An Act to promote timely access to parole hearings
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 3/26/2026 | House | Accompanied a study order, see H5281↗ (under House Rule 27) |
| — | House | Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order |
| 11/18/2025 | Joint | Hearing rescheduled to 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-08:00 PM in A-1 and Virtual — Hearing updated to New End Time |
| 11/7/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1 |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on The Judiciary |
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J19 | Accompanied | — |
Section 4 of chapter 27 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking the first sentence and inserting the following sentence:- There shall be in the department, but not subject to its jurisdiction, a parole board, consisting of twelve members, to be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the council, for terms of five years.
Section 4 of chapter 27 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by inserting after the last sentence in the third paragraph the following sentences:- The chairperson shall designate 7 of the 12 members to preside over life sentence hearings and 5 of the 12 members to preside over regular order hearings. The chairperson shall consider regional appointments of board members for the purposes of covering regular order hearings. At least 1 of the 7 life sentence hearing board members shall have professional experience in forensic psychology and at least 2 of the 7 life sentence hearing board members shall have professional experience in social services or reentry coordination. At least 1 of the 5 regular order hearing board members shall have professional experience in forensic psychology and at least 2 of the 5 regular order hearing board members shall have professional experience in social services or reentry coordination. The chairperson shall designate board members to sit on a rotating basis for clemency and parole termination proceedings.
Section 133A of chapter 127 of the General Laws, is hereby amended in the first sentence by striking the number “18” and inserting the number “21”.
Section 133A of chapter 127 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking the second sentence and inserting the following sentence:- The parole board shall, within 60 days before the expiration of such minimum term, conduct a public hearing before 5 out those 7 board members appointed to sit for life sentence hearings, as determined by the chairperson, unless a member of the board is determined to be unavailable as provided in this section.
SECTION 1. Section 4 of chapter 27 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking the first sentence and inserting the following sentence:- There shall be in the department, but not subject to its jurisdiction, a parole board, consisting of twelve members, to be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the council, for terms of five years. SECTION 2. Section 4 of chapter 27 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by inserting after the last sentence in the third paragraph the following sentences:- The chairperson shall designate 7 of the 12 members to preside over life sentence hearings and 5 of the 12 members to preside over regular order hearings. The chairperson shall consider regional appointments of board members for the purposes of covering regular order hearings. At least 1 of the 7 life sentence hearing board members shall have professional experience in forensic psychology and at least 2 of the 7 life sentence hearing board members shall have professional experience in social services or reentry coordination. At least 1 of the 5 regular order hearing board members shall have professional experience in forensic psychology and at least 2 of the 5 regular order hearing board members shall have professional experience in social services or reentry coordination. The chairperson shall designate board members to sit on a rotating basis for clemency and parole termination proceedings. SECTION 3. Section 133A of chapter 127 of the General Laws, is hereby amended in the first sentence by striking the number “18” and inserting the number “21”. SECTION 4. Section 133A of chapter 127 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking the second sentence and inserting the following sentence:- The parole board shall, within 60 days before the expiration of such minimum term, conduct a public hearing before 5 out those 7 board members appointed to sit for life sentence hearings, as determined by the chairperson, unless a member of the board is determined to be unavailable as provided in this section.