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S 2564

An Act amending certain archaic laws

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Will Brownsberger and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts bill removes outdated statutory language and obsolete legal provisions to modernize and clarify the state legal code.

Placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting (under the last sentence of Rule 7A) for a second reading
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Bill Summary · S 2564

Legislative bill overview

S 2564 is a Massachusetts bill that removes or modernizes outdated statutory language and provisions that are no longer relevant or applicable to contemporary law. The bill aims to clean up the state's legal code by eliminating archaic terminology, obsolete references, and provisions that have been superseded by more recent legislation or social changes.

Why is this important

Archaic laws can create confusion in legal interpretation, waste judicial and administrative resources on obsolete provisions, and sometimes perpetuate outdated social attitudes embedded in statutory language. Modernizing the legal code improves clarity for citizens, attorneys, and government officials while ensuring the statute books reflect current legal and social standards.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and identification: Without seeing the specific provisions targeted, it's unclear whether legislators agree on which laws are truly obsolete versus which ones retain symbolic or practical value
  • Unintended consequences: Removing statutory language, even if archaic, could potentially affect legal interpretations or remedies that depend on existing code structure
  • Political disagreement on "archaic": Different lawmakers may have different views on which laws are genuinely outdated versus which reflect important historical or cultural principles worth preserving

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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