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H 2733

An Act providing for an audit of gun violence prevention and intervention funding

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Robyn Kennedy and 1 co-sponsor

Audits how gun violence prevention funding is allocated and used, including community input, and recommends whether pilot programs should become permanent or be restructured.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 2733

Summary: H.2733 – An Act providing for an audit of gun violence prevention and intervention funding

Purpose and intent

  • Establish a special legislative commission on gun violence to audit and investigate how gun violence prevention and intervention funding is allocated and used in the Commonwealth.
  • Center the process on communities most affected by gun violence, ensuring representation from grassroots and community-based organizations.

Key provisions

  • Establishment and mandate

    • Creates a special legislative commission on gun violence, established under section 2A of chapter 4 of the 2022 General Laws.
    • The commission will conduct an audit and investigation into gun violence prevention funding in Massachusetts.

  • Commission composition

    • Members shall include individuals from grassroots and community-based gun violence organizations located in communities most impacted by gun violence.

  • Scope of the audit

    • Examine all gun violence and prevention funding in the Commonwealth, including:
    • (i) Funding to and expenditures by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance for gun violence prevention.
    • (ii) Funding to and expenditures for the Senator Charles E. Shannon, Jr. Community Safety Initiative.
    • (iii) Funding to and expenditures for the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative.
    • (iv) Funding to and expenditures for Youth-at-Risk and Primary Violence Prevention programs.
    • (v) Funding to and expenditures for the Neighborhood-based Gun and Violent Crime Prevention Pilot Program (targeted work with out-of-school youth and young adults aged 17–24).
    • (vi) Identification of communities, by census tract, most impacted by gun violence.
    • (vii) Identification of communities, by census tract, where funds have been expended to address gun violence and prevention.

  • Reporting and recommendations

    • The Commission must deliver a report within 180 days of the act’s effective date.
    • The report will include findings and recommendations, notably on whether the Neighborhood-based Gun and Violent Crime Prevention Pilot Program should:
    • Be made permanent within the Department of Public Health, or
    • Be re-established in another department.
    • The report is to be submitted to the Secretary of Public Safety; the Secretary of Health and Human Services; the clerks of the House and Senate; and the joint committees on Public Safety and Homeland Security, Racial Equity Civil Rights and Inclusion, and Ways and Means.

Who would be affected

  • Affected funding programs and agencies:
    • Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (gun violence prevention funding)
    • Senator Charles E. Shannon, Jr. Community Safety Initiative
    • Safe and Successful Youth Initiative
    • Youth-at-Risk and Primary Violence Prevention programs
    • Neighborhood-based Gun and Violent Crime Prevention Pilot Program
  • Communities most impacted by gun violence, with data disaggregation by census tract to identify where funds are directed and where the impact is greatest.
  • Legislative bodies and committees involved in public safety, health and human services, racial equity, and Ways and Means.

Timeline and procedural status

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Referred to: Public Safety and Homeland Security (and related actions noted)
  • Senate concurrence: February 27, 2025
  • Hearing schedule: Hearing originally set for 11:30 AM–5:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium; rescheduled multiple times to October 31, 2025, with updates to include virtual attendance and new end times.
  • Current status: Hearing rescheduled to 10/31/2025; latest updates indicate a continuation of the hearing process.

Sponsors and related bills

  • Primary sponsor: Christopher J. Worrell (Boston)
  • Cosponsor: Robyn K. Kennedy (First Worcester)
  • Related bill: House Bill 2420 from the 2023-2024 session (similar matter)
  • Related/replace: HD 1014 (replaces)

Potential impact

  • Strengthens oversight of gun violence funding by incorporating community voices and ensuring transparency about where money is spent and where it is most needed.
  • Provides a structured review of whether existing pilot programs should become permanent or be reorganized within another department.
  • Could influence future budgeting and allocation decisions for gun violence prevention and intervention in Massachusetts.

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

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