs, conceals, or otherwise places for use an electronic mobile tracking device in or on a motor vehicle without the consent of the operator and occupants of the vehicle for the purpose of monitoring or following the operator or occupants of the vehicle shall be guilty of the crime of criminal harassment, as provided in section 43A of chapter 265 and the punishments thereof.

(b) (1) It shall not be a violation of this section if the installation, concealment, placement, or use of an electronic mobile tracking device in or on a motor vehicle is by, or at the direction of, a law enforcement officer in furtherance of a criminal investigation and is carried out in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.

(2) It shall not be a violation of this section if the installation, concealment, placement, or use of an electronic mobile tracking device in or on a motor vehicle is by a parent or legal guardian that owns or leases the vehicle, and if the device is used solely for the purpose of monitoring a minor child of the parent or legal guardian when the child is an operator of the vehicle.

(3) It shall not be a violation of this section if the electronic mobile tracking device is attached to a vehicle that has been stolen from the owner for the purposes of locating the stolen vehicle, upon notice to local law enforcement.

(4) It shall not be a violation of this section if an electronic mobile tracking device is installed and or used by a business that does business in the Commonwealth and the device is used for the purpose of tracking vehicles that are owned or leased by the business and driven by employees or affiliates of such business.

(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to electronic or telematic systems installed by the manufacturer of a motor vehicle or such systems used by businesses licensed to rent cars to consumers or by insurance companies upon the owner’s or vehicles lessee’s permission.

(d) A violation of this section shall be punishable under the punishments provided in section 43A of chapter 265.

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