An Act granting Indian tribes access to the Massachusetts courts
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 |
| 11/4/2025 | Joint | Hearing rescheduled to 11/04/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1 and Virtual — Hearing updated to New End Time |
| 11/4/2025 | Joint | Hearing rescheduled to 11/04/2025 from 01:00 PM-02:30 PM in A-1 and Virtual — Hearing updated to New End Time |
| 10/29/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 11/04/2025 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 |
No additional cosponsors.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J19 | Accompanied | — |
Chapter 221 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby amended by adding the following new section: SECTION X:
Individual or individuals serving on behalf of an Indian Tribe that has received official recognition by the Commission on Indian Affairs shall be granted permission to represent said Tribe on matters before the full legal system of Massachusetts and shall not be deemed to be in violation of M.G.L. Chapter 221, section 41, M.G.L. Chapter 221, Section 46A, or any other statute prohibiting self-representation or fraudulent practice of law. Section2. Any individual or individuals representing an Indian Tribe before the courts in Massachusetts must submit to the courts an affidavit attesting to their status as a non-lawyer, that they have not passed the Massachusetts bar, and that they are not representing themselves to be a licensed practitioner of law. Failure to provide such affidavit shall constitute a violation of M.G.L. Chapter 221, sections 41 and 46A.
Such rights and privileges of ‘self-representation’ may only extend full Tribal matters and shall not extend to individual members of such Tribes.
Chapter 221 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby amended by adding the following new section: SECTION X: Section 1. Individual or individuals serving on behalf of an Indian Tribe that has received official recognition by the Commission on Indian Affairs shall be granted permission to represent said Tribe on matters before the full legal system of Massachusetts and shall not be deemed to be in violation of M.G.L. Chapter 221, section 41, M.G.L. Chapter 221, Section 46A, or any other statute prohibiting self-representation or fraudulent practice of law. Section2. Any individual or individuals representing an Indian Tribe before the courts in Massachusetts must submit to the courts an affidavit attesting to their status as a non-lawyer, that they have not passed the Massachusetts bar, and that they are not representing themselves to be a licensed practitioner of law. Failure to provide such affidavit shall constitute a violation of M.G.L. Chapter 221, sections 41 and 46A. Section 3. Such rights and privileges of ‘self-representation’ may only extend full Tribal matters and shall not extend to individual members of such Tribes.