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H4876 • 2025

An Act relative to strengthening supports for overcomers of abuse

An Act relative to strengthening supports for overcomers of abuse

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

Sponsor
Fiola, Carole A.
Last action
2026-03-31
Official status
Referred to Joint Committee on the Judiciary
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 strengthening supports for overcomers of abuse

An Act relative to strengthening supports for overcomers of abuse By Representative Fiola of Fall River and Senator Rodrigues, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Carole A.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to strengthening supports for overcomers of abuse By Representative Fiola of Fall River and Senator Rodrigues, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Carole A.
  • Fiola relative to survivors and holders of abuse or harassment prevention orders.
  • The Judiciary.
  • Status: Referred to Joint Committee on 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. 2026-03-31 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 04/07/2026 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  2. 2025-12-22 Senate

    Senate concurred

  3. 2025-12-18 House

    Reported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on The Judiciary

  4. 2025-12-08 House

    Referred to the committee on House Rules

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to strengthening supports for overcomers of abuse
By Representative Fiola of Fall River and Senator Rodrigues, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Carole A. Fiola relative to survivors and holders of abuse or harassment prevention orders. The Judiciary.
Status:
Referred to Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Current Bill Text

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Bill H.4876

SECTION 1. Chapter 46 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 6 the following section:-

Section 6A. (a) No person shall be the next of kin, for the purposes of this chapter, for a deceased relative if the relative had an abuse prevention order, pursuant to chapter 209A, or a harassment prevention order, pursuant to chapter 258E, against the person at the time of the relative’s death.

(b) Upon the death of a person with an abuse prevention order, pursuant to chapter 209A, or a harassment prevention order, pursuant to chapter 258E, against them at the time of their death, the department of criminal justice information shall notify the holder of the abuse prevention order or the harassment prevention order of the person’s death.

SECTION 2. Section 1 of chapter 209A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 34, the word “or”.

SECTION 3. Clause (a) of the definition of “Coercive control” in said section 1 of said chapter 209A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following subclause:-

(x) facilitating contact or abuse by a person against whom an abuse prevention order has been issued; or

SECTION 4. Said chapter 209A is hereby further amended by inserting after section 8 the following section:-

Section 8A. Upon the request of the holder of an abuse prevention order under this chapter, an agency of the commonwealth shall make best efforts to remove the person’s name, address, contact information or other identifiable information from the agency’s public website.

SECTION 5. Said chapter 209A is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-

Section 12. The department of the trial court shall establish a training and education program for survivors of domestic abuse and persons who hold or are attempting to obtain an abuse prevention order under this chapter or a harassment prevention order under chapter 258E. The training and education program shall include information about: (i) the rights and recourses under the law available to survivors and holders of abuse or harassment prevention orders; (ii) public and private support services and resources for survivors and persons holding abuse or harassment prevention orders; and (iii) any other topics the department deems necessary.

SECTION 6. Chapter 258E of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 10 the following section:-

Section 10A. Upon the request of the holder of a harassment prevention order under this chapter, an agency of the commonwealth shall make best efforts to remove the person’s name, address, contact information or other identifiable information from the agency’s public website

SECTION 7. This act shall be known as the Overcomer’s Law.

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