An Act addressing discriminatory police reporting
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 12/18/2025 | Senate | Accompanied a study order (under JR10), see S2886↗ |
| 10/20/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/03/2025 from 01:00 PM-09:00 PM in A-2 |
| 5/29/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/03/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 2/27/2025 | House | House concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Referred to the committee on The Judiciary |
No additional cosponsors.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J19 | Accompanied | — |
Section 11I of chapter 12 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:- A private civil right of action shall exist against any individual who knowingly makes a false call to law enforcement or otherwise intentionally summons a law enforcement officer or agent, without reason to suspect a violation of a criminal law, any criminal conduct or an imminent threat to person or property by an individual or group of individuals, in whole or in part because of a belief or perception of the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity of the individual or group of individuals. The private civil action may be brought by the individual or group of individuals for injunctive relief, damages or other appropriate relief. If the court determines in any such action that the respondent has violated this section, an injunction may be issued by such court, enjoining and restraining any further violation, without requiring evidence that any person has been injured or damaged. For the purposes of this section, a person shall lack reason to suspect a violation of a criminal law, any criminal conduct or an imminent threat to person or property if a reasonable person would not suspect such a violation, conduct or threat based on the totality of the circumstances.
Section 39 of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:- (c) Whoever knowingly makes a false police report or summons a law enforcement officer, without reason to suspect a violation of a criminal law, any criminal conduct or an imminent threat to person or property by an individual or group of individuals, in whole or in part because of a belief or perception of the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity of the individual shall be punished by a fine of not more than 5 thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 2 ½ years or by both such fine and imprisonment. The court may also order restitution to the victim for property damage in an amount of not more than 3 times the value of property damage sustained by the owners of such property. For the purposes of this section, a person shall lack reason to suspect a violation of a criminal law, any criminal conduct or an imminent threat to person or property if a reasonable person would not suspect such a violation, conduct or threat based on the totality of the circumstances.
SECTION 1. Section 11I of chapter 12 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:- A private civil right of action shall exist against any individual who knowingly makes a false call to law enforcement or otherwise intentionally summons a law enforcement officer or agent, without reason to suspect a violation of a criminal law, any criminal conduct or an imminent threat to person or property by an individual or group of individuals, in whole or in part because of a belief or perception of the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity of the individual or group of individuals. The private civil action may be brought by the individual or group of individuals for injunctive relief, damages or other appropriate relief. If the court determines in any such action that the respondent has violated this section, an injunction may be issued by such court, enjoining and restraining any further violation, without requiring evidence that any person has been injured or damaged. For the purposes of this section, a person shall lack reason to suspect a violation of a criminal law, any criminal conduct or an imminent threat to person or property if a reasonable person would not suspect such a violation, conduct or threat based on the totality of the circumstances. SECTION 2. Section 39 of chapter 265 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:- (c) Whoever knowingly makes a false police report or summons a law enforcement officer, without reason to suspect a violation of a criminal law, any criminal conduct or an imminent threat to person or property by an individual or group of individuals, in whole or in part because of a belief or perception of the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity of the individual shall be punished by a fine of not more than 5 thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 2 ½ years or by both such fine and imprisonment. The court may also order restitution to the victim for property damage in an amount of not more than 3 times the value of property damage sustained by the owners of such property. For the purposes of this section, a person shall lack reason to suspect a violation of a criminal law, any criminal conduct or an imminent threat to person or property if a reasonable person would not suspect such a violation, conduct or threat based on the totality of the circumstances.