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H2597 • 2025

An Act relative to the definition of law enforcement officers as pertaining to possession of firearms

An Act relative to the definition of law enforcement officers as pertaining to possession of firearms

Firearms
Active

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

Sponsor
David F. DeCoste
Last action
2026-04-23
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5322 (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 definition of law enforcement officers as pertaining to possession of firearms

An Act relative to the definition of law enforcement officers as pertaining to possession of firearms By Representative DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to the definition of law enforcement officers as pertaining to possession of firearms By Representative DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 2597) of David F.
  • DeCoste and Mackenzie Slocumb for legislation to further regulate the possession of firearms by law enforcement officers.
  • Public Safety and Homeland Security.

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. 2026-04-23 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5322 (under House Rule 27)

  2. 2025-10-31 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 10/31/2025 from 11:30 AM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  3. 2025-10-27 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 10/31/2025 from 11:30 AM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium and Virtual Hearing updated to include Virtual

  4. 2025-10-22 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 10/31/2025 from 11:30 AM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium and Virtual Hearing updated to include Virtual

  5. 2025-10-16 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 10/31/2025 from 11:30 AM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium

  6. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

  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 relative to the definition of law enforcement officers as pertaining to possession of firearms
By Representative DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2597) of David F. DeCoste and Mackenzie Slocumb for legislation to further regulate the possession of firearms by law enforcement officers. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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Bill H.2597

SECTION 1. Section 71 of chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out subsection (e) in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:-

(e) This section shall not apply to transfer or possession by: (i) a qualified law enforcement officer or a qualified retired law enforcement officer, as defined in the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004, 18 U.S.C. sections 926B and 926C, respectively, as amended; (ii) a law enforcement officer as defined by MGL Chapter 6E, Section 1 or in Code of Massachusetts Regulations 550 CMR 3.02, (iii) a federal, state or local law enforcement agency; or (iv) a federally licensed manufacturer solely for sale or transfer in another state or for export.

SECTION 2. Section 122 of chapter 135 of Acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out the section in its entirety and inserting in its place thereof the following:-

Section 122. Said section 10 of said section 269, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 170, the words “law enforcement officer” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- a law enforcement officer as defined by MGL Chapter 6E, Section 1, a qualified law enforcement officer or a qualified retired law enforcement officer, as defined in the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004, 18 U.S.C. sections 926B and 926C, respectively, as amended.

SECTION 3. Section 124 of chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (5) in its entirety and inserting in its place thereof the following:-

(5) This subsection shall not apply to a law enforcement officer as defined by MGL Chapter 6E, Section 1, a qualified law enforcement officer or a qualified retired law enforcement officer, as defined in the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004, 18 U.S.C. sections 926B and 926C, respectively, as amended or to a security guard employed at the prohibited area while at the location of their employment and during the course of their employment. Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the authority of any municipality, county or department, division, commission, board, agency or court of the commonwealth to adopt policies further restricting the possession of firearms in areas under their control.

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