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HD 1303

An Act relative to license reinstatement fees for drivers without conviction

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Vanna Howard and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts bill eliminates reinstatement fees for drivers whose licenses were suspended absent criminal conviction, reducing financial barriers for legally exonerated individuals seeking license restoration.

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Bill Summary · HD 1303

Legislative bill overview

HD 1303 would modify the fee structure for reinstating driver's licenses for individuals whose licenses were suspended or revoked but who were not convicted of the underlying offense. Currently, Massachusetts charges reinstatement fees regardless of conviction status. This bill would eliminate or reduce those fees for people whose cases resulted in acquittal, dismissal, or non-conviction outcomes.

Why is this important

License suspension creates significant practical barriers to employment, transportation, and economic stability. Charging reinstatement fees to people never convicted of an offense means they pay financial penalties for legal outcomes in their favor. This particularly impacts lower-income individuals who may struggle with repeated fee barriers, potentially creating cycles of unlicensed driving and additional legal complications.

Potential points of contention

  • State revenue impact: Reinstatement fees generate revenue for the Registry of Motor Vehicles and road safety programs; eliminating them requires identifying alternative funding or accepting reduced income
  • Scope definition: The bill's language on what constitutes "without conviction" outcomes (acquittals, dismissals, nolle prosequi, deferred adjudication, etc.) requires precise statutory definition to avoid administrative ambiguity
  • System implementation: The Registry would need to verify conviction status before processing reinstatement requests, adding administrative complexity and potential processing delays

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

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