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HD 4619

An Act relative to license suspensions

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Steven Howitt

Sets a $50 cap on reinstatement fees for licenses suspended solely for noncriminal traffic violations, easing costs for affected drivers and guiding RMV procedures.

Referred to the committee on House Rules
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Bill Summary · HD 4619

Summary: An Act relative to license suspensions (HD 4619)

Overview

  • Bill number: HD 4619
  • Title: An Act relative to license suspensions
  • Purpose: To cap the reinstatement fee for licenses when the suspension was solely due to a noncriminal traffic violation
  • Introduced: May 15, 2025
  • Filed/Filed date: 4/30/2025
  • Current status: Referred to the committee on House Rules

What the bill would change

  • The bill amends Section 33 of Chapter 90 (as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition) by adding a new subsection (39).
  • New subsection (39) states: “No fee for the reinstatement of a license following a period of suspension shall exceed fifty dollars, if the sole reason for such a suspension was for a noncriminal traffic violation.”
  • In effect, if a driver’s license is suspended only due to a noncriminal traffic violation, the RMV could charge no more than a $50 reinstatement fee.

Who is affected

  • Drivers whose license suspension was caused exclusively by a noncriminal traffic violation.
  • The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) would implement the fee cap as part of reinstatement procedures for these suspensions.
  • The bill does not change reinstatement fees for suspensions due to criminal violations or suspensions for other, non-suspension-related issues.

Key provisions and distinctions

  • Subsection (39) creates a uniform cap: reinstatement fees cannot exceed $50 for the specified category of suspensions.
  • The bill does not alter:
    • Reinstatement processes or timelines beyond the fee cap
    • Fees for suspensions caused by criminal offenses
    • Other penalties or fines tied to traffic violations
  • The text specifies the cap but does not address retroactivity or a statewide effective date beyond enactment; those details are not explicit in the provided language.

Procedural/timeline details

  • Introduced: May 15, 2025
  • House Docket: 4619
  • Filed: 4/30/2025
  • Current action: Referred to the committee on House Rules
  • Next potential steps: If approved by the House Rules Committee, the bill would proceed to the full House for debate and vote, then potentially move to the Senate and onward for conference/approval and signature by the governor.

Potential impact

  • Financial relief for drivers with noncriminal-violation suspensions by limiting the reinstatement fee to $50.
  • May influence RMV practices and administrative costs related to reinstatement processing for these cases.
  • Does not address broader reform of suspension grounds, penalties, or fees for other types of suspensions.

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

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