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.
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Date
Branch
Action
3/31/2026
Joint
3/31/2026 JointHearing scheduled for 04/07/2026 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
12/22/2025
Senate
12/22/2025 SenateSenate concurred
12/18/2025
House
12/18/2025 HouseReported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on The Judiciary
12/8/2025
House
12/8/2025 HouseReferred to the committee on House Rules
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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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.