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H898 • 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
Michelle L. Badger
Last action
2026-03-19
Official status
Accompanied a new draft, see H5266
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 By Representative Badger of Plymouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to end the taking of horseshoe crabs for bait By Representative Badger of Plymouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 898) of Michelle L.
  • Badger relative to the use of horseshoe crabs for bait.
  • Environment and Natural Resources.

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

    Accompanied a new draft, see H5266

  2. 2026-01-20 House

    Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026

  3. 2025-10-10 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 10/21/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1

  4. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Environment and Natural Resources

  5. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act to end the taking of horseshoe crabs for bait
By Representative Badger of Plymouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 898) of Michelle L. Badger relative to the use of horseshoe crabs for bait. Environment and Natural Resources.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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Bill H.898

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) No person shall engage in the harvesting of horseshoe crabs or the eggs of horseshoe crabs from coastal waters to be used as bait.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

(d) 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.

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

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