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H 1857

An Act establishing the Massachusetts Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jay Livingstone

Massachusetts streamlines interstate civil discovery and depositions to reduce litigation barriers and costs for multistate cases.

Hearing rescheduled to 11/04/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
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Bill Summary · H 1857

Legislative bill overview

H 1857 establishes the Massachusetts Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act, which would modernize civil litigation procedures by allowing depositions and discovery to be conducted across state lines more efficiently. The bill likely streamlines the process for obtaining witness testimony and documents in cases involving parties or evidence located in multiple states, reducing jurisdictional barriers that currently complicate interstate litigation.

Why is this important

Many civil lawsuits involve parties, witnesses, or evidence spread across different states, and current procedural rules can make gathering this information cumbersome and expensive. By facilitating easier interstate discovery, this bill could reduce litigation costs, speed up case resolution, and improve access to justice for plaintiffs and defendants with multistate claims. Massachusetts adoption could position the state as business-friendly while potentially improving efficiency in the state court system.

Potential points of contention

  • Interstate coordination concerns: Questions about how Massachusetts courts will coordinate with federal courts and other state systems, and whether uniform standards are adequately defined to prevent conflicts
  • Due process and witness protection: Balancing streamlined procedures with protections for witnesses, confidential information, and parties' rights when depositions occur remotely or across jurisdictional boundaries
  • Business impact: Different stakeholders (plaintiff attorneys, defense counsel, corporations) may dispute whether the bill favors one side, particularly regarding discovery costs and burden allocation in complex multistate litigation

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

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