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H5266 • 2025

An Act to end the taking of horseshoe crabs for bait

An Act to end the taking of horseshoe crabs for bait

Active

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

Sponsor
Environment and Natural Resources (J)
Last action
2026-03-19
Official status
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
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 to end the taking of horseshoe crabs for bait

An Act to end the taking of horseshoe crabs for bait Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to end the taking of horseshoe crabs for bait Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

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. 2026-03-19 House

    Reported from the committee on Environment and Natural Resources

  2. 2026-03-19 House

    New draft of H898

  3. 2026-03-19 House

    Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means

Official Summary Text

An Act to end the taking of horseshoe crabs for bait
Status:
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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Bill H.5266

Chapter 130 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 107. (a) As used in this section, the following term shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meaning:

“Horseshoe crab,” the species known as Limulus polyphemus.

(b) The Department shall establish a plan that gradually eliminates the harvesting of horseshoe crabs and reaches full elimination by January 1, 2029.

(c) The director may authorize the taking of horseshoe crabs by permit for educational or scientific purposes; provided that, the director determines that such harvesting will not cause harm to the horseshoe crab population of coastal waters.

(d) The taking of horseshoe crabs incidentally during legal fishing operations shall not violate this section if the horseshoe crabs are returned immediately to coastal waters unharmed.

(e) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined $25 for each horseshoe crab taken from coastal waters. No penalty shall result in possessing a cast off or molted shell also known as an exoskeleton of a horseshoe crab.

(f) Pursuant to chapter 30A, the division shall promulgate rules and regulations to enforce the provisions of this section.

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