KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Massachusetts

H2261 • 2025

An Act ending the criminalization of homelessness

An Act ending the criminalization of homelessness

Active

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

Sponsor
Carol A. Doherty
Last action
2026-01-29
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H4970
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 ending the criminalization of homelessness

An Act ending the criminalization of homelessness By Representative Doherty of Taunton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act ending the criminalization of homelessness By Representative Doherty of Taunton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 2261) of Carol A.
  • Doherty and James K.
  • Hawkins relative to the criminalization of homelessness.

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. 2026-01-29 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H4970

  2. 2025-07-09 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 07/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-1

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act ending the criminalization of homelessness
By Representative Doherty of Taunton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2261) of Carol A. Doherty and James K. Hawkins relative to the criminalization of homelessness. Municipalities and Regional Government.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
×

Bill H.2261

SECTION 1. Section 21D of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph at the end thereof:

No city or town shall adopt or enforce any ordinance, by-law, rule, or regulation under this section that imposes a monetary penalty or other sanction on homeless individuals solely for the act of trespassing, sleeping, or camping on public property. For the purposes of this section, 'homeless individual' shall mean a person lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Camping shall mean to sleep in a tent, under a tarp or canopy, in a motor vehicle, or in any other temporary outdoor shelter.

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

Close