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H 1891

An Act providing for a study on the trial court department

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Julian Cyr and 3 co-sponsors

Requires the EOTC to study Cape and Islands courts' facilities and staffing, assess ADA and Victims' Rights compliance, and issue recommendations within one year.

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 1891

Summary: House Bill 1891 — An Act providing for a study on the trial court department

Overview

House Bill 1891, introduced February 27, 2025, would require the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of the Trial Court (EOTC) to conduct a comprehensive study of all courts located in Barnstable County, Nantucket County, and Dukes County. The bill directs the study to examine building conditions and accessibility, as well as staffing levels across all court-related departments, with a view toward potential changes based on comparative caseloads.

Purpose and intent

  • To assess the current state of trial court facilities in the three specified coastal counties, including upkeep and compliance with accessibility and victims’ rights requirements.
  • To evaluate staffing across court operations (clerks’ offices, facilities, court officers, interpreter services, support staff, and judges) and compare caseloads to other Massachusetts courts.
  • To produce informed recommendations for potential changes to facilities, operations, or staffing within one year of enactment.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: The EOTC must conduct a study covering:
    • (i) Building status and upkeep, including compliance with:
    • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
    • The Massachusetts Victims’ Bill of Rights (Mass. General Laws, ch. 258B, §3)
    • (ii) Staffing levels across all court-related departments, factoring in clerks’ offices, facilities, court officers, interpreter services, support staff, and judges, and comparing with other Massachusetts courts based on caseloads.
  • Section 2: Within one year after passage, the EOTC must submit a report to:
    • The clerks of the House and Senate
    • The Joint Committee on the Judiciary
    • Detailing the study results and providing recommendations for any necessary changes.

Scope and affected entities

  • Geographic focus: Barnstable County, Nantucket County, and Dukes County (often referred to collectively as the Cape and Islands region).
  • Affected components: Trial court buildings and facilities; staffing across clerks’ offices, facilities, court officers, interpreters, support staff, and judges; and any related operational processes tied to caseload management.

Timeline and procedural status

  • Introduced and filed: February 27–January 11, 2025 (House Docket No. 696; House No. 1891).
  • Referral: Referred to the Judiciary Committee (February 27, 2025).
  • Hearings: Current hearing scheduled for November 4, 2025 (in-person in A-1 with virtual option; updated end times noted in schedule postings).
  • Reporting deadline: Within one year of enactment.

Sponsorship

  • Primary sponsors: Representative Thomas W. Moakley and Senator Julian Cyr.
  • Cosponsors: Senator Steven G. Xiarhos and Representative David T. Vieira (among others listed in the petition).

Related measures

  • HD 696 is noted as related/replacing, indicating alignment with or substitution by an adjacent version of the bill.

Potential impact

  • If enacted, the bill would prompt a targeted, data-driven review of facilities and staffing in a specific coastal region, potentially informing future capital improvements, ADA compliance enhancements, victims’-rights accommodations, and staffing adjustments to align resources with caseloads. Findings and recommendations could influence future budget requests or policy changes within the Trial Court system.

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

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