Rep. Stanley, MA House Pass Key Judiciary, Public Health and Transportation Bills

BOSTON – Wednesday, May 20, 2026 – The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the following bills:

H.5444 An Act relative to civil rights and technology

The bill makes it unlawful for a person to manufacture, modify, sell, transfer, possess or operate a robotic device equipped or mounted with a weapon. It also makes it unlawful for a person to use a robotic device to threaten to commit a crime, criminally harass a person, or physically restrain or attempt to physically restrain a person. The bill passed the House of Representatives 155-1.

H.5443 An Act relative to increasing access to epinephrine

The bill allows an authorized entity to acquire and maintain a supply of epinephrine autoinjectors from a wholesaler approved by the Department of Public Health (DPH), and allows an employee or agent of an authorized entity who has completed a training program to use epinephrine autoinjectors, on the premises of or in connection with the authorized entity, to provide or administer epinephrine to any individual they believe in is experiencing anaphylaxis. The bill passed the House of Representatives 154-0.

H.5441 An Act relative to newborn screenings for congenital cytomegalovirus

The bill requires DPH, in consultation with the Perinatal Advisory Committee, to develop regulations for all hospitals and birthing facilities requiring congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) screening. It also requires DPH to undertake a pilot program for universal cCMV screening to optimize processes for testing, reporting and medical care.

The bill also requires the DPH Commissioner to establish, promote and maintain a public information program regarding cCMV, and make it available to any health care provider, physician assistant, nurse or midwife who renders prenatal or postnatal care or offers fertility counseling or care to a parent or guardian. A hospital, birthing facility or any health care provider, physician assistant, nurse or midwife who renders prenatal or postnatal care must give expectant or new parents or guardians the information provided by DPH. The bill passed the House of Representatives 155-1.

S.2903 An Act honoring Blue Star Families

The bill requires the Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to furnish, without charge, distinctive vehicle registration plate or a distinctive motorcycle emblem to a parent, child, spouse, sibling, or grandchildren of a law enforcement officer who has been killed in the line of duty. The bill passed the House of Representatives 156-0.

S.2565 An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder

The bill requires the RMV to make blue envelopes available, upon request, to any person with autism spectrum disorder or their parent or guardian. It requires State Police, in consultation with the RMV, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts or any other organization that advocates for people with autism spectrum disorder, to design blue envelopes that provide written information and guidance on the outside of the envelope on ways to enhance effective communication between a police officer and a person with autism spectrum disorder. The envelopes must also include instructions for access to the envelope, including attaching the envelope to the sun visor on the driver’s side of the vehicle, and can hold a person’s license and registration. The bill passed the House of Representatives 156-0.

“Each of these bills represent meaningful efforts to preserve the safety and protection of Massachusetts residents,” said Representative Thomas M. Stanley (D-Waltham). “From increasing access to EpiPens, requiring regulations for newborn screenings for cCMV, and improving communication between officers and people with autism, to criminalizing the use of robotic devices as weapons and recognizing the sacrifices of Blue Star Families, these actions will greatly benefit the Commonwealth. I am extremely grateful to Speaker Mariano, Chair Day, Chair Decker, Chair Arciero, and all of my fellow House colleagues for recognizing the importance of each piece of legislation passed today.”

The bills now go to the Senate for consideration.

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