H1938 • 2025

An Act enhancing the issuance of citations for cruel conditions for animals

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

Sponsor: Angelo J. Puppolo, 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 enhancing the issuance of citations for cruel conditions for animals

An Act enhancing the issuance of citations for cruel conditions for animals By Representative Puppolo of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

An Act enhancing the issuance of citations for cruel conditions for animals By Representative Puppolo of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
1938) of Angelo J.
Puppolo, Jr., and others relative to enhancing the issuance of citations for cruel conditions for animals.
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

2026-03-26 House
Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27)
2025-10-20 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:10 PM in A-2
2025-07-29 Joint
Hearing rescheduled to 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-06:00 PM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
2025-07-29 Joint
Hearing rescheduled to 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:10 PM in A-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
2025-07-16 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 07/29/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
2025-02-27 House
Referred to the committee on The Judiciary
2025-02-27 Senate
Senate concurred
House
Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order

Official Summary Text

An Act enhancing the issuance of citations for cruel conditions for animals
By Representative Puppolo of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1938) of Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr., and others relative to enhancing the issuance of citations for cruel conditions for animals. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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Bill H.1938

SECTION 1. Section 174E of chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in subparts (f) and (g) each instance of the word “dog” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- “animal”

SECTION 2. Section 174E of chapter 140, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in subparts (f) each instance of the words “a dog” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “an animal”

SECTION 3. Said section 174E of chapter 140 is further amended by inserting after the subpart (i) the following subpart:-

(j) The commissioner of the department of agricultural resources shall, in consultation with the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animal Rescue League of Boston, promulgate regulations to implement, enforce, and administer subparts (f) and (g).

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