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H2048 • 2025

An Act decriminalizing non-violent and verbal student misconduct

An Act decriminalizing non-violent and verbal student misconduct

Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Bud L. Williams
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 decriminalizing non-violent and verbal student misconduct

An Act decriminalizing non-violent and verbal student misconduct By Representative Williams of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act decriminalizing non-violent and verbal student misconduct By Representative Williams of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 2048) of Bud L.
  • Williams relative to decriminalizing non-violent and verbal student misconduct.
  • 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 06/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-06-05 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 06/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  4. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on The Judiciary

  5. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

  6. House

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

Official Summary Text

An Act decriminalizing non-violent and verbal student misconduct
By Representative Williams of Springfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2048) of Bud L. Williams relative to decriminalizing non-violent and verbal student misconduct. The Judiciary.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.2048

SECTION 1. Chapter 272 of the General Laws is amended by striking out section 40, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:

Section 40. Disturbance of assemblies.

Whoever wilfully interrupts or disturbs an assembly of people met for a lawful purpose shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one month or by a fine of not more than fifty dollars; provided, however, that K-12 students shall not be charged, adjudicated, or convicted for alleged violation of this provision due to conduct within school buildings or grounds or in the course of school-related events. Whoever, within one year after being twice convicted of a violation of this section, again violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for one month, and the sentence imposing such imprisonment shall not be suspended.

SECTION 2.

Chapter 272 is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (b) of section 53, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:

(b) Disorderly persons and disturbers of the peace, for the first offense, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $150. On a second or subsequent offense, such person shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 6 months, or by a fine of not more than $200, or by both such fine and imprisonment, provided, however, that an elementary or secondary school student shall not be charged, adjudicated, or convicted for alleged violation of this provision due to conduct within school buildings or grounds or in the course of school-related events.

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